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 [...]

WASHINGTON  – The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee is proposing a fee on insurance companies to help pay for health coverage for uninsured Americans.
Sen. Max Baucus is circulating his proposal among the five other members of a bipartisan group trying to craft a bill. It is not clear whether the idea will win the [...]

WASHINGTON – The White House environmental adviser under fire for inflammatory statements made before he joined the administration resigned after what he called a “vicious smear campaign against me.”
Van Jones “understood that he was going to get in the way” of President Barack Obama’s agenda, White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Sunday.
The resignation was disclosed [...]

BOSTON  – Attorney General Martha Coakley announced Thursday she will run as a Democratic candidate in the special election to succeed the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.
The 20-year prosecutor said she can continue to be “an effective voice for the people of Massachusetts.”
Kennedy died last week of brain cancer at age 77.
Coakley said at a [...]

BOSTON  – Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling says he has “some interest” in running for the late Edward M. Kennedy’s Senate seat.
The longtime Republican supporter wrote Wednesday on his blog that while his family and gaming company are priorities, he does have some interest in a campaign.
He says doing the required work to [...]

WASHINGTON  – Slightly more than one-third of Americans have a favorable opinion of the Democratic-led Congress, a new poll said Wednesday in a clear warning to the majority party.
The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press said the 37 percent expressing a positive opinion represents a decline of 13 points since April.
The favorable [...]