Democrats are split on a proposed amendment to the health care overhaul bill that would allow pharmacies and wholesalers to import lower-cost drugs from overseas. Supporters say it will save consumers billions of dollars. Opponents raise safety concerns — and fears that it could blow up the entire bill. Full Story »
Houston Mayor-elect Annise Parker says though she is openly gay, her sexual orientation is not something she will lead the city with. Over the weekend, Houston became the largest U.S. city to pick an openly gay person as mayor. Full Story »
Connecticut Joe Lieberman's opposition to one part of the health care bill currently before the Senate threatens its passage. Full Story »
Senate action on health care has a long way to go in a hurry if there's any chance for getting a bill passed before Christmas. Full Story »
President Obama meets with representatives of the nation's biggest banks Monday, and he could have some sharp words for them. Over the weekend, the president expressed exasperation with bankers on Wall Street. In an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes, Obama called the bankers "fat cats." He also praised the House of Representatives for passing a bill imposing new regulations on financial firms. Full Story »
Abortion remains one of the key unresolved issues in the ongoing health overhaul debate. Those on both sides of the abortion debate say they want the health bill to retain the status quo. And the status quo they point to is the Hyde amendment, the ban on federal funding of abortion first passed in 1976. However, the Hyde language has changed many times over the years. Full Story »
Over the weekend in Houston, Annise Parker was elected as the city's first openly gay mayor. The race was a run off between two Democratic candidates. Parker began her political career as a gay activist before serving on Houston's City Council. Parker calls it "a historic election" for her community. Full Story »
A plan to let people as young as 55 buy into Medicare, heralded as a breakthrough in the Senate's health care debate, ran into resistance Sunday from lawmakers who can make or break Democrats' efforts to reshape the nation's health insurance system. Full Story »
More than half of the spending bill's cost goes to government health care programs. The other roughly $450 billion is for everything from NASA and Amtrak, to public schools and highways. Full Story »
Foreclosure rates are down in the U.S., but the housing market is still in trouble. Host Liane Hansen speaks with Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan about the continuing fallout from the housing crisis. Full Story »
