Politics & Government

Supreme Court Returns To Affirmative Action In Michigan Case

10:12am October 28, 2013

by Nina Totenberg

The question this time is not whether race can be a factor in college admissions, but rather whether state voters can ban affirmative action altogether by referendum. In 2006, Michigan voters did just that with a ballot initiative amending the state's constitution.

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Politics & Government

Government Shutdown Delays Start Of Crab Season

10:12am October 28, 2013

Crabbing season in Alaska is supposed to start on Tuesday. But crabbers and their boats are stuck in port because they can't get the permits they need to begin work. Federal workers who issue those permits are off the job because of the partial government shutdown. David Greene talks to Tom Suryan, a crabbing boat captain, about how the federal shutdown is stalling the issuance of quota permits.

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Politics & Government

House GOP To Propose Plan To Reopen Government

10:12am October 28, 2013

House Republicans said Tuesday that they were planning their own bill to end the shutdown and raise the debt limit — one that makes changes to President Obama's health care law.

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Politics & Government

Support Unclear For GOP's Plan To End Shutdown

10:12am October 28, 2013

House Republicans were expected to announce their own plan Tuesday to end the partial government shutdown and avert a default on the national debt. But House Speaker John Boehner came to the microphones and kept things very vague.

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Pondering A Presidential Run? Cruz Dines In Iowa

11:19am October 26, 2013

by Tamara Keith

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz called for support during a keynote speech at the Iowa Republican Party's annual Reagan Dinner on Friday. That may be a tall order from the man whom many Republicans criticize for his starring role in this month's government shutdown.

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Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius speaks Thursday in Phoenix.

'Loyal Soldier' Sebelius Vows To Stay Put, Fix HealthCare.gov

11:19am October 26, 2013

by Brian Naylor

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is rejecting calls for her resignation, saying, "I don't work for" those calling the loudest for her to step down. And the government official who has become the face of the disastrous rollout of the Obamacare website says she has promised the president she'll get things straightened out.

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Bipartisan Anger, Competing Interests Over HealthCare.gov

11:19am October 26, 2013

With the drama of the 17-day government shutdown over, the spotlight this week turned to the troubled rollout of the federal health insurance exchanges. Host Scott Simon talks to NPR's Ron Elving about the frustrations from both parties over the crippled HealthCare.gov website.

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Pennsylvania Governor Talks Up Plan To Expand Medicaid His Way

7:55pm October 25, 2013

by Elana Gordon

After initially declining federal funding to expand Medicaid, Gov. Tom Corbett has changed course slightly. He is pursuing an approach for Pennsylvania that would make use of federal funds, but there are some caveats.

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Clinics Close As Texas Abortion Fight Continues

10:52am October 25, 2013

by Kathy Lohr

Some clinics say they can't comply with a Texas law set to go into effect next week. It adds building requirements for clinics and places more rules on doctors who perform abortions. Laws like the one in Texas have passed in more than a dozen states.

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Politics & Government

Outside Political Money Floods Virginia Races

6:25pm October 24, 2013

by Peter Overby

Tens of millions of dollars are pouring into Virginia in hopes of swaying the governor's election there. If Democrat Terry McAuliffe wins, it could be a strong indicator that the once red, now purple state is shifting into the blue column.

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