Singer Paul Simon tries to lend a little harmony to raucous health care debate

September 30th, 2009 Obama touts health overhaul in outside groups' adWASHINGTON — Medical industry and other groups pushing health care overhaul are airing a new television ad that stars the man in the middle of the battle: President Barack Obama. To the untrained eye, the 60-second spot could appear to be a commercial sponsored by the White House.

September 16th, 2009 White House: Senate health bill a 'building block'WASHINGTON — The White House says a health care reform bill from a key Senate committee is "an important building block" in getting closer to comprehensive health care reform. Sen. Max Baucus released the long-awaited version of the bill from his Senate Finance committee Wednesday.

September 12th, 2009 Voices in the health care debateVoices in the health care debate: "You can't cut deals to change provisions if you're not going to vote for the bill in committee and you're not going to vote for the bill on the floor." — Alex Vachon, health care analyst and former Republican Senate aide, referring to a lack of GOP participation in crafting overhaul legislation. "I think that it solidified people who might have been wavering.

August 23rd, 2009 Senator: Single health care bill a better approachWASHINGTON — A key Democrat in the health care debate says separating out the various issues and putting them in different bills isn't likely to work. Some lawmakers have suggested that a separate bill with changes that are supported by Republicans and Democrats would be one route toward progress on the health care overhaul.

August 17th, 2009 In Pa., Shinseki pledges to modernize VA systemPHILADELPHIA — The nation's top veterans affairs official says medical benefits for veterans will not change under the health care reforms being considered in Washington. U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki spoke Monday at a town hall meeting with veterans in Philadelphia, where he pledged to modernize the Veterans Administration for the 21st century.

August 16th, 2009 GOP senator: People have lost confidence in gov'tWASHINGTON — An Oklahoma senator says the angry tone of the health care debate is the result of people losing confidence in government. Republican Sen.

August 16th, 2009 Obama criticizes 'scare tactics' in health debateGRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — President Barack Obama on Saturday criticized what he termed as the "scare tactics" of opponents to health care reform.

August 11th, 2009 WASHINGTON — Back home in the U.S. after his brief Mexican trip, President Barack Obama plans to jump head-first into the health care debate Tuesday.

August 10th, 2009 Obama: Canadian health system wouldn't fly in USGUADALAJARA, Mexico —President Barack Obama says Canada's government-run health care system works for Canada, but wouldn't work for the U.S. He warned Canadians that they will probably continue to get dragged into the debate over health care changes in the U.S.

July 16th, 2009 GOP fails to strip public option from health billWASHINGTON — Republicans have failed to strip a government-run benefits plan from the House bill overhauling health care. The House Ways and Means Committee voted 25-15 on Thursday to keep the government-run option in the bill, rejecting an amendment by Wisconsin Republican Rep.

July 1st, 2009 Obama takes health care pitch to VirginiaWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is taking his pitch for health care revisions to Virginia, holding a town hall forum and fielding questions via the Internet. Congress will fully engage in the health care debate when it returns Monday from a one-week recess.

April 23rd, 2009 Democrats want speedy health care debateWASHINGTON — Democrats controlling the House went on record again Wednesday in favor of advancing health care legislation while allowing only limited debate, which would minimize the ability of Republicans to wrest concessions on one of President Barack Obama's top domestic priorities. By a 227-196 vote, the House affirmed Democrats' plans to move health care legislation under rules that block Republicans in the Senate from being able to slow — or even stop — it from proceeding.

April 20th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Brit schoolboy Shaheen Jafargholi is being considered as the "next Paul Potts" after his soulful rendition of Jackson Five's 'Who's Loving You' on 'Britain's Got Talent'. Jafargholi, 12, almost did not make it when he sang a version of Amy Winehouse's song 'Valerie', and he was asked by judge Simon Cowell to sing something else.

April 17th, 2009 WELLINGTON - It seems folk duo Simon and Garfunkel's fans are eagerly awaiting their reunion tour, for the event's tickets sold out within 17 minutes after going on sale. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel would kick off their tour at Auckland's Vector Arena on June 13, reports The NZPA.

April 2nd, 2009 WELLINGTON - Reunited folk duo Simon and Garfunkel are set to kick off their 2009 reunion tour from New Zealand. According to Chugg Entertainment executive chairman Michael Chugg announced today, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel would, at first, perform at Auckland's Vector Arena on June 13, reports the NZPA.