Trump tempers support for healthcare deal

The future of health insurance subsidies remains in limbo after President Donald Trump clarified his stance on a compromise proposed Tuesday by Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Texas) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.). The deal would have extended for two years federal payments to health insurers that Trump wants to halt. Insurance companies say customers’ premiums will rise if the payments stop. On Tuesday afternoon, Trump called the senators’ proposal a short-term solution, but he tweeted Wednesday morning he could “never support bailing out” insurance companies that have “made a fortune” under Obamacare. Alexander said Wednesday that Trump called him to discuss the deal and might want to change it. Asked whether the president backed his proposal, Alexander said, “You’ll have to ask him.” Meanwhile, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said California and 18 other states would seek a temporary restraining order to keep the subsidies in place.