Reuters: Politics

Tax credits, Medicare fix in Senate jobs bill

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:29:21 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Highway funding and tax breaks for hiring workers figure prominently in a jobs-creation bill that Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate hope will attract rare joint support in an election year, lawmakers said on Tuesday.

Jobs package may cost about $80 billion

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:37:08 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A possible jobs-creation package being crafted by Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate may end up costing about $80 billion, a key Republican said on Tuesday.

Republicans flex new power, block Obama nominee

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:46:20 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republicans flexed their new political muscle on Tuesday and blocked President Barack Obama's nomination of a union lawyer to help referee labor disputes.

Stimulus transportation under scrutiny

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:37:57 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As the anniversary of the passage of the U.S. economic stimulus plan looms and President Barack Obama presses for new jobs legislation, states and the government are assessing the impact the program has had on transportation.

Obamas take on problem of obese children

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 11:20:03 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Alarmed that nearly a third of U.S. children are obese or overweight -- and likely to stay that way all their lives -- President Barack Obama launched an initiative on Tuesday to roll back the numbers and put his wife in charge of promoting it.

Clinton to visit Qatar, Saudi Arabia

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:27:06 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will visit Qatar and Saudi Arabia next week for talks that a U.S. official said on Tuesday would likely focus on Iran, Iraq and the Arab-Israeli conflict.

Obama, Republicans find common ground on jobs

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:01:56 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama found common ground with Republicans on Tuesday over his top priorities of job creation and deficit reduction but drew a rebuke on healthcare reform.

Republicans may join Obama deficit panel: Boehner

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:24:26 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Republican leader John Boehner said on Tuesday he was considering appointing Republicans to President Barack Obama's planned deficit commission and also that it was time to "start over" on healthcare reform.

Summers: U.S. economy on mend but has ways to go

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:51:41 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top White House economic adviser Lawrence Summers said on Tuesday that the job market was stabilizing but the economy still had a long way to go to return to health.

Obama's healthcare summit sets stage for end-game

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:39:12 -0500

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's call for a healthcare summit including both his fellow Democrats and Republicans sets the stage for a final push to get stalled legislation through Congress, but skeptical Republicans said on Monday the only solution is to start over.