Republican says no 'political fallout' from cuts

2011-05-27T17:30:21Z

The US Senate's top Republican predicted Friday that voters in the 2012 election won't punish his party for demanding huge spending cuts to reduce the US deficit.

"We don't know what the issues are going to be in next year's election, it's a year and a half from now," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell

Republicans stick to plan to privatize Medicare

2011-05-25T14:30:16Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans on Wednesday stuck by their plan to privatize the Medicare federal health insurance program for the elderly despite a rebuke from voters in a special congressional election in New York state.

"We can no longer let politicians in US Democrat Party was jubilant Wednesday after an upset victory in a congressional by-election seen as baring a potentially fatal weakness in Republican strategy ahead of 2012 national polls.

The immediate battle in upstate New York's 26th Congressional District was to fill the usually safe Republican seat vacated by

Democrats score upset victory in NY election

2011-05-25T03:00:08Z

The Democratic Party scored an upset victory late Tuesday in a tight Congressional by-election seen testing Republicans' strategy on politically sensitive budget cuts ahead of 2012 nationwide vote.

The race in western New York's 26th Congressional District saw ...

Democrat set for upset win in NY election

2011-05-24T21:00:27Z

The Democratic Party appeared to have scored an upset victory late Tuesday in a tight Congressional by-election seen testing Republicans' strategy on politically sensitive budget cuts ahead of 2012 nationwide polls.

The race in western New York state's 26th Con...

Medicare to exhaust funds sooner, report finds

2011-05-13T09:30:48Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two of the government's most popular programs for the elderly, Medicare and Social Security, will run out of money sooner than thought earlier as a slow-growing economy saps revenues, a report Friday said.

Truste...

Obama lays out vision for curing U.S. fiscal woes

2011-04-13T13:30:20Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Wednesday laid out his long-term strategy to reduce the U.S. budget deficit by $4 trillion over 12 years.

He proposed four steps: savings on the defense budget, elimination of waste in healthcare spending, control of d...

Republican plan to overhaul U.S.-run health programs

2011-04-05T07:30:09Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans on Tuesday proposed $6 trillion in spending cuts over a decade, including a politically risky overhaul of government-run health programs, while also slashing tax rates as part of their 2012 budget blueprint.

The budget proposal comes as Congress and

A Hose Divided

2010-11-29T14:54:05Z

...

GOP investigators take aim at health care overhaul

2010-11-09T13:01:22Z

Will GOP use congressional probes for grandstanding, or to fix flaws in Obama's law?

Republicans plan to use the investigative powers of Congress to go after President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, and they're focusing on questions uppermost in the minds of consumers: What's it going to cost me? Can I keep the covera...

Sue Lowden and the Nevada Senate race

2010-11-29T16:03:57Z

...

Republicans to attack healthcare law funding

2010-11-04T10:32:04Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Republicans will try to repeal President Barack Obama's healthcare law next year but their leader in the Senate on Thursday acknowledged they will likely have to settle for far more modest changes.

Two days after Republicans scored major victories in congressional elections,

Where are the 47 million poor people in the USA?

2010-11-04T14:33:36Z

...

The G.O.P. Is Courting Disaster

2010-11-03T03:16:14Z

...

SENATE Healthcare Bill Clears FIRST Hurdle: Yahoo! and CBS

2010-11-03T00:12:51Z

...

The Healthcare Summit: ABC

2010-11-03T00:13:19Z

...

Health care: Starting to see the costs!

2010-11-03T00:12:52Z

...

Obama to bypass Senate to fill Medicare post: White House

2010-07-14T13:52:43Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama, frustrated by Republican obstruction of key administration staffing appointments, will use his power to appoint his pick to run Medicare and Medicaid while the U.S. Congress...

Democrats launch push to promote Obama health law

2010-06-10T14:01:37Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats launched a new push on Thursday to promote U.S. President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul, as the first $250 rebates were mailed to seniors to help plug gaps in Medicare prescription drug coverage.

Democrat...

A.M. Vitals: Kellogg Dinged for Claiming Rice Krispies Boost Immunity

2010-10-27T08:05:14Z

...

Republicans Taking Aim at Medicare Nominee Berwick

2010-10-27T08:05:04Z

...

Dean vs. Rove at UNLV debate

2010-04-08T02:15:43Z

Howard Dean has been chairman of the Democratic National Committee, a governor and presidential candidate. Yet the physician has had some unflattering things to say about his partyÕs health care reform bill.

