Senate Democratic leader has tough task ahead in finalizing health care legislation

WASHINGTON — Forget mission accomplished. Try mission seemingly impossible.

Asked if Sen. John Ensign can be effective amid sex scandal, a top Republican stays silent

WASHINGTON — The second-ranking Senate Republican offered no support Sunday for embattled Sen. John Ensign, facing renewed criticism over an extramarital affair with an aide and the actions he took on behalf of her husband.

Funeral held for Okla.’s first Republican governor, father of state’s modern GOP party

EDMOND, Okla. — Oklahoma’s first Republican governor who is credited with founding the state’s modern GOP party is being remembered as a caring visionary.

Freshmen at large universities embrace ‘psychologically smaller’ approach to college life

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The freshman experience at large state universities can still resemble a failed social experiment more than the start of a four-year journey to enlightenment.

Senate GOP leader offers no support for Ensign amid new allegations about cover-up affair

WASHINGTON — Sen. John Ensign of Nevada was only beginning to emerge from a self-imposed political exile over fallout from his extramarital affair with a campaign aide. Now, tawdry new details about the case are raising fresh questions whether Ensign can be re-elected in 2012 — or even face criminal charges over his behavior.

Conservative US lawmakers visit Honduras leaders, highlighting Washington divide over coup

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Honduras’ coup-installed president told a U.S. congressional delegation Friday that full civil liberties would be restored within days, a spokesman for one of the lawmakers said following a meeting that challenged Washington’s attempts to isolate the interim government.

Obama reaches historic milestone on health care but with no guarantee he’ll prevail in the end

WASHINGTON — Eight months in office, Barack Obama has now pushed closer than any other president in generations to creating a basic health care safety net for working Americans. Yet the fate of legislation delivering on his goal is far from certain: Republicans are nearly unified in opposition, Democrats hardly united in support.

Health bill’s progress is historic _ but opposition shows it’s still a long way from passage

WASHINGTON — Barack Obama has pushed closer than any president in generations to creating a basic health care safety net for most Americans, yet the fate of legislation delivering on his promise is far from certain.

Senate GOP leader declines chance to support embattled Nevada senator amid ethics questions

WASHINGTON — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell passed on several opportunities to defend two embattled GOP senators Friday as a new report raised questions about Sen. John Ensign’s efforts to cover up his affair with a campaign aide.

Amid criticism of Democrats, Republicans gamble by not offering their own health care plan

WASHINGTON — Even as Republicans pummel President Barack Obama’s health care proposals, some GOP leaders worry their party is being hurt by a Democratic counterattack: Where is your plan?

Health overhaul just a step away from Senate floor, Dems ease impact on working-class families

WASHINGTON — Capping months of struggle, Democrats pushed health care legislation atop President Barack Obama’s agenda to the brink of a major Senate advance early Friday after last-minute changes to ease the impact on working-class families. The most far-reaching overhaul in decades aims to protect millions who have unreliable insurance coverage or none at all.

Finance Committee senators agree to let states negotiate health plans for the poor

WASHINGTON — Senators trying to make health care more affordable want to let state governments negotiate basic coverage plans for some lower-income people.

Ohio elections panel continues hearing congresswoman’s complaint about Turkish-Armenian past

COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio congressional candidate defended statements he made about a state congresswoman, telling an election panel Thursday he had reason to believe she took money from Turkish government-sponsored interests in return for a denial that the country committed genocide against Armenians in 1915.

Democrats turn back GOP health bill tax amendments as Sen. aims to finish debate by nightfall

WASHINGTON — Rejecting Republican amendments, Democrats turned back GOP efforts to cast the health care overhaul as a tax hike on the middle class Thursday, as a crucial Senate panel aimed to wrap up debate on the measure by nightfall.

AP Interview: Santorum says he wants role in GOP’s future, hasn’t decided on presidential run

WINDSOR HEIGHTS, Iowa — Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum argued Thursday that only a sharply conservative Republican message can “stem the tide” of change President Barack Obama is seeking in Washington, and he wants to play a role in that debate.

