Politics News

Senate Democrats deny an amendment proposed by Sen. Mike Johanns, a Republican, that would have stopped $42 billion in cuts over the next 10 years to agencies that provide home health to seniors under Medicare. The proposal is the third amendment offered by Republicans that forced Democrats to cast politically risky votes during the debate over a proposed health care overhaul.

In his weekly radio and Web address, President Barack Obama says the economy has slowly started to get back on track. And thanks to recovery efforts, "we're no longer facing the potential collapse of our financial system," he adds. Obama also announces that he'll send Congress a job-creation plan in the coming week.

Sen. Max Baucus, a Democrat, defends nominating former staffer Melodee Hanes, who is also his girlfriend, for the U.S. attorney position in Montana earlier this year. Baucus says Hanes is a highly qualified prosecutor, but in the end Hanes withdrew her name and took a position with the Justice Department.

When parents call Florida's KidCare line for advice about insuring their children, they are often put on hold -- so Gov. Charlie Crist recorded a reassuring message for them. Alas, an embarrassing blooper crept into his spiel: The telephone number he gave out led to a phone sex line. "He read it right; the script was wrong," a spokesman says.

Under enormous pressure to reduce the high unemployment rate, President Barack Obama is warming up to job-boosting legislation touted by congressional allies -- even though such a bill would likely add to the nation's ballooning debt.
Politics Daily: Can Democrats Save Enough Jobs to Save Themselves in 2010?
Sphere: Congress Grills Bernanke | Many Execs at Summit Have Cut Jobs
DailyFinance: U.S. Unemployment Rate Drops a Bit

If you heard that reporters covering her book tour stop in Minnesota will be required to call Palin "Governor" -- and that no foreign correspondents will be allowed -- forget it. A Mall of America spokesman says the story was based on incorrect information released to a reporter by mistake.