'08 candidates race clock on fundraising - USATODAY.com

'08 candidates race clock on fundraising - USATODAY.com: "Presidential hopefuls are using diverse motivational techniques to raise as much money as they can before the deadline midnight Saturday for first-quarter contributions. The reports are due April 15 to the Federal Election Commission, but some campaigns will be releasing their numbers next week."

As Forbes Endorses Giuliani, Giuliani Endorses a Flat Tax - New York Times

As Forbes Endorses Giuliani, Giuliani Endorses a Flat Tax - New York Times: "Rudolph W. Giuliani accepted the endorsement of Steve Forbes yesterday and embraced Mr. Forbes’s signature issue, saying he liked the idea of a flat tax — something Mr. Giuliani denounced when Mr. Forbes was running for president."

OK medical devices faster, U.S. asks | The Japan Times Online

OK medical devices faster, U.S. asks The Japan Times Online: "The time Japan takes to approve medical devices is longer than elsewhere and could have detrimental effects on U.S. manufacturers, the U.S. International Trade Commission said Wednesday.
While noting there is 'no evidence of discrimination' against foreign products in Japan's medical equipment market, the ITC said U.S. firms 'may be disproportionately affected' in their sales, exports and profitability by the 'much longer' approval times."

News - More lung damage found - sacbee.com

More lung damage found - sacbee.com: "Ongoing medical screening of California flavoring industry workers has turned up another 22 young employees with abnormally low lung capacity -- evidence of chemical poisoning on the job -- a top state health official said. The official notified state lawmakers of the suspect cases in a hearing Wednesday on a bill that would ban diacetyl in the workplace by 2010.
The proposal by Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View, passed out of the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee on a 5-3 vote. The measure, AB 514, now goes to the Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials."

A Wikipedia-style site for medical information?

A Wikipedia-style site for medical information?: "Four doctors at the Cleveland Clinic are drawing international attention with a medical version of Wikipedia, the popular online encyclopedia that anyone can edit. "

Regulators want Abbott factory to be fixed faster FDA says medical diagnostic machines fail to conform | Chicago Tribune

Regulators want Abbott factory to be fixed faster - Chicago Tribune: "The Food and Drug Administration wants Abbott Laboratories to move faster on fixing quality-control problems the regulatory agency identified last year at a Texas production facility. The regulatory agency is 'not satisfied' with the North Chicago-based company's progress in correcting 'recurring' shortcomings FDA inspectors identified four months ago, according to a March 13 letter from the FDA to Abbott Chairman and Chief Executive Miles White."

Genentech, Gilead Struggle to Hire as Biotech Booms

Bloomberg.com: U.S.: "Biotechnology companies including Genentech Inc. and Gilead Sciences Inc. can't find enough scientists to hire, threatening to slow one of the industries bolstering U.S. job growth. "

TheHill.com - Lawmakers set to address prescription drug plan

TheHill.com - Lawmakers set to address prescription drug plan: "The FDA transmitted draft legislation to Congress on March 16, but key lawmakers have yet to make public statements endorsing or criticizing the agency-industry PDUFA proposal. Pharmaceutical companies, meanwhile, are satisfied with the proposal but anxious that the bill could become a vehicle for other drug-related legislation they oppose. "

TheHill.com - Democrats say McCain nearly abandoned GOP

TheHill.com - Democrats say McCain nearly abandoned GOP: "Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was close to leaving the Republican Party in 2001, weeks before then-Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vt.) famously announced his decision to become an Independent, according to former Democratic lawmakers who say they were involved in the discussions."

Pelosi proud of Dems' work in first 100 days / Speaker given high marks for keeping 233 diverse members of her party in line on tough votes by leading from the center

Pelosi proud of Dems' work in first 100 days : "Nancy Pelosi took an early survey of her first 100 days as speaker of the House of Representatives and called reporters to the Capitol Wednesday to proclaim she had compiled a 'remarkable record of which I'm enormously proud.' "

Workers' comp rate cut urged - sacbee.com

Workers' comp rate cut urged - sacbee.com: "A key industry group recommended Wednesday that workers' compensation insurance rates drop by 11.3 percent this summer."