Democrats turn back GOP health bill tax amendments as Baucus aims to finish panl work Thursday

WASHINGTON — Rejecting Republican amendments, Democrats turned back GOP efforts to cast the health care overhaul as a tax hike on the middle class Thursday, as a crucial Senate panel aimed to wrap up debate on the measure by nightfall.

Social Democrat leader: Romanian government collapses after his party quits over firing

BUCHAREST, Romania — Romania’s coalition government collapsed Thursday after nine ministers from the Social Democrats quit to protest the firing of the interior minister for comments about possible election fraud.

Minn.’s Pawlenty, a possible 2012 presidential candidate, files PAC papers, announces advisers

ST. PAUL, Minn. — A team of Republican consultants with experience on the presidential level will help run Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s new political action committee, which could be the forerunner of a 2012 White House campaign.

Democrats eye mid-October launch for health care debate in the full House and Senate

WASHINGTON — Historic health care legislation could be on the floor of both houses of Congress as early as mid-October as Democrats work to answer President Barack Obama’s call for greater protections for those who have unreliable insurance or no coverage at all.

Health care vote predicted soon by Senate panel; GOP challenges swept aside as emotions rise

WASHINGTON — A White House-backed overhaul of the nation’s health care system weathered repeated challenges from Republican critics over taxes, abortion and more on Wednesday, and the bill’s architect claimed enough votes to push it through the Senate Finance Committee as early as week’s end.

A Love Story? Skeptics remain, but Michael Moore has loyal following in GOP-leaning Mich. town

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Seated on a platform in a blocked-off street, the founder of the Traverse City Film Festival grinned as Mayor Michael Estes hailed him for boosting the local economy and cultural scene — “with almost no government assistance!”

GOP lawmakers seek scolding for Democrat who said Republicans want the sick to ‘die quickly’

WASHINGTON — House Republicans say it’s payback time for the recent reprimand of one of their own for heckling President Barack Obama. They want a Democratic lawmaker to apologize or face a reprimand for saying the GOP wants Americans to “die quickly” if they get sick.

Democratic lawmaker says Republicans want Americans to ‘die quickly’; Republicans want apology

WASHINGTON — A Democratic congressman from Florida is refusing to apologize for saying that Republicans want Americans to “die quickly” if they get sick.

NJ’s GOP candidate for governor is big Bruce Springsteen fan, despite political differences

MENDHAM, N.J. — New Jersey’s Republican candidate for governor insists he’ll spend the night before his first debate at a Bruce Springsteen concert.

Angela Merkel roars to 2nd term, new coalition in German election thanks to strong ally

BERLIN — Angela Merkel has won a second term as chancellor, but the politician hailed as the big winner in Germany’s national election is the leader of the pro-business Free Democrats, Guido Westerwelle.

Merkel on track to win 2nd term in Germany, form new center-right coalition

BERLIN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel looked set to romp into second term and form a new center-right government after Sunday’s national election, while her center-left rival conceded that his party had suffered “a bitter defeat.”

Battered New York GOP chooses Richard Nixon’s son-in-law Edward Cox as new chairman

ALBANY, N.Y. — A Manhattan lawyer who is Richard Nixon’s son-in-law is the new leader of the New York Republicans.

Key issues in the campaign for Germany’s parliamentary election

A glance at key issues in Germany’s parliamentary election Sunday:

Merkel wins 2nd term; big winner in Germany hailed as Free Democratic leader Westerwelle

BERLIN — Angela Merkel has won a second term as chancellor, but the politician hailed as the big winner in Germany’s national election is the leader of the pro-business Free Democrats, Guido Westerwelle.

Exit polls: Merkel’s party leads in German election, on track for new center-right coalition

BERLIN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel was on track to win a second term and form a new center-right government in Sunday’s election and her center-left rivals were headed for a historic defeat, exit polls indicated.