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The majority of Republican voters now approve of former President Barack Obamas open policy toward Cuba, according to a poll released Monday.

Sixty-four percent of Republicans and 65 percent of registered voters overall support an open trade policy with the Cuban government. Only 18 percent of voters oppose open trade and prefer the Kennedy-era trade embargo that survived for over 50 years, according to a Morning Consult poll.

Additionally, 55 percent of Republicans support completelylifting every restrictionon the Cuban government, and 26 percent of all Republicans oppose that option.

The former president announced that an American embassy would re-open in Havana, Cuba in July of 2015. Obama later announcedlower restrictions on imported rum and cigars from Cuba in October of 2016.

Cuban-American politicians like Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz slammed Obamas decisionto begin easing the restrictions in March of 2016.

Political prisoners languishing in dungeons across the island will hear this message: Nobody has your back. Youre alone with your tormentors. The world has forgotten about you, Cruz wrote in an op-ed published on March 20 of 2016. So sad, and so injurious to our future as well as Cubas, that Obama has chosen to legitimize the corrupt and oppressive Castro regime with his presence on the island.

It is so sad, and so injurious to our future as well as Cubas, that Obama has chosen to legitimize the corrupt and oppressive Castro regime with his presence on the island, Cruz concluded.

The U.S. embargo against Cuba is codified in U.S. law and serves the dual purpose of denying the Castro regime money to fund its repression and giving us leverage to obtain concessions that lead to true and lasting freedom for the Cuban people, Rubio wrote in an official reaction in October of 2016.

Two years of the Obama Administrations Cuba policy have proven this president puts his legacy ahead of the Cuban peoples God-given rights, and he believes in squandering leverage in negotiations with the Castros, not in using it, Rubio concluded.

Morning Consult surveyed almost 2,000 registered voters for the survey. The poll carries a margin of error of 2 percentage points in either direction.

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BY: Elizabeth Harrington June 12, 2017 12:03 pm

An Obama administration program to encourage the use of electronic health records made over $729 million in erroneous payments, according to a new audit.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services also paid dead doctors for enrolling in its program, the audit, released by the agency's inspector general Monday, revealed.

"From May 2011 through June 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services paid an estimated $729 million in Medicare electronic health record incentive payments to eligible professionals who did not comply with Federal requirements," the inspector general said. "In addition, it paid $2.3 million in inappropriate electronic health record incentive payments to eligible professionals who switched incentive programs."

The incentive programs were created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, commonly known as the stimulus package, signed by former President Barack Obama in 2009.

Beginning in 2011, Medicare and Medicaid paid hospitals, as well as doctors, podiatrists, optometrists, and chiropractors up to $43,720 each for meeting several requirements that demonstrated their "meaningful use" of electronic health records. The programs spent $6 billion during the first three years.

The inspector general found the government has "conducted minimal" oversight over whether doctors met program requirements, leaving the program "vulnerable to abuse and misuse of Federal funds."

The inspector general said doctors who received $729 million were ineligible because they did not use certified electronic health record technology enough, or did not have documentation to back up their claims. Requirements for the program include providing patients with their health information online.

The government also overpaid doctors who were enrolled in incentive programs for both Medicare and Medicaid by more than $2.3 million. Doctors cannot receive payments from both programs during the same year.

In addition, the inspector general identified one deceased doctor who was paid $11,760, and two deceased doctors who are still active in the government's payment systems. Eleven dead doctors were deactivated from the program from than two months after they had died.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services agreed with most of the audit's findings, but only partially agreed that it needs to attempt to recover the $729 million in ineligible payments.

Patrick H. Conway, then-acting administrator for CMS, replied for the agency in February, saying, "CMS has implemented targeted risk-based audits to strengthen the program integrity of the EHR Incentive Program, and continues to perform these targeted risk-based audits in 2016 and 2017."

The inspector general said the agency should continue to try to recover the $729 million and that the agency's internal audits are not working to uncover abuse within the programs.

