Feb 7th, 2006 · President Bush's budget includes proposed cuts to a variety of health programs. The biggest cut and the most controversial falls on Medicare. But in an election year, it's not clear that Congress will want to take on the politically sensitive program.
Feb 7th, 2006 · President Bush sent his $2.77 trillion budget blueprint to Congress Monday. The plan increases spending for the Pentagon and national security, while proposing cuts to social programs including Medicare. Lawmakers will push their own changes to the plan.
Feb 6th, 2006 · The White House releases its budget for the 2007 fiscal year. The plan totals $2.77 trillion -- with sizeable increases in defense and homeland security spending. But it also reduces funding to more than 140 social programs, including Medicare -- and assumes some tax cuts will be made permanent.
Feb 3rd, 2006 · President Bush spoke Thursday in Maplewood, Minn., to promote his newly unveiled American Competitiveness Initiative. The president wants Congress to authorize tax credits for business research, increased money for federal science programs and improved math and science education in American high schools.
Feb 3rd, 2006 · After a sweeping victory in Palestinian parliamentary elections, the militant Islamist group Hamas has launched a new TV network. Its programming includes ideologically tinged children's shows, strident news talk, and religiously inspired entertainment.
Feb 3rd, 2006 · The California condor nearly went extinct, dwindling to just 22 in the wild by the 1980s. Condor, a new book by NPR's John Nielsen chronicles successful efforts to bring back the winged giants through trapping and breeding programs.
Feb 1st, 2006 · By a slim margin, the House approves a budget-cutting bill that would slash $39 billion from government programs. In a 216-214 vote, the House passed the bill, which includes $28 billion in controversial cuts for Medicaid. The measure now goes to President Bush.
Jan 31st, 2006 · The Atlantic Monthly's James Fallows discusses how President Bush has used his annual State of the Union address in the past. Rather show what the government has done, the president has used the speech to launch new programs, such as the war on terror and his ill-fated Social Security reform.