Still, Dean will defend it and DemocratsÕ positions on other issues in a debate Friday with President Barack Obama dared Republicans to try to repeal the law.

With Vice President Joe Biden presiding...

Analysis: Republicans have simple message: No

2010-03-24T12:31:23Z

While Democrats were shaping and delivering health care change, Republicans waged a skilled and largely successful campaign to demonize the whole business.

They still are, still on message. That's not difficult when the central message is simple: No.

Answering simplicity with complexity is a political loser. That's the challenge for President Barack Ob...

Doing the right thing

2010-03-24T02:19:33Z

Needed health care reform legislation should gain swift, final approval

Forty-five years ago Sunday, John Lewis joined a group of people peacefully marching through Alabama to support civil rights. The group faced not only the taunts and jeers of those opposed to civil rights but also violent opposition. Lewis was savagely beaten by police.

Lewis is now a Democ...

Pass health care reform

2010-06-26T03:16:01Z

Analysis shows that Democratic bill would help Americans, reduce deficit

Congressional leaders unveiled the latest version of the health care bill Thursday, and House Democratic leadership was ecstatic.

After months of being hammered by Republicans with lies about the reform plans, Democrats cheered the nonpartisan Congressional Budget OfficeÕs initial analysis of the bill, which unde...

Attacks on Reid have mixed messages

2010-06-26T03:14:37Z

State GOP says senator hasnÕt brought enough pork; national complains of Nevada favoritism

WASHINGTON As Republicans ramp up their campaign against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the partys Nevada and Washington operations cant se...

Past time for reform

2010-03-16T02:15:31Z

Next weekÕs health care votes could be pivotal moment in Congress

Democrats are planning to move as early as next week to hold what could be the deciding votes to pass health care reform, possibly capping off a year of acrimonious debate in Congress. There was quite a bit of momentum this past week, with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid o...

Health care odds long, but Democrats push ahead

2010-06-25T21:41:29Z

President Barack Obama argued Thursday that a sweeping overhaul of the nation's broken health care system is imperative for the nation's future economic vitality, clashing in an extraordinary live-on-TV summit with Republicans who want far more modest changes. "We believe we have a better idea," declared GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander.

With the marathon policy debate avai...

Obama, GOP agree on some health areas

2010-04-16T06:57:16Z

Democrats and Republicans found plenty areas of agreement at President Barack Obama's health care summit, starting with a shared belief that the system needs fixing. When they delved into the details, though, consensus evaporated in many cases.

The dynamic illustrated the partisan divide that's riven the health care debate and underscored the difficulty of coming together even on modest measures.

Among the areas where De...

Rows simmer below civility of Obama's health summit

2010-06-25T20:50:09Z

Partisan sniping and ideological divides tore at a veneer of civility at Barack Obama's health summit Thursday, despite his plea for no "political theater" on an issue dragging down his presidency.

Obama gathered Republican foes and Democratic allies in a unique televised meeting billed as a bid to bridge divides in a poisonous political climate over his top domestic priority, which is perilously stalled in Congress.

"I ...

Row simmers at US health reform summit

2010-06-25T20:47:44Z

Partisan sniping and ideological divides tore at a veneer of civility at Barack Obama's health summit on Thursday, despite his plea for no "political theater" on an issue dragging down his presidency.

...

Bottom line at health summit: lots of smoke

2010-04-16T06:58:12Z

Health care summit may need a judge to sort fact from fiction, slam down gavel

Cue the cameras. President Barack Obama and his Republican arch foes will argue their case on health care overhaul at a bipartisan summit expected to stretch out for a solid six hours on live, daytime television Thursday for millions of Americans.

Expect them to collide, not come together. Without a no-nonsense referee to sla...

Reid seeks extension of jobless aid

2010-04-16T06:58:56Z

Reid presses to extend jobless aid, Medicaid help for states

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is pressing to extend unemployment benefits and health insurance subsidies for the jobless through December as he and Republicans try to clear leftover Senate business.

Reid also hopes to keep helping cash-strapped states with their Medicaid budgets, he said Tuesday ...

Failure of health care overhaul will add more woes

2010-04-16T07:07:09Z

If health overhaul fails, look for spiraling premiums, more uninsured, skimpier Medicare

What could be worse than health care overhaul? No health care overhaul.

It's anybody's guess whether President Barack Obama's health remake will survive in Congress.

But there's no doubting the consequences if lawmakers fail to address the problems of costs, cove...

