In brief: GOP senators vow health insurance aid
WASHINGTON – Three leading Republican senators are promising to help millions of people who may lose federal health insurance subsidies if the Supreme Court invalidates a pillar of President Barack Obama’s health care law.
Sens. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, John Barrasso of Wyoming and Orrin Hatch of Utah are saying they have a plan to do that in a Washington Post opinion article posted online late Sunday.
They provide no detail on how much assistance they would propose, its duration or how to pay for it.
The court hears arguments Wednesday in a case challenging the subsidies that help millions afford health coverage. A decision is expected in June.
LA police shoot, kill man on Skid Row
LOS ANGELES – Police shot and killed a man Sunday who struggled with officers in the Skid Row section of downtown Los Angeles, authorities said.
The officers, who were answering a robbery call in the area at about noon, got into a struggle with the man, and tried to use a stun gun on him before shooting him, LAPD spokesman Sgt. Barry Montgomery said. He was later declared dead at a hospital.
Police did not immediately say how many officers were involved or how many shots were fired. Nor did they say whether the man was armed or identify him.
Gay group receives GOP recognition
In a historic move, the California Republican Party on Sunday officially recognized a gay GOP group.
The Log Cabin Republicans, a 38-year-old organization that had unsuccessfully sought a charter from the state party several times in the past, received the formal imprimatur on an 861-293 vote at the party’s biannual convention in Sacramento.
It is among the first gay groups officially sanctioned by a state Republican Party.
Brandon Gesecki, a delegate from Carmel who supported the effort, said the vote showed how much the party in California has changed in recent years.
Town might lower voting age to 16
BRATTLEBORO, Vt. – Residents of Brattleboro, Vermont, will vote on a ballot item that would let 16- and 17-year-olds vote in local elections.
Vermont’s current voting age is 18, and that wouldn’t change for state and federal elections. The proposal by Brattleboro resident Kurt Daims would move the minimum age two years younger for town elections.
The town ballot will be held Tuesday. Town Clerk Annette Cappy said she’s not hearing a lot of support for the measure among older voters.