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The Latest: McConnell says Senate won’t take up ‘Obamacare’

By The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on House Republicans and health care, tax cuts and other issues (all times local):

2:35 p.m.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says “Obamacare” will stay in place after House Republicans failed to pass an alternative last week.

McConnell indicated there are no plans in the Senate take up the issue.

The Kentucky Republican told reporters Tuesday that “It’s pretty obvious we were not able in the House to pass a replacement. Our Democratic friends ought to be pretty happy about that because we have the existing law in place and I think we’re just going to have to see how that works out.”

House Speaker Paul Ryan insisted earlier that they would still try to repeal “Obamacare.”

But McConnell said: “I want to thank the president and the speaker, they went all-out to try to pass repeal and replacement, sorry that didn’t work.”

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11:30 a.m.

Speaker Paul Ryan says next month’s governmentwide funding bill should not get ensnared with a fight over taking federal money away from Planned Parenthood.

The Wisconsin Republican says “defunding” Planned Parenthood belongs on legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act. That legislation failed in the House last week but Ryan says it’s more suitable since it addresses the organization’s eligibility for Medicaid reimbursements.

The idea to attach Planned Parenthood funding to the larger bill and risk a government shutdown has been the subject of media speculation but no GOP leader had displayed any enthusiasm for it.

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11:10 a.m.

House Speaker Paul Ryan says his chamber will take another crack at a health care overhaul.

But he’s offering no timeline, and no details about how leaders would overcome GOP divisions that sunk their bill Friday. That retreat was a humiliating setback for President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans.

Ryan spoke Tuesday after House Republicans met for the first time since he sidetracked his party’s health care legislation just before a scheduled House vote. The measure was destined for defeat because of GOP opposition.

Republican lawmakers say there’s a consensus to keep working on health care.

Conservatives say it didn’t repeal enough of President Barack Obama’s 2010 law. Moderates say it takes coverage away from too many people.

Ryan says Republicans would try working out their differences over the measure.

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10:25 a.m.

A member of the House Freedom Caucus says he will force the House to vote on a full repeal of former President Barack Obama’s health care law in a month if the chamber hasn’t acted to roll back the statute.

Alabama Republican Mo Brooks also said Speaker Paul Ryan indicated the House would revisit the issue and that it would be “fairly immediate.”

Brooks spoke after divided House Republicans met to discuss strategy. Four days ago, Ryan abruptly canceled a vote on a GOP bill annulling much of Obama’s law.

That bill faced certain defeat due to Republican opponents, including the conservative Freedom Caucus. Brooks wants a vote on a measure that goes further in repealing Obama’s overhaul.

Ryan’s move was a jolting setback for himself and President Donald Trump.

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3:30 a.m.

Congressional Republicans want to pivot to tax cuts and other issues following last week’s House health care debacle.

But the party remains riven into factions. And they’re all over the map about how and when to return to their marquee pledge to eviscerate former President Barack Obama’s 2010 health overhaul.

House Republicans are scheduled to meet Tuesday to discuss their agenda. It’s their first gathering since House Speaker Paul Ryan suddenly abandoned plans last Friday for a vote on the GOP legislation.

The retreat on the party’s top legislative priority was a jarring defeat for President Donald Trump and Republican leaders. It also raised questions about whether the GOP could muster the unity needed on other issues.

Republicans have issued mixed messages on what comes next on health care.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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