Democrats Under Fire Over Health-Law Reporting Mandate- wsj.com:

Democrats Under Fire Over Health-Law Reporting Mandate- wsj.com: Congressional Democrats may water down or repeal new tax-reporting rules that are supposed to raise $16 billion for health-care legislation, facing a chorus of criticism about the rules.

Speaker defends troubled majority- politico.com:

Speaker defends troubled majority- politico.com: Three months before what promise to be brutal House elections, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is again the Happy Campaigner, vowing to defend “every grain of sand” of what she’s built in Congress and predicting this August will prove kinder to her Democrats than a year ago.

House ethics panel, Rep. Rangel spent 2 years going toe-to-toe- thehill.com:

House ethics panel, Rep. Rangel spent 2 years going toe-to-toe- thehill.com: Documents released Thursday evening show that Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) and an ethics panel investigating him were constantly at odds over the last two years.

California's new primary system faces court challenge- thehill.com:

California's new primary system faces court challenge- thehill.com: The first lawsuit challenging California's recently passed Proposition 14 was filed Thursday.

Poll shows opposition to health care overhaul declining-washintonpost.com

Poll shows opposition to health care overhaul declining-washintonpost.com: Opposition to the landmark health care overhaul declined over the past month, to 35 percent from 41 percent, according to the latest results of a tracking poll, reported Thursday.

The cash-for-speaker program-politico.com

The cash-for-speaker program-politico.com: To the House minority leader, “Speaker” Boehner seems to have a nice ring to it. So much so that months before any midterm votes are cast, John Boehner of Ohio is putting his own face on the GOP’s drive to take back the House by quietly launching a “Boehner for Speaker” committee that aims to boost the party’s lagging fundraising, in part by introducing him as a “regular guy” from Ohio.

New business plan: crushing Dems-politico.com

New business plan: crushing Dems-politico.com: Democrats may be going out of their way to say they aren’t anti-business, but business is gearing up to demonstrate that it’s anti-Democrats — at least when it comes to members of the party’s liberal wing.

Senate Democrats claim momentum in four states-washingtonpost.com

Senate Democrats claim momentum in four states-washingtonpost.com: Senate Democrats will argue today that their electoral prospects have improved in four states -- Kentucky, Louisiana, Illinois and Nevada -- over recent weeks, developments that will limit their losses in the fall.

St. Jude Says Ex-Executive Violated Pact by Joining Medtronic- wsj.com:

St. Jude Says Ex-Executive Violated Pact by Joining Medtronic- wsj.com: St. Jude Medical Inc. believes a former top executive with access to "copious amounts" of confidential information violated an employment agreement by leaving and quickly joining heart-device rival Medtronic Inc.

Limited dollars test Senate strategy- politico.com:

Limited dollars test Senate strategy- politico.com: With limited resources and an expansive map featuring at least 10 Senate seats in play in pricey markets, national Democrats and Republicans will soon face a string of tough choices — where to spend their cash heading into the final weeks before the midterm elections — that will make or break some campaigns this fall.

Feeling little heat, California leaders drag out budget battle- sacbee.com:

Feeling little heat, California leaders drag out budget battle- sacbee.com: Exactly one year ago today, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a state budget package after nearly a month of IOUs and serious closed-door, cigar-fueled negotiations.

Democrats Confirm More House Seats in Play- nytimes.com:

Democrats Confirm More House Seats in Play- nytimes.com: Democrats added another 20 House seats to their list of targeted districts, officials confirmed Tuesday evening, raising the party’s commitment in television advertising for the final weeks of the campaign to more than $49 million.

A Year After Honeymoon Ends, Whites, Men and Independents Desert Obama-wsj.com

A Year After Honeymoon Ends, Whites, Men and Independents Desert Obama-wsj.com: It was a year ago this month that President Barack Obama began losing voters. In the 12 months since, he has had legislative victories that appear – especially in the case of health care – to have cost him large amounts of both political capital and political support.

New Health Official Faces Hostility in Senate-nytimes.com

New Health Official Faces Hostility in Senate-nytimes.com: Unlike many other health policy experts, Dr. Donald M. Berwick, the new chief of Medicare and Medicaid, has extensive real world experience.