No health care overhaul will bring more problems

2010-04-16T07:07:04Z

What could be worse than health care overhaul? No health care overhaul.

It's anybody's guess whether President Barack Obama's health remake will survive in Congress.

But there's no doubting the consequences if lawmakers fail to address the problems of costs, coverage and quality: surging insurance premiums, more working families without coverage, bigger out-of-pocket bills, a M...

What's worse than health care overhaul? No changes

2010-04-16T07:07:09Z

What could be worse than health care overhaul? No health care overhaul.

It's anybody's guess whether President Barack Obama's health remake will survive in Congress.

Analysis: Gov't takeover of health already reality

2010-06-25T18:37:02Z

In the long, loud argument about President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, opponents contend it would point toward a government takeover of the system. Democrats deny that. Now there's evidence that it's already happening, inexorably, whatever the outcome on the stalled health care bill.

For the first time, government programs will account for more than half of U.S.

Recalls: boys' Santa sets, horse toy figures

2010-10-22T14:42:01Z

...

THE SUNÕS MOST READ STORIES*

2010-04-16T07:24:42Z

THE SUNÕS MOST

READ STORIES*

1. Behind the walls of polygamy town. Apostate turns atypical upbringing into tour business.

2. GOP victory in Massachusetts signals trouble for Democrats. Close race draws Nevadans into election in final days.

3. SC attorney general, counterparts, scrutinize dealmaking on US Senate health care legislation

The top prosecutors in seven states are probing the constitutionality of a political deal that cut a funding break for Nebraska in order to pass a federal health care reform bill, South Carolina's attorney genera...

Pass the Healthcare Reform Bill - Or See the System Collapse

2010-10-22T13:04:05Z

...

Medicare cuts focus of Senate health care debate

2010-06-25T19:29:11Z

Senate Republicans forced Democrats to vote in favor of cutting billions from providers of home care for older people as partisan debate flared Saturday during a rare weekend session on President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

Obama planned to travel to Capitol Hill on Sunday to help Democrats resolve internal disputes that stand in the way of

Dems defeat GOP on restoring $40B in Medicare cuts

2010-04-16T08:38:47Z

Democrats defeat GOP attempt to restore $40 billion in cuts to home health care agencies

Senate Democrats have defeated a GOP attempt to eliminate $40 billion in cuts to home health care services in the health overhaul bill.

The 53-41 vote Saturday came during a rare weekend session to debate President Barack Obama's health legisl...

GOP leaps on study of rising health care costs

2010-06-25T19:47:28Z

Republicans jump on report from Medicare agency that says Democratic bill would boost spending

Overall spending on health care would rise as a result of legislation approved a week ago by the House, and billions of dollars in projected savings contained in the measure will be difficult to maintain, according to a report by a top official at the agency that oversees Medicare.

The legislation would expand insuran...

Study suggests costs rise under health care bill

2010-06-25T19:47:41Z

The legislation would expand insurance coverage to an estimated 32 million people who now lack it, according to the report, creating a demand for services ...

Republicans say Dems health care plans too costly

2010-04-16T09:40:18Z

GOP says Democrats' plan to overhaul health care will increase costs for the average American

With landmark health care votes expected in the coming weeks, Republicans are warning voters that the Democratic plan to expand coverage to millions who lack it will increase costs for the average American.

In the GOP's ...

Republicans bash Dems over health care proposals

2010-04-16T09:40:18Z

In the GOP's radio and Internet address Saturday, Nebraska Sen. Mike Johanns said the health care legislation would mean higher monthly premiums and ...

TitusÕ star rising as Ensign struggles

2010-04-16T10:05:13Z

Her name is attached to popular legislation; his amendments shot down

WASHINGTON — Democratic Rep. Dina Titus did not win her first-choice assignment as a freshman for a seat on the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee.

Nor doe...

GOP to block health nominees in Medicare spat

2010-04-16T10:09:18Z

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

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.

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.

"This is our opportunity to mak...

GOP raps Dems for hushing insurers on Medicare

2010-06-25T20:34:36Z

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

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.

At least one promin...

Obama demands Congress action on health reform

2010-04-16T10:25:12Z

President Barack Obama Wednesday warned Congress to act now to fix a health care system at "breaking point," in a bold bid to impose his will on a fiery debate threatening his top domestic priority.

In his toughest leadership test so far, Obama said in a rare joint address to Congress that more Americans would die if the government did not act and told Repub...

