CNCounty News

Capital Loop - Feb. 5, 2018

Image of Downtown Washington DC2 (1)_0.png

Congress renews children’s health insurance for six years in CR

 The stopgap measure ends a nearly four-month long lapse in CHIP’s federal funding and also delays imposing the “Cadillac tax” on health care plans for two years.

 

Local official leaves FCC committee citing concerns of local inclusion

San Jose, Calif. Mayor Sam Liccardo stepped down amid concerns that the outcome of the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee’s work was predetermined.

 

Alex Azar confirmed as new HHS secretary

Azar said he would focus on four critical areas: lowering prescription drug costs, making health insurance more affordable, basing Medicare payments on quality and confronting the nation’s ongoing opioid epidemic.

Most recently, Azur served as president of Eli Lilly Pharmaceutical Company. He also  served as HHS deputy secretary under President George H. Bush.

 

Trump administration extends public health emergency declaration on opioids

Some lawmakers and advocates had already called for an extension of the public health emergency declaration, arguing that more time and resources are needed to address the crisis.

 

Attachments

Related News

NACIRO members gather at the 2026 NACo Annual Conference.
County News

"Intergovs" celebrate excellence

Wisconsin Governor-elect David Crowley and running mate Sarah Godlewski embrace at an election-night event on Nov. 03, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Photo by John Moore/Getty Images
County News

Midterms advance county officials, Florida property tax cut

Voters advanced several current and former county officials to higher office, but also approved a policy that will threaten county budgets in Florida.

Image of GettyImages-183803161_CENSUSQnA_desat.jpg
Advocacy

NACo submits comments on Census Bureau's proposed rule on the 2030 decennial census

On September 10, the U.S Census Bureau published a proposed rule to the 2030 Decennial Census that would create two new parts of the 15 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) that among other changes would a) define “usual residence” that excludes foreign persons previously counted that are not U.S. citizens or lawful residents, and b) would eliminate any questions about race, ethnicity and sexual orientation from the census questionnaire used to enumerate the population. The proposed ruling outlines only 30 days for public comments, which are due on November 2.