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Senate readies for key healthcare vote
Democrats expect to clear a major hurdle that would open the bill to debate after Thanksgiving recess. A close vote is expected.
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After negotiating ...
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Rep. Joe Sestak trying to outrun Sen. Arlen Specter
The Democrat has arguably the hardest-working staff on Capitol Hill scrambling to meet requests from constituents, lobbyists and the media. Now he wants to beat Pennsylvania's longest-serving senator.
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Congress
Joe Sestak
ABC News
Arlen Specter
Senate ethics panel admonishes Burris
The Illinois senator, appointed by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich to fill President Obama's seat, gave 'incorrect, inconsistent, misleading or incomplete information,' the panel says.
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Rod Blagojevich
Republicans criticize dismissal of AmeriCorps watchdog
A GOP report contends that the Obama White House was politically motivated when it fired inspector general Gerald Walpin after his 2008 investigation of Kevin Johnson, now Sacramento's mayor.
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Republican National Committee
Democrats risk taxing the wealthy for healthcare
The House and Senate bills differ on who's considered rich enough and how much they should chip in. But both represent a shift that Republicans are bound to jump on.
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California lawmakers, officials face 18% pay cut
Legislative leaders had challenged the authority of the state's independent pay commission after it voted to trim salaries. But Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown's opinion says the panel can cut compensation.
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Reid rolls out Senate healthcare bill
The majority leader's version of an overhaul would cover almost as many Americans as the House bill, but at a lower price. Republicans plan a 'holy war' of delaying tactics.
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Congress
Harry Reid
California voters want a no-pork diet
The water bond proposal written and passed by the Legislature needs a major rewrite, with an emphasis on de-larding it.
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No matter how clever and careful ...
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Obama and Holder defend plans to try Sept. 11 suspects
Republican lawmakers question whether a civilian trial would be successful and say it might again make New York a terrorist target. Holder counters: 'We need not cower in the face of this enemy.'
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Law
Eric Holder
Barack Obama
Low turnout in Orange County Assembly race rekindles debate on mail-only voting
Just 4% of registered voters in the 72nd District went to precincts to fill Mike Duvall's old seat. Another 14% sent in ballots.
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Dismal turnout at the ...
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California's budget woes will continue for years, report says
Tax receipts have leveled off, but revenue won't bounce back until the 2014-15 budget year, according to the chief budget analyst. Near term, the state faces a nearly $21-billion deficit.
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Palin book tour kicks off where she started 'going rogue'
An enthusiastic crowd braves hours in the cold and dark in Grand Rapids, Mich., to get their political heroine's autograph on her memoir. 'It's a conservative revolution,' one fan says.
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White House
Sarah Palin
Republican National Committee
Group tied to DWP employees union sues L.A. Ethics Commission to block fundraising limit
A 1985 local law bars political committees from accepting contributions of more than $500 if the group plans to use that money to make an independent expenditure for a city candidate.
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Byrd sets a longevity record for the ages
With a career of nearly 57 years, the West Virginia senator becomes Congress' longest serving member.
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On his 20,774th day on the job, Sen. Robert C. Byrd ...
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Congress
Robert C. Byrd
Proposed water bond is laden with sweeteners for lawmakers
More than $1 billion in an $11-billion measure to provide clean water will go toward pet projects. Opponents worry that discredited ideas could be revived.
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Mammography outcry points to trouble for healthcare reform
Some Republicans say the new recommendations are an example of 'rationing' that would take place under Obama's plan to save money by basing treatment on experts' advice.
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White House
Barack Obama
California faces a projected deficit of $21 billion
The legislative budget analyst's projection, to be released Wednesday, threatens to send Sacramento back into gridlock and force more broad cuts to state programs.
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Democrats end Senate filibuster on court nominee
Ten Republicans join in voting to limit debate over the qualifications of U.S. District Judge David Hamilton of Indiana, and his elevation to the Chicago-based appeals court is now assured.
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Chris Norby is first but faces runoff in 72nd Assembly District
The Orange County supervisor jumped to an early lead but fell short of the majority vote needed to win Mike Duvall's old seat.
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After a whirlwind, ...
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Chris Matthews
Senate blocks effort to halt facility upgrades in U.S. for Guantanamo detainees
On a mostly party-line vote of 57-43, the Senate defeated a Republican's bid to block spending to upgrade facilities such as the near-empty prison in Illinois proposed to house detainees.
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United States
Guantanamo Bay
Cuba
'Going Rogue: An American Life' by Sarah Palin
The former vice presidential candidate's autobiography assigns plenty of blame but doesn't give much credit where it's due.
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A particularly shrewd ...
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White House
Ronald Reagan
Sarah Palin
Water still divides the state
California's biggest statewide problem is -- and always has been -- how to share water. But it's really a local issue.
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Years ago, pundits and pols began ...
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For Obama judicial nominees, confirmation is slow process
Senate Republicans have quietly used their minority power to block candidates to the lower federal courts. A showdown is set for Tuesday with Judge David Hamilton's nomination.
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White House
Barack Obama
James Lilley dies at 81; ambassador to China and CIA operative
Lilley, who was born in China, was respected by both China and Taiwan. He watched the Tiananmen Square protests unfold and was highly critical of Beijing's crackdown.
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World
China
Taiwan
CIA
Abortion, wellness and other healthcare bill questions
Also: Benefits available under the 'public option' in the House bill, and who wouldn't be covered under the legislation.
