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 Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:09:00 -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 Daschle: Health Care Overhaul 'Within Our Reach' President Obama has recruited former Sen. Tom Daschle to help persuade reluctant Democrats to approve health care legislation. Daschle discusses his role and how he hopes to make lawmakers understand "the consequences of failure." Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:09:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120667771&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120667771&ft=1&f=1014 President Obama has recruited former Sen. Tom Daschle to help persuade reluctant Democrats to approve health care legislation. Daschle discusses his role and how he hopes to make lawmakers understand "the consequences of failure."

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]]> Democrats At Odds Over Health Bill Some moderates threatened Sunday to scuttle legislation if their demands aren't met, while more liberal members warned their party leaders not to bend. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:09:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120667041&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120667041&ft=1&f=1014 Some moderates threatened Sunday to scuttle legislation if their demands aren't met, while more liberal members warned their party leaders not to bend.

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]]> Senate Health Bill Clears Crucial Hurdle Saturday night, while you might have been out to dinner, or at the movies, Senate Democrats were sweating out whether they had enough votes to clear their health overhaul bill over its first hurdle on the Senate floor. NPR's Julie Rovner spent her evening with them, and filed this report. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661973&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661973&ft=1&f=1014 Saturday night, while you might have been out to dinner, or at the movies, Senate Democrats were sweating out whether they had enough votes to clear their health overhaul bill over its first hurdle on the Senate floor. NPR's Julie Rovner spent her evening with them, and filed this report.

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]]> Obama Deploys Financial Fraud Task Force - The Obama Administration has launched the Financial Fraud Task Force to investigate issues related to the economic crisis. The Department of Justice will lead the task force's efforts to combat fraud in such areas as mortgage lending, stimulus spending and the government's bailout of the financial sector. Host Liane Hansen talks with Department of Justice Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli, who will be one of the leaders of the task force. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661977&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661977&ft=1&f=1014 - The Obama Administration has launched the Financial Fraud Task Force to investigate issues related to the economic crisis. The Department of Justice will lead the task force's efforts to combat fraud in such areas as mortgage lending, stimulus spending and the government's bailout of the financial sector. Host Liane Hansen talks with Department of Justice Associate Attorney General Tom Perrelli, who will be one of the leaders of the task force.

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]]> As Races Blend, Political Groups Face A Recount Barack Obama's presidential campaign was one of several successful, modern-day political campaigns to break through racial barriers. Is this an indication that America is experiencing a shift toward political colorblindness? Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661987&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661987&ft=1&f=1014 Barack Obama's presidential campaign was one of several successful, modern-day political campaigns to break through racial barriers. Is this an indication that America is experiencing a shift toward political colorblindness?

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]]> Commuter Rail Collisions Spur Takeover Talk Nine people were killed in a Metro train crash in Washington, D.C., this summer. The growing number of commuter rail collisions is one of the reasons the Obama administration proposed this week that the federal government take over safety regulation of the country's subway and light rail systems. Host Liane Hansen speaks with Deborah Hersman, Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661995&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661995&ft=1&f=1014 Nine people were killed in a Metro train crash in Washington, D.C., this summer. The growing number of commuter rail collisions is one of the reasons the Obama administration proposed this week that the federal government take over safety regulation of the country's subway and light rail systems. Host Liane Hansen speaks with Deborah Hersman, Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board.

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]]> Kennedy Says Bishop Banned Him From Communion Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin of Rhode Island has banned Rep. Patrick Kennedy from receiving the central sacrament of the church because of the congressman's support for abortion rights, Kennedy said in a newspaper interview published Sunday. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:55:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661343&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120661343&ft=1&f=1014 Roman Catholic Bishop Thomas Tobin of Rhode Island has banned Rep. Patrick Kennedy from receiving the central sacrament of the church because of the congressman's support for abortion rights, Kennedy said in a newspaper interview published Sunday.

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]]> 'Public Option' Remains Possible Snag As Vote Looms Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid needs 60 votes — that's every Democrat and both Independents — to clear the way for a vote on historic heath care legislation Saturday. The final two Democrats fell in line Saturday afternoon — Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. But the holdouts still expressed strong reluctance about the "public option" in Reid's bill. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:26:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120653061&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120653061&ft=1&f=1014 Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid needs 60 votes — that's every Democrat and both Independents — to clear the way for a vote on historic heath care legislation Saturday. The final two Democrats fell in line Saturday afternoon — Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas. But the holdouts still expressed strong reluctance about the "public option" in Reid's bill.

