First Edition: November 9, 2016
The New York Times:
Donald Trump Is Elected President In Stunning Repudiation Of The Establishment
Donald John Trump was elected the 45th president of the United States on Tuesday in a stunning culmination of an explosive, populist and polarizing campaign that took relentless aim at the institutions and long-held ideals of American democracy. The surprise outcome, defying late polls that showed Hillary Clinton with a modest but persistent edge, threatened convulsions throughout the country and the world, where skeptics had watched with alarm as Mr. Trump’s unvarnished overtures to disillusioned voters took hold. (Flegenheimer and Barbaro, 11/9)
Reuters:
Trump, Congress Will Be In Sync On Some Issues, But Long-Term Questions Loom
Trump and the Republican leadership in Congress agree on at least one major policy: They want to repeal Democratic President Barack Obama's landmark healthcare law, known as Obamacare, enacted in 2010. “I would expect the very first thing a Republican Congress would do would be to repeal Obamacare,” said Republican Oklahoma Representative Tom Cole, a Ryan ally, in an interview on Monday. Such a step would shake the U.S. healthcare and insurance industries, which have broadly called for measured reforms to Obamacare, although not for its full-scale repeal. (Cornwell and Cowan, 11/9)
The Wall Street Journal:
Health-Care Stocks Emerge As Winners From Trump Vote
Health-care companies have emerged as the main gainers from Donald Trump’s win in the U.S. presidential election, despite a broad stock market selloff across the world. The U.S. premarket pointed to a 2% opening loss for the S&P 500 during early European trade, but futures on pharmaceuticals showed sharp rises, led by Endo International PLC, Mylan NV and Perrigo Co. PLC. The Stoxx Europe 600 index was down 0.5%, but the health-care and mining sectors notched 3.5% and 3% gains respectively. All other sectors were in the red. (Sindreu and Iosebashvili, 11/9)
The New York Times:
Republicans, Buoyed By Trump’s Performance, Keep Control Of Senate
Republicans maintained control of the Senate on Tuesday, fending off numerous Democratic challengers who polls showed were leading going into Election Day, as incumbents were pulled along by Donald J. Trump’s unanticipated strength in several key battleground states. Senators Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Richard M. Burr of North Carolina and Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania made late comebacks to win re-election and to help ensure Republicans retained power. (Steinhaurer, 11/9)
Stat:
The Drug Industry Sees A Key Ally In The Senate Prevail
A veteran senator and champion of the biotech sector beat back an unusually strong challenge Tuesday night — thanks in large part to loyal support from the industry. North Carolina Senator Richard Burr, a Republican who has long protected the bioscience companies that drive his state’s economy, overcame a surprisingly robust challenge from Democratic candidate Deborah K. Ross. (Kaplan, 11/8)
Stat:
Big Pharma's Big Question: Is Trump Friend Or Foe?
Should President Donald Trump make drug makers relieved? Or anxious? They’re not sure. (Scott, 11/9)
The Associated Press:
Republicans Expand Control Of Governorships, Legislatures
Republicans have expanded their power in state capitols to their strongest levels in decades, picking up several previously held Democratic governorships while also claiming control of some key legislative chambers. The Republican gains in statehouses capped a remarkable election in which Donald Trump won the presidency and the GOP held on to majorities in the U.S. Senate and House. (11/9)
The Washington Post:
Marijuana Wins Big On Election Night
Voters in California, Massachusetts and Nevada approved recreational marijuana initiatives Tuesday night, and several other states passed medical marijuana provisions, in what is turning out to be the biggest electoral victory for marijuana reform since 2012, when Colorado and Washington first approved the drug's recreational use. (Ingraham, 11/8)
California Healthline:
California Voters Pass Key Health Measures, Including Tobacco Tax Hike
Several health-related initiatives in California appeared headed for passage Tuesday, including a cigarette tax, legalization of recreational marijuana and additional funding for Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program. A measure intended to cap prescription drug prices, watched closely around the nation and strongly opposed by the pharmaceutical industry, was trailing. (Ibarra, 11/9)
Reuters:
California Drug Pricing Initiative Headed For Defeat
A California ballot initiative aimed at reining in rising prices for prescription drugs was headed for defeat on Tuesday after pharmaceutical companies spent more than $100 million to fight it.The California Drug Price Relief Act, also known as Proposition 61, sought to limit state health programs from paying more for medications than the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which receives the steepest discounts in the country. (Beasley, 11/9)
