Senators set to cast crucial 1st vote Saturday on Obama health overhaul legislation

A crucial first Senate vote on President Barack Obama's health care overhaul in a rare Saturday night session looms as a test of Democratic unity and the president's prestige.

 

GOP: Recommendations for fewer women's health tests could mean rationed health care under bill

Republicans are seizing on this week's recommendations for fewer Pap smears and mammograms to fuel concern about government-rationed medical care — and to try to chip away support by women for President Barack Obama's proposed health care overhaul.

 

More e-mails from alleged Fort Hood gunman may exist

There may be additional e-mails that could have tipped off law enforcement or military officials to the Fort Hood shooter before he went on his deadly rampage, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee said Friday.

 

US prosecutors to drop manslaughter case against Blackwater guard in deadly '07 Iraq shooting

The Justice Department intends to drop manslaughter and weapons charges against one of the Blackwater Worldwide security guards involved in a deadly 2007 Baghdad shooting, prosecutors said in court documents Friday.

 

Moderate Dems pivotal in Saturday health care vote

Suitably opaque, Section 2006 takes up only a few dozen lines in a sweeping health care bill that runs to 2,074 pages and mentions neither Sen. Mary Landrieu nor her state of Louisiana.

 

GOP: Recommendations for fewer women's health tests could mean rationed health care under bill

Republicans are seizing on this week's recommendations for fewer Pap smears and mammograms to fuel concern about government-rationed medical care — and to try to chip away support by women for President Barack Obama's proposed health care overhaul.

 

FAA tells employees equipment outage cause 819 flight delays; Atlanta was hardest hit

The Federal Aviation Administration is blaming an equipment outage this week for delaying 819 flights.

 

Couple pleads guilty in Cuban spying case

A retired State Department worker and his wife accused of a decades-long plot to spy for Cuba pleaded guilty Friday in a deal that will leave him behind bars for the rest of his life but gives her a chance at freedom in six years.

 

Army says independent review sought by GAO will look at how body armor for troops is tested

The Army says there will be an outside review of how body armor for its soldiers is tested.

 

NY Republican advisers say Giuliani more interested in running for US Senate than governor

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, encouraged by many Republicans to run for governor in 2010, is instead leaning toward a run for U.S. Senate, according to two party advisers.

 

Product Recalls: cantaloupes, Shedd's Country Crock chilled side-dish products

The following recalls have been announced:

 

Ethics committee admonishes Sen. Burris of Ill. in letter, but recommends no punishment

The Senate ethics committee on Friday admonished Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., for making "inconsistent, misleading or incomplete" statements about the circumstances surrounding his appointment to the seat once held by Barack Obama. The committee recommended no action beyond the letter.

 

Senate health bill helps chiropractors, biologic drugmakers but whacks insurance executives

Chiropractors get a lift in the Senate health care bill, thanks to a senator from the state practitioners consider the birthplace of their profession — Iowa.

 

Senate panel to mull Bernanke nomination on Dec. 3

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's nomination to a second term will be the subject of a Senate Banking Committee hearing next month, the panel's chairman said Friday.

 

White House at odds with bishops over abortion

The White House is on a collision course with Catholic bishops in an intractable dispute over abortion that could blow up the fragile political coalition behind President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

 

EPA: Fuel efficiency for new cars and trucks up slightly in 2008 model year

The fleet of new cars and trucks sold to U.S. consumers averaged 21 miles per gallon in the 2008 model year, a modest increase over the previous year, the Environmental Protection Agency reported Friday.

 

New wrinkle in insider-trading probe of Pequot hedge fund raises questions on SEC case

A new development related to the government's investigation of possible insider trading at a major hedge fund has raised questions in the case and caught the attention of two key senators.

 

28 states added jobs in October, but the employment gains may be short-lived

In a sharp improvement, more than half of U.S. states added jobs in October, though economists said many of the gains likely occurred in temporary employment.

 

FEC fines fundraiser's Mich. law firm over donations to John Edwards' 2004 campaign

A Michigan law firm has agreed to pay a $131,000 fine to resolve an investigation into donations to former Sen. John Edwards' 2004 presidential campaign.

 

Pentagon launches quick hunt for more Hasans, longer look at possible lapses in Fort Hood case

The Pentagon said Thursday it will scour its procedures for identifying volatile soldiers hidden in the ranks following the Fort Hood shooting rampage and lapses that might allow others to slip through bureaucratic cracks.

 

Nebraska's moderate Sen. Ben Nelson to vote 'yes' on crucial health care test vote Saturday

Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska is a "yes" in a crucial weekend test vote on health care.

 

Health care issues: Bundling payments

A look at key issues in the health care debate:

 

Senate health bill has Medicaid money for Louisiana as top Democrat seeks its senator's vote

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has included at least $100 million in Medicaid funds for Louisiana in his health care bill at the same time he is trying to persuade that state's wavering Democratic senator to cast a pivotal vote for the overhaul legislation.

 

Past CNN head, Bush aide named to broadcast board

President Barack Obama has nominated a former press secretary to President George W. Bush and a past chairman of CNN to the Broadcasting Board of Governors. The independent agency oversees nonmilitary international broadcasts sponsored by the federal government, including Voice of America.

 

Pentagon chief says Afghan troop increase could swiftly follow Obama announcement

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said any new U.S. forces President Barack Obama sends to Afghanistan could move into the country swiftly, despite logistical hassles that force almost all major deliveries of troops and supplies to go by air.

 

Republican advisers say Giuliani leaning toward Senate bid instead of governor's race

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is leaning toward running for the U.S. Senate rather than making a bid for governor, two Republican advisers said Thursday.

 

Feds charge firms with stealing millions from fund to help deaf people make phone calls

Federal prosecutors have charged more than two dozen people with scheming to steal millions from a telephone program for the deaf.

 

Govt wants to expand expedited screening of low-risk, arriving travelers at more airports

The Homeland Security Department wants to expand speedy screening of preapproved, low-risk air travelers arriving in the United States to most international airports in the country.

 

Balance of power in U.S.-China relationship shifts to the east

President Obama is visiting Asia this week amid high expectations but waning influence for the...

 

As a debtor nation, America has fewer options in dealing with China

Few issues between the United States and China are as fraught as their co-dependent financial...