WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Friday blocked the release of a rebuttal memo written by Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee concerning its investigation into Russian meddling in U.S. election. In a closed door meeting of the panel this week concerning that memo, Rep. Jim Himes defended the FBI against GOP attacks.
Justice Department
Posted inJustice, Politics
Blumenthal presses probe of White House official for alleged neo-Nazi ties
WASHINGTON – Now that Steve Bannon is gone, Sen. Richard Blumenthal and two other Democratic senators are renewing their calls for federal officials to investigate a Bannon ally who still works at the White House, counterterrorism advisor Sebastian Gorka.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Trump budget makes another attempt to target ‘sanctuaries’
WASHINGTON — Tucked into the massive $4.4 trillion budget President Donald Trump released this week is the administration’s latest attempt to punish cities and states, like Connecticut, that it considers “sanctuaries,” a move the Malloy administration and others say is unconstitutional.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Anthem not giving up on Cigna merger, is appealing to Supreme Court
Updated at 2 p.m.
WASHINGTON — Anthem’s $54 billion merger deal with Cigna is considered to be on life support after a federal appeals court ruled last week it violated antitrust law. But on Friday, Anthem said it is appealing that decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Posted inHealth
Appeals court blocks Anthem-Cigna merger
WASHINGTON – A federal appeals court on Friday agreed with a lower court that Anthem’s proposed $54 billion merger with Cigna would be anti-competitive and should not be allowed, but Anthem said it plans to continue pursuing the deal.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Anthem’s cost savings at center of merger suit appeal argument
WASHINGTON — Anthem and the Justice Department faced off in court Friday over the insurer’s proposed merger with Cigna, with the legal wrangling centered on whether any savings from the deal would justify shrinking the market for large employer insurance policies from four to three carriers.
Posted inHealth
In appeal, feds argue merger with Anthem would hurt Cigna’s ‘value-based’ care
WASHINGTON – In its showdown next week with Anthem over a planned merger with Cigna, the Justice Department will make the Bloomfield-based insurer’s unique business model a key part of its argument aimed at swaying an appellate court to reject the $54 billion deal.
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers call for Sessions’ resignation
Updated at 5:30 p.m.
WASHINGTON — Connecticut Democratic lawmakers joined a growing chorus of their colleagues Thursday calling for the resignation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, citing his testimony under oath denying he had contacts with Russian officials during the presidential campaign.
Posted inHealth, Politics
AMA ‘alarmed’ political influence could sway DOJ on Anthem-Cigna merger
Updated at 6:25 p.m.
WASHINGTON — The American Medical Association, says it is “alarmed” Anthem may be taking advantage of changes in leadership in the Justice Department that would “bend antitrust laws” and result in a settlement of the federal case that has blocked its merger with Cigna.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Anthem’s pursuit of Cigna still in play, but faces huge hurdles
WASHINGTON — Anthem’s effort to merge with Cigna, which seemed to end with a huge thud when a federal court ruled the $54 billion deal is anti-competitive, may have been given new life – but the odds are long and Connecticut could stand in the way.
Posted inHealth
In legal soap opera, Cigna and Anthem trade charges of sabotage
WASHINGTON – In a vicious legal battle laid out in court papers unsealed Friday, Cigna accuses Anthem of undermining its business by stealing confidential information and soliciting its customers. Anthem counters in a rival filing that Cigna worked to sabotage the companies’ proposed merger after its executives were not promised the positions they wanted in the merged company.
Posted inHealth, Justice, Politics
Anthem sues to stop Cigna from ending merger attempt
WASHINGTON — The messy divorce between Anthem and Cigna took another turn Wednesday in a Delaware court that will be the scene of further expensive legal battling over the insurers’ merger attempt.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Cigna sues to end merger deal, seeks $15 billion from Anthem
WASHINGTON — The tumultuous relationship between proposed merger partners Anthem and Cigna continued Tuesday as Cigna called for an end to the deal and demanded about $15 billion from Anthem – which said it is “committed to closing the transaction.”
Posted inHealth, Politics
Aetna ends bid to acquire Humana
WASHINGTON — After a federal judge blocked the deal last month, Aetna on Tuesday announced it would no longer pursue a $37 billion merger with Humana. U.S. District Judge John Bates ruled last month that a merger of the health insurers would result in a lack of competition in the Medicare Advantage market.
Posted inHealth, Justice
Anthem will appeal judge’s decision to block merger with Cigna
WASHINGTON — Anthem said Thursday it will appeal a federal court’s decision to block the health insurer’s planned merger with Cigna. The decision to appeal came quickly on the heels of U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson’s ruling late Wednesday that the $54 billion merger would reduce competition in dozens of insurance markets across the nation.