Baucus says health bill should come soon

2010-06-25T20:49:40Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As President Barack Obama prepares a fresh push for U.S. healthcare reform next week, the senator leading talks to craft bipartisan legislation said he wanted to move "soon" to put a bill together.

"I am committed to getting health care reform done - done soon and done right,"

With distance, civility Holding town-hall meeting by phone, ReidÕs able to stick to subject

2010-06-25T20:50:46Z

A SAMPLING OF CALLS

Jan: My concern is the growing size of government.Reid: There is not a member of Congress I know of that is contemplating or wanting a single-payer system. Some people have said, Oh, were going to have a European-type system. No one is contemplating that. No one wants that. This will still be private insurance. Plus of course well have Medicare, Medicaid and the VA.<...

'Special interests' on both sides in health fight

2010-06-25T21:00:17Z

Obama relies on some special interests, assails others in fight over his health care overhaul

As public pitchman, President Barack Obama accuses special interests of fighting to block his health care overhaul. "They run their ads. And let's face it, they scare people," he told one weekend audience.

Yet Obama has spent months assembling a formidable lineup of special interests of his own, an essential el...

Seniors uneasy over Medicare cuts in overhaul

2010-04-16T11:04:34Z

Democrats are pushing for Medicare cuts on a scale not seen in years to underwrite health care for all. Many seniors now covered under the program don't like that one bit.

Seeing a political opportunity, Republicans have accused President Barack Obama of trying to use Medicare as a piggy bank to finance his top domestic priority — putting the president on the defensive on a highl...

Senate health panel approves its part of reform bill

2010-11-02T12:42:30Z

...

Obama mounts defense of embattled health care plan

2010-04-16T11:11:55Z

President Barack Obama fiercely defended his embattled campaign to overhaul US healthcare, calling it vital to nursing the economy to long-term vigor after a "full-blown crisis."

Facing a defining moment six months into his presidency, Obama warned at his fourth prime-time press conference that a political stalemate must not smother what he has described as a central pl...

House Dems look at surtax on the wealthy

2010-06-25T21:34:33Z

An income tax surcharge on highly paid Americans emerged as the leading option Wednesday night as House Democrats sought ways to pay for health care legislation that President Barack Obama favors, several officials said.

As discussed in the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, the surtax would apply to individuals...

Republicans: U.S. healthcare timetable may slip

2010-06-25T21:34:33Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Critics assailed the Obama administration on Wednesday for a deal with hospitals meant to cut costs, and a top Republican said the U.S. Senate may need more than a planned month to pass a bipartisan healthcare reform bill.

Senate Democrati...

White House, hospitals reach deal on health care

2010-06-25T21:36:30Z

White House, hospitals reach deal to help pay for Obama's overhaul of health care

The nation's hospitals will give up $155 billion in future Medicare and Medicaid payments to help defray the cost of President Barack Obama's health care plan, a concession...

Hugging cancer patient, Obama pitches health plan

2010-04-16T11:33:27Z

President Barack Obama hugged a cancer patient Wednesday at an emotional forum before a supportive audience and vowed to bring greater efficiency and accessibility to the nation's health care system.

Debby Smith, 53, of Appalachia, Va., a volunteer for Obama's political operation, fought tears as she told the president of her kidney cancer and her inabil...

Lower-Cost Health Reform? Yeah, Right

2010-10-22T07:48:58Z

...

Drug deal valid if Congress overhauls health care

2010-06-25T21:47:38Z

Industry pledge to narrow drug coverage gap contingent on health care overhaul

Hailed by President Barack Obama, a multi-billion-dollar promise by drug companies to narrow a Medicare drug coverage gap for seniors is valid only if Congress succeeds in passing a comprehensive health care bill encounteri...

Deal reached to cut drug costs

2010-06-25T21:48:19Z

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Drug manufacturers will offer some $80 billion in prescription discounts for Medicare recipients under a deal unveiled on Saturday, which could boost President Barack Obama as he pushes to overhaul the $2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare system.

Obama says any budget has to tackle health care

2010-04-16T16:18:26Z

President Barack Obama says it will be impossible to balance the budget if the government doesn't tackle health care costs and boost economic growth.

Obama was answering Republican critics — and some congressional analysts — who forecast deficits of $9.3 trillion over the next 10 years based on the president's budget.

He said he inherited a deficit that the Republicans had contributed to, and pointed out that the

How Much Should Medicare Pay for Prescription Drugs?

2010-10-23T10:03:58Z

...

9 Republicans Changed to 'Yea' on Medicare Bill Vote

2010-10-23T10:03:43Z

...

