Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin says she is resigning from office.
     

WASHINGTON  - House Democrats narrowly won a key test vote Friday on sweeping legislation to combat global warming and usher in a new era of cleaner energy. Republicans said the bill included “the largest tax increase in American history.”
The vote was 217-205 to advance the White House-backed legislation to the floor, and 30 Democrats defected, [...]

COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford tells reporters staking out his beach home that he’s focusing on his family right now.
He emerged briefly Thursday from the Sullivans Island home and rolled down the window of his car to talk. Asked if he’s planning to resign, he shook his head no.
Sanford publicly admitted Wednesday [...]

WASHINGTON (AP) - A senior lawmaker trying to break the logjam on health care overhaul says his committee has come up with elements of a plan that would allow them to produce a bill under $1 trillion that would be fully paid for.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., made the announcement Thursday. Of the [...]

WASHINGTON  - What is it with philandering politicians?
Why do men in power - the ones on pedestals - think they are above us and can get away with cheating on their spouses, particularly when media scrutiny is so intense and peccadilloes are arguably more politically damaging?
There’s a long list of those who thought they could [...]

RALEIGH, N.C.  - North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan’s first bill is promoting financial literacy.
The Democratic lawmaker started work on Capitol Hill in January. She said Wednesday her first bill would create grants for states that agree to include financial literacy material into curriculum for students from sixth grade to 12th grade.
Hagan said she wants students [...]

WASHINGTON  - The chairman of a powerful House subcommittee that funds the military says he’s hopeful that at least some of the $3.2 billion spent for a new fleet of presidential helicopters can be salvaged.
The military stopped production of the heavily over budget VH-71 helicopter program, estimated to now cost $13 billion, at the White [...]

WASHINGTON  - The chairman of the House Agriculture Committee says farmers can support a proposed Democratic bill to limit greenhouse gases and combat global warming.
Democratic Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota urged support Wednesday for the climate bill after a series of concessions aimed at easing the impact higher energy costs will have on farmers and [...]

WASHINGTON  - The insurance industry Tuesday laid down a marker on health care, warning in stark terms that a proposed government insurance plan would dismantle the employer coverage Americans have relied on for a half century and overtake the system.
In a joint letter to senators, the two largest industry groups also said they don’t believe [...]