Blue Dogs dig in as influential bloc in health care debate

In many ways, President Barack Obama's address to Congress on Wednesday was aimed at lawmakers like Georgia Reps. Jim Marshall and Sanford Bishop -- fiscally conservative Democrats who represent rural enclaves and small towns in ideologically moderate to conservative Southern districts.

Few students opt out of Obama's nationwide pep talk

The number of students who opted not to listen as President Barack Obama gave his controversial pep talk on studying hard and staying in school appears to have been minimal throughout the country. After days of controversy and pledges of boycotts, the speech seems to have caused little drama.

Obama unveils new ways to boost retirement savings

Obama announced the plans in his Saturday radio address. The new options will make it easier for more businesses to automatically enroll their employees in 401(k) accounts, allow people to invest tax refunds in savings bonds, and allow employees to direct payments for unused vacation to their 401(k) accounts.

Health care debate exposes regional rift for Democrats

Congress' efforts to overhaul the nation's health care system are plagued by an age-old urban-rural, east and west coast vs. the heartland schism in the Democratic Party. The divide is constantly evident.

MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

S.C. Republicans to discuss impeaching Sanford

South Carolina House Republicans will discuss whether to impeach Gov. Mark Sanford when they meet in Myrtle Beach this weekend. Lawmakers, once reluctant to discuss removing Sanford, will weigh what it would take to force the Republican governor out and how the process would work.

MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS

Sen. McCaskill's town hall dominated by health care reform supporters

After an August dominated by their opponents, health care reform advocates pushed back on Monday. Supporters clearly outnumbered skeptics among the 1,300 people who attended a health care town hall meeting in Kansas City — a first for session organizer Sen. Claire McCaskill.

Term limits debate adds heat to Texas governor's race

The on-again, off-again question of term limits for Texas chief executives is now emerging as an ingredient in the roiling Republican primary battle between incumbent Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.

It's been hard to tell, but health plan does have supporters

As President Barack Obama tries to regain control over the health care debate from a vocal opposition, one challenge is holding together the massive roster of organizations that support an overhaul of the system, or at least some parts of it.

Democrats may have to cut back healthcare bill

Relentless attacks on President Barack Obama's healthcare overhaul effort, coupled with continued questions about how to pay for it, are prompting analysts to suggest that Democrats will have to scale back the cost and scope of the legislation to get anything through Congress this year.

Sanford having 'mid-life crisis,' says wife in Vogue interview

South Carolina's first lady Jenny Sanford says her husband, Gov. Mark Sanford, is in the midst of a midlife crisis and it is up to him to save their marriage. While Jenny Sanford has asked the media for privacy and retreated to the family's beach house on Sullivan's Island with the couple's four sons, the first lady appears in this month's Vogue magazine, on newsstands this week.

Hutchison, Perry come out swinging in battle for Texas governor

The much-anticipated confrontation between the state's top two political titans opened Monday as U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison formally launched her campaign to oust Gov. Rick Perry in the Republican primary, telling Texans that it's time to retire the state's longest-serving governor. Perry's campaign fired back by depicting Hutchison as a classic Washington insider.

One last Palin battle to be fought in the Alaska legislature

The legislature votes Monday on whether to override her veto of federal stimulus money for energy cost relief. It won't be easy to override Palin's veto — 75 percent of the Legislature has to vote for an override in joint session to make it happen.

McCain to vote 'no,' but Sotomayor confirmation certain

The Arizona senator said he could not accept what he saw as her activism as a federal judge. The Senate is expected to begin debate on Obama's first Supreme Court nominee Tuesday, with a final vote — and overwhelming confirmation — expected later in the week.

Obama's beer with Crowley, Gates set for 6 p.m. Thursday

Weather permitting, President Obama will host Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates and Cambrdige Police Sgt. James Crowley at a picnic table at the White House. The White House said the get-together, intended to smooth over the controversy over Crowley's arrest of Gates, has no set agenda.

Schwarzenegger signs budget, trims still more from services

The budget closes a huge budget gap in theface of a decline in state tax revenues. But it still was $156 million in the red, which Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger remedied with $656 million in line item cuts. "We are not out of troubled waters yet," he said in signing the measure.

Palin leaves office Sunday, leaving problems to successor

Sean Parnell becomes Alaska's 10th governor since statehood today, taking on the lightning rod legacy of Sarah Palin and facing problems she's leaving behind. He takes office with a state budget that's just a thin line away from running red and as the push for a natural gas pipeline to the Lower 48 enters a crucial year. The oil industry is hoping he'll change the tone Palin had on taxes.

If an attack killed most of Congress, would we care? They think so

Reps. Brian Baird, D-Wash., and Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., haveoffered up legislation aimed at making certain Congress lives on in the case of catastrophic attack: Make members of Congress pick a successor in case they are killed or incapacitated.

Slipping in polls, Obama tries to shore up health overhaul

President Barack Obama Wednesday tried hard to create momentum for his ailing health care overhaul plan, offering a lengthy, methodical — and at times defensive — explanation of why Americans should embrace his changes.

Rural lawmaker feels competing pressures in health debate

Residents of Rep. Mike Ross's economically struggling Arkansas district are looking to Washington for help with skyrocketing health care costs. Yet Ross, a Democrat, stands ready to try to block the passage of a House bill that supporters say is what his constituents need.

Medicare won't let clients repay government, lawyers say

Attorney Stephen Bough's client owes Medicare several thousand dollars and is anxious to pay, if only Bough knew how much. Medicare won't say, despite repeated pleas over the past year for an answer.