Reuters: Politics

Democrats doubt deadline on healthcare

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:23:35 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Democrats on Tuesday cast doubt on their chances of meeting the White House's March 18 deadline for voting on a stalled healthcare overhaul, but said they are moving as fast as they can.

NY voters dislike governor, want to keep him

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:33:44 -0500

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York voters think scandal-tarred Governor David Paterson should remain in office but cannot do a good job, and that he acted unethically but will not get a fair hearing, a poll said on Tuesday.

Visiting Biden condemns new Israel settlement plan

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:44:39 -0500

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday condemned Israeli plans to build 1,600 more homes on occupied land where Palestinians seek statehood, announced in the middle of his visit to help revive peace negotiations.

Massa resigns to avoid ethics probe

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:14:50 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Freshman Democratic Representative Eric Massa announced his resignation on Friday, saying an ethics investigation into alleged misconduct toward a male staff member would tear his family and staff apart.

Obama backs bipartisan crackdown on healthcare cheats

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:09:20 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama, making a final push for healthcare reform, will back bipartisan plans to stamp out waste in government-run medical programs for the old and needy, the White House said on Tuesday.

NY gov says may seek extra power to cut spending

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:46:23 -0500

ALBANY (Reuters) - New York Governor David Paterson on Tuesday said the multi-year deficit-closing plan his lieutenant governor is devising might seek to give governors "extra authority" to cut over-spending.

Biden raises concern about Iranian "dictatorship"

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:13:58 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Joe Biden said on Tuesday the United States is concerned that Iran is becoming more of a military dictatorship and insisted that Tehran will not be permitted to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Jobless aid, tax breaks clear Senate hurdle

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:32:10 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic efforts to spur job creation advanced in Congress on Tuesday as a $149 billion package of tax breaks and unemployment aid cleared a procedural hurdle in the Senate.

Obama pushes climate change in White House meeting

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:31:49 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama, weighing in on the Senate's efforts to pass a climate change bill, gathered Republican and Democratic lawmakers on Tuesday to try to jumpstart an overhaul of U.S. energy policy.

Obama criticized for Mexico, Brazil sanctions

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:30:36 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans and business groups on Tuesday criticized President Barack Obama's administration for failing to resolve a cross-border trucking dispute nearly one year after Mexico slapped retaliatory duties on about $2.4 billion worth of U.S. exports.