WASHINGTON  – After months of struggle, House Democrats rolled out sweeping legislation Thursday to extend health care coverage to millions who lack it and create a new option of government-run insurance. A vote is likely next week on the plan largely tailored to President Barack Obama’s liking.
Speaking on the steps of the Capitol, Speaker Nancy [...]

WASHINGTON  – The House has approved a stopgap spending measure to avoid a shutdown for 11 Cabinet-level departments whose budgets won’t be enacted by a midnight Saturday deadline.
The measure would give Congress until Dec. 18 to finish seven incomplete spending measures that were supposed to be wrapped up by Sept. 30. The bill passed by [...]

WASHINGTON – Despite a vaguely worded veto threat by President Barack Obama, the House was expected Thursday to easily adopt a major defense policy bill that calls for continued development of a costly alternative engine for the Pentagon’s next generation fighter jet.
The move comes as the House debated the annual defense authorization bill to guide [...]

WASHINGTON  – The Obama administration said Tuesday it has received applications from 24 states seeking $50 billion for high-speed rail projects, more than six times the money designated in the economic stimulus plan.
A decision on which projects will receive funds will be made this winter, Joseph Szabo, head of the Federal Railroad Administration, said in [...]

BOSTON  – U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano said Wednesday he will run for the late Edward M. Kennedy’s Senate seat, arguing he is the best candidate to continue his fellow Democrat’s liberal philosophical tradition and better tested in the national political arena than leading rival Martha Coakley.
The blunt, plainspoken former mayor of Somerville said he plans [...]

WASHINGTON  – Sen. Max Baucus on Wednesday brought out the much-awaited Finance Committee version of an American health-system remake – a landmark $856 billion, 10-year measure that starts a rough ride through Congress without visible Republican backing.
The bill by Baucus, chairman of the Finance Committee, would make major changes to the nation’s $2.5 trillion health [...]

By Richard Craver.
JOURNAL REPORTER
The governor’s office said yesterday that North Carolina has received a $17 million federal grant to pay for a pilot health-coverage program for uninsured, low-income residents.
The grant, which covers five years, is from the U.S. Health and Human Services Department.
North Carolina is one of 13 states participating in the State Health Access [...]

By The Associated Press
A look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE: Will there be enough doctors to provide care to millions of previously uninsured patients if health reform is passed?
THE POLITICS: With primary-care doctors in limited supply, Republicans opposed to sweeping reform say the health care system would be overwhelmed if nearly [...]

BOSTON – Former Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II, the eldest son of Robert F. Kennedy, announced Monday he would not run for the U.S. Senate seat held for nearly 50 years by his late uncle, Edward M. Kennedy.
In a statement, the former six-term congressman said he cares about those seeking decent housing, fair wages [...]