Despite defeats, liberals see hope in remaining primaries-thehill.com

Despite defeats, liberals see hope in remaining primaries-thehill.com: Liberal Democrats battling the party hierarchy have met with limited success this primary season. Thus far their record is more of high expectations and at least one really close call than of actual success.

Republicans and the U.S. Chamber target new tax-reporting rule in health law-thehill.com

Republicans and the U.S. Chamber target new tax-reporting rule in health law-thehill.com: Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) this week continued his push to eliminate a controversial tax-reporting provision of the new healthcare reform law, vowing to offer his repeal bill at every turn.

Democrats’ summer strategy-thehill.com

Democrats’ summer strategy-thehill.com: House Democrats plan a six-week messaging campaign for the August recess in which they’ll warn voters that putting Republicans back in power would mark a return to failed George W. Bush administration policies.

Britain Plans to Decentralize Health Care- nytimes.com:

Britain Plans to Decentralize Health Care- nytimes.com: Perhaps the only consistent thing about Britain’s socialized health care system is that it is in a perpetual state of flux, its structure constantly changing as governments search for the elusive formula that will deliver the best care for the cheapest price while costs and demand escalate.

Republican Party: Yes, we'll have an agenda in the fall- politico.com:

Republican Party: Yes, we'll have an agenda in the fall- politico.com: In a reprise of a long-ago clash between Democratic presidential candidates, House Republicans contend that they can answer the mocking challenge “Where’s the beef?”

Senate hopefuls imperil earmarks- politico.com:

Senate hopefuls imperil earmarks- politico.com: A new crop of Senate candidates is threatening one of the last bastions of unapologetic earmark protection: old-bull senators and lobbyists.

Grave prospects for newest Democrats- politico.com:

Grave prospects for newest Democrats- politico.com: Roughly two-thirds of the Democrats whose election vaulted their party to the House majority in 2006 and bolstered its advantage in 2008 face grave prospects this November — and could take control of the House down with them if they lose.

Medtronic Spine Device Draws Concern- wsj.com:

Medtronic Spine Device Draws Concern- wsj.com: he Food and Drug Administration said Friday it was concerned about a higher number of cancer cases seen among patients treated with a Medtronic Inc. spine device.

Rep. Charles Rangel broke ethics rules, House panel finds- washingtonpost.com:

Rep. Charles Rangel broke ethics rules, House panel finds- washingtonpost.com: A House ethics subcommittee announced Thursday that it found that Rep. Charles B. Rangel violated congressional ethics rules and that it will prepare for a trial, probably beginning in September. The panel is expected to make the details of his alleged violations public next Thursday.

Sharron Angle takes on Harry Reid's effectiveness in new ad- washingtonpost.com:

Sharron Angle takes on Harry Reid's effectiveness in new ad- washingtonpost.com: Former Nevada state Assemblywoman Sharron Angle (R) will launch a new round of ads today in her race against Harry Reid (D) that aim to turn his long-standing influence argument on its head.

Senate GOP leaders seek math behind HHS' premium hike estimates- thehill.com:

Senate GOP leaders seek math behind HHS' premium hike estimates- thehill.com: Last month, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius told reporters the total effect on premiums of all the insurance reforms under the new healthcare law "is likely to be less than 1 percent."

Bill Clinton surpasses Barack Obama in popularity-washingtonpost.com

Bill Clinton surpasses Barack Obama in popularity-washingtonpost.com: For the first time in Gallup polling former President Bill Clinton has eclipsed President Barack Obama in popularity, a reminder of the political difficulties posed by governing and of Clinton's strength as a surrogate for Democratic candidates this fall.

Putting the 'tea' in GOP?-washingtonpost.com

Putting the 'tea' in GOP?-washingtonpost.com: Rep. Michele Bachmann is the leader of the Tea Party -- literally. Wednesday morning, with the blessing of House GOP leaders, the Minnesota Republican convened the inaugural meeting of her Tea Party Caucus, where two dozen GOP members of Congress sat down with a similar number of Tea Party activists behind closed doors in an Armed Services Committee room. Then it was Bachmann's job to lead the group across the street to the Capitol for an appearance before TV cameras.

