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The ObamaCare premium wars are back. The cost of health insurance plans on the ObamaCare exchanges could jump in the coming weeks, some by double digits, inflaming the issue ahead of the midterm elections. Democrats argue the price increases are the result of what they refer to as “Republican sabotage.” They contend that, since the GOP controls Congress and the White House, the price hikes are their responsibility — and that's the message they plan to take into the fall campaign.  (Roubein, 5/16)

A federal judge granted a request from states looking to defend ObamaCare in a lawsuit filed in Texas. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, and 16 other state attorneys general in Democratic states, were granted the right to intervene in the lawsuit that seeks to dismantle the Affordable Care Act (ACA). (Hellmann, 5/16)

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Wednesday he is working on a new version of his ObamaCare repeal-and-replace bill and has not given up on efforts to do away with the law despite Republicans’ failure last year. “I haven’t given up,” Graham said. “Will there be another effort to replace ObamaCare with a state-centric plan? I hope so.” The effort appears to have little, if any, chance of passing this year. Republican leadership has made clear that it has moved on from the ObamaCare repeal effort, and the GOP has an even slimmer margin in the Senate than they did last year when they failed to win enough votes for a bill. (Sullivan, 5/16)

A group of conservatives is waging a quiet campaign to bring back Obamacare repeal. But there might be less support in the Senate now than there was last September. Several GOP senators on Wednesday expressed doubt about taking another stab at repeal. (Haberkorn, 5/16)