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Some reader questions about the ...
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Two GOP rivals vie for dominance in race to replace Mike Duvall
Linda Ackerman and Chris Norby appear to be front-runners among five candidates in Tuesday's 72nd Assembly District election. A majority vote for either would avoid a runoff, but that's unlikely.
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Splitting California down the middle
The real political rift, a Times/USC poll reveals, is between east and west.
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Last week's Los Angeles Times/USC poll spilled a flood of pessimism from ...
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Young conservative activist Hannah Giles speaks in Santa Barbara
The 20-year-old who rocked ACORN with a series of secret videos addresses college students about guerrilla warfare.
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Hannah Giles was in the middle of her ...
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Congress
ACORN
Barbara Boxer
Don Young
Jenny Sanford endorses husband's former ally
The South Carolina governor's wife has a network of supporters, so her move carries some weight. Also: McDonald's is hiring -- at Guantanamo Bay.
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She is ...
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Mark Sanford
Guantanamo Bay
'Going Rogue' is Sarah Palin's shot at redemption and revenge
She aims to reclaim the narrative of her political career.
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For Sarah Palin, whose electrifying debut on the national stage at last year's Republican ...
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White House
Sarah Palin
Republican National Convention
Strong reaction to announcement of 9/11 trial in New York court
Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr.'s decision raises legal, political and ethical questions -- and criticism from some key Republicans.
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Setting the stage for a ...
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Law
Eric Holder
9/11
San Jacinto councilman says his colleagues stonewalled him
Steve Di Memmo, the only council member to avoid indictment in a corruption probe this week, says the other councilmen shut him out because he 'wouldn't play the game.'
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FDA holds off on oyster ban
The agency will study its policy on raw, untreated Gulf oysters in warm months. Southern politicians said a ban would hurt business. In the U.S., 15 people die annually after eating tainted oysters.
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Utah becomes a battleground in the GOP's civil war
Sen. Robert Bennett is under fire from those in the party who find him insufficiently conservative. His battle may be a reflection of an anti-establishment anger that could affect both parties.
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Republican National Committee
Schwarzenegger quietly quashed effort to improve commuter rails
The governor ordered officials to seek federal money only for the proposed bullet train between San Francisco and San Diego. Rail advocates say the commuter line upgrades should take priority.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor submits plan to cut prison population
But he also disavows the proposed solutions as being illegal.
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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Thursday gave federal judges a road map to reducing state ...
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Arnold Schwarzenegger
Will Sarah Palin's 'Going Rogue' boost her political fortunes?
Will the feisty Republican's memoir solidify her base or help broaden it?
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You may not be able to judge a book by its cover, but you often can tell ...
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White House
Sarah Palin
The Jerry Brown tapes: Never a dull moment
Transcripts of phone interviews with reporters show the once-and-possibly-future governor is as outspoken as ever. For a politics columnist, they make for fascinating, if somewhat guilty, reading.
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Congress
Sherrod Brown
Lou Dobbs resigns from CNN
The outspoken newsman says he has been urged 'to go beyond my role here.' Is politics in his future?
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In a surprise announcement, CNN host Lou Dobbs ...
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Lou Dobbs
CNN
President Clinton urges Senate action on healthcare
The president who tried to overhaul healthcare 15 years ago advises Democrats to overcome their differences: 'The worst thing to do is nothing.' Party leaders hope to begin floor debate next week.
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Lawmakers call for emergency sick-leave requirement
Sen. Christopher J. Dodd wants businesses to offer 7 paid sick days a year, so workers with the flu can stay home. Critics say the H1N1 flu pandemic is being exploited to push flawed legislation.
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Congress
Christopher J. Dodd
White House communications chief Anita Dunn resigns
Obama's 'rapid response' advocate had planned to step down even before her conflict with Fox News. Her deputy, Dan Pfeiffer, is expected to follow in her aggressive footsteps when he takes over.
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Fox News
Buzz Aldrin named L.A. County's lunar diplomat
The Board of Supervisors declares the astronaut 'Honorary Consul General to the Moon from Los Angeles County.'
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The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors ...
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General David Petraeus
The Los Angeles Times
Brown closes inquiry into unauthorized taping of conversations with reporters
California's attorney general says the tapings were done only by a rogue lieutenant who quit after his actions were revealed.
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State Atty. Gen. Jerry ...
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Congress
Sherrod Brown
Group's conflicting politics alienate one friend
Dear Amy: I have been enjoying a group of friends for the past 10 years.
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For healthcare bill, Pelosi had to leave Left Coast behind
The House speaker built a majority one compromise at a time, yielding on liberal touchstones including abortion.
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In the final hours before the House ...
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Congress
Nancy Pelosi
Healthcare bill's tough sell in the House signals tougher fight ahead
The compromises Democrats had to make, the narrow victory and the changed political climate all point to the challenges Obama's push for health insurance reform will now face in the Senate.
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White House
Barack Obama
Taxing our credulity
Spelling out the state's new 'interest-free loan': T-A-X
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The state of California began withholding more taxes from paychecks last week. And don't believe ...
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Historic healthcare overhaul passes House
The 220-215 vote marks the first such victory in decades of efforts to expand insurance coverage. The bill wins a lone GOP vote and loses many Democrats, pointing to challenges awaiting in the Senate.
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