Under Senate health care plan, either way you pay (AP)

AP - First you paid to insure your car. Soon you may have to add health insurance premiums to that stack of monthly bills as well.

Prosecutors: Demjanjuk fit to stand trial (AP)

AP - John Demjanjuk moved one step closer to another trial after German prosecutors said Friday that doctors had deemed the 89-year-old fit to go to court on charges of being accessory to murder at the Sobibor Nazi death camp.

Education secretary challenges NEA on teacher pay (AP)
AP - Education Secretary Arne Duncan challenged members of the National Education Association Thursday to stop resisting the idea of linking teacher pay to student achievement.

Kennedy Plan Calls for Government Health Program, Employer Fees (Bloomberg)
Bloomberg - July 3 (Bloomberg) -- Senator Edward Kennedy’s health committee released a new health-care overhaul plan that lawmakers said would lead to coverage for most Americans, in part by assessing fees on companies that don’t offer insurance.

Documents describe chaos of Gitmo's early months (AP)
AP - Newly released Defense Department documents and memos about the first years of operation of the jail at the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, portray a chaotic and sometimes violent operation that its own commanders described as dysfunctional.

Republican: Sotomayor had ties to extreme group (AP)

AP - The top Republican on the Senate committee that will consider Sonia Sotomayor's Supreme Court nomination says a Puerto Rican civil rights group's papers could shed light on her judicial approach, particularly her view of racial preferences in hiring.

Did the Washington Post cross the line? (Politico)
Politico - The Post's flier fumble is similar to other money-making efforts by the WSJ and the Economist.

For Aspen attendees, back to reality (Politico)
Politico - But before we bid adieu to the boundless pomegranate drinks, here are the conference highlights.

Did hacker threaten Sanford and lover over affair? (McClatchy Newspapers)

McClatchy Newspapers - RIO DE JANEIRO — A television anchor who's the only journalist known to have spoken with South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's Argentine lover since news of their affair broke last week said the couple received an e-mail threat from the person who hacked into her Hotmail account.

Obama begins July 4th celebration at Camp David (AP)
AP - President Barack Obama is helping the nation celebrate its birthday and his daughter Malia celebrate hers.

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Access scandal echoes beyond Post
WSJ and Economist held similar events.

Obama, a stickler for pronunciation
In Obama’s view, pronouncing someone’s name correctly is a simple way of showing respect.

Palin announces resignation
Move frees her to pursue presidency but also raises questions about her political standing at home.

Palin plans to stay visible
She will give serious consideration to running for president in 2012, but has made no decision, friends tell POLITICO.

Obama calls Dems to talk health care
Obama puts all his political capital behind health care.

Key committee supports public option
Dems seek united front as party moderates and GOP continue to doubt the need for the public option.

Climate vote threatens Dems' careers
Rep. Thomas Perriello is willing to stake his career on the climate change vote, no matter the consequences.

House of Pain: GOP's Class of '94
Both John Ensign and Mark Sanford were members of the famed Republican House class of 1994.

Obama meets with energy executives
Energy executives were impressed by meeting that was also attended by ranking Cabinet members.

Capitol Hell: Worst states to govern
Serving as chief executive can be an unenviable task -- especially in these five states.

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White House Reminds Staffers of Restrictions on Free Tickets as Newspaper Cancels Lavish Dinner

The event caused an uproar in the company's newsroom and drew fire from other quarters because the newspaper would have charged guests as much as $250,000 for access to top officials in Washington. 

Senate Health Care Plan Would Impose $1,000 Fines for Refusing Coverage

In a revamped health care system envisioned by senators, people would be required to carry health insurance just like motorists must get auto coverage now.

Palin Quits as Alaska Governor

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said Friday that she is stepping down at the end of the month.

Palin Beats Out Blagojevich for Sitting Duck Award

The National Society of Newspaper Columnists chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as the winner of its annual Sitting Duck Award, a tongue-in-cheek honor that pokes fun at the most ridiculed newsmakers in the United States.

Petraeus Says New Troops in Afghanistan Face Tough Fight With Taliban

Gen. David Petraeus, best known for coordinating the troop surge in Iraq that is credited with reducing that country's violence, cautioned that the Taliban are resilient fighters.

Growing National Debt May Be Next Economic Crisis

The national debt stands today at a staggering $11.5 trillion -- equivalent to over $37,000 for each and every American -- and it's expanding by over $1 trillion a year.

Obama Starts Holiday Celebration at Camp David

The president on Friday morning flew to Camp David, Maryland, for the first part of the first family's July 4 U.S. Independence Day celebration, including daughter Malia's 11th birthday on Saturday. 

Tensions Simmer Between White House, Democrats Over New York Senate Primary

Former President Bill Clinton is headlining a fundraiser for the opponent of White House-backed Sen. Kristen Gillibrand and New York Rep. Charles Rangel rebuked President Obama for meddling into the primary as he defended Rep. Carolyn Maloney's right to run.

Obama to Avoid Father's Kenyan Homeland on Trip to Africa

The President says Kenya, plagued by political violence, still has a long way to go in becoming a free and open democracy

Palin's Resignation Has Many Asking, What Next?