"After reviewing CMS's comments and having followup discussions with CMS officials, we maintain that the targeted risk-based audits are not capturing errors such as those identified in this report," the inspector general said.

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Obama Program Made $729 Million in Erroneous Payments to Doctors - Washington Free Beacon

A Texas drug dealer is back in prison a year after she was granted clemency by President Obama.

Carol Denise Richardson, 49, was sentenced to 14 months in prison last week for violation the terms of her supervised release, according to the Department of Justice. Prosecutors say she committed five separate violations of those terms.

This defendant was literally given a second chance to become a productive member of society and has wasted it, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted Imperatosaid in a statement. She has clearly shown a willful disregard for the law and must face the consequences for her crimes and actions.

OBAMA'S CLEMENCY DID NOT EXTEND TO BERGDAHL, SNOWDEN, OTHERS

After a drug dealing conviction, Richardson, who had a lengthy rap sheet, was sentenced to life in prison in June 2006. But she was released from prison last July after Obama commuted her sentence. Obama granted clemency to1,715 people-- many of them drug offenders -- during his eight years in office.

On July 28, she was a free woman.

But $60 worth of laundry detergent landed her back in jail in April. She was caught stealing the detergent in Pasadena, Calif. and planned to sell it to buy drugs,her attorney told the Houston Chronicle.

Mark Anthony Diaztold the newspaperthat his clients problems stem from her ongoing crack addiction.

Prosecutors say among other conditions Richardson violated are staying in contact with a probation officer and failing to report that she had moved.

OBAMA'S RECORD WAVE OF PARDONS, COMMUTATIONS

The nonprofit that took up Richardsons cause to receive clemency last year said the system has failed her once again. Clemency for All Nonviolent Drug Offenders, or CAN-DO,said in a statementreleased Sunday that Richardson was not given proper support after her release from prison.

It will be easy for some to point a finger at Carol and justify their support of harsh mandatory sentences as a necessity to keep people locked up, when we feel Carols current situation is proof that we desperately need to overhaul our current drug policy that treats addiction as a criminal issue, rather than a medical issue, the group said in a statement. Imagine locking up an alcoholic for life simply because they suffer from a disease that science claims is often genetic.

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Texas woman granted clemency by Obama last year back in prison - Fox News

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing June 8, 2017. McCain has been a critic of both President Trump and former president Barack Obama.(Photo: Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)

WASHINGTON Sen. John McCain has given blistering reviews of President Obamas foreign policy in the past, but after President Trumps response to a terrorist attack in London, the Arizona Republican says Americas standing abroad was better off under the last president.

Earlier this month, Trump attacked Sadiq Khan, the first Muslim mayor of London,on Twitter less than 24 hours after eight people were killed and dozens were wounded during a terrorist attack in the city.

Pathetic excuse by London Mayor Sadiq Khan who had to think fast on his no reason to be alarmed statement, Trumptweeted. The quote Trump used mischaracterized remarks from Khan, who had urged Londoners to stay calm despite a larger police presence following the attack.

What do you think the message is? The message is that America doesnt want to lead, McCain said about Trump's statement,according to The Guardian. McCain has been a frequent critic of Trump, particularly on his handling of foreign policy.

McCain said America's standing with the world was better under the previous administration, as far as American leadership is concerned, yes."

His view of Trumps foreign policy must be pretty low, because McCain was no fan of Obamas approach. McCain told The Hill in 2016 that Obama deserved an F for his handling of foreign policy.

McCain is the head of the Senate Armed Services Committee and a leading voice in the Senate on foreign policy. He ran against Obama for the presidency in 2008.

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Where's Sasha?!

Since leaving the White House, Sasha Obama has remained out of the spotlight. However, the former first daughter was spotted for the first time in months at a Sweet Sixteen party with her pals, including the daughter of the "Real Housewives of Potomac" star Charrisse Jackson-Jordan.

The 16-year-old posed in a series of fun snapshots with her friends and family at the party. Sasha looked absolutely gorgeous in a slinky red dress that showed off a hint of cleavage, while wearing her brunette locks in a sleek-straight style.