Voters cool to gov.'s idea to charge doctors and hospitals - Los Angeles Times

Voters cool to gov.'s idea to charge doctors and hospitals - Los Angeles Times: "Turns out Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger faces a tough sell convincing not only doctors and hospitals they should pay higher taxes to help finance universal healthcare. Californians from other walks of life also think it's a bad idea. 'It's a stupid idea,' says Claire Fitzmaurice of Irvine, a retired accountant. 'Listen, they're not going to be paying. They're just going to add it on. And patients are going to pay the fee.'"

Many see bleak future for state, poll shows / Confidence ebbs in politicians' ability to handle problems

Many Californians see bleak future for state, poll shows / Confidence ebbs in politicians' ability to handle problems: "Californians see tougher economic times ahead and are losing confidence in the ability of their political leaders to deal with the state and nation's growing problems, according to a poll released Wednesday by the Public Policy Institute of California."

Bush Shows Humorous Side in Annual White House Dinner

Bush Shows Humorous Side in Annual White House Dinner: "'A year ago my approval rating was in the 30s, my nominee for the Supreme Court had just withdrawn, and my vice president had shot someone,' President Bush said Wednesday night during the annual gathering. 'Ah,' he said, 'those were the good ol' days.' "

Pharma Industry Debating Bar Codes Vs. RFID For Drug Tracking - Yahoo! News

Pharma Industry Debating Bar Codes Vs. RFID For Drug Tracking - Yahoo! News: "As the pharmaceutical industry starts putting systems in place to identify drugs in the supply chain to meet government mandates, a debate is brewing over which technology to use: RFID or 2-D bar codes."

Investors Pump $33M in CoreValve

Investors Pump $33M in CoreValve: "CoreValve, a company that is developing a way for doctors to replace defective heart valves without opening up the chest, is paving the way for innovation in the cardiovascular market, leading investors to pump $33 million into the company in a third financing round."

Rookie Mistakes Plague Obama - Politico.com

Rookie Mistakes Plague Obama - Politico.com: "Obama's gift with language -- his powerful speaking style and the graceful prose and compelling story of his best-selling memoir -- has been an engine of his dramatic, high-velocity rise in presidential politics. But he has also shown a tendency toward seemingly minor contradictions and rhetorical slips that serve as reminders that he is still a newcomer to national politics."

TheHill.com - Wiki site offers new avenue for advocacy

TheHill.com - Wiki site offers new avenue for advocacy: "WashingtonWatch automatically registers bills that are introduced and have been scored by the Congressional Budget Office, and downloads bill summaries written by the Congressional Research Service. Users can register to have bills on topics they are interested in e-mailed to them. The tool lobbyists may find especially helpful is the wiki function, which enables users to spell out the pros and cons of a bill. "

TheHill.com - Members find earmark reform necessary, but messy

TheHill.com - Members find earmark reform necessary, but messy: "The House ethics committee is grappling with how it should interpret the new rules governing earmarks and explain what is legal and ethical, and what is not."

Survey Reveals Significant Public Lack of Diabetes Awareness: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance

Survey Reveals Significant Public Lack of Diabetes Awareness: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance: "Americans Unaware of Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes; Medtronic to Launch Diabetes Education Initiative in May "

Study questions the widespread use of angioplasty - Los Angeles Times

Study questions the widespread use of angioplasty - Los Angeles Times: "For patients with clogged arteries who have not had a heart attack, the widely used surgical treatment of balloon angioplasty with the insertion of a stent is no better than conventional drug treatment, researchers said Monday"

At Forum, Democrats Differ on Health Care - washingtonpost.com

At Forum, Democrats Differ on Health Care - washingtonpost.com: "Democratic presidential candidates were united here Saturday in pledging to provide universal health care to all Americans but differed over how quickly the changes could be achieved and, more important, whether they would have to raise taxes to pay for it."

