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  June 17, 2013, 9:02 am

NRSC hits Senate Dems on IRS, ObamaCare

By Cameron Joseph

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is pushing vulnerable Senate Democrats to say whether they trust the Internal Revenue Service to handle the implementation of ObamaCare.

The group issued releases Monday targeting four vulnerable senators — as well as three likely Democratic senatorial nominees — asking whether they agree with President Obama that the IRS can handle the launch of the complicated healthcare reform program. The IRS is not the primary government agency responsible for implementing the Affordable Care Act, but does have a role in the program.

The group, and other Republicans, have focused on the scandal over the IRS's targeting of conservative groups to question whether it can fairly and efficiently carry out its other responsibilities.

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  June 17, 2013, 9:00 am

Week ahead: Abortion bill heads to House floor

By Elise Viebeck

The House is expected to pass a national late-term abortion ban this week in one of the strongest congressional moves against abortion rights since 2003.

The vote on the bill from Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) is scheduled for Tuesday.

Franks offered a late-term abortion ban last year that only applied to the District of Columbia. It failed to pass under suspension of the rules, but experts do not expect a similar two-thirds threshold for passage of the new legislation, which would institute a national ban on abortion after the 22nd week of pregnancy.

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  June 17, 2013, 8:30 am

News bites: Running toward ObamaCare

By Elise Viebeck

Senate Democrats in red states firm up support for healthcare reform

Health law rollout seen slowed by confusion over benefits

States running out of time on health insurance exchanges

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  June 15, 2013, 2:35 pm

House Rules changes abortion bill to allow rape, incest exceptions

By Pete Kasperowicz

New version essentially says it is not lawful to perform abortions after 22 weeks of pregnancy, but lists several exceptions.

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  June 15, 2013, 12:00 pm

GOP to constituents: Questions on ObamaCare? Call Obama

By Elise Viebeck

Some Republicans indicated to The Hill they will not assist constituents in navigating the law and obtaining benefits.

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  June 14, 2013, 6:04 pm

Bill to repeal ObamaCare tax hits 218 cosponsors

By Sam Baker

A bill to repeal a new tax in President Obama's healthcare law now has 218 cosponsors in the House — enough to ensure it would pass.

The bill would repeal a new tax on health insurance plans, which is expected to raise roughly $100 billion over the next 10 years. Insurers and small businesses strongly oppose the tax, saying it will drive up premiums.

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  June 14, 2013, 12:39 pm

Lawmakers call for clampdown on prescription drug abuse

By Julian Hattem

"It is abundantly clear that the prescription drug abuse epidemic is a crisis in the U.S.," said Rep. Joe Pitts.

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  June 14, 2013, 12:28 pm

FDA to address hacking risk for medical devices

By Elise Viebeck

Federal regulators will apply more scrutiny to medical devices that are vulnerable to cyberattacks, a move welcomed Friday by Democratic lawmakers.

Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.) praised the Food and Drug Administration for directing device makers to explain how they will protect their products from hacking or tampering.

The two members had sounded the alarm last September after a government investigation revealed that some implantable medical devices might be tampered with through their wireless capabilities. 

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  June 14, 2013, 10:33 am

Senators introduce a bill to give churches tax credit under ObamaCare

By Ramsey Cox

Sens. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced a bill Thursday that would allow churches to get small-employer tax credits under the Affordable Care Act.

Pryor and Coons said with the way the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare, is currently written churches are unable to participate in the new healthcare exchanges or receive tax credits and reduced cost-sharing that make coverage more affordable.

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  June 14, 2013, 8:30 am

News bites: Glitches

By Elise Viebeck

Low-wage workers in some big firms could get left out in healthcare overhaul

Lack of local revenue limits federal money for health projects

Boxer to push funding for health costs of uninsured immigrants

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