US says bin Laden sometimes slips into Afghanistan
WASHINGTON (AP) — Al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden may periodically slip back into Afghanistan from his remote hideout in neighboring Pakistan, a senior White House official says, adding a new twist to the mystery of the elusive terrorist's whereabouts. President Barack Obama's national security adviser, James Jones, said bin Laden, believed hiding mainly in a rugged area of western Pakistan, may be spending some time in Afghanistan, where he was based while plotting the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.
Drugmakers' support for health overhaul tested
WASHINGTON (AP) — The pharmaceutical industry may have to cough up more than the $80 billion it agreed to contribute to President Barack Obama's health overhaul effort, reflecting pressure from Democrats and their supporters for more money to cover older and low-income people. Obama and congressional Democrats want the drug industry to remain a crucial ally in the health care fight because of its deep pockets and influence in states where it is a large employer, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Indiana. So far, it remains an active backer of the Democrats' efforts to expand a supportive TV ad campaign on which it has already spent tens of millions of dollars.
Obama appeals for help amid tensions with Turkey
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is looking for help in Afghanistan from Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan even as tensions simmer between the two NATO allies on Iran and the Middle East. A White House meeting Monday between the two leaders comes at a time of rising Turkish influence in the Middle East and Central Europe.
Administration to slash bailout cost estimate
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration plans to cut its estimate of the projected costs of the government bailout program by more than $200 billion and is looking at using part of the savings to fund new job creation efforts. A Treasury official said Sunday that the administration now believes the cost of the financial rescue program will be at least $200 billion below the $341 billion estimate it made in August.
Senate to confront abortion in health care debate
WASHINGTON (AP) — Buoyed by a presidential pep talk and intense rounds of negotiations, Senate Democrats hope to move closer to embracing a major health care bill this week by tackling the nettlesome issue of abortion. Anti-abortion lawmakers in both parties have insisted that taxpayer funds not be used to pay for abortions in government-run health programs. But some liberals say proposed restrictions go too far by barring federally subsidized health insurance plans from covering abortion even if the procedures were entirely paid for with customers' premiums.
Reid: Obama wants to help any way on health care
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama has pledged to work with Senate Democrats "in any meaningful way he can" to help pass a health care overhaul. That's what Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said the president told Democratic senators in their closed-door meeting Sunday at the Capitol.
Obama tells Dems to keep up the health care fight
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says President Barack Obama has told Democratic senators to keep up the fight on health care legislation. Obama meet with Democrats on Sunday afternoon as the Senate worked through the weekend on the president's top domestic priority.
PROMISES, PROMISES: A closed meeting on openness
WASHINGTON (AP) — It's hardly the image of transparency the Obama administration wants to project: A workshop on government openness is closed to the public. The event Monday for federal employees is a fitting symbol of President Barack Obama's uneven record so far on the Freedom of Information Act, a big part of keeping his campaign promise to make his administration the most transparent ever. As Obama's first year in office ends, the government's actions when the public and press seek information are not yet matching up with the president's words.
Republicans hit Democrats for partisan health bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — Top Senate Republicans say President Barack Obama's drive for a health care overhaul has become a closed-door, partisan effort that is aiding drug companies and other medical providers. As Obama met privately with Senate Democrats at the Capitol, Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said the exclusion of Republicans from the meeting underlined how partisan the health care effort has been.
Must-pass bills pile up as days wind down
WASHINGTON (AP) — Time is running out for Congress this year on must-pass legislation to pay for federal programs, allow the government to borrow more money, keep highway projects going and prevent the jobless from losing unemployment and health insurance benefits. It's become a tradition for lawmakers to reach the final weeks of a session without yet renewing programs that expired with the start of the budget year on Oct. 1 or will end on Dec. 31. But with the Senate devoting all the next two weeks to a health care bill, the year-end pileup has reached new dimensions.