N.Y. Mayor Is Eyeing '08, Observers Say - washingtonpost.com

N.Y. Mayor Is Eyeing '08, Observers Say - washingtonpost.com: "Publicly, the Democrat-turned-Republican professes no interest in the top job at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. But the founder of the Bloomberg financial news empire has dropped enough hints and has had enough tantalizing discussions with potential supporters that people who observe the city's politics for a living are convinced he is at least thinking about it. Civil rights activist Al Sharpton called Bloomberg 'Ross Perot with a resume.'"

Vilsack Joins Team Clinton - Washington Post

Vilsack Joins Team Clinton - Washington Post: "Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack is set to endorse Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign for the 2008 Democratic nomination at a press conference today in Des Moines."

TheHill.com - Romney, Giuliani pick up congressional endorsements

TheHill.com - Romney, Giuliani pick up congressional endorsements: "Top-tier Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani picked up congressional endorsements over the weekend, adding to their growing lists of supporters on Capitol Hill. "

Insuring children may squeeze seniors - Los Angeles Times

Insuring children may squeeze seniors - Los Angeles Times: "The Democratic Congress, eager to do something that would be popular with voters, is moving to provide healthcare coverage to millions of uninsured children this year, but there's a catch: Senior citizens enrolled in a popular Medicare program may have to help pay the bill."

EDITORIAL The FDA's Real Need - washingtonpost.com

EDITORIAL: The FDA's Real Need - washingtonpost.com: "With approval times down, FDA critics now fret that the agency is too close to industry, relying too much on user fees for cash and on outside experts for scientific advice."

iPods Teach Docs to Recognize Heartbeats - Newsweek Health - MSNBC.com

iPods Teach Docs to Recognize Heartbeats - Newsweek Health - MSNBC.com: "This weekend at the annual conference of the American College of Cardiology, Barrett reported that cardiology (or at least one component of it) can be taught by iPod. After listening to MP3s of 400 or more heartbeats, manipulated to sound either healthy or abnormal, students were able to easily identify sounds in patients that might signal trouble."

Bill Clinton Raises $70,000 Without Breaking a Sweat - New York Times

Bill Clinton Raises $70,000 Without Breaking a Sweat - New York Times: "The primping before political fund-raisers can go something like this: a trip to the hairstylist, perhaps a new dress or pumps, certainly a pressed suit, some well-applied makeup, a snack to absorb the white wine and a hired car or cab at the appointed hour."

TheHill.com - Clinton: ‘It’s just not fair’

TheHill.com - Clinton: ‘It’s just not fair’: "Former President Bill Clinton yesterday complained that “it’s just not fair” the way his wife, presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), is being depicted for her controversial Iraq war vote."

Vilsack to Endorse Clinton for President - washingtonpost.com

Vilsack to Endorse Clinton for President - washingtonpost.com: "Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton, in a major political coup, captured the endorsement of former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, who recently abandoned his own presidential bid, officials told The Associated Press on Friday."

Republican Party loyalty in decline since 2002 - Los Angeles Times

Republican Party loyalty in decline since 2002 - Los Angeles Times: "Public allegiance to the Republican Party has plunged since the second year of George W. Bush's presidency, as attitudes have edged away from some of the conservative values that fueled GOP political dominance for more than a decade, a major new survey has found."

EDITORIAL: A Cleaner Food and Drug Agency - New York Times

A Cleaner Food and Drug Agency - New York Times: "In our highly medicated, high-technology society, it is essential that the Food and Drug Administration regulates drugs, medical devices and other products with complete objectivity — free from the taint of industry influence. So it is encouraging that the agency has proposed new rules to exclude experts who have significant financial ties to regulated industries from serving on committees that recommend whether a product should be approved."

TheHill.com - Edwards campaign to continue despite wife's cancer

Edwards campaign to continue despite wife's cancer: "Former vice presidential candidate and first-tier Democratic White House hopeful John Edwards announced Thursday that he would continue his campaign despite the recurrence of his wife's cancer. "

Govs and hospitals try to block Medicaid cuts

Govs and hospitals try to block Medicaid cuts: "A coalition of governors and hospital groups says it has the support of nearly two-thirds of the members of Congress to block a Bush administration plan to cut $5 billion in Medicaid funding."