Dems reserve airtime ahead of election-thehill.com

Dems reserve airtime ahead of election-thehill.com: The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has reserved airtime for the final two weeks before the election in key congressional districts across the country.

W.H., Dems reach 'detente'-politico.com

W.H., Dems reach 'detente'-politico.com: Vice President Joe Biden has called Speaker Nancy Pelosi “the most powerful person in American politics.”

GOP to focus on policy, not Pelosi-thehill.com

GOP to focus on policy, not Pelosi-thehill.com: House Republicans, after failing to win recent elections by attacking Speaker Nancy Pelosi, are vowing to concentrate more on policy and less on personalities this time around.

GOP blues: little shot at Senate-politico.com

GOP blues: little shot at Senate-politico.com: The Republican path to a Senate majority runs through a handful of hostile states, most of which are so deep blue that they haven’t sent a member to the upper chamber in more than a decade.

Whom will Schwarzenegger back?-politico.com

Whom will Schwarzenegger back?-politico.com: His name is barely mentioned on the campaign trail. Yet in the race to replace him between Meg Whitman and Jerry Brown, low-polling Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will almost certainly be back — and playing a leading role — as Election Day grows near.

Delay of food safety bill stirs tensions between House and Senate Democrats-washingtonpost.com

Delay of food safety bill stirs tensions between House and Senate Democrats-washingtonpost.com: Frustration over a food safety bill that is stalled in the Senate has prompted infighting among some prominent Democrats.

Democrats take generic ballot lead- politico.com:

Democrats take generic ballot lead- politico.com: Democrats this week have jumped into a 6-percentage-point generic-ballot edge for November’s election, according to a new Gallup poll.

Fashioning a Different Nominating Process for 2012- wsj.com:

Fashioning a Different Nominating Process for 2012- wsj.com: The field of candidates for the 2012 presidential race may yet to be known. But within the next six weeks, the rules under which they must conduct their campaigns should be in place.

GOP leery of Tea Party Caucus- politico.com:

GOP leery of Tea Party Caucus- politico.com: With the official formation of a congressional Tea Party Caucus, Rep. Michele Bachmann has thrust an existential question before House Republican leaders: Are you in or are you out?

November special election set for West Virginia Senate seat- thehill.com:

November special election set for West Virginia Senate seat- thehill.com: The legislation signed into law by the governor Monday night declares November's special election a legally separate contest.

GOP whacks Berwick appointment, healthcare law in weekly address-thehill.com

GOP whacks Berwick appointment, healthcare law in weekly address-thehill.com: Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) used the GOP’s weekly address to bash President Barack Obama’s recess appointment of Dr. Donald Berwick to run Medicare and Medicaid, alleging it “flies in the face” of administration pledges of transparency.

Hispanic Democrats want health-care fix-politico.com

Hispanic Democrats want health-care fix-politico.com: A group of Democratic lawmakers wants to use the immigration reform debate to fix one of the most hotly contested aspects of the health care law — provisions that bar immigrants from using new government programs to get coverage.

GOP Sees Path to Control of Senate-wsj.com

GOP Sees Path to Control of Senate-wsj.com: Democrats for the first time are acknowledging that Republicans could retake the Senate this November if everything falls into place for the GOP, less than two years after Democrats held a daunting 60-seat majority.

Palace intrigue intensifies for GOP-politico.com

Palace intrigue intensifies for GOP-politico.com: The growing belief that Republicans could win control of the House has set off a frenzy of behind-the-scenes jockeying for top leadership jobs — and created new tensions for those currently holding them.

W.Va. fails to pass special election bill-politico.com

W.Va. fails to pass special election bill-politico.com: Legislation to schedule a special election to fill the vacant seat of the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) hit a major roadblock Sunday evening when West Virginia lawmakers adjourned without passing the bill.

