Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/6166
Obama, allies to scale back health bill WASHINGTON (AP) — Chastened by the Demo- cratic Senate loss in Massa- chusetts, President Barack Obama and congressional allies signaled Wednesday they may try to scale back his sweeping health care overhaul in an effort to at least keep parts of it alive. A simpler, less ambi- tious bill emerged as an alternative only hours after the loss of the party's cru- cial 60th Senate seat forced the Democrats to slow their all-out drive to pass Obama's signature legisla- tion despite fierce Republi- can opposition. The White House is still hoping the House can pass the Senate bill in a quick strike, but Democrats are now consid- ering other options. No decisions have been made, lawmakers said, but they laid out a new approach that could still include these provisions: limiting the ability of insur- ance companies to deny coverage to people with medical problems, allowing young adults to stay on their parents' policies, helping small businesses and low- income people pay premi- ums and changing Medicare to encourage pay- ment for quality care instead of sheer volume of services. The goal of trying to cover nearly all Americans would be put off further into the future. Obama urged lawmakers not to try to jam a bill through, but scale the pro- posal down to what he called ''those elements of the package that people agree on.'' Aftershock hits Haiti PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A frightening new aftershock Wednesday forced more earthquake sur- vivors to live on the capital's streets or sent them fleeing to perhaps even worse con- ditions in the countryside. A flotilla of rescue ves- sels, meanwhile, led by the U.S. hospital ship Comfort, converged on the capital. They are helping fill gaps in still lagging global efforts to bring water, food and med- ical help to hundreds of thousands of people who are surviving in makeshift tents or simply on blankets or plastic sheets under the tropical sun. The strongest tremor since Haiti's cataclysmic Jan. 12 earthquake struck at 6:03 a.m., just before sun- rise while many were still sleeping. From the teeming plaza near the collapsed presidential palace to a hill- side tent city, the 5.9-magni- tude aftershock lasted only seconds but panicked thou- sands of Haitians. ''Jesus!'' they cried as rubble tumbled and dust rose anew from government buildings around the plaza. Parents gathered up chil- dren and ran. Up in the hills, where U.S. troops were helping thousands of homeless, people bolted screaming from their tents. Jajoute Ricardo, 24, came running from his house, fearing its collapse. Intel chief cites error WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's intelligence chief on Wednesday con- ceded a new misstep in the government's handling of the Christmas Day airline bombing attempt, but his comments about the failure to use a special federal interrogation team may have amounted to a misstep of his own. National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair raised new questions Wednesday before a Senate panel about how well prepared the administration is to respond on short notice to domestic terrorist acts. Blair suggested the High-Value Detainee Inter- rogation Group, also known as HIG, should have ques- tioned the Nigerian airline bomb incident suspect before any decisions were made on whether to place him in the civilian court sys- tem. ''That unit was created exactly for this purpose,'' Blair told the Senate Home- land Security Committee. ''We did not invoke the HIG in this case. We should have.'' But the elite interroga- tion unit cited by Blair was designed by the Obama administration last year to deal with suspects captured abroad. And it is not opera- tional yet, FBI Director Robert Mueller said Wednesday. Brown ready to get to work BOSTON (AP) — Republican Scott Brown, fresh from a stunning Massachusetts Senate vic- tory that shook the power balance on Capitol Hill, declared Wednesday that his election had sent a ''very powerful message'' that voters are weary of backroom deals and Washington business-as- usual. Democrats scrambled to explain the loss, which imperils President Barack Obama's agenda for health care and other hard-fought domestic issues. Republi- cans greeted their victory with clear glee. ''The president ought to take this as a message to recalibrate how he wants to govern, and if he wants to govern from the middle we'll meet him there,'' said Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Ken- tucky. Obama said the Massa- chusetts vote reflected the mood around the country. ''People are angry, and they're frustrated,'' he said in an interview with ABC News. Democrats still exercise majority control over both the House and Senate. But Tuesday's GOP upset to win the seat long held by the late Sen. Edward Kennedy — following Republican victories in Virginia and New Jersey last fall for gubernatorial seats that had been held by Democrats — signals chal- lenges for Democratic prospects in midterm elec- tions this year. 6 – Daily News – Thursday, January 21, 2010 $ Money $ 2 Lend Cash 4 Notes McKinley Mortgage Co. CA DRE # 01773837 Call 530-241-0977 800-909-1977 50% OFF 50% OFF UP TO 235 So. Main St., Red Bluff 527-1657 Furniture Depot MON.-FRI. 9:00-6:00 SAT. 9:00-5:00 • SUN. 11:00-5:00 January Clearance SAVINGS Smog Check starting at $ 29 95 (most cars and pick-ups) Pass or FREE retest COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR + cert. All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened 30K, 60K, 90K SERVICES AT LOWER PRICES 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St. The Electric Man For all your electrical needs • New Outlets / 220 • Fans / Fixtures • Pools / Spas • Code Corrections • Troubleshooting • Panel Upgrade • Telephone Wiring 347-4441 $10.00 Customer Discount FREE Estimates License# 826543 The Official 2010 Red Bluff Kickoff! A M E R I C A N C A N C E R S O C I E T Y Relay For Life Rolling Hills Casino 6:00 -7:30 PM Thursday, January 21, 2010 If you are already on a team, come show your spirit! If you'd like to join one, or register a team for your friends, neighborhood, school, club or business – come on down! Special incentives to register a team no later than kick-off night! Imagine a world with more birthdays! Celebrate. Remember. Fight Back. For more information, call Debbie at 567-5946 623 Main St. 527-5180 Plan for it! END OF SEASON SALE 30% Off Jan. 26th thru 31st Only Clothing & Gear MONDAY KIDS BOWLING CLUB 365 S. Main St., Red Bluff 527-2720 EACH BOWLER RECEIVES.. A Custom Fitted Bowling Ball! Ages 6 to 14 HERE'S WHAT YOU GET EACH WEEK... 2 Games of Bowling Free use of rental shoes Instructional Coaching Scorekeeping Service Awards at program end $ 9.50 Per bowler Per week 12 Week SESSION STARTS Jan. 25, 2010 Mondays 1:30pm $10.00 Registration FEE for new bowlers Call to reserve your spot!!! Limited Spaces Available WORLD BRIEFING