Schwarzenegger's cause gets $500,000 after he signed law - Los Angeles Times

Schwarzenegger's cause gets $500,000 after he signed law - Los Angeles Times: "AT&T has given $500,000 to one of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's pet causes, six months after the governor signed a law lifting barriers to the company's bid to sell pay television service in California. One reason companies make such contributions is to 'be on the good side of public officials,' said Robert M. Stern, president of the Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles. "

Private Medicare plans too costly: Stark

U.S. Rep. Stark Says Private Medicare Plans Too Costly: "Private health plans that receive government funding for Medicare patients cost too much and force the government to lose money, the chairman of a U.S. congressional panel said Wednesday."

Narrow Eligibility Criteria Threaten Applicability of Clinical Trial...

Narrow Eligibility Criteria Threaten Applicability of Clinical Trial...: "Randomized controlled trials are essential for effective medical policy decisions and for maintaining up-to-date medical practice, but the applicability of the results is threatened when eligibility criteria are too strict, exclusive, or inadequately defined, researchers report in the Journal of the American Medical Association for March 21."

F.D.A. Limits Role of Advisers Tied to Industry - New York Times

F.D.A. Limits Role of Advisers Tied to Industry - New York Times: "Expert advisers to the government who receive money from a drug or device maker would be barred for the first time from voting on whether to approve that company’s products under new rules announced Wednesday for the F.D.A.’s powerful advisory committees."

Drug companies hide gifts - Newsday.com

Drug companies hide gifts - Newsday.com: "Expensive gifts and cash are routinely given to doctors by pharmaceutical companies, and even in states where such payments must be disclosed, loopholes allow the largesse to be shielded from public view, according to a report on how the pharmaceutical industry influences the practice of medicine."

Top Reimbursement Developments of 2006 (MDDI archive, Mar 07)

Top Reimbursement Developments of 2006 (MDDI archive, Mar 07): "In 2006, there were several reimbursement developments that affect the medical device industry. CMS issued a guidance document on coverage with evidence development (CED). It also approved two initiatives to explore the benefits of gainsharing between hospitals and physicians."

Cheney Treated at Hospital for Blood Clot in Leg; No Complications Found - washingtonpost.com

Cheney Treated at Hospital for Blood Clot in Leg; No Complications Found - washingtonpost.com: "Vice President Cheney went to George Washington University Hospital yesterday morning after experiencing discomfort in his left leg, where a blood clot was recently discovered."

Candidates Stress Early Fundraising - washingtonpost.com

Candidates Stress Early Fundraising - washingtonpost.com: "Presidential candidates are collecting contributions at a record-setting pace and are racing to load their schedules with fundraising events ahead of March 31, the campaign's cutoff for financial reports that will be filed next month."

Edwards Lifesciences sells laser product rights | Reuters.com

Edwards Lifesciences sells laser product rights Reuters.com: "Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (EW.N: Quote, Profile , Research) said it sold the U.S. distribution rights and inventory related to transmyocardial revascularization laser product line to Novadaq Technologies Inc. (NDQ.TO: Quote, Profile , Research) for about $8 million to $9 million."

Democrats Move to Force Tax Debate After Election

Democrats Move to Force Tax Debate After Election: "Senate Democrats are proposing a five-year fiscal plan that seeks to match President Bush's pledge to balance the budget by 2012, but also force a major debate on tax overhaul after the 2008 elections. "

Medicare Still Pays Doctors Who Owe Back Taxes - New York Times

Medicare Still Pays Doctors Who Owe Back Taxes - New York Times: "Thousands of doctors and other health professionals who participate in Medicare are delinquent in paying federal income and payroll taxes, owing more than $1.3 billion, but they continue to receive Medicare payments because the government does little to check their background, federal investigators said Monday."

Edwards Receiveds FDA Approval for Transcatheter Heart Valve Trial

Edwards Receiveds FDA Approval for Transcatheter Heart Valve Trial: "Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW - News), the world leader in the science of heart valves, announced today that it has received conditional approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to initiate a pivotal clinical trial of its Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter aortic heart valve technology. The PARTNER (Placement of AoRTic traNscathetER valves) trial will evaluate the SAPIEN valve in patients who are considered high risk for conventional open-heart valve surgery."

