House Goofs On Health Care, Why Your Internet May Slow, And Change On Student Loan Payments: What You May Have Missed

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Multiple controversies pouring out of the White House and the Trump administration dominated the news cycle all week, but beneath the headlines the serious work of creating policy that affects the entire country continued. Here, on the White House Patch's policy roundup, are the top policy stories you might have missed during the noisy news of the week.

Health Insurance On Obamacare Exchanges Is Set To Dramatically Rise

Industry observers expect health insurers to raise premiums precipitously for plans sold on the Obamacare exchanges next year. Many blame the uncertainty of future health care policy and the instability of regulation under the Trump administration. President Trump said this week, "Obamacare is dead." (Read more at L.A. Times)

State Department Anti-Abortion Rule Affects Almost $9B In Global Aid

The State Department will restrict $8.8 billion in global health funding to organizations that agree not to discuss or provide abortion services to patients, including health care providers fighting HIV/AIDS and malaria in poor countries. Previously, this rule, known as the "Mexico City policy," applied to around only $600 million in funding. (Read more on Patch)

President Trump To Keep 'Disastrous' Iran Deal — For Now

President Trump will keep in place the Obama administration's nuclear deal with Iran, at least for now, despite the president's history of calling it "disastrous" and his pledge to dismantle the agreement. (Read more on Patch)

The American Health Care Act May Go Back Before the House

Even after Republicans rushed to the White House Rose Garden following a successful House vote on the American Health Care Act — the GOP alternative to Obamacare — the bill may yet have to go through another House vote. Speaker Paul Ryan has not sent the bill the House voted on to the Senate because without an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, which was never completed on the latest draft, the bill may violate the Senate's reconciliation rules.

If the bill can't be passed through the Senate under reconciliation, then Democrats would be able to indefinitely block the legislation. CBO plans to release its scoring of the bill on Wednesday, May 24. (Read more at Bloomberg)

NAFTA Goes Under The Microscope

The United States will begin renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, known as NAFTA, with neighbors Mexico and Canada since President Trump sent a letter to Congress this week initiating the process. It's not clear yet what specific changes the administration intends to argue for.

"Free and fair trade is the new standard for U.S. trade deals," Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said. (Read more at the New York Times)

FCC Begins Rollback Of Net Neutrality Rules

The Federal Communications Commission voted this week to review net neutrality rules first put in place under the Obama administration. The rules aimed to force major internet providers to treat all web traffic equally, not prioritizing certain kinds of internet content, sites or companies over others. FCC Chairman Ajit Pai called the rules a "bureaucratic straitjacket." (Read more at NPR)

Education Policy Preview

The Washington Post previewed the administration's education policy after obtaining budget documents that have not yet been released publicly. According to the report, federal funding for student loan forgiveness, college work-study programs and school mental health services will be slashed under the plan. (Read more at the Washington Post)

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