Companies lobbying for tax holiday on overseas money-washingtonpost.com

Companies lobbying for tax holiday on overseas money-washingtonpost.com: As Washington politicians grapple with how to lower the federal deficit, a coalition of powerful corporations has a seemingly tantalizing offer: Give us a big tax break, and we’ll give you $50 billion or more in fresh revenue.

MA House votes to repeal med industry gift ban law - BostonHerald.com

MA House votes to repeal med industry gift ban law - BostonHerald.com: "In an overwhelming bipartisan vote, the House today voted to repeal a 2008 ban on gifts from pharmaceutical and medical device companies to Massachusetts physicians, tacking the policy change onto its fiscal 2012 budget bill."

Boehner: ‘Not Wedded’ to Ryan Plan for Medicare-wsj.com

Boehner: ‘Not Wedded’ to Ryan Plan for Medicare-wsj.com: Rep. Paul Ryan acknowledged he was handing Democrats a political weapon when he unveiled his fiscal 2012 budget proposal, including a controversial overhaul of Medicare. Congressional leaders in both parties now seem to agree with him.

"Don Berwick: Paul Ryan's plan is real rationing"-politico.com

"Don Berwick: Paul Ryan's plan is real rationing"-politico.com: The man Republicans have derided as the “rationer-in-chief” charges that Republicans’ own budget proposals would end up rationing care to millions of Americans on Medicare and Medicaid.

Supreme Court turns down Va.’s request to expedite review of health-care law-washingtonpost.com

Supreme Court turns down Va.’s request to expedite review of health-care law-washingtonpost.com: The Supreme Court on Monday turned down Virginia’s request that it rule immediately on the constitutionality of the nation’s health-care overhaul.

Medical Experts Dispute a Hospital's Claims on Device Data-nytimes.com

Medical Experts Dispute a Hospital's Claims on Device Data-nytimes.com: Several medical experts have disputed the basis for a Las Vegas hospital’s claim that patients benefited when cardiologists there switched to heart devices made by a company that paid it consulting fees, saying data to support that claim did not exist.

Rep. Paul Ryan’s Budget Plan, on Road in WI

Rep. Paul Ryan’s Budget Plan, on Road in Wisconsin - NYTimes.com: "CLINTON, Wis. — Representative Paul D. Ryan was deep into an explanation of his deficit reduction plan, which sits at the heart of a contentious debate between Republicans and President Obama, when he called on a constituent raising her hand in the front row of a town meeting here."

Economic anxiety threatens Obama in 2012, but edges GOP rivals

Economic anxiety threatens Obama in 2012, but in poll he edges GOP rivals - The Washington Post: "Deepening economic pessimism has pushed down President Obama’s approval rating to a near record low, but he holds an early advantage over prospective 2012 rivals in part because of widespread dissatisfaction with Republican candidates, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll."

House passes GOP budget plan for 2012-washingtonpost.com

House passes GOP budget plan for 2012-washingtonpost.com: The House on Friday passed a Republican budget plan for 2012 aimed at privatizing Medicare and dramatically scaling back the size of the federal government.

President Obama: I'll fix health care my way

President Obama: I'll fix health care my way - David Nather - POLITICO.com: "President Barack Obama is outlining a deficit reduction plan Wednesday that calls for deep Medicare and Medicaid spending cuts, but through a stronger independent Medicare board and a new Medicaid funding formula rather than the structural changes Republicans want."

House votes on spending may reveal future of fiscal debate

House votes on spending may reveal future of fiscal debate - The Washington Post: "President Obama laid out his plans to cut the deficit by $4 trillion over 12 years on Wednesday, saying that it was necessary to use a scalpel instead of a machete to cut costs and that both parties need to come together to do so by the end of June."

MO Dem joins health care repeal effort

Missouri Dem joins health care repeal effort - Jennifer Epstein - POLITICO.com: "Missouri’s attorney general filed a brief in federal court Monday asking a judge to declare unconstitutional the individual mandate provision in President Barack Obama’s health care law, an unusual step for a Democratic official."

Mitt Romney forms exploratory committee

Mitt Romney forms exploratory committee - Maggie Haberman - POLITICO.com: "Mitt Romney made it official Monday, announcing he's formed a presidential exploratory committee for his all-but-certain second-chance Republican campaign next year with a video that highlights the nation's massive loss of jobs and says 'President Obama's policies have failed.'"

Budget deal: Cuts of $38 billion include accounting gimmicks, target Obama priorities

Budget deal: Cuts of $38 billion include accounting gimmicks, target Obama priorities - The Washington Post: "More than half of the $38 billion in spending cuts that lawmakers agreed to last week in the 2011 budget compromise that averted a government shutdown would hit education, labor and health programs."

Government shutdown won't stop health law implementation-politico.com

Government shutdown won't stop health law implementation-politico.com: Implementation of the health reform law will not stop if there is a government shutdown, an HHS official says.

$5 billion separates parties in elusive 2011 budget deal-washingtonpost.com

$5 billion separates parties in elusive 2011 budget deal-washingtonpost.com: Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill say they are about $5 billion apart in their haggling to reach a deal to fund the federal government for the rest of the year.

Obama, congressional leaders make no progress on budget-washingtonpost.com:

Obama, congressional leaders make no progress on budget-washingtonpost.com: The first federal government shutdown in more than 15 years drew closer Tuesday as President Obama and congressional leaders failed to make progress on a budget for 2011 after back-to-back meetings at the White House and on Capitol Hill.

Medicare Cost Would Rise for Many Under Ryan Plan-wsj.com:

Medicare Cost Would Rise for Many Under Ryan Plan-wsj.com: The House Republican plan for overhauling Medicare would fundamentally change how the federal government pays for health care, starting a decade from now, likely resulting in higher out-of-pocket costs and greater limits to coverage for many Americans.