Most of state's higher education students at community colleges - Ventura County Star

Most of CA's Higher Education Students at Community Colleges: "More than 70 percent of students taking college classes in California are taking them at community colleges. "

Less pork-barrel spending by Congress this year | csmonitor.com

Less pork-barrel spending by Congress this year csmonitor.com: "A moratorium on the insertion of pork-barrel projects into spending bills – declared by the new Congress – has slashed the amount of money for such earmarks by more than half. Citizens Against Government Waste reports $13.2 billion in pork-barrel spending for the current fiscal year, down from $29 billion in 2006. Congress approved 2,658 pork projects for this year, down from a record 13,997 in fiscal 2005."

Why the Biomedical 'Crisis' Really Isn't

Why the Biomedical 'Crisis' Really Isn't: "Biomedical researchers argue that they're being starved for funding. But the problems are largely of their own making. . . . universities built scores of gleaming new labs, anticipating that double-digit increases would never end. Now that the budget has flattened, the scientific enterprise has a voracious appetite for funding that can't be satisfied."

Lobbyists can’t accompany members on trips — except for when they can - TheHill.com

Lobbyists can’t accompany members on trips — except for when they can: "The House ethics committee earlier this year prohibited members from accepting “officially-connected travel from a private entity that retains or employs a lobbyist.” Lobbyists also may not accompany a member on a privately paid trip on “any segment of the journey,” according to the new rules. (Private entities that do not retain a lobbyist can still pay for a member to travel). One big loophole: Universities and other institutions of higher education can pay for a trip, and a lobbyist can come along for the ride."

Romney gets Hatch’s 2008 endorsement - TheHill.com

Romney gets Hatch’s 2008 endorsement: "Former Massachusetts governor and GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Monday received the endorsement of Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). "

Is `No new taxes' mantra fading in states?

Is `No new taxes' mantra fading in states?: "If 2006 was the year of surpluses for states, 2007 could be the year of tax hikes. Five governors are proposing hefty tax increases to bankroll ambitious new health-care and education programs."

Nurse shortage grows acute; classes lacking - LA Daily News

Nurse shortage grows acute; classes lacking: "The California Board of Registered Nursing says the demand for nursing classes far outstrips what's available. While 117 programs are now available statewide - 20 more than at the start of the decade - there was room for just 39 percent of all qualified applicants in 2005-06, the last year for which data were available. Equally problematic, officials say, is a shortage of instructors to teach those responding to the nationwide demand for nurses."

Antitrust law losing its teeth - Los Angeles Times

Antitrust law losing its teeth - Los Angeles Times: "With a push from the Bush administration, the Supreme Court is in the midst of steady, if little noticed, retreat from enforcing the antitrust laws that for decades have guarded against monopolies and price fixing."

Looking at links between drug firms and nonprofits - The Boston Globe

Looking at links between drug firms and nonprofits - The Boston Globe: "Drug firms' funding of advocates often escapes government scrutiny. Many patient groups depend on it, raising tricky ethical questions."

Schwarzenegger Includes Health Information Technology in Executive Order - Government Technology

Schwarzenegger Includes Health Information Technology in Executive Order - Government Technology: "Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an Executive Order that moves forward California's efforts to adopt health information technology (HIT), increase transparency of quality and pricing information, and increase accountability in public and private health care delivery systems."

Using tandem treatment to better bust blood clots

Using tandem treatment to better bust blood clots: "A move to using drugs along with devices to treat blood clots is gaining grass-roots support among doctors."

Democrats gain the advantage on health IT issues

Democrats gain the advantage on health IT issues: "With Democrats now in charge on Capitol Hill, the rush for national health IT legislation is on"

History of Hernia Patch Raises Questions on Implant Recalls - New York Times

History of Hernia Patch Raises Questions on Implant Recalls - New York Times: "Not long ago, one group of producers, makers of implanted heart devices, agreed to adopt guidelines about how doctors should be alerted to potential product hazards after a controversy involving the Guidant Corporation. But the broader industry has not followed suit, even though seemingly innocuous devices like the hernia patch can cause as much, if not more, havoc in patients."

