NPR Topics: Politics http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1014&ft=1&f=1014 NPR's expanded coverage of U.S. and world politics, the latest news from Congress and the White House, and elections. Subscribe to podcasts and RSS feeds. Copyright 2009 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:20:00 -0500 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Politics http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1014&ft=1&f=1014 Politics, Breast Health Have A Long History Together Meddling in medical recommendations is nothing new for politicians Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:20:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114409272&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114409272&ft=1&f=1014 Meddling in medical recommendations is nothing new for politicians

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]]> Evidence-Based Medicine: Hard For Some To Swallow This week two panels of medical experts recommended fewer screening tests for breast and cervical cancer. The idea of evidence-based medicine is that the decisions made between doctors and patients should be based on studies that sometimes conflict with previous wisdom on treatment options. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:07:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120620408&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120620408&ft=1&f=1014 This week two panels of medical experts recommended fewer screening tests for breast and cervical cancer. The idea of evidence-based medicine is that the decisions made between doctors and patients should be based on studies that sometimes conflict with previous wisdom on treatment options.

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]]> Week In Politics Examined Senate Democrats hoped to have enough votes this week to pass a health care bill, Obama Cabinet officials faced hostile lawmakers on Capitol Hill and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's much-awaited book hit bookstores. Political analysts E.J. Dionne, of <em>The Washington Post</em>, and David Brooks, of <em>The New York Times</em>, offer their insight. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:03:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120624692&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120624692&ft=1&f=1014 Senate Democrats hoped to have enough votes this week to pass a health care bill, Obama Cabinet officials faced hostile lawmakers on Capitol Hill and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's much-awaited book hit bookstores. Political analysts E.J. Dionne, of The Washington Post, and David Brooks, of The New York Times, offer their insight.

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]]> Health Care Concessions A Bow To Moderates The public option looms large in the minds of voters and certain lawmakers, but not so much in the Senate health care bill. There it limits eligibility, kicks in late, includes an opt-out provision for states, and is expected to cost more than private plans. Leaders say they had to weaken it to round up the 60 votes they need to move the bill forward. Still, its inclusion continues to jeopardize needed support for passage, because several members of the Democratic caucus adamantly oppose any public option. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120624310&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120624310&ft=1&f=1014 The public option looms large in the minds of voters and certain lawmakers, but not so much in the Senate health care bill. There it limits eligibility, kicks in late, includes an opt-out provision for states, and is expected to cost more than private plans. Leaders say they had to weaken it to round up the 60 votes they need to move the bill forward. Still, its inclusion continues to jeopardize needed support for passage, because several members of the Democratic caucus adamantly oppose any public option.

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]]> Senate Ethics Committee: No Punishment For Burris The Senate Ethics Committee on Friday admonished Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., for making "inconsistent, misleading or incomplete" statements about the circumstances surrounding his appointment to the seat once held by Barack Obama. The committee didn't recommend any punishment. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:26:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120613280&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120613280&ft=1&f=1014 The Senate Ethics Committee on Friday admonished Sen. Roland Burris, D-Ill., for making "inconsistent, misleading or incomplete" statements about the circumstances surrounding his appointment to the seat once held by Barack Obama. The committee didn't recommend any punishment.

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]]> Without Further Ado, Sarah Palin Returns Cultural and political phenomenon Sarah Palin returned to the national spotlight this week to promote her memoir "Going Rogue" and fielded questions about a possible run for the White House in 2012. Host Michel Martin talks with Mary Kate Cary, a columnist with U.S. News and World Report, and Matt Continetti, author of "The Persecution of Sarah Palin: How the Elite Media Tried to Bring Down a Rising Star" about what might be next for the former Alaska governor. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:11:01 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120609997&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120609997&ft=1&f=1014 Cultural and political phenomenon Sarah Palin returned to the national spotlight this week to promote her memoir "Going Rogue" and fielded questions about a possible run for the White House in 2012. Host Michel Martin talks with Mary Kate Cary, a columnist with U.S. News and World Report, and Matt Continetti, author of "The Persecution of Sarah Palin: How the Elite Media Tried to Bring Down a Rising Star" about what might be next for the former Alaska governor.

