ArklatexPolitics.com

Posted 4 hours 28 minutes 7 seconds ago
Posted In: Home, National

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Former New York Congressman Eric Massa says he
groped a staffer but denies it was sexual.
Massa's comments came Tuesday on conservative commentator Glenn
Beck's Fox News Channel show.
The Washington Post, citing anonymous sources, first reported
that the House ethics panel is investigating allegations Massa
groped multiple male staffers in his office. Massa has previously
claimed his misconduct was limited to using inappropriate language
with staffers.
Massa has given different reasons over the past week for
quitting his seat, including health worries, a House ethics probe
and charges fellow Democrats pushed him out because he opposed
their health care bill. Democrats deny the charge.

Posted 10 hours 17 minutes 5 seconds ago
Posted In: Home, National

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The House's No. 2 Democrat is dismissing as
"absurd" former Rep. Eric Massa's claims that he was forced out
by party leaders because of his opposition to health care
legislation.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told reporters Tuesday
that Massa's conspiracy argument was "absolutely untrue."
The former New York lawmaker, who is facing a harassment
complaint from a male staffer, said Sunday that Democratic leaders
will "stop at nothing" to advance the health care bill. Massa
voted against the legislation last year.
Massa has given three explanations for leaving office. Last
week, he said he would not seek re-election because of health
problems.
Massa's departure reduces the majority House Speaker Nancy
Pelosi needs for passage of health care legislation to 216.

Posted 10 hours 17 minutes 59 seconds ago
Posted In: Home, National

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Dozens of health care activists are protesting
in the nation's capital against what they call an abusive health
insurance industry.
Members of Health Care for America Now gathered at Dupont Circle
Tuesday morning, and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and other
speakers addressed the crowd. They planned to march through
downtown Washington to a hotel where America's Health Insurance
Plans, an association of health insurance companies, is meeting for
a conference.
Protesters say they are fed up with rising premiums, denials of
care and claims, and insurance companies' efforts to thwart reform.
They say they want to hold the industry accountable for its
actions.

Posted 10 hours 19 minutes 28 seconds ago
Posted In: Home, National

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Young adults between 18 and 29 are anxious
about being able to pay for their educational, housing and health
care needs. Those are findings from a new poll that suggests many
worry they will never be better off than their parents.
The poll by Harvard's Institute of Politics found that six out
of 10 of those surveyed worry they may not meet their current bills
and obligations. Nearly half of those attending college wonder
whether they will be able to afford to stay in school. And more
than eight out of 10 said they expect difficulty finding a job
after graduation.
Politically, young Republicans are more motivated to vote in the
2010 election than those who described themselves as Democrats. A
majority approves of President Barack Obama, but not his handling
of top issues.

Posted 10 hours 22 minutes 42 seconds ago
Posted In: Home, National

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Major business groups say President Barack
Obama's health care overhaul is a job killer, and they're launching
a multimillion-dollar ad campaign to take that message to voters.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of
Manufacturers, and groups ranging from contractors to retailers
said Tuesday the Democratic health care bills would raise their
expenses, while failing to control health care costs.
Advertisements will start airing nationwide Wednesday on cable
television and shift in a few days to 17 states, targeting moderate
and conservative Democrats whose votes are critical to passing the
bill in the House. The campaign is estimated to cost between $4
million and $10 million, with the insurance industry paying part of
the cost.

Posted 10 hours 24 minutes 7 seconds ago
Posted In: Home, National

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama is meeting with Cabinet
members and key senators from both parties in a bid to move forward
on a long-stalled climate and energy bill.
A bill sponsored by Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., Lindsey Graham,
R-S.C., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., aims to cut emissions of
pollution-causing greenhouse gases by 17 percent by 2020. The bill
would abandon a broad "cap-and-trade" approach to reducing carbon
pollution. Instead it would apply different carbon controls to
different sectors of the economy.
The bill's prospects in the Senate are uncertain, and Tuesday's
meeting is seen as an attempt to bring together moderates from both
parties to gauge their support.

Posted 10 hours 26 minutes 15 seconds ago
Posted In: Home, National

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Legislation to give additional months of
unemployment benefits to people who have been out of a job for more
than half a year has won key GOP support that means it will soon
pass the Senate.
The sweeping bill also would prevent doctors from absorbing a
crippling cut in Medicare payments and extends health insurance
subsidies for the unemployed through December.
Eight Republicans voted with Democrats to defeat a GOP
filibuster of the measure, setting up a final vote later today.
The bill also extends a variety of tax breaks for businesses and
individuals that are popular with senators in both parties.
The $66 billion cost of providing the extended unemployment
checks is added directly to a budget deficit expected to hit $1.6
trillion this year.

Posted 1 day 3 hours 50 minutes ago
Posted In: Home, National

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) -- New York Rep. Eric Massa is blaming his
resignation on a conspiracy by House Democratic leaders to force
him out before a crucial vote on health care.
Massa was one of 39 Democrats who voted against an earlier House
version of the health care bill in November. He says Democratic
leaders will "stop at nothing" to advance the health care
overhaul.
Massa was speaking Sunday night on his weekly radio show on
WKPQ-FM in Hornell.
Katie Grant, a spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Steny
Hoyer, says Massa's accusation is false. Massa didn't respond to
phone calls seeking comment Monday.
Facing a harassment complaint from a staffer, Massa said last
week he'd step down from his seat. The resignation took effect
Monday. He earlier announced he wouldn't seek re-election because
of health problems.

Posted 1 day 10 hours 34 minutes ago
Posted In: Home, National

GLENSIDE, Pa. (AP) -- President Barack Obama is turning up the
heat on the nation's health insurers as he tries to rally support
for his overhaul legislation.
In a speech in suburban Philadelphia, Obama said insurance
companies have decided that they'll make money by denying coverage
to some and raising premiums on others. Obama says they'll continue
to do so as long as they're able to get away with it.
Monday's pitch, along with a similar stop in St. Louis
Wednesday, comes as Obama makes an all-out push for his health care
proposals. The administration hopes to shift attention away from
the political debate on health care and onto the ways the
president's plan could help consumers.
The White House has called on the House to act on legislation by
the time the president leaves for Asia on March 18.

Posted 1 day 10 hours 36 minutes ago
Posted In: Home, National

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Polling suggests that most African Americans
expect to vote in the midterm elections.
About two-thirds of black adults questioned in four states said
they are closely following news about the upcoming elections, and
between 74 percent and 80 percent said they are very likely to
vote.
The nonpartisan Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies
polled 500 African-Americans in Missouri, Indiana, Arkansas and
South Carolina. Those states all have Senate races in November.
How many of those voters follow through with their intentions
could help determine if Democrats hold control of Congress. In many
competitive congressional districts, blacks make up a quarter of
the electorate, and they vote overwhelmingly for Democrats.
The poll found that the economy and health care reform are the
top two issues on black voters' minds.
The poll was conducted last year between November 11 and
December 1. It has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.