Sasha was all smiles while posing for pictures with her parents, Michelle and Barack, but her sillier side came out in a fun photo booth session with her close pals! The brunette beauty stuck out her tongue in a sassy pose in one photo, while she flashed a gorgeous smile in another.

Though the identity of most of her friends remains unknown, one looks incredibly familiar. Skylar, who is the daughter of Charrisse Jackson-Jordan, was also included in the snapshot and she looked just as stunning in a striped strapless dress.

37 PHOTOS

Malia and Sasha Obama through the years

See Gallery

Illinois U.S. Senate candidate Democrat Barack Obama (2nd R), wife Michelle and their daughters Malia (R), 3, and Sasha (L), 6, spend time in their Chicago hotel room, November 2, 2004. Obama faces Republican candidate Alan Keys in the first Senate race with two African American candidates.

(REUTERS/John Gress)

Michelle Obama and her daughters Sasha and Malia (R) listen as her husband Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) speaks during a campaign stop in Oskaloosa, Iowa, July 4, 2007. REUTERS/Keith Bedford (UNITED STATES)

Sasha Obama walks from Jorge's Sombrero restaurant after a meal with her father U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) and her sister Malia and mother Michelle in Pueblo, Colorado November 1, 2008. REUTERS/Jason Reed (UNITED STATES) US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN 2008 (USA)

Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) is cheered by supporters after winning the Democratic Iowa caucuses in Des Moines, Iowa January 3, 2008. Obama is seen with his wife Michelle and daughters Malia (L) and Sasha.

(REUTERS/Jim Young/UNITED STATES)

'U.S. first lady Michelle Obama laughs while her daughter Malia reads a book to patients at the Children's National Medical Center in Washington. Also is Obama's other daughter Sasha.

(Photo by Brooks Kraft LLC/Corbis via Getty Images)

U..S President Barack Obama's daughters Malia and Sasha Obama watch the inaugural parade from their father's reviewing stand in Washington January 20, 2009. Barack Obama became the first black U.S. president on Tuesday and declared it is time to set aside petty differences and embark on a new era of responsibility to repair the country and its image abroad.

(REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/UNITED STATES)

Sasha Obama, the youngest daughter of U.S. President Barack Obama, smiles as she looks at her sister Malia as they wait to collect takeout lunch at Nancy's restaurant in Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, August 26, 2009.

(REUTERS/Jason Reed/UNITED STATES POLITICS)

U.S. President Barack Obama's daughters Malia (L) and Sasha play with the first family's dog Bo as they wait for Obama's return to Washington after a day trip to Ohio and Pennsylvania, where he participated in economic rallies, September 15, 2009.

(REUTERS/Mike Theiler)

President Barack Obama speaks onstage as Michelle Obama, Sasha Obama and Malia Obama look on during TNT's 'Christmas in Washington 2010' at the National Building Museum on December 12, 2010 in Washington, DC.

(Theo Wargo via Getty Images)

Malia Obama and Sasha Obama attend the first White House Dance Series with their mother, First Lady Michelle Obama, in the East Room of the White House September 7, 2010 in Washington, DC. The dance event was a tribute to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Judith Jamison, a famous modern dancer, choreographer and muse to Alvin Ailey.

(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

U.S. President Barack Obama enjoys a "shaved ice" with his daughter Malia at Island Snow Hawaii while on vacation in Kailua January1, 2010.

(REUTERS/Hugh Gentry)

U.S. President Barack Obama walks with his daughter, Sasha, as they look at the White-Handed Gibbon at the Honolulu Zoo in Hawaii January 3, 2010.

(REUTERS/Larry Downing)

President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and their daughters, Sasha and Malia, sit for a family portrait in the Oval Office, Dec. 11, 2011.

(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.

(Photo by Pete Souza/White House/Handout/Corbis via Getty Images)

11/23/12- The White House- Washington, DC

First Lady Michelle Obama, first daughters Malia and Sasha and first dog Bo receive the 2012 Christmas Tree.