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]]> Senate Health Bill Faces Saturday Showdown Democrats will need to vote in lockstep to overcome GOP opposition in a key procedural vote to move the $848 billion measure to full debate. But it's not yet clear whether Majority Leader Harry Reid can round up enough support. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:42:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120611773&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120611773&ft=1&f=1014 Democrats will need to vote in lockstep to overcome GOP opposition in a key procedural vote to move the $848 billion measure to full debate. But it's not yet clear whether Majority Leader Harry Reid can round up enough support.

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]]> Legislating In Secret Irks GOP, But Insiders Say It's SOP Squawking aside, closed-door legislative engineering is business as usual for the Senate. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:55:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114408446&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114408446&ft=1&f=1014 Squawking aside, closed-door legislative engineering is business as usual for the Senate.

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]]> Is Ron Paul Right About The Fed? Rep. Ron Paul, the Texas Republican and lifelong critic of the Federal Reserve, scored a big win on Capitol Hill by getting a House panel to pass a bill requiring new reviews of the Fed's interest-rate decisions. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:15:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114408329&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114408329&ft=1&f=1014 Rep. Ron Paul, the Texas Republican and lifelong critic of the Federal Reserve, scored a big win on Capitol Hill by getting a House panel to pass a bill requiring new reviews of the Fed's interest-rate decisions.

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]]> Senate Tries To Strike Balance On Abortion Language The fight over health care has moved to the Senate, and that means the fight over abortion is there as well. Earlier this month, the House passed legislation that would ban federal funding of abortion, but most Democrats say it went too far. Can the Senate's version find a compromise? Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120602688&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120602688&ft=1&f=1014 The fight over health care has moved to the Senate, and that means the fight over abortion is there as well. Earlier this month, the House passed legislation that would ban federal funding of abortion, but most Democrats say it went too far. Can the Senate's version find a compromise?

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]]> Pelosi: Obama Needs Room To Make Afghan Decision Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi says she believes a health-care bill will pass, despite fierce debate over language about abortion. She tells Renee Montagne that when it comes to Afghanistan, she doesn't sense wide support among House members for a significant troop increase. Pelosi says she's asked members to give President Obama room to decide his Afghan strategy. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:18:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120602844&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120602844&ft=1&f=1014 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi says she believes a health-care bill will pass, despite fierce debate over language about abortion. She tells Renee Montagne that when it comes to Afghanistan, she doesn't sense wide support among House members for a significant troop increase. Pelosi says she's asked members to give President Obama room to decide his Afghan strategy.

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]]> House Votes To Cancel Medicare Pay Cuts For Doctors Majority Leader Steny Hoyer was able to get the bill passed while the Senate couldn't by appending it to a more popular bill. Republicans complained that the cost of the measure was not offset and also charged that it was repayment to the AMA for endorsing the Democrats' health care bill. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:56:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120596046&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120596046&ft=1&f=1014 Majority Leader Steny Hoyer was able to get the bill passed while the Senate couldn't by appending it to a more popular bill. Republicans complained that the cost of the measure was not offset and also charged that it was repayment to the AMA for endorsing the Democrats' health care bill.

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]]> Army Relents; Allows Limited Media At Palin Event Army officials had said they would prohibit coverage of Palin's on-post event, saying it would turn into political grandstanding against President Barack Obama. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:28:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120583149&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120583149&ft=1&f=1014 Army officials had said they would prohibit coverage of Palin's on-post event, saying it would turn into political grandstanding against President Barack Obama.

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]]> Pelosi: Abortion Issue Won't Sink Health Care Bill In an NPR interview, the House speaker predicted she can corral enough votes from moderate Democrats to guarantee final passage of health care legislation &mdash; even if it contains the less-restrictive rules on abortion contained in the Senate version of the bill. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:30:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120587627&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120587627&ft=1&f=1014 In an NPR interview, the House speaker predicted she can corral enough votes from moderate Democrats to guarantee final passage of health care legislation — even if it contains the less-restrictive rules on abortion contained in the Senate version of the bill.

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]]> Geithner: Use Leftover Bailout Money To Cut Deficit Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the government's $700 billion bailout program will end "as soon as we can," and that part of it will be used to lower the record deficit. He urged Congress to move quickly in overhauling the nation's financial rules, which he says is key to a healthy economy. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:18:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120570711&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120570711&ft=1&f=1014 Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the government's $700 billion bailout program will end "as soon as we can," and that part of it will be used to lower the record deficit. He urged Congress to move quickly in overhauling the nation's financial rules, which he says is key to a healthy economy.

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