More challenges await lawmaker as Obama pushes to get health overhaul done

WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats see plenty of room for improvement in a sweeping health care overhaul bill, starting with changes to a tax on high-cost insurance policies that could hit middle-class Americans hard.

House Roll Call: How they voted on college aid

The 253-171 roll call Thursday by which the House passed a bill to overhaul college aid programs.

Analysis: Baucus incurs criticism from both sides in search for bipartisanship

WASHINGTON — His fellow Democrats shuddered and Republicans sneered when Sen. Max Baucus unveiled legislation to remake the health care system. Now, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee gamely insists that it can pass the Senate, core provisions intact.

Proposed tax on high-value insurance plans sparking concerns among congressional Democrats

WASHINGTON — Unhappy Senate Democrats on Thursday found plenty to complain about in the fine print of the latest health overhaul bill, particularly a tax provision they fear would hit hard at middle-class Americans, from coal miners in West Virginia to firefighters in New York.

House Roll Call: How they voted on ACORN defunding

The 345-75 roll call Thursday by which the House amended the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009 to deny all federal funds to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, commonly known as ACORN.

GOP lawmakers want details on Afghanistan war plans; Gates urges time for Obama to study plans

WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers turned up the pressure Thursday for more details on the war in Afghanistan, but Defense Secretary Robert Gates said “everybody should take a deep breath” and let the administration devise strategy at its own pace.

GOP lawmakers demand information on Afghanistan; Gates urges time for Obama to study plans

WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers are turning up the pressure for more information over the direction of the stalemated war in Afghanistan.

Obama pushes health plan at rally, but deep divisions foretell rough road ahead

COLLEGE PARK, Md. — President Barack Obama called reinventing health care a “defining struggle of this generation” on Thursday, even as several Democrats criticized some of the fine print in a Senate proposal the president has praised.

GOP Chairman Steele wary of health care cooperatives, calls them ‘back door’ to public option

WASHINGTON — Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele says he fears the health insurance cooperatives envisioned in the bill the Senate Finance Committee is promoting amounts to a “back door to a public option.”

Baucus’ health care plan marks pivotal moment in debate _ but no GOP support for compromise

WASHINGTON — His calls for compromise rebuffed by Republicans, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee unveiled sweeping legislation Wednesday to remake the nation’s costly health care system largely along the lines outlined by President Barack Obama.

With Mass. poised to change Senate succession law, focus shifts to whom governor may pick

BOSTON — Massachusetts Republicans vow to delay Democratic efforts Thursday to change the state’s Senate succession law, but the likelihood lawmakers will ultimately give Gov. Deval Patrick the power to temporarily replace the late Sen. Edward Kennedy has prompted discussion about whom he may pick.

Senate Dem: Homeland Security treating stimulus as ‘bottomless pit;’ Wants projects stopped

WASHINGTON — A senior Democratic senator urged the Obama administration to suspend hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs to the nation’s border stations Wednesday, saying Homeland Security officials were treating the economic stimulus plan like a “bottomless pit” of taxpayer money.

Baucus’ decision to unveil health bill with no GOP support dims chances for bipartisan deal

WASHINGTON — Sen. Max Baucus’ decision to release his long-awaited health care overhaul bill with no Republicans on board dims the chances for a bipartisan compromise on President Barack Obama’s top domestic priority.

Partisan tension lingers after House vote to admonish Wilson over ‘You lie’ insult

WASHINGTON — Despite pleadings from many lawmakers to move past the Rep. Joe Wilson dispute, some members of Congress are not ready to let it go.

Baucus moving ahead on health care without GOP support, Rangel says Obama’s price tag too low

WASHINGTON — Caught off guard, congressional Democrats are grappling with President Barack Obama’s unexpected call for immediate access to insurance for those with pre-existing medical conditions, as well as richer Medicare drug benefits than envisioned in early versions of health care legislation.

Top Senate negotiator to move ahead on health care without bipartisan agreement

WASHINGTON — The Senate’s top health care negotiator says he’s moving ahead on health care legislation without the bipartisan agreement he’d hoped for. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus said late Tuesday he’ll unveil a formal proposal on Wednesday, and move to committee deliberations next week. The Montana Democrat had spent months negotiating behind closed doors with a small group of senators trying to reach an elusive bipartisan deal.

‘You lie!’ _ House rebukes GOP lawmaker for his outburst during Obama’s health care speech

WASHINGTON — Bitterly divided along party lines, the House formally rebuked Republican Rep. Joe Wilson Tuesday for shouting “You lie” at President Barack Obama during last week’s nationally televised speech to Congress.

House Roll Call: How they voted on Rep. Joe Wilson resolution of disapproval

The 240-179 roll call Tuesday by which the House passed a resolution of disapproval against Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., for Wilson’s “You lie!” shout during President Barack Obama’s health care address to a joint session of Congress.

Nebraska GOP Sen. Johanns calls for Justice probe of ACORN

WASHINGTON — A Republican lawmaker on Tuesday urged the Justice Department to investigate ACORN, a community organization under fire for several voter-registration fraud cases.

House votes to admonish Wilson over ‘You lie’ outburst during Obama speech

WASHINGTON — The House has voted to admonish Rep. Joe Wilson over his “You lie” outburst to President Barack Obama during the president’s health care speech to Congress last week.

Obama’s health care prescription cause difficulties for congressional Democrats

WASHINGTON — Caught off guard, congressional Democrats are grappling with President Barack Obama’s unexpected call for immediate access to insurance for those with pre-existing medical conditions, as well as richer Medicare drug benefits than envisioned in early versions of health care legislation.

House prepares vote to admonish Rep. Wilson over ‘you lie’ outburst during Obama speech

WASHINGTON — Bitterly divided over an accusatory outburst — “You lie” — lawmakers on Tuesday prepared to admonish one of their own for his jarring interruption of President Barack Obama.

House committee chairman says Obama speech complicates health bill negotiations

WASHINGTON — A key House committee chairman says proposals President Barack Obama set out in his health care speech are causing problems for Democrats trying to finalize health legislation in the House.

Japan’s incoming leaders face worries they lack experience as presumptive PM finalizes Cabinet

TOKYO — Japan’s parliament was poised to name a former opposition leader prime minister Wednesday as worries mounted that his largely untested party wasn’t up to the task of reviving the struggling economy.

Democrats poised to vote Tuesday to scold SC Republican who heckled President Barack Obama

WASHINGTON — The uproar over Rep. Joe Wilson’s shouting “you lie” at President Barack Obama returns to the House floor Tuesday for what could be a contentious and highly partisan debate over whether to formally criticize the South Carolina Republican.

Support from members of both parties in doubt as negotiators wrap up Senate Finance proposal

WASHINGTON — Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus has been trying for months to write a health care bill that could win Republican support. If he succeeds he may find it’s fellow Democrats he has to worry about.

Canadian opposition party may support government in an effort to stave off election

TORONTO — One of Canada’s opposition parties is signaling it might be willing to prop up Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s minority government and avert a fall election.

Bad news for media: Study finds public increasingly finding the press inaccurate, biased

NEW YORK — More bad news for journalists: The percentage of people who believe their work is inaccurate and biased continues to grow.

Obama, Congress easing debate on public option, turning attention to insurance regulation

WASHINGTON — The White House and members of Congress on Sunday played down an immediate role for a government health insurance option and turned attention to regulating insurers, with the goal of lowering costs and ensuring coverage regardless of medical condition.

Republican senator: White House ready to give up on public option in health insurance overhaul

WASHINGTON — A Republican lawmaker says it’s clear to him that the White House is ready to abandon a government-run public health insurance option.