Speaker Of The House Paul Ryan
House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. leaves the White House in Washington Friday after meeting with President Donald Trump.
Evan Vucci/AP

Republicans Kill Health Care Vote As GOP Members Defect

House Republicans have scrapped a vote on their health care replacement plan after defections from both the right and center that made it clear the bill would not pass. NPR's Susan Davis reports that GOP leadership says the Friday afternoon vote is now scrapped after House Speaker Paul Ryan made a last-minute trip to the White House to tell President Trump that the votes weren't there to pass their replacement plan, the American Health Care Act. Trump agreed with Ryan's plan to halt the vote.

Republican State Representative Dan Brady (L) and GOP U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R) at the Marriott Hotel in Normal.
Charlie Schlenker/WGLT

Senator Kirk Defends Ryan’s Half Measure

U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan has been open to criticism in saying he will not defend Donald Trump, but not rescinding his endorsement following the controversy over a video tape of Trump advocating sexual assault recorded in 2005. But during a stop in Normal Thursday, U.S. Senator Mark Kirk said Ryan had done enough to distance himself from the GOP nominee.

More articles →