Pelosi Makes Nice With the White House-nytimes.com

Pelosi Makes Nice With the White House-nytimes.com: Probably not a shocker: Nancy Pelosi, in public at least, looks like she wants to move on past the White House press secretary’s recent assertion that control of the House is up for grabs in November.

House panel clears HHS approps bill

House panel clears HHS approps bill-thehill.com: After deflecting a series of GOP efforts to dilute healthcare reform, Democrats on the House Appropriations Labor/HHS Subcommittee passed their funding blueprint for fiscal 2011 on Thursday, including more than $560 million to fight fraud in the healthcare sector — an 80 percent hike over this year.

House Democrats hit boiling point over perceived lack of White House support-thehill.com

House Democrats hit boiling point over perceived lack of White House support-thehill.com: House Democrats are lashing out at the White House, venting long-suppressed anger over what they see as President Obama's lukewarm efforts to help them win reelection -- and accusing administration officials of undermining the party's chances of retaining the majority in November's midterm elections.

Why President Obama loses by winning-politico.com

Why President Obama loses by winning-politico.com: The imminent passage of financial reform, just a couple months after the passage of comprehensive health care, should decisively end the narrative that President Obama represents a Jimmy Carter-style case of naïve hope crushed by the inability to master Washington.

GOP retaliates for Berwick recess appointment to Medicare leadership post-thehill.com

GOP retaliates for Berwick recess appointment to Medicare leadership post-thehill.com: Senate Republicans are still fuming over the recess appointment of Donald Berwick to head the federal agency in charge of Medicare and Medicaid.

W. Va. GOP raises questions-thehill.com

W. Va. GOP raises questions-thehill.com: Manchin wants the State Legislature to move quickly when it debates a proposed fix to the state’s election code. He’s embraced legislation that would allow him to call a special election this November to fill the late Sen. Robert Byrd’s seat. A primary would likely take place in August.

Can President Obama get his mojo back?- politico.com:

Can President Obama get his mojo back?- politico.com: The Republicans are riding the tiger. It is the tea party tiger, and to a large extent, it is a tiger of anger, intolerance and a fair amount of looniness. (Just 41 percent of tea partiers believe Barack Obama was born in the United States.)

F.D.A. Orders Baxter Recall of IV Pumps- nytimes.com:

F.D.A. Orders Baxter Recall of IV Pumps- nytimes.com: The Food and Drug Administration ordered Baxter International to recall all of its Colleague infusion pumps in use and provide a refund or no-cost replacement to United States customers.

Arnold Schwarzenegger approval drops to record low -- tied with Gray Davis- sacbee.com:

Arnold Schwarzenegger approval drops to record low -- tied with Gray Davis- sacbee.com: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's job approval rating has fallen to a record low, matching that of former Gov. Gray Davis from 2003, the year he was recalled, according to a Field Poll released today.

Capitol Hill's calendar is looking fuzzy- washingtonpost.com:

Capitol Hill's calendar is looking fuzzy- washingtonpost.com: The stakes are high this November. The Republicans are looking to retake the House. (Ah, the subpoenas, the subpoenas.) They need to pick up 39 seats.

Divided efforts worry California Democrats- politico.com:

Divided efforts worry California Democrats- politico.com: Democrats are fearful that various labor-backed, independent-expenditure efforts in the California governor’s race are needlessly divided, risking Democrats’ chances with their scattershot messages.

Confidence in Obama reaches new low, Washington Post-ABC News poll finds-washingtonpost.com

Confidence in Obama reaches new low, Washington Post-ABC News poll finds-washingtonpost.com: Public confidence in President Obama has hit a new low, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll. Four months before midterm elections that will define the second half of his term, nearly six in 10 voters say they lack faith in the president to make the right decisions for the country, and a clear majority once again disapproves of how he is dealing with the economy.

Time's up on costly runoff elections-politico.com

Time's up on costly runoff elections-politico.com: Alabama voters — at least a few of them — are heading to the polls Tuesday for a runoff election to decide the Republican gubernatorial nominee.

Suit Seeks to Double Size of House-nytimes.com

Suit Seeks to Double Size of House-nytimes.com: The Supreme Court is being asked to decide whether the House of Representatives should be enlarged to produce a fairer distribution of political power.