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]]> Fallows On The News: Health Care, China, Palin The Senate spends the day tackling health care, President Obama returns from China, and former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin goes "rogue." Guy Raz reviews this week's news with James Fallows, national correspondent for <em>The Atlantic</em> magazine. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120652951&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120652951&ft=1&f=1014 The Senate spends the day tackling health care, President Obama returns from China, and former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin goes "rogue." Guy Raz reviews this week's news with James Fallows, national correspondent for The Atlantic magazine.

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]]> Health Bill Clears Key Senate Hurdle Senate Democrats pushed through a procedural wall Saturday night and formally opened the floor debate on their effort to overhaul the nation's $2.5 trillion health care system. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:53:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120649888&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120649888&ft=1&f=1014 Senate Democrats pushed through a procedural wall Saturday night and formally opened the floor debate on their effort to overhaul the nation's $2.5 trillion health care system.

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]]> Expect Senate Health Bill To Change, Durbin Says The historic health care overhaul plan proposed by Congressional Democrats makes its way to the Senate for a test vote tonight. The sweeping legislation sets the stage for a showdown between Republicans and a fragmented Democratic majority. Sixty votes are required to advance the bill toward full debate. Host Scott Simon speaks with Sen. Dick Durbin, the majority whip of the Senate. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120646658&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120646658&ft=1&f=1014 The historic health care overhaul plan proposed by Congressional Democrats makes its way to the Senate for a test vote tonight. The sweeping legislation sets the stage for a showdown between Republicans and a fragmented Democratic majority. Sixty votes are required to advance the bill toward full debate. Host Scott Simon speaks with Sen. Dick Durbin, the majority whip of the Senate.

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]]> Republicans Hope For Just One Defection No Republicans will vote Saturday night to advance the Senate's health care bill to full debate, Republican Whip Sen. John Kyl says. That leaves the fate of the vote in the hands of a few moderate Democrats, all of whom are needed to reach the 60 votes required to push the bill forward. Host Scott Simon speaks with Kyl on his party's chances of defeating the bill. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120646662&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120646662&ft=1&f=1014 No Republicans will vote Saturday night to advance the Senate's health care bill to full debate, Republican Whip Sen. John Kyl says. That leaves the fate of the vote in the hands of a few moderate Democrats, all of whom are needed to reach the 60 votes required to push the bill forward. Host Scott Simon speaks with Kyl on his party's chances of defeating the bill.

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]]> One Job The Stimulus Has Definitely Saved The Web site Recovery.gov lists the jobs the Obama administration claims to have saved or created. In one company the government certainly did helped save a jobs, but it wasn't in manufacturing or technology. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120646674&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120646674&ft=1&f=1014 The Web site Recovery.gov lists the jobs the Obama administration claims to have saved or created. In one company the government certainly did helped save a jobs, but it wasn't in manufacturing or technology.

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]]> Week In Review With Daniel Schorr This week, the Senate faced a crucial vote on health care. The Obama administration fended off criticism over Sept. 11 trials in New York, and Hamid Karzai was sworn in for another term as president of Afghanistan. Host Scott Simon reviews the week in the news with NPR Senior News Analyst Dan Schorr. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120646678&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120646678&ft=1&f=1014 This week, the Senate faced a crucial vote on health care. The Obama administration fended off criticism over Sept. 11 trials in New York, and Hamid Karzai was sworn in for another term as president of Afghanistan. Host Scott Simon reviews the week in the news with NPR Senior News Analyst Dan Schorr.

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]]> Overlooked In The Rush To Digitize Medical Records The administration has made $45 billion available for doctors and hospital across the country to digitize medical records. This money, part of the government's stimulus plan, promises what amounts to a gold rush for major technology firms, who have begun competing to win those accounts. But Fred Schulte, senior reporter for the Huffington Post Investigative Fund, says some health care professionals wonder if the promise of electronic medical records has been exaggerated. Host Scott Simon talks to Schulte about the potential pitfalls. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120646690&ft=1&f=1014 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120646690&ft=1&f=1014 The administration has made $45 billion available for doctors and hospital across the country to digitize medical records. This money, part of the government's stimulus plan, promises what amounts to a gold rush for major technology firms, who have begun competing to win those accounts. But Fred Schulte, senior reporter for the Huffington Post Investigative Fund, says some health care professionals wonder if the promise of electronic medical records has been exaggerated. Host Scott Simon talks to Schulte about the potential pitfalls.

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