US Sen. McConnell: Health Care Bill Is Not On August Schedule

--Senate Majority Leader McConnell Rebuffs Trump On Senate Agenda

--Sen. McConnell: Senate To Focus on Several Nominations, Veterans and FDA Bill

By John Shaw

     WASHINGTON (MNI) - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Tuesday presented

the Senate's schedule for the next two weeks and signaled he has no intention to

accede to President Donald Trump's demand that the Senate continue to work on

health care legislation.

     In remarks on the Senate floor, McConnell never mentioned Trump's

insistence that the Senate pass a health bill this month--nor did he make any

comments about the Senate's months-long struggle over health care legislation.

     McConnell said the Senate will continue to consider the nomination of Kevin

Newsom of Alabama to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit.

     McConnell said after Newsom is confirmed, the Senate will take up Trump's

nominations to the National Labor Relations Board.

     "And we obviously need to confirm an FBI Director," McConnell said. 

     McConnell said he also wants the Senate to work over the next two weeks on

the Veterans Choice legislation and a bill to renew the Food and Drug

Administration's user fee program. 

     McConnell has been working since May to pass health care legislation. Last

week he tried to advance several GOP alternative plans, all of which failed.

     After the Senate's final failure, Trump said Senate Republicans should

"demand another vote" to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

     "Unless the Republican Senators are total quitters, Repeal & Replace is not

dead! Demand another vote before voting on any other bill!" the president said

Saturday via Twitter.

     White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney has also said the Senate

shouldn't hold vote on any other issue -- including a vote to raise the debt

ceiling -- until it votes again on health care.

     The House passed legislation repealing the ACA, or Obamacare, in early May.

     The House is now on recess until early September.

--MNI Washington Bureau; tel: +1 202-371-2121; email: john.shaw@marketnews.com

[TOPICS: M$U$$$,MC$$$$,MFU$$$,MGU$$$]