US's McConnell Brushes Aside Trump Demand To Stay On Health

--Senate Majority Leader Leader Convenes Senate, Turns To Judicial Appointment

--White House Spokeswoman Says Gen. Kelly Will Have 'Full Authority' as White

House Chief of Staff

By John Shaw

     WASHINGTON (MNI) - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell convened the

Senate Monday afternoon and quietly--but clearly--dismissed the demand of

President Donald Trump that the Republican-controlled upper chamber  continue

working on health care legislation.

     In remarks Monday that brought the Senate into session for the week,

McConnell did not even mention health care legislation.

     Instead, he focused his remarks on a Senate procedural vote Monday evening

on the nomination of Kevin Newsom, of Alabama, to be a United States Circuit

Judge for the Eleventh Circuit.

     McConnell said Newsom deserves swift Senate confirmation.

     McConnell worked doggedly for months 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 said Sunday the White House

believes the Senate shouldn't hold vote on any other issue -- including a vote

to raise the debt ceiling -- until the Senate votes again on health care.

     "In the White House's view, they can't move on in the Senate," Mulvaney

said.

     "You can't promise folks you're going to do something for seven years, and

then not do it," he said.

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

     As the Senate was coming to session, White House press secretary Sarah

Huckabee Sanders sought to explain the circumstances surrounding the abrupt

departure of White House communications director, Andrew Scaramucci, after only

ten days.

     Sanders said the new White House chief of staff, John Kelly, will have

"full authority" over the White House staff.  

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

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