BBC NEWS | Health | Artificial vein to boost surgery

Artificial vein to boost surgery: "The device, which encourages blood to flow in its natural spiralling fashion, has produced highly promising results in clinical trials."

Campaign Trail - (washingtonpost.com)

Campaign Trail - (washingtonpost.com): "The upgraded McCain Straight Talk Express, version 2.0, launched today, and immediately began going in circles."

TheHill.com - Medical-device industry frets over drug issues ruling PDUFA debate

TheHill.com - Medical-device industry frets over drug issues ruling PDUFA debate: "The medical-device industry is gearing up for the reauthorization of a law that is vital to its ability to get new products approved by regulators. But the industry is worried that its needs will be overshadowed by those of the pharmaceutical industry, which awaits the reconsideration of a similar law governing drugs."

TheHill.com - Emanuel tells freshmen to avoid Stephen Colbert

TheHill.com - Emanuel tells freshmen to avoid Stephen Colbert: "“He said don’t do it … it’s a risk and it’s probably safer not to do it,” said Rep. Steve Cohen. But the freshman lawmaker from Tennessee taped a segment that last week was featured in the 32nd installment of the “Better Know a District” series. Colbert asked Cohen whether he was a black woman. He isn’t."

Rethinking criteria for doctors' pay - Los Angeles Times

Rethinking criteria for doctors' pay - Los Angeles Times: "This week [federal officials] . . . announced that California was joining five other states in a project that could eventually lead to national performance standards for physicians. The program would analyze insurance claims filed by Medicare patients as well as by members of the state's three largest commercial insurers, Blue Shield of California, Blue Cross of California and PacifiCare Health Systems. The claims would then be compiled to rate the performance of about 25,000 doctors in the state — nearly the entire doctor population. "

Harvard economist proposes team approach on healthcare - The Boston Globe

Harvard economist proposes team approach on healthcare - The Boston Globe: "A renowned Harvard economist unveiled a plan yesterday to revamp the US healthcare system by focusing on the value of care to patients, arguing that improving the quality of medical services can by itself save money and provide a road map to a national health plan."

FDA Contests Biliary-Stent Marketing - WSJ.com

FDA Contests Biliary-Stent Marketing - WSJ.com: "In the meeting, the FDA scolded several of the companies for advertising bile-duct stents at cardiologists' meetings, such as the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics conference in Washington, but not attending the Digestive Disease Week conference for gastroenterologists in Los Angeles."

Assembly Republicans offer free-market healthcare plan - Los Angeles Times

Assembly Republicans offer free-market healthcare plan - Los Angeles Times: "Deepening a Capitol rift, Republicans in the Assembly have decided to back free-market changes to the state's healthcare system but are refusing to embrace Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's ambition to resolve all of its shortcomings."

Top Democrats Propose Expanding Health Insurance for Children - New York Times

Top Democrats Propose Expanding Health Insurance for Children - New York Times: "Two of the most influential voices on health policy, Representative John D. Dingell and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, offered a bill Tuesday to expand the Children’s Health Insurance Program, as Democratic leaders in both houses said they would try to triple spending on the program over the next five years. "

Unprepared freshmen pervade CSU system

Unprepared freshmen pervade CSU system: "Nearly half of the first-time freshmen admitted to San Jose State University last fall were not prepared for college English and one-third were not prepared for college math, according to new data presented Tuesday during a meeting of the California State University Board of Trustees."

Senate Budget Would Expand Health Care - washingtonpost.com

Senate Budget Would Expand Health Care - washingtonpost.com: "Despite the additional spending, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said the proposal would virtually erase the federal deficit within four years without raising taxes and produce a surplus of $132 billion by 2012."

A Wrangle After Democrats Shun Fox as Debate Platform - New York Times

A full year and a half ahead of the presidential election, the Fox News Channel has suddenly become an issue in the campaign, even as the network tries to cover that campaign. A Democratic candidates’ debate sponsored by Fox News set for August from Reno, Nev., was abruptly canceled Friday night with a statement from the Nevada Democratic Party and Harry Reid, the majority leader in the Senate.

