Obama urges Dems to come together for health care (AP)

AP – Victory within reach, President Barack Obama exhorted House Democrats on Saturday to stay true to their party’s legacy and make history by bringing health insurance to millions of struggling families now left out. Leaders exuded confidence as they defused thorny problems in the countdown to a landmark vote.

Former Interior Secretary Udall dies at age 90 (AP)

AP – Stewart Udall, who sowed the seeds of the modern environmental movement as secretary of the interior during the 1960s and later became a crusader for victims of radiation exposure from the government’s Cold War nuclear programs, died Saturday. He was 90.

Obama close to health law success that eluded past (AP)

AP – Rarely does the government, that big, clumsy, poorly regarded oaf, pull off anything short of war that touches all lives with one act, one stroke of a president’s pen. Such a moment now seems near.

Health bill product of Pelosi and Obama’s relationship (Politico)

Politico – In the jittery days following Scott Brown’s Senate victory, Nancy Pelosi was eager to resurrect comprehensive health reform. But first, she had to get past longtime ally Rahm Emanuel, who was counseling President Barack Obama to consider a smaller, piecemeal approach.

Raucous tea partiers protest bill (Politico)

Politico – Tea Party protesters hold the hill in a last ditch effort to kill the Democrat’s health care bill.

Obama to Iranians: We want brighter future for you (AP)

AP – President Barack Obama told Iranians in an online video message that the U.S. wants more educational and cultural exchanges, and lamented that Tehran’s leaders have “turned their backs” on good faith overtures in the past to expand opportunities for their people.

Obama making final health care pitch to House Dems (AP)

AP – Claiming unstoppable momentum but still short of the goal line, President Barack Obama is heading to Capitol Hill to rally House Democrats for a final push on landmark health care legislation.

Obama calls on Congress to pass finance reform (AP)

AP – President Barack Obama said Saturday that Congress needs to enact comprehensive financial reforms to protect consumers, keep banks strong and ensure the U.S. economy doesn’t sink into another Great Depression.

An unlikely topic for Obama address (Politico)

Politico – Obama uses his weekly address to discuss Wall St. reform a day before the health care vote.

The legislative process, Peanuts-style (Politico)

Politico – The House lines up to score some points and, at the last minute, the Senate yanks away the ball.

End in sight, health care battle tilts Obama’s way (AP)

AP – One by one, House Democratic fence-sitters began choosing sides Friday, and the long, turbulent struggle over landmark health care legislation tilted unmistakably in President Barack Obama’s direction.

Final health bill omits some of Obama’s promises (AP)

AP – It was a bold response to skyrocketing health insurance premiums. President Barack Obama would give federal authorities the power to block unreasonable rate hikes.

World diplomats urge resumption of Mideast talks (AP)

AP – U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton suggested Friday that the United States and Israel have found a way around the worst disagreement the two allies have faced in years while international diplomats set goals for new U.S.-backed peace talks aimed at establishing an independent Palestinian state.

Poll: Romney leads 2012 field (Politico)

Politico – Former Mass. Gov. Romney leads his GOP rivals for the party’s 2012 presidential nomination.

As sparks fly, Dems close in on 216 (Politico)

Politico – House leaders are negotiating with some reps. to free up anti-abortion lawmakers’ votes.

Report: USDA lax in policing organics marketing (AP)

AP – The Agriculture Department has failed to enforce penalties against some who falsely marketed foods as organic, according to an internal department investigation.

House Democrats see momentum on health bill (Reuters)

Reuters – Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives pushed undecided members for support and voiced growing confidence on Friday they will win a close vote on final passage of a sweeping healthcare overhaul.

PROMISES, PROMISES: Obama in immigration dance (AP)

AP – President Barack Obama promised to make overhauling the immigration system a top priority in his first year as president. He’s now in Year Two, and the odds that he’ll get to sign a bill before the November midterm elections appear long.

Even before House vote on healthcare bill, legal challenges loom (The Christian Science Monitor)

The Christian Science Monitor – As congressional leaders and the White House push to attract the remaining votes needed to pass a healthcare reform measure this weekend, opponents are poised to take their fight to the courts, and potentially all the way to the US Supreme Court.

US military deaths in Afghan region at 939 (AP)

AP – As of Friday, March 19, 2010, at least 939 members of the U.S. military had died in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, according to an Associated Press count.

Senior official: al-Qaida leader believed killed (AP)

AP – An al-Qaida leader believed to have played a key role in the bombing of a CIA post in Afghanistan last December was apparently killed by an American missile strike last week, a senior U.S. official said Wednesday.

Prince Harry hopes to join troops on Pole trek (AP)

AP – Prince Harry says he hopes to join a group of disabled soldiers in a charity expedition to the North Pole to raise money for wounded troops.

Ground zero workers in court on 9/11 settlement (AP)

AP – Ground zero recovery workers who say they suffered health problems after inhaling the ash and dust left by the collapse of the World Trade Center plan to go before a federal judge Friday who’s considering whether to approve a multimillion-dollar legal settlement.

Nation on brink of history, Obama says, as health care vote looms (AFP)

AFP – US President Barack Obama girded for a crucial weekend vote on his sweeping health care overhaul plan, with Democrats poised to make history after a century of struggling for reform.

GOP state prosecutors threaten court challenge to health bill (McClatchy Newspapers)

McClatchy Newspapers – WASHINGTON — Republican prosecutors from South Carolina and Florida said Friday they were preparing to file a lawsuit if the health care bill before Congress becomes law, challenging its requirement that all Americans buy insurance.

Citizens United Runs Ads Against ‘ObamaCare’ and Democrats (CQPolitics.com)

CQPolitics.com – The group that recently won a recent landmark soft money Supreme Court case is spending money to try to defeat President Obama’s health care plan.

Next Page »