End in sight, health care battle tilts Obama's way
WASHINGTON (AP) — One by one, House Democratic fence-sitters began choosing sides Friday, and the long, turbulent struggle over landmark health care legislation tilted unmistakably in President Barack Obama's direction. In full campaign mode, his voice rising, the president all but claimed victory, declaring to a cheering audience in Virginia, "We are going to fix health care in America."
Final health bill omits some of Obama's promises
WASHINGTON (AP) — It was a bold response to skyrocketing health insurance premiums. President Barack Obama would give federal authorities the power to block unreasonable rate hikes. Yet when Democrats unveiled the final, incarnation of their health care bill this week, the proposal was nowhere to be found.
World diplomats urge resumption of Mideast talks
MOSCOW (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton suggested Friday that the United States and Israel have found a way around the worst disagreement the two allies have faced in years while international diplomats set goals for new U.S.-backed peace talks aimed at establishing an independent Palestinian state. The so-called Quartet group of Mideast negotiators met in the Russian capital to set the stage for peace talks in which the United States would be a go-between. Those indirect talks would be the first under the Democratic Obama administration and the hawkish Israeli government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
PROMISES, PROMISES: Obama in immigration dance
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama promised to make overhauling the immigration system a top priority in his first year as president. He's now in Year Two, and the odds that he'll get to sign a bill before the November midterm elections appear long. Grass-roots activists frustrated by the wait for a new system are organizing a rally Sunday on the National Mall by what they hope will be thousands of people from across the country voicing their displeasure at the pace of action.
Report: USDA lax in watching organics market
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Agriculture Department has failed to enforce penalties against some who falsely marketed foods as organic, according to an internal department investigation. A report by the agency's inspector general says the agency needs to step up enforcement of those who sell products under the "USDA Organic" label but do not meet government standards to do so. The report says the department has made improvements in maintaining the integrity of the organic program in recent years, but needs to better handle complaints about potential violators.
White House extends status of Liberians in US
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is allowing thousands of Liberians living in the United States to remain in the country for an additional year and a half. A presidential memorandum issued Friday applies to Liberians who fled the country amid years of civil war and who are living in the United States under "deferred enforced departure status."
Holder defends lawyers for terror detainees
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Eric Holder is defending lawyers who represent unpopular clients like terror suspects. Holder says such attorneys are patriots who deserve respect. Holder was answering critics who questioned the values of lawyers who once worked on behalf of detainees and are now at the Justice Department. He spoke Friday to a group of private lawyers who provide free legal representation to the poor and others.
Will US lose its triple-A ranking? Investors yawn
NEW YORK (AP) — It's the financial equivalent of a high medal count at the Olympics or a seat on the U.N. Security Council — a triple-A credit rating, the seal of approval that lets investors know a country's bonds are safe. The U.S. is one of a small number of nations with the coveted rating — for now. Moody's Investors Service warned this week that the government's massive debt burden could cost the country its triple-A.
Dodd asks for Justice investigation of Lehman
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd is asking Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate the circumstances that led to the spectacular collapse of Lehman Brothers. Dodd's request comes in the wake of a post-mortem review of Lehman's finances that found Lehman used an accounting gimmick to hide its precarious condition from regulators and shareholders.
Fed must reveal data on loans to firms, court says
NEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Reserve must reveal documents identifying financial companies that received Fed loans to survive the financial crisis, a federal appeals court ruled Friday. A panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan said in two separate opinions that such information isn't automatically exempt from requests under the Freedom of Information Act.
