From the Associated Press : WASHINGTON – In a long-anticipated showdown, liberal Democrats twice failed on Tuesday to inject a government-run insurance option into sweeping health care legislation taking shape in the Senate, despite bipartisan agreement that private insurers must change their ways Michelle thinks: Down, but not out Jennifer Rubin, Commentary , offers a few last words, and commentary on the one: The president spoke out in favor of a public option weeks ago

Senator Chuck Grassley is seeking a sixth term in 2010, and Iowa Democrats have never managed to give him a tough re-election race before. However, today Iowa Democratic Party chair Michael Kiernan spoke confidently about a first-round draft pick who is ready to run against Grassley, Kay Henderson reported for Radio Iowa . I'm going to tell you here today that Chuck Grassley is going to be in for the race of his life. [...] You're just going to have to wait to find out, Kiernan said

For months, White House officials and Senate leaders praised the gang of six negotiations toward a bipartisan deal on health care reform, even as other observers doubted the Republicans in that group were negotiating in good faith . At the beginning of the summer recess in August, Senator Jay Rockefeller (who was shut out of the deal-making) warned : Changes to the bill have been frustrating, Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) told reporters at a press conference, particularly given that the R

By Khalid Hashmani, USA About Author: Mr. Khalid Hashmani is a Washington DC-based veteran human rights activist. He is the founding President of Sindhi Association of North America (SANA) and Chief coordinator of Sindhi Excellence Team (SET) that participates in advocacy activities on behalf of rural Sindhi . Washington DC, September 16, 2009 – Sindhi American Political Action Committee (SAPAC) was inaugurated in Washington DC. This is a milestone step for the Sindhi American community

Sept. 22, 2009 -- As of today, it's illegal in the U.S. to buy or sell mostflavored cigarettes. However, the FDA ban does not include the most popular cigarette flavor:menthol. It does cover every other conceivable flavor, including candy, spice,herb, cola, fruit, and coffee flavors. The flavored-cigarette ban is the FDA's first major anti-tobacco actionsince President Barack Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and TobaccoControl Act in June. The law gives the FDA the power to reg