Medicaid Stalemate Tests Cash-Strapped States-wsj.com

Medicaid Stalemate Tests Cash-Strapped States-wsj.com: Several states are preparing to make deep cuts to Medicaid as a federal stalemate over funding for the poor drags on—even as states face mandates to expand the program under the new health-care law.

Robert Gibbs stokes Democrats' November anxiety-politico.com

Robert Gibbs stokes Democrats' November anxiety-politico.com: Robert Gibbs says he merely “stated the obvious” in predicting Republicans could win control of the House in November.

Tax writers have full agenda in run-up to summer break- thehill.com:

Tax writers have full agenda in run-up to summer break- thehill.com: The arrival of late summer will be anything but lazy for congressional tax writers who next week will return to Capitol Hill and tackle a mountain of pending legislation.

Tax report rehashes debate over cost effectiveness of healthcare reform law- thehill.com:

Tax report rehashes debate over cost effectiveness of healthcare reform law- thehill.com: A warning that federal tax officials will need more congressional funding to administer the Democrats’ health reform law has rekindled the partisan debate over its cost effectiveness.

Doctors' lobby losing clout on Hill- politico.com:

Doctors' lobby losing clout on Hill- politico.com: Months after delivering its crucial endorsement of the health care overhaul, the American Medical Association has found itself with fewer friends on Capitol Hill and more critics questioning its lobbying savvy.

W.Va. attorney general says 2010 special election can happen- thehill.com:

W.Va. attorney general says 2010 special election can happen- thehill.com: West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw (D) cleared the way for Gov. Joe Manchin (D) to call a November 2010 special election for the late Sen. Robert Byrd's (D-W.Va.) seat.

J&J Starts Disclosing Drug Unit's Payments To Doctors- wsj.com:

J&J Starts Disclosing Drug Unit's Payments To Doctors- wsj.com: Johnson & Johnson publicly disclosed payments to doctors for the first time, becoming the latest drug maker to try to improve transparency surrounding its marketing practices.

As Don Berwick Leaves for CMS, A New Leader for IHI- wsj.com:

As Don Berwick Leaves for CMS, A New Leader for IHI- wsj.com: So who will fill Don Berwick’s shoes at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement now that he will be running Medicare and Medicaid?

President's recess appointment has reignited the debate over healthcare- thehill.com:

President's recess appointment has reignited the debate over healthcare- thehill.com: President Barack Obama's recess appointment of Donald Berwick to lead Medicare was intended to avoid another high-profile congressional fight over healthcare reform. Instead, it’s renewed — at least temporarily — the well-worn partisan debate over the government's role in medicine.

White House's Medicare Pick To Be Installed- wsj.com:

White House's Medicare Pick To Be Installed- wsj.com: President Barack Obama plans to install his nominee to oversee Medicare and Medicaid on Wednesday, using a tactic aimed at averting a bitter fight in Congress.

Healthcare: Democrats up ante- thehill.com:

Healthcare: Democrats up ante- thehill.com: Speaker Nancy Pelosi is doubling down on healthcare reform, betting that it will do Democrats more good than harm in November’s elections.

Senate bill to repeal health reform lacks backing from Republican leaders- thehill.com:

Senate bill to repeal health reform lacks backing from Republican leaders- thehill.com: Although they’ve called repeatedly for repeal of the Democrats’ new health reform law, some senior Senate Republicans have not endorsed a bill that would actually do it.

AAMC Wants Teaching Hospitals to Have Clinical Conflicts Policy- wsj.com:

AAMC Wants Teaching Hospitals to Have Clinical Conflicts Policy- wsj.com: After previously making recommendations for conflicts of interest in medical education and clinical research, the Association of American Medical Colleges has turned its attention to the potential for conflicts in clinical care — an issue it says only a few institutions have formally addressed.

Tea party power swaying centrists?- politico.com:

Tea party power swaying centrists?- politico.com: Stung by a series of setbacks on must-pass legislation, Democrats think they’ve found a culprit: local tea party influence in the home states of usually reliable moderates.