Two GOP Senators push to choke off IRS health law implementation funds

Also in the news, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is positioning himself to be the lead sponsor of legislation that would ban abortions after 20 weeks. Meanwhile, the nursing home industry is stepping up its lobbying efforts to protect its Medicare funding.

Politico: GOP Senators Target IRS On Obamacare
Republican senators are pushing separate amendments on a spending bill this week that would choke off funding to the IRS to implement Obamacare and suggests that President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, White House staff and others participate in the insurance exchanges. The IRS amendment to the transportation appropriations bill comes from Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), who say that IRS targeting of conservative groups could affect the organization's impartiality in implementing the health care law (Everett and Haberkorn, 7/24).

Texas Tribune: Cruz, Cornyn Still Prominent Critics Of Health Care Law
While addressing a group in Iowa last week, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said that conservatives should not approve funding for any government agencies unless the federal Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, is defunded. "We can defund Obamacare if conservative leaders who tell their constituents they're conservative stand up and act like they're conservative," he said, according to the Des Moines Register (Luthra, 7/25).

Politico: Marco Rubio Wants To Be Lead Sponsor On Anti-Abortion Bill
Sen. Marco Rubio said unequivocally Wednesday that he hopes to be the lead sponsor of a bill banning abortions after 20 weeks. "If someone else would like to do it instead of me, I'm more than happy to consider it. But I'd like to be the lead sponsor," the Florida Republican said. "I feel very strongly about this issue. And I'd like to be the lead sponsor on it if we can find language that we can unify people behind" (Everett, 7/24).

The Hill: Nursing Home Industry Ready For Battle Over Medicare Funding
The nursing home industry is facing a major test of its lobbying clout as lawmakers weigh whether to slash its Medicare funding. Nursing homes got a pass in January when Congress approved a short-term "doc fix" for Medicare spending that left hospitals to foot the bill for the second year in a row (Viebeck, 7/25).