9 Republicans Changed to ‘Yea’ on Medicare Bill Vote

2010-10-23T10:03:23Z

...

AMA does partisan battle over Medicare cuts

2010-10-21T10:02:23Z

...

Boehner New Congress

2011-01-04T15:01:56Z

House Speaker-designate John Boehner of Ohio arrives for a closed GOP conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio celebrates the GOP's victory that changes the balance of power in Congress and will likely elevate him to speaker of the House, during an election night gathering hosted by the President Barack Obama, joined by Republican and Democratic lawmakers including Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky at right, looks up after signing the bipartisan tax package that extends tax cuts for families at all income levels, during a s...

Texas Redistricting

2010-12-03T11:35:42Z

File - In this Nov. 10, 2009 file photo, Texas state Rep. Tommy Merritt, R-Longview, questions John Bradley during a hearing by members of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee in Austin, Texas. Fast-...

Pushing Social Issues

2010-11-26T12:01:23Z

FILE - In this Dec. 5, 2005, file photo Jennifer Frane, a technician at the WiCell Research Institute, checks on the growth and viability of embryonic stem cells in Madison, Wis. Although fixing the economy is the top priority, incoming

News on U.S. Republican Party

Medicare chief to resign after political standoff

Q+A: Will debt panel tackle Medicare, Social Security?

Ad hoc efforts help cut U.S. healthcare costs

Republican says no 'political fallout' from cuts

Republicans stick to plan to privatize Medicare

Democrats score upset victory in NY election

Democrat set for upset win in NY election

Medicare to exhaust funds sooner, report finds

Obama lays out vision for curing U.S. fiscal woes

Republican plan to overhaul U.S.-run health programs

A Hose Divided

GOP investigators take aim at health care overhaul

Sue Lowden and the Nevada Senate race

Republicans to attack healthcare law funding

Where are the 47 million poor people in the USA?

The G.O.P. Is Courting Disaster

SENATE Healthcare Bill Clears FIRST Hurdle: Yahoo! and CBS

The Healthcare Summit: ABC

Health care: Starting to see the costs!

Obama to bypass Senate to fill Medicare post: White House

Democrats launch push to promote Obama health law

A.M. Vitals: Kellogg Dinged for Claiming Rice Krispies Boost Immunity

Republicans Taking Aim at Medicare Nominee Berwick

Dean vs. Rove at UNLV debate

Analysis: Republicans have simple message: No

Doing the right thing

Pass health care reform

Attacks on Reid have mixed messages

Past time for reform

Health care odds long, but Democrats push ahead

Obama, GOP agree on some health areas

Rows simmer below civility of Obama's health summit

Row simmers at US health reform summit

Bottom line at health summit: lots of smoke

Reid seeks extension of jobless aid

Failure of health care overhaul will add more woes

No health care overhaul will bring more problems

What's worse than health care overhaul? No changes

Analysis: Gov't takeover of health already reality

Recalls: boys' Santa sets, horse toy figures

THE SUNÕS MOST READ STORIES*

Pass the Healthcare Reform Bill - Or See the System Collapse

Medicare cuts focus of Senate health care debate

Dems defeat GOP on restoring $40B in Medicare cuts

GOP leaps on study of rising health care costs

Study suggests costs rise under health care bill

Republicans say Dems health care plans too costly

Republicans bash Dems over health care proposals

TitusÕ star rising as Ensign struggles

GOP to block health nominees in Medicare spat

GOP raps Dems for hushing insurers on Medicare

Obama demands Congress action on health reform

Baucus says health bill should come soon

With distance, civility Holding town-hall meeting by phone, ReidÕs able to stick to subject

'Special interests' on both sides in health fight

Seniors uneasy over Medicare cuts in overhaul

Senate health panel approves its part of reform bill

Obama mounts defense of embattled health care plan

House Dems look at surtax on the wealthy

Republicans: U.S. healthcare timetable may slip

White House, hospitals reach deal on health care

Hugging cancer patient, Obama pitches health plan

Lower-Cost Health Reform? Yeah, Right

Drug deal valid if Congress overhauls health care

Deal reached to cut drug costs

Obama says any budget has to tackle health care

How Much Should Medicare Pay for Prescription Drugs?

9 Republicans Changed to 'Yea' on Medicare Bill Vote

9 Republicans Changed to ‘Yea’ on Medicare Bill Vote

AMA does partisan battle over Medicare cuts

Boehner New Congress

Texas Redistricting

Pushing Social Issues