Mass. GOP seeks to block governor from appointing Kennedy interim successor

BOSTON — A Massachusetts assistant attorney general has moved to dismiss a case in which the state Republican Party is trying to block the swearing-in of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy’s interim replacement.

Government-sponsored health insurance plan to face crucial Senate committee votes

WASHINGTON — Advocates for a public insurance plan — the idea that has generated the most passion in the high-decibel health care debate — are pressing for a crucial test vote in the Senate Finance Committee.

Finance committee senators to offer proposals Friday to create gov’t option

WASHINGTON — Two top Democrats say they’ll offer proposals to create a government-sponsored health insurance plan to the Senate Finance Committee on Friday.

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.

Democrats try to win support from seniors for overhaul without alienating drug companies

WASHINGTON — For the moment, the health care fight is all about older folks.

Republicans to block health nominees until Obama’s team lifts ‘gag order’ on Medicare insurers

WASHINGTON — The Senate’s top Republicans said Thursday they wouldn’t allow President Barack Obama to fill health posts until his administration stops barring insurers from telling the elderly how Democrats’ health overhaul could affect their benefits.

Finance Committee Democrats thwart Republicans attempt to stall work on health care overhaul

WASHINGTON — Senators writing a health care overhaul bill have rejected a Republican amendment that could have put the sweeping measure on hold.

Democrats, Republicans ready fresh challenges to far-reaching health care overhaul bill

WASHINGTON — Tempers are flaring as the Senate Finance Committee starts its third day of exhaustive deliberations on a sweeping overhaul of the health care system.

Democrats try wooing seniors to health care drive, press AARP to step up its sales pitch

WASHINGTON — The White House and Democrats are laboring to attract skeptical seniors to their drive to reshape the nation’s health care system, leading some to press the behemoth but reluctant AARP to be more aggressive about backing them.

Democrats and Republicans spar over health care bill’s effect on seniors

WASHINGTON — Sweeping health care legislation cleared its first hurdles in the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday as Democrats turned back a series of proposed changes by Republicans who attacked it as a threat to Medicare.

Democrats reject GOP amendment to require health bill to be available online before vote

WASHINGTON — Senate Finance Committee Democrats have rejected a GOP amendment that would have required a health overhaul bill to be available online for 72 hours before the committee votes.

Finance Cte Dems turn back Republican push to let public see health bill language before vote

WASHINGTON — Senate Finance Committee Democrats have rejected a GOP amendment that would have required a health overhaul bill to be available online for 72 hours before the committee votes.

NY lawyer: Wealthy fundraiser for top Democrats made legal political contributions

NEW YORK — The lawyer for a wealthy fundraiser for Hillary Rodham Clinton and other top Democrats said Wednesday that his client’s political contributions were legal — despite charges he defrauded banks of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Senate Democrats propose tougher government tests in counterterrorism surveillance

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration, for a second straight day, frustrated Democratic lawmakers Wednesday by declining to say whether it backs their demands for more civil liberties safeguards in anti-terrorism surveillance and property seizures.

Democrats juggle competing priorities as Senate committee pushes forward on health care bill

Democrats try to move on health bill; GOP objects

WASHINGTON — Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus heard some encouraging words Wednesday from a key centrist Democrat as he opened the second day of a committee meeting to debate and vote on his sweeping health overhaul bill.

House Roll Call: How the House voted on jobless benefits bill

The 331-83 roll call Tuesday by which the House voted to provide another 13 weeks of unemployment benefits to workers in high-unemployment states.

Minn. Gov. Pawlenty to launch fundraising committee; possible step toward presidential run

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is preparing to launch a national fundraising committee, another signal the Republican may be positioning himself for a possible 2012 presidential run.

Republicans race to widen cracks forming in Democratic wall in New York

ALBANY, N.Y. — As New York Gov. David Paterson’s political vitality fades and a court decision over his lieutenant governor choice threatens to weaken his presumed chief rival for the 2010 gubernatorial nomination, Republicans sense a hole opening in the Democrats’ wall of invincibility in the state and are seizing the day.

GOP leaders accuse Democrats of ‘gagging’ insurance companies’ criticism of health care bill

WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers rebuked the Obama administration Tuesday for telling health insurance companies to stop warning elderly customers they’ll lose benefits in health care legislation, which some equated to a gag order.

Defiant New York governor shoots back at Democrats seeking him to drop from ‘10 race

ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. David Paterson of New York is refusing to bend under pressure from top Democrats to get out of the 2010 race for governor to make way for state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.

Think tank proposes that Obama White House update US relations with China

WASHINGTON — A strategic think tank with close connections to the Obama administration is calling on the White House to develop better and broader relations with China.

Dem chairman calls for health care assistance for families as Senate committee begins work

WASHINGTON — Bidding for support from Democrats as well as a single Republican, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee gaveled open a long-awaited debate over health care Tuesday with fresh plans to reduce costs on working-class families and impose new obligations on the insurance industry.

Ex-contractor at Eglin AFB sentenced to probation in fraud case tied to Congressional earmarks

PENSACOLA, Fla. — A former defense contractor for Eglin Air Force Base was sentenced to four years’ probation Tuesday for obstructing justice as part of wider fraud scheme by contractors and defense lobbyists with ties to a powerful Pennsylvania congressman.

House Democrat urges White House to send more troops, remain focused on Afghanistan

WASHINGTON — The top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee is urging the White House to send more troops to Afghanistan and stick with a military strategy that was outlined six months ago.

Minn. Gov. Pawlenty to launch fundraising committee; downplays link to 2012 presidential run

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is preparing to launch a national fundraising committee, another signal the Republican may be positioning himself for a possible 2012 presidential run.

Think Tank proposes updating relations with China

WASHINGTON — A strategic think tank with close connections to the Obama administration is calling on the White House to develop better and broader relations with China.

As election nears, far-right party tells candidates of foreign descent to leave Germany

BERLIN — A far-right party has sent letters to 30 politicians of foreign descent who are candidates in Germany’s national election on Sunday, telling them to leave the country.

RNC chairman says GOP must take steps to court black voters, faults both parties for poverty

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele on Monday said his party must take steps to win over black voters, and he faulted both Democrats and the GOP for failing to address poverty.

RNC Chairman Michael Steele says GOP must take ‘baby steps’ to win over black voters

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele says his party must take steps to win over black voters.

Baucus changes health bill to address affordability concerns of fellow senators

WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee was revising his sweeping health care bill Monday to address serious concerns from fellow Democrats and a key Republican about insurance costs, part of his ongoing struggle to deliver on President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority.