Despite all the nice talk, partisanship reigns
WASHINGTON (AP) — Partisanship is reaching new heights in Washington, even as President Barack Obama makes almost daily pleas to get along. He's scheduled a bipartisan health care summit, and just Tuesday he hosted GOP leaders at the White House for the first time in two months. But he often undercuts his overtures with his own jabs at Republicans. And there's little indication the GOP is taking his comments as anything but political.
Toyota seeks damage control, in public and private
WASHINGTON (AP) — In public, Toyota is running apologetic TV ads and vowing to win back customers' trust. Behind the scenes, the besieged carmaker is trying to learn all it can about congressional investigations, maybe even steer them if it can. It's part of an all-out drive by the world's biggest auto manufacturer to redeem its once unassailable brand — hit anew on Tuesday as Toyota's global recall ballooned to 8.5 million cars and trucks. The day's safety recall of 440,000 of its flagship Prius and other hybrids, plus a Tokyo news conference where the company's president read a statement in English pledging to "regain the confidence of our customers," underscored a determination to keep buyers' faith from sinking to unrecoverable depths.
Lawmaker's death a reminder of surgery risks
WASHINGTON (AP) — Gallbladder surgery is usually a very safe operation, but a powerful congressman's death is a reminder of the known risks. Well over half a million people have their gallbladders removed annually, most of them minimally invasively just as the late Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa.
Obama says music fueled civil rights movement
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says the music of the civil rights era helped fuel freedom marches then and equality today. Obama on Tuesday night welcomed an all-star lineup of musicians to the White House to perform songs from the era. Obama says protest songs, spirituals and anthems helped capture the hardships of those fighting for civil rights.
Former Va. governor urges DNC chairman's firing
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democratic former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder is urging President Barack Obama to fire Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine, another former Virginia governor. Wilder wrote of Kaine, in a column for the Politico news Web site, that "the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee is the wrong job for him."
Obama to take health bill that's not all he wants
WASHINGTON (AP) — Signaling he'd meet critics part way on health care, President Barack Obama said Tuesday he's willing to sign a bill even if it doesn't deliver everything he pursued through a year of grinding effort at risk of going down as a dismal failure. The Democrats' massive health overhaul legislation is stalled in Congress by disagreements within the party and the loss last month of their 60th Senate vote, and with it, control of the agenda. Republicans suspect that Obama's invitation to a televised health care summit Feb. 25 is a thinly disguised political trap. On Tuesday, the president tried to change the dour dynamic, indicating he could settle for less in order to move ahead.
Senate Democrats unveil jobs package
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats circulated a jobs bill Tuesday that's light on new initiatives on boosting hiring and heavy with provisions sought by lobbyists for business groups, doctors and the satellite broadcasting industry. Senate Democrats were working to round up Republican support, but more snow in the nation's capital made it unlikely the Senate could pass it this week and hand President Barack Obama a quick, badly needed political victory. Republicans are willing partners because much of the bill is made up of tax breaks they support, though many GOP senators said they were still waiting to see the details.
Obama speaks hopefully of movement on jobs bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says he doesn't think it's necessary to get an ideal jobs package out of Congress, but that passing something quickly could build momentum toward greater achievements. Obama told reporters Tuesday he thinks Democrats and Republicans agree on a number of elements in a jobs bill, including eliminating capital gains for small businesses and finding ways to help community banks lend to smaller firms.
Murtha's death sets stage for marquee House race
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Democrats have long dominated the late Rep. John Murtha's district in western Pennsylvania, but Republicans have made inroads in recent years that could help them win back the seat — and some longtime Murtha supporters say they're open to voting for a GOP candidate. Rose Marie Favina, 69, described herself a Democrat who supported Murtha and particularly liked what she called his "pro-life" views. Now she's considering switching to the GOP and plans to vote for the best candidate for Murtha's seat, whatever the party.
GOP blocks Obama labor board nominee
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats on Tuesday failed to push through President Barack Obama's choice of a union lawyer to serve on the National Labor Relations Board after two of their own joined Republicans to block the nomination. By a 52-33 vote, Democrats fell far short of the 60 needed to overcome a GOP filibuster of the nomination of Craig Becker.
