Public plan debate to take center stage as Senate Finance goes back to work on health care

WASHINGTON — Democrats sought to give government the right to sell insurance in competition with private industry Tuesday as the Senate Finance Committee opened a second week of debate over massive health care legislation.

Liberals fail to win government-run insurance option in Senate health care bill

WASHINGTON — In a long-anticipated showdown, liberal Democrats twice failed on Tuesday to inject a government-run insurance option into sweeping health care legislation taking shape in the Senate, despite bipartisan agreement that private insurers must change their ways.

Spain’s king, Brazil’s president and Mrs. Obama converge in final push for 2016 Olympics

COPENHAGEN — Spain’s king, Brazil’s president and First Lady Michelle Obama are converging on Copenhagen for a final push to convince the International Olympic Committee to award the 2016 Olympics to their respective cities.

Obama to lead US delegation in making pitch in Copenhagen for Chicago to get 2016 Games

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama will travel to Denmark this week to support Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Zimbabwe’s chief justice drops terror case against human rights activist, co-accused

HARARE, Zimbabwe — A prominent human rights activist and her co-accused cannot be tried — now or in the future — on terror charges because they were beaten and tortured in jail, Zimbabwe’s Supreme Court ruled Monday.

Obama’s Olympic pitch draws GOP complaint about lack of priorities

NEW YORK — President Obama’s decision to travel to Copenhagen to boost Chicago’s chances of winning the 2016 Olympics has drawn criticism from some Republicans, who call it a boondoggle for Obama’s hometown allies and evidence the president has blurred his priorities.

Liberal Democrats twice fail to inject gov’t-run insurance option in Senate health care bill

WASHINGTON — In a long-anticipated showdown, liberal Democrats twice failed on Tuesday to inject a government-run insurance option into sweeping health care legislation taking shape in the Senate, despite bipartisan agreement that private insurers must change their ways.

THE INFLUENCE GAME: Little-known lobbyist scores money for birth centers in health overhaul

WASHINGTON — Karen Fennell is not your typical high-rolling lobbyist with a fat expense account and clients paying six-figure fees.

Ex-Dem fundraiser sentenced in NYC to 24 years in case that embarrassed Clinton campaign

NEW YORK — Former Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu was sentenced Tuesday to more than 24 years in prison by a judge who accused him of funding his fraud by manipulating the political process in a way that “strikes at the very core of our democracy.”

Personal, political plane use by SC governor creates potential income tax liabilities

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford’s use of state planes for personal and political trips could open him to federal tax penalties because the flights never were recorded as taxable fringe benefits.

Obama’s personal plea for Chicago Olympics means possible rewards _ and political risks

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s decision to fly to Denmark to support Chicago’s Olympics bid elevates the Games to an issue of national importance — and exposes him to political risks as well as rewards at a critical point in his presidency.

Obama presses health care plan at Congressional Black Caucus’ annual conference in Washington

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Saturday resumed his push to overhaul the health care system, telling a Congressional Black Caucus conference that there comes a time when “the cup of endurance runs over.”

Analysis: In US Senate, in global conferences, Obama faces nuclear challenges in 2010

UNITED NATIONS — In the afterglow of success at his one-day U.N. nuclear summit, a satisfied Barack Obama was also realistic.

GOP: Democratic-run Congress rushing to pass health care overhaul, ignoring public’s concerns

WASHINGTON — The Democratic-run Congress is ignoring the public’s concerns in the rush to pass legislation to overhaul the nation’s health care system, Republicans say.

Republican says Democrats are ignoring Americans’ concerns over health care reforms

WASHINGTON — Republicans say Democrats have ignored the public’s concerns in drafting new health care legislation under debate in the Senate Finance Committee.

AP Interview: Egypt warns of Mideast nuclear arms race if Israel and Iran are pusuing weapons

UNITED NATIONS — Egypt’s foreign minister warned Friday that a nuclear-capable Israel and an Iran pursuing nuclear weapons could trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

FDA finds bungled approval of knee repair device followed ‘extreme’ political pressure

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration has taken the unprecedented step of acknowledging that it buckled to “extreme” pressure from Capitol Hill in its approval of a knee repair device last year. While FDA officials call the situation an anomaly, experts said Friday there is nothing to stop similar political lobbying from influencing future decisions.

Republicans tapping lawmaker’s new fame from “You lie” outburst to raise money

WASHINGTON — The Republican Party is using the newfound fame of the lawmaker who shouted “You lie!” at President Barack Obama to raise money for GOP candidates around the country.

Pelosi says House will consider Senate funding scheme for health care

WASHINGTON — House Democrats are considering a tax on high-cost insurance plans to help pay for health care overhaul that tops President Barack Obama’s domestic agenda.

Text of statements by Obama, Sarkozy, Brown on Iranian nuclear facility

Statements by President Barack Obama, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown in Pittsburgh on Friday about an Iranian nuclear facility, as provided by the White House:

House lawmakers act to prevent government shutdown; boost their office budgets

WASHINGTON — The House passed legislation Friday to head off a government shutdown next week by temporarily extending spending on most federal programs at current levels, while boosting lawmakers’ office budgets by more than 8 percent.

US, Britain and France demand Iran open a covert nuclear facility to international inspection

PITTSBURGH — President Barack Obama and the leaders of Britain and France are publicly demanding that Iran open up a secret nuclear fuel facility to international inspectors.

Brandeis President Jehuda Reinharz to step down; says decision not due to museum controversy

WALTHAM, Mass. — The president of Brandeis University, who came under intense criticism for recommending that the school close its art museum and sell parts of its $350 million collection, says he is stepping down.

Russian leader defends himself against Chechen president’s defamation lawsuit

MOSCOW — A Russian human rights activist on trial over a defamation claim filed by Chechnya’s strongman president said Friday he stands by his statements blaming the Kremlin-backed provincial leader for a fellow activist’s slaying in July.

AP answers your questions on the news, from wildlife and wind farms to unemployment benefits

Wind power has its fans, but the turbines that turn breezes into energy are also generating concerns: Some worry that the huge contraptions might put wildlife at risk.

Senator’s staff questions ACORN use of donations

WASHINGTON — The embattled community activist group ACORN appears to be collecting charitable contributions through affiliate organizations that it then uses for impermissible lobbying and political activity, says the Republican staff of the Senate Finance Committee.

Senate passes $32 billion measure boosting EPA, Interior Department budgets

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday approved big budget increases for the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency as it passed a $32 billion spending measure for the budget year that starts next week.

If greenhouse gases are cut as planned, Earth still gets 6 degrees hotter, update suggests

WASHINGTON — Earth’s temperature is likely to jump nearly 6 degrees between now and the end of the century even if every country cuts greenhouse gas emissions as proposed, according to a United Nations update.

Obama-led UN Security Council backs broad agenda for nuclear weapon-free world

UNITED NATIONS — With President Barack Obama presiding, the U.N. Security Council on Thursday unanimously endorsed a sweeping strategy aimed at halting the spread of nuclear weapons and ultimately eliminating them, to usher in a world with “undiminished security for all.”

Paul Kirk, friend to Kennedy and executor of his will, tapped as temporary Senate replacement

BOSTON — Paul G. Kirk Jr. served Edward M. Kennedy as an aide, rooted beside him at Harvard-Yale football games and is the executor of his will. Now, as Kennedy’s replacement in the Senate, he is charged with trying to complete his late friend’s legacy by passing health care reform.