Obama: Jobs plan will 'jump-start' hiring
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Even as he trumpeted a slowdown in the nation's job losses Friday, President Barack Obama put finishing touches on a proposal he'll unveil next week to "jump-start" business hiring across America. In a speech from Washington on Tuesday, Obama plans to send Congress a list of ideas he supports for a new jobs bill. He will endorse sending the biggest chunk of fresh money to cash-strapped state and local governments to stem their layoffs and on expanding a program that gives people cash incentives to fix up their homes with energy-saving materials, a senior administration official said.
US looks to expand Pakistan drone attacks
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say the Obama administration is considering widening its drone strikes on al-Qaida and the Taliban inside Pakistan, and planning to bolster the training of Pakistan's forces in a key battleground where militants fuel the escalating Afghan insurgency. Officials say the stepped-up moves against the militant networks could extend drone strikes further south, beyond the current target areas in Waziristan and into the western province of Baluchistan. U.S. special operations forces are also developing plans to expand their training of Pakistan's paramilitary Frontier Corps into that province.
Clinton says allies can help turn the Afghan tide
BRUSSELS (AP) — Some two dozen countries will send an estimated 7,000 more troops to Afghanistan next year, an infusion of forces that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday is crucial to turning the tide in the long war. NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark told reporters at NATO headquarters that at least 25 nations would provide the additional forces in Afghanistan in 2010, "with more to come."
Obama tells vet he'll improve VA services
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A military veteran who's now a college student in Pennsylvania has taken his complaint about the Veterans Administration right to the top. The veteran told President Barack Obama at a town hall meeting in Allentown on Friday that he hadn't been able to get through to anyone who can answer his questions about his benefits under the post-Sept. 11 GI bill.
Obama just says no to creating gambling, drug jobs
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Here's one job-creating strategy President Barack Obama isn't considering. Obama just said no to a suggestion from a Pennsylvania college student that he consider legalizing nonviolent crimes, including gambling and drugs, to stimulate the economy and create jobs.
Campaign manager for ex-Conn. rep accused of theft
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — The campaign manager for longtime U.S. Rep. Chris Shays was arrested Friday on charges he embezzled about $250,000 in campaign funds. Tom Carson, spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office, said Michael Sohn of Fairfield was arrested on a 12-count indictment charging him with stealing campaign money over four years. He also accused of filing false campaign reports and tax offenses.
Kremlin agrees with US to maintain expiring pact
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and Russia said Friday they have agreed to maintain the provisions of a major nuclear arms control treaty just hours before its expiration. In a joint statement by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and President Barack Obama, the two sides pledged to continue to work together "in the spirit" of the expiring 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.
Moderates seek greater health care cost controls
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two moderate senators who could be critical to passage of President Barack Obama's health care overhaul on Friday pushed for greater cost containment measures in the landmark legislation. Sens. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, scheduled a news conference Friday morning to unveil amendments to the sweeping bill aimed at holding down medical costs, and possibly making the legislation more palatable to them.
Obama says health care reform means jobs
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — He's been spending a lot of time on health care, but President Barack Obama says that doesn't mean he's been neglecting the nation's unemployment troubles. He says the two issues are closely related.
Lawmakers demand testimony by WH social secretary
WASHINGTON (AP) — A House Democrat says someone from the White House social secretary's office should have helped the Secret Service clear people into last week's state dinner, saying "even Walmart has a greeter." Continuing a 10-day uproar over the security breach last Tuesday, Rep. Loretta Sanchez of California told NBC's "Today" show she believes Congress has a right to hear social secretary Desiree Rogers explain how a Virginia couple got into the state dinner without invitations.