Some political insiders questioned the political wisdom of her decision to quit in the middle of her first term as governor while others were reluctant to bet against her popularity.

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Biden takes surprise trip to war zone
Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., on a surprise trip to Iraq as U.S. troops have pulled out of the country's cities, said he is optimistic about the situation in the region. Mr. Biden, who has been tasked with handling Iraq issues for the administration, was there to reiterate the U.S. commitment to implementing President Obama's draw-down plan to have all combat troops out by the end of 2011. "This is a moment when we have to make sure that the Iraqis don't take their eye off the ultimate prize," Mr. Biden told reporters after arriving. The White House tasked ...

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Energy job losers could get windfall
Workers who lose their jobs if the pending climate change legislation becomes law could get a weekly paycheck for up to three years, subsidies to find new work and other generous benefits -- all courtesy of Uncle Sam -- under a little-noticed provision of the bill. Touted by its House Democratic authors as a jobs engine, the bill offers extraordinary compensation for those who would lose their paycheck as a consequence of its passage. Adversely affected employees in oil, coal and other fossil-fuel sector jobs would qualify for a weekly check worth 70 percent of their current salary for up ...

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Sanford's wife ready to forgive
The wife of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford said Thursday that she is willing to forgive her husband for his affair with an Argentine woman, saying it "is essential for us both to move on with our lives." In an e-mail statement, Jenny Sanford described the governor's behavior as "inexcusable" but said her husband has stated that "his intent and determination is to save our marriage, and to make amends to the people of South Carolina. I hope he can make good on those intentions, and for the sake of our boys." Mrs. Sanford told the Associated Press that she ...

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Palin to step down as Alaska governor
Republican Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska announced Friday that she will resign her office July 26, fueling speculation that she intends to spend the next four years pursuing her party's presidential nomination in 2012. Mrs. Palin made her stunning announcement at her Wasilla home with Lt. Gov. Sean Parnell, who will be sworn into office at the end of the month, she said. She did not take questions from reporters and only cryptically referred to her future plans. In her announcement, she said it "hurts to make this choice," but compared herself to a point guard in basketball. "A good ...

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Powell airs doubts on Obama agenda
Colin Powell, one of President Obama's most prominent Republican supporters, expressed concern Friday that the president's ambitious blitz of costly initiatives may be enlarging the size of government and the federal debt too much. "I'm concerned at the number of programs that are being presented, the bills associated with these programs and the additional government that will be needed to execute them," Mr. Powell said in an excerpt of an interview with CNN's John King, released by the network Friday morning. Mr. Powell, a retired U.S. army general who rose to political prominence after a long and accomplished military career, ...

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Washington in 5 minutes
SUPREME COURT Papers irrelevant, White House says The White House hit back Thursday at a key Republican senator who has accused Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor's allies of withholding documents from her past. White House counsel Greg Craig told Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, that board meeting minutes and other papers detailing the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund's activities while Judge Sotomayor was an outside adviser aren't relevant to her nomination. Republicans have raised concerns about the judge's involvement in the group, arguing that it has taken extreme positions. Judge Sotomayor ...

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Terrorist group's assets sought
The Obama administration Thursday authorized the seizure of assets belonging to an extremist organization in Iraq and an Iranian backer of insurgents, saying both are responsible for deadly attacks in Iraq. The Treasury Department is targeting Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and the Iraq-based group Kata'ib Hizballah for committing, directing or supporting acts of violence in Iraq against U.S. and Iraqi forces. In a separate move Thursday, the State Department designated Kata'ib Hizballah as a foreign terrorist organization. Both designations prohibit any transactions between them and Americans and freeze any assets they may have in the United States. Financial pressure has been ...

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Democrats' supermajority may be illusory
Having finally reached the magic 60-vote threshold, Senate Democrats Wednesday were already trying to tamp down expectations on what they can actually accomplish with their supermajority. But with the affirmed victory Tuesday of Democrat Al Franken in Minnesota's heretofore disputed Senate race, Republicans argued that the Democrats' nominal "filibuster-proof" majority means they face all of the risks and responsibilities that come with sole ownership of the levers of power in Washington. Both sides agree that getting the 60 votes necessary to break a filibuster on contentious bills in the lineup remains no simple task for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, ...

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Biden makes surprise trip to Iraq
Vice President Joe Biden has arrived in Iraq on a surprise 2-day visit, just as U.S. troops have pulled out of the country's cities as part of President Obama's planned withdrawal plan. A pool reporter required to keep the trip secret for safety reasons said the visit was to "try to reestablish contact with Iraqi leaders and try to help foster efforts at political reconciliation." The White House said Mr. Biden will meet with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Speaker of the Council of Representatives Ayad al-Samarrai. "The vice president will reiterate the United States commitment ...

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Obama urges support for reform
With health care reform facing a critical stretch in Congress, President Obama on Wednesday attempted to rally support for his plan by holding a tightly controlled town-hall meeting in Northern Virginia that culminated with him hugging a crying cancer victim. The president, who will travel abroad for a week just as Congress returns from recess Monday to begin a month of intensive work on a health care bill, did not announce any changes in position or new initiatives. He repeated his belief that reform should include a government-run insurance option but stopped short of threatening to veto a bill that ...

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