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Politics News

• Dems seek agreement, quick vote on health care (AP)

  AP - Under White House pressure to act swiftly, House and Senate Democratic leaders reached for agreement Friday on President Barack Obama's health care bill, sweetened suddenly by fresh billions for student aid and a sense that breakthroughs are at hand.

  
  

• Reid's wife undergoes surgery after traffic crash (AP)

  AP - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's wife underwent surgery Friday to stabilize serious injuries suffered when a tractor-trailer rear-ended the minivan she and their daughter were riding in on an interstate highway.

  
  

• For Obama, big agenda and small window for results (AP)

  AP - President Barack Obama's intense juggling of domestic issues reflects all the realities he faces at once: a vast agenda, a smaller window for results this year and a need to keep promises to constituencies that will have a huge say in the fall congressional elections.

  
  

• Clinton's tough talk with Netanyahu (Politico)

  Politico - Secretary of state expresses opposition to Israel creating settlements in East Jerusalem.

• More Holder briefs acknowledged (Politico)

  Politico - At least six amicus briefs prepared or supported by AG didn't go to Senate.

• AP Interview: Kerry: Energy bill more about jobs (AP)

  AP - Sen. John Kerry, hoping to win over wavering senators, said he is pushing environmental reforms to create jobs and spark energy independence, with climate benefits along "for the ride."

  
  

• Yellen at Fed would likely favor low-rate policy (AP)

  AP - President Barack Obama's likely choice of Janet Yellen to become vice chairman of the Federal Reserve would favor a policy that stresses low interest rates to ease unemployment over higher rates to curb inflation.

  
  

• AG Holder didn't reveal all legal papers to Senate (AP)

  AP - Attorney General Eric Holder did not provide senators considering his nomination last year with all of the legal papers he had signed or written while in private practice, Justice Department officials disclosed Friday.

• It's time to spring forward again (AP)

  AP - Good evening sunshine, America says hello, you light up our evenings, we light charcoal below.

• States scramble after high court election ruling (AP)

  AP - The U.S. Supreme Court's rejection of decades-old campaign spending limits gives states scant time to face an election-year dilemma: brace for a flood of new money in politics, or find new ways to rein it in.

  
  

• Al-Qaida may be encouraging lone jihadists in U.S. (AP)

  AP - Ever since al-Qaida attacked the United States in 2001, U.S. authorities have worked to detect and prevent the next big terrorist strike.

  
  

• Ukraine opposition challenges Yanukovych in court (AP)

  AP - Ukrainian lawmakers have filed a challenge to a law that allowed newly elected President Viktor Yanukovych to cement his grip on power.

• Russia criticizes US, NATO over Afghan drugs (AP)

  AP - Russia's envoy to NATO has sharply criticized the alliance's battle with drug trafficking in Afghanistan, saying it has led to a surge in heroin smuggling that is endangering Russia's national security.

  
  

• Obama delays Asia trip to push health care through Congress (McClatchy Newspapers)

  McClatchy Newspapers - WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama, claiming that momentum is building for a historic overhaul of the nation's health insurance system, on Friday postponed a trip to Asia so he can stay in the capital next week to twist arms in Congress.

• Too small to succeed? Firms still aren't getting the loans they need (McClatchy Newspapers)

  McClatchy Newspapers - WASHINGTON — Capital is the oxygen that a small business needs to survive and thrive, yet across the country, the air's pretty thin, as business owners from coast to coast complain of huge hurdles to getting badly needed loans.

• New Shots Fired in Health Care Ad War (CQPolitics.com)

  CQPolitics.com - Another round in the health care debate advertising assault were fired off Friday, with groups both for and against the Democratic-backed legislation dropping approximately $1.5 million on television and radio buys to push their side of the debate.

• Toyota Criticism Mounts on Eve of Recall Hearings (Bloomberg)

  Bloomberg - Feb. 23 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp.’s handling of recalls came under mounting criticism on the eve of the automaker’s U.S. congressional testimony, including charges that the company misled the public on the adequacy of its recalls.