(Photo by ImageCatcher News Service/Corbis via Getty Images)

11/21/12- The White House- Washington, DC

President Barack Obama and his daughters Malia and Sasha.

(Photo by ImageCatcher News Service/Corbis via Getty Images)

U.S. President Barack Obama celebrates with first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia (R) and Sasha at their election night victory rally in Chicago, November 7, 2012.

(REUTERS/Jason Reed)

Sasha (L) and Malia Obama, daughters of US President Barack Obama, take a photo of themselves during the Presidential Inaugural Parade on January 21, 2013 in Washington, DC.

(JOE KLAMAR/AFP/Getty Images)

US President Barack Obama speaks to a cashier as he pays for books with daughter Malia at the Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington on November 30, 2013 as part of Small Business Saturday.

(NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images)

U.S. President Barack Obama walks from Marine One with his daughter Sasha as they return to the White House in Washington January 5, 2014. Obama and his daughters were returning from a two week holiday vacation.

(REUTERS/Joshua Roberts)

Malia Obama and Sasha Obama speak onstage at TNT Christmas in Washington 2014 at the National Building Museum on December 14, 2014 in Washington, DC.

(Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)

U.S. President Barack Obama's daughters Sasha (L) and Malia listen to their father during the pardoning of the National Thanksgiving Turkey "Cheese" at the White House in Washington November 26, 2014.

(REUTERS/Gary Cameron)

Sasha Obama, daughter of U.S. President Barack Obama, participates in the turkey pardoning ceremony in the Rose Garden at the White House November 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. In a tradition dating back to 1947, the president pardons a turkey, sparing the tom -- and his alternate -- from becoming a Thanksgiving Day feast. This year, Americans were asked to choose which of two turkeys would be pardoned and to cast their votes on Twitter.

(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Malia Obama (R) and Sasha Obama after arrival at Malpensa Airport in Milan, on June 17, 2015.

(Photo by Andrea Spinelli/Corbis via Getty Images)

Malia Obama, daughter of U.S. President Barack Obama, participates in the turkey pardoning ceremony in the Rose Garden at the White House November 25, 2015 in Washington, DC. In a tradition dating back to 1947, the president pardons a turkey, sparing the tom -- and his alternate -- from becoming a Thanksgiving Day feast. This year, Americans were asked to choose which of two turkeys would be pardoned and to cast their votes on Twitter.

(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Malia and Sasha Obama attend the national Christmas tree lighting ceremony on the Ellipse south of the White House December 3, 2015 in Washington, DC. The lighting of the tree is an annual tradition attended by the president and the first family.

(Photo by Olivier Douliery- Pool/Getty Images)

US President Barack Obama and daughter Malia make their way to board Air Force One before departing from Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles on April 8, 2016. Obama is heading to San Francisco to take part in a Democratic National Committee roundtable discussion and to attend a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraiser.

(MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia (L) and Sasha (R) walk to Air Force One as they depart from Roswell, New Mexico, U.S., June 17, 2016.

(REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

U.S. President Barack Obama and his daughter Malia walk from Marine One to board Air Force One upon their departure from O'Hare Airport in Chicago April 7, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

U.S. President Barack Obama and First lady Michelle Obama's youngest daughter Sasha (C) picks up her food at the Z-burger chain during the "I'm with Hillary" promotion in Washington, U.S., October 28, 2016. Customers using the password received a free hamburger today. REUTERS/Gary Cameron

Sasha (L) and Malia Obama, the daughters of U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama walk to Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., June 17, 2016. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Malia Obama attends the 2016 Budweiser Made in America Festival at Benjamin Franklin Parkway on September 4, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

(Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Anheuser-Busch)

HAVANA, CUBA - MARCH 22: (L-R) Malia Obama, Sasha Obama, U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama react to the first run scored during an exhibition game between the Cuban national baseball team and Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Devil Rays at the Estado Latinoamericano March 22, 2016 in Havana, Cuba. This is the first time a sitting president has visited Cuba in 88 years.