Denver Post:
Colorado Passes Medical Aid In Dying, Joining Five Other States
Colorado passed a medical aid in dying measure Tuesday that will allow adults suffering from terminal illness to take life-ending, doctor-prescribed sleeping medication. The ballot initiative passed overwhelmingly, by a two-thirds, one-third split, according to unofficial returns. Supporters claimed victory an hour after polls closed in Colorado. (Brown, 11/8)
Denver Post:
ColoradoCare Measure Amendment 69 Defeated Soundly
Amendment 69, the ballot measure known as ColoradoCare that would have created a universal health care system in Colorado, was soundly defeated Tuesday night. At 8:30 p.m., with nearly 1.8 million votes counted across the state, the amendment was trailing 79.6 percent to 20.4 percent, according to preliminary state figures. Throughout the campaign, the measure had polled better with Democrats than Republicans. But even in left-leaning Denver, the amendment was losing 2-to-1, according to early returns. (Ingold, 11/8)
Los Angeles Times:
California Passes Proposition 52 To Make Medi-Cal Funding Program Permanent
Californians have chosen to make permanent the hospital fee program that helps fund Medi-Cal, the state's subsidized healthcare program for low-income residents. Early election returns show the measure passing with more than 70% of the vote. Proposition 52 will hobble state lawmakers' ability to change or end the hospital fee program. (Bollag, 11/8)
WDAY:
North Dakota Voters Reject Tobacco Tax Hike Measure
North Dakota will remain among the states with the lowest taxes on tobacco products after voters denied a ballot measure Tuesday night. Initiated Statutory Measure 4, The North Dakota Tobacco Tax Increase Initiative, would have raised the tax on cigarettes to $2.20. (11/8)
Denver Post:
Amendment 72: Colorado Tobacco Tax Fended Off By Voters
An amendment to the state constitution that would sharply raise the tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products was rejected Tuesday night by Colorado voters opposed to the measure aimed at reducing youth smoking and channeling the revenue to a variety of health programs. (Simpson, 11/8)
ABC News:
4 US Cities To Vote On Soda Tax On Election Day
Sipping that sweet soft drink with lunch might be a little more expensive in four cities after this year’s election. Initiatives asking voters to support or oppose new taxes on sweetened drinks like sodas are on ballots in Boulder, Colorado, and the California cities of Albany, San Francisco and Oakland. (Blake, 11/8)
San Francisco Chronicle:
S.F., Oakland, Albany Voters Pass Soda Tax
Three Bay Area cities on Tuesday became among the first in the country to levy a tax on sodas and other sugary drinks in an effort to help stanch the nation’s diabetes and obesity epidemics. (Knight, 11/8)
KTVN:
Nevada Voters Pass State Questions 1, 2, 3 & 4
Nevada voters have passed state ballot questions 1, 2, 3 and 4. ... Nevadans have passed a measure that will exempt medical equipment such as oxygen tanks and hospital beds from the state's sales tax. Voters gave their blessing to the Medical Patient Tax Relief Act, which is also called Question 4. It must pass a second statewide vote in 2018 before it can become a constitutional amendment. (11/9)
Oklahoma Daily:
Oklahoma State Questions 780 And 781 Pass
Oklahoma State Questions 780 and 781 passed during the Nov. 8 general election. Set to become effective July 1, 2017, State Question 780 will diminish certain non-violent drug and theft-related crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, simultaneously changing their maximum penalty to one year in prison and a fine of $1,000.The changes are intended to save the state money by decreasing the number and duration of incarcerations. The companion bill, State Question 781, will then set forth a plan to distribute the savings to different counties for the purpose of supporting mental health and substance abuse services. (11/8)
Miami Herald:
Florida Voters Approve Broad Use Of Medical Marijuana
Patients suffering from debilitating illnesses will soon have access to medical marijuana in Florida after voters approved Amendment 2 Tuesday. By 8:30 p.m. it was clear that Amendment 2 would pass with well above the required 60 percent threshold. The amendment inserts language into the Florida Constitution allowing those with cancer, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy and a host of other conditions to use marijuana if it is recommended by their doctor. (Auslen, 11/8)
Los Angeles Times:
Voters Legalize Pot In California. Here's What Will Happen Next
Voters on Tuesday approved Proposition 64, an initiative that will make California the most populous state in the nation to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, setting state officials in motion to build a massive retail sales system to accommodate the new law. (McGreevy, 11/8)