Barack Obama, House Of Representatives | featured news

After earlier fits and starts, legislation to insure nearly all Americans is approaching votes in the House and in the Senate.

The chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Hispanic Assembly and member of the Republican Central Committee says he has quit the GOP because he was embarrassed by South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst during President Obama's address to Congress on Sept. 9.

Democrats pushed healthcare reform legislation forward in a key House of Representatives panel on Friday but overall progress for President Barack Obama's top policy goal has slowed ahead of a monthlong August recess.

Responding to a challenge from President Obama, Republican leaders in the House of Representatives are offering up a roster of more than $23 billion in spending cuts over the next five years.

Plan approved in 233-193 vote endorses much of Obama's agenda; no Republicans backed measure.

The plan is budgeted at $789 billion, which is smaller that original bills passed by each chamber. It could be sent to President Obama for his signature by the end of the week.

House and Senate negotiators have struck a deal on a final version of a sweeping economic recovery package.

The President 's expansive and expensive plan to jump-start the economy is all but certain to clear its first hurdle when the Democratic-controlled House votes on a $825 billion version later today.