(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Malia Obama (L) and Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco attend an Iftar dinner at the royal palace in Marrakech, June 28, 2016. REUTERS/Youssef Boudlal

Sasha Obama, daughter of U.S. President Barack Obama, attends her first State Dinner in honor of the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau at the White House in Washington March 10, 2016.

(REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Malia Obama attends a State Dinner at the White House March 10, 2016 in Washington, D.C. Hosted by President and First Lady Obama, the dinner is in honor of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and First Lady Sophie Gregoire Trudeau of Canada.

(Photo by Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images)

U.S. President Barack Obama, U.S. first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia (R) and Sasha (L) board Air Force One at Cape Cod Coast Guard Air Station in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, U.S., August 21, 2016.

(REUTERS/Joshua Roberts)

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In an interview, Skylar's mom got candid about her daughter's friendship with the youngest Obama:

"Skylar and Sasha Obama are friends ... Secret Service is standing there while they go to lunch," she revealed.

It's no surprise that Sasha and the reality star's daughter are such good friends, considering how well-known both of their parents are.

Charrisse is the ultimate social butterfly and is a power player in the D.C. social scene. She's still married to NBA player-turned-coach Eddie Jordan, though they're effectively separated. Jackson-Jordan openly weighs the decision of whether or not to get divorced from her husband, whom she's been with for 25 years, on "Real Housewives."

And if you recall, this isn't the first time Sasha's whereabouts have been questioned. Back in January, Sasha was nowhere to be found at her father's farewell speech in Chicago, and her absence sent the internet into a tizzy.

Her mother, Michelle, revealed Sasha missed the event because she had an exam the next day, but that didn't stop the internet from freaking out.

Meanwhile, Sasha's older sister, Malia, has been spotted in New York City since leaving the White House, for an internship with Harvey Weinstein.

33 PHOTOS

Malia Obama through the years

See Gallery

US President Barack Obama and daughter Malia make their way to board Air Force One before departing from Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles on April 8, 2016. Obama is heading to San Francisco to take part in a Democratic National Committee roundtable discussion and to attend a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee fundraiser. / AFP / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 07: U.S. President Barack Obama walks with his daughter Malia toward Marine One while departing the White House April 7, 2016 in Washington, DC. President Obama was scheduled to speak at the University of Chicago Law School, where he was expected to urge senate Republicans to hold hearings on his Supreme Court nominee, Merrick Garland. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

U.S. President Barack Obama congratulates his daughter Malia on her birthday during the Independence Day celebration at the White House in Washington U.S., July 4, 2016. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas

US President Barack Obama and daughter Malia make their way to board Air Force One before departing from Chicago OHare International Airport in Chicago on April 7, 2016. Obama is heading to Los Angeles to attend fundraisers. / AFP / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

U.S. President Barack Obama's daughters Sasha (L) and Malia listen to their father during the pardoning of the National Thanksgiving Turkey "Cheese" at the White House in Washington November 26, 2014. REUTERS/Gary Cameron (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS SOCIETY)

U.S. President Barack Obama and his daughter Malia walk in the rain from Marine One to board Air Force One upon their departure from Los Angeles, California April 8, 2016. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

US President Barack Obama (R) and daughter Malia make their way across the South Lawn upon return to the White House on January 4, 2015 in Washington, DC. Obama and his family returned to Washington after spending the holidays in Hawaii. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 19: Malia Obama (R) participates in a literacy service project at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington, DC to mark Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, January 19, 2015 in Washington, DC. The Obama family visited the Boys and Girls Club and helped paint murals and put together literacy kits. (Photo by Pool/Getty Images)

US First Lady Michelle Obama (C) and her daughter Malia joke with children during a lunch at the United States and Nato military base in Vicenza , northern Italy, on June 19, 2015. AFP PHOTO / ANDREAS SOLARO (Photo credit should read ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP/Getty Images)

US President Barack Obama walks with daughter Malia (L) across Lafayette Park to Saint John's Episcopal Chuch for Sunday services on October 27, 2013 in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)

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Sasha Obama spotted partying with 'Real Housewives of Potomac' star's daughter - AOL