U.S. Rep. Paul in presidential race - Los Angeles Times

Ron Paul, a nine-term Texas congressman who describes himself as a lifelong libertarian, announced his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination in Houston.

CA Sen. Perata uses lockout to teach senators a lesson over fundraiser - Los Angeles Times

Three California senators — Ron Calderon of Montebello, Lou Correa of Santa Ana and Gloria Negrete McLeod of Chino — attended a fundraiser for the moderate caucus at The Kitchen, an upscale restaurant. The event, organized by Sacramento consultant David Townsend, raised $232,000 to help pay for the caucus staff that researches every Assembly bill and distributes the analysis to caucus members with recommendations on how to vote. Senate President pro tem Perata ordered the locks on their doors changed before the three legislators returned from their districts Monday.

Businesses tell lawmakers corporate scandal laws hurt U.S. competitiveness - USATODAY.com

An array of companies and business leaders have been making the case that the requirements spawned by the crisis of corporate malfeasance are overly onerous and costly — and hurt the competitiveness of U.S. financial markets by driving some companies away from them. The U.S. Chamber's plan.

Bush administration late on health reform report - TheHill.com

The Bush administration is four months overdue in issuing its response, required by law, to the Working Group’s recommendations for reforming the U.S. healthcare system and extending coverage to the uninsured.

Actor and Former Senator May Run in ’08 - New York Times

Former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee, who plays a role in the television series “Law & Order,” said Sunday that he was considering a run for the Republican presidential nomination.

Hagel Postpones Decision on 2008 - The Caucus - Politics - New York Times Blog

Senator Chuck Hagel officially announced today that he, too, will postpone making decisions on his political future until later this year, saying he wanted to focus full time on issues before the Senate, including the war in Iraq.

Romney isn't the first to flip on abortion - Los Angeles Times

This year, Republicans are trying to come to grips with the 180-degree turn on abortion executed by Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor who has become a top-tier presidential contender and the favorite of many GOP conservatives. Romney until just a few years ago firmly supported abortion rights; he reversed field in 2004 and now calls himself 'pro-life.' That has spurred a pressing debate among conservative Republicans over whether they can trust him to be a true champion of the anti-abortion position.

Obama, Clinton Sparring Early - washingtonpost.com

In the month since the presidential nominating contest got underway, Obama (D-Ill.) and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) have barely mentioned each other's names in public or even greeted each other in the Senate halls. But each campaign has increasingly fixated on the other, engaging in a shadowboxing match in which they intentionally cross paths but dodge to avoid each other's subtle jabs. With an intensity unusual for this stage of the campaign the two are indirectly engaging, invading each other's terrain and going to great lengths to contrast their candidacies.

CA Governor hopes to ban fundraising during budget talks

Schwarzenegger, raising the stakes on state lawmakers who want to stay in office longer than term limits now allow, has revived his long-held ambition to ban political fundraising during budget deliberations.

Clinton Shapes Her Image for ’08 Race - New York Times

"To watch Mrs. Clinton up close during these “rollout” weeks of her presidential campaign is to see a familiar political figure try to reclaim her name."

Legislators OK measure to move California primary to February - Los Angeles Times

"Californians will choose presidential candidates in February, not June, under a proposal that cleared the Legislature on Tuesday and that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is expected to sign."

For Rep. Sanchez, a hot-tomato label means a hot potato - Los Angeles Times

Sanchez had told a website covering Capitol Hill that her departure from the Latino Caucus was due in part to Rep. Joe Baca's demeaning manner toward women and his gossiping that she was a "whore," both of which he has denied. Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert then devoted an entire 'Colbert Report' segment to pondering, 'Is Loretta Sanchez a whore?' (No, the comedian decided.)

News - Web site rates area hospitals - sacbee.com

For the first time, consumers from Sacramento to San Diego can tap into a free, one-stop online report card comparing the performance of more than 200 hospitals across the state.

Medtronic seeks FDA OK on stent graft

Medical device maker Medtronic said Friday it submitted the final module of its premarket approval application to the Food and Drug Administration for its Talent Thoracic stent graft system.

Prescription for Trouble - WSJ.com (opinion)

The Food and Drug Administration, Medicare and even the Justice Department all believe they cannot rely on many doctors to heed safety warnings, wisely weigh new medical information, or follow treatment approaches that maximize health benefits or lower costs.

Waxman Investigates Drug, Device Makers - Forbes.com

Congressman Henry A. Waxman, D-Calif. disclosed Monday that he sent letters last week to three drug makers and two medical device makers requesting information about their marketing.

Most Support U.S. Guarantee of Health Care - New York Times

A majority of Americans say the federal government should guarantee health insurance to every American, especially children, and are willing to pay higher taxes to do it, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

HHS to create local health shopper groups - UPI

Local organizations of doctors, nurses, hospitals, health plans, employers and unions would collect information on the quality of local healthcare providers based on nationally established standards. That data would then be pooled to create a public, nationwide quality reporting system.

Medtronic pulmonic percutaneous valve saves FL teen - MiamiHerald.com

A Florida teenager avoided his fourth open heart surgery thanks to the Medtronic Melody Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve and Ensemble Transcatheter Delivery System. Daniel Rodriguez, 13, born with a congenital heart defect, received a heart valve replacement by catheter, with only a small incision in his groin.

WebMD offers free electronic personal health records

WebMD Health Corp. recently unveiled improvements to its site and now offers for free its personal health records software. The company hopes more consumers will visit the site, attracting more ad revenue and raising awareness of electronic records.

Medtronic Heart Monitor Fails to Impress an F.D.A. Panel - New York Times

An FDA panel said that Medtronic's wireless implanted device that continuously monitors patients with weak hearts and sends data to doctors over the Internet has not yet proved effective enough in reducing hospital visits to warrant approval. A Medtronic spokesperson said that the panel agreed the Chronicle technology showed promise and said the company will "come back to the FDA and explore other ways to bring this to market."

California titans join McCain's campaign team - Los Angeles Times

McCain's 13 national finance committee co-chairmen include five Californians: Orange County billionaire Donald Bren; investor George Argyros; Univision Chairman A. Jerrold Perenchio; Cisco Systems Chief Executive John Chambers; and San Francisco venture capitalist J. Gary Shansby.

New OSHA poster questioned by AFL-CIO, house committee

Recent changes to a federally mandated poster designed to advise workers of their rights have raised the objections of the AFL-CIO as well as a key House committee.

Be careful! That could be a $5 bribe

Following the Democrats’ triumphant return to Washington in early January, Eli Hengst, the owner of Sonoma Restaurant and Wine Bar, offered a round of drinks to a few longtime customers who happened to be Democratic lawmakers. They paused uncomfortably, uncertain whether they could accept a $5 beer or $6 glass of wine, according to Hengst, who considers them friends.

McCain makes it formal - kind of

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) eliminated any lingering doubts about his plans for 2008 and announced late Wednesday that he will seek the presidency. 'I am announcing that I will be a candidate for president of the United States,' McCain said on 'The Late Show with David Letterman.' But the senator noted that his statement was not the 'formal' announcement, which he will make in April.

Meet the CA Capitol's literary legislators

In California, Chuck DeVore, R-Irvine, is a minority party assemblyman. In Taiwan, he's a defender of democracy, and in China he's a running dog of American imperialism. 'I've gotten hate mail from Beijing,' DeVore said. 'One of them started out, 'You white pig.'' The reason is his 2001 novel, China Attacks. Written with sinologist Steven Mosher, it chronicles just that: China launching an assault on Taiwan, as the pair predict it may do someday. "

Survey: Web health resources lacking

One in three Americans say they use the Internet to find health information, a new U.S. study says.

FDA reaches agreement with medical device lobby for user fees

The Advanced Medical Technology Association and FDA have reached an agreement in principle regarding reauthorization of the Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act, according to AdvaMed President Steven Ubl.

One CA health care plan -- Kuehl's -- is really different - sacbee.com (opinion)

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and California's legislative leaders have proposed ways to shore up our current, employer-based health care system with new mandates, taxes and subsidies to cover more people. Republican lawmakers are pushing for incentives to bolster private choice and responsibility. But one plan proposed in the Legislature stands out as radically different from the rest.