Pol.PeanutButterNews.com

Full Story at CNN.com

New York (CNN) — New York’s Commission on Public Integrity is charging Gov. David Paterson with an ethics violation for accepting free tickets to the first game of last year’s World Series, the commission said Wednesday.

Paterson violated the state’s restriction on gifts for public officials in October when he sought free tickets to the game in Yankee Stadium between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies, the commission said. The commission also said Paterson lied under oath about intending to pay for the tickets.

Full Story at CNN.com

Washington (CNN) — President Obama’s announcement Tuesday of loan guarantees for nuclear power plants may encourage new construction, but a problem still remains that has plagued atomic energy for decades: what to do with nuclear waste?

On the left, opponents of nuclear power say the president should not be using taxpayer money to help build more power plants that will produce even more radioactive material, so long as the government has not figured out where to put it all.

Full Story at CNN.com

Washington (CNN) — Vice President Joe Biden and his predecessor Dick Cheney sparred Sunday over terrorism and the Iraq war, duking it out on the most prominent of platforms: the political TV talk show.

In separate appearances on different programs, Cheney called the Obama administration “dead wrong” about al Qaeda and Iraq, while Biden accused Cheney of trying to “rewrite history” and downplay Obama’s actions against terrorism.

Full Story at CNN.com

Apex, Nevada (CNN) — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Monday that he is “very proud” of having told Barack Obama early on that he believed he was a viable candidate for president and could win election.

Responding to the controversy surrounding a newly published remark he made privately about Obama’s race in 2008, Reid sought to emphasize his longstanding support for the nation’s first African-American president.

“I can still remember the meeting that took place in my office with Sen. Barack Obama, telling him that I think he can be elected president,” Reid said.

Full Story atmsnbc.com

WASHINGTON – A loophole in the Senate health care bill would let insurance companies place annual dollar limits on medical care for people struggling with costly illnesses such as cancer.

Adding to the confusion, the language is tucked away in a clause of the bill captioned “No lifetime or annual limits.” Advocates for patients say it fails to deliver on that promise.

“The primary purpose of insurance is to protect people against catastrophic loss,” said Stephen Finan, a policy expert with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “If you put a limit on benefits, by definition it’s going to affect people who are dealing with catastrophic loss.”

Full Story at  msnbc.com

WASHINGTON – A Republican senator contended Tuesday during rancorous floor debate that President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul will shorten the lives of America’s seniors by cutting federal coverage for the elderly.

“I have a message for you: You’re going to die sooner,” said Republican Sen. Tom Coburn, an obstetrician-turned-lawmaker.

A senior Democrat decried such comments by Republicans as scare tactics designed to kill legislation that he said would improve some benefits for the elderly. As the Senate pushed toward the first votes on the sweeping legislation, the debate recalled the raw charges and countercharges of the summer’s town hall meetings.

Full Story at CNN.com

Washington (CNN) — The United States warned Iran on Friday it is prepared to push for significantly stronger economic sanctions against it in the wake of the U.N nuclear watchdog’s resolution censuring Tehran’s nuclear program.

Senior administration officials spoke with reporters on the condition their names not be used said.

“We are committed to putting together a package of consequences if we don’t find a willing partner. We hope Iran takes note of that clear message,” one senior official said.

Full Story at msnbc.com

WASHINGTON – A Nevada man whose wife had an affair with Sen. John Ensign said he discovered the relationship after intercepting a text message around Christmas in 2007.

“How wonderful it is. … Scared, but excited,” it read.

Doug Hampton recounted the text message during an interview taped for broadcast Monday night on ABC’s “Nightline.” The interview covered a lot of ground already made public since Ensign, R-Nev., admitted to the extramarital affair in June, but provided new details about how the affair was discovered as well as the senator’s reaction when Hampton confronted him.

Full Story at CNN.com

Washington (CNN) — Voters disappointed over health care and other legislative efforts have now sent 5 million “pink slips” to members of Congress, the conservative Web site WorldNetDaily said Tuesday.

Several Republican lawmakers joined WorldNetDaily figures to endorse the campaign Tuesday on Capitol Hill.

“These pink slips are a call for fiscally responsible and constitutionally responsible Americans,” said Rep. Steve King of Iowa.

A pink slip is symbolic of job dismissal, a theme not lost on Rep. Trent Franks, R-Arizona, who said members need to vote the will of the people or be fired in the next election.

Full Story at CNN.com

Alexandria, Virginia (CNN) — Former U.S. Rep. William Jefferson was sentenced Friday to 13 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for his conviction on 11 counts of corruption.

Jefferson was also ordered to forfeit more than $470,000 after his conviction for using his office to solicit bribes.

He will also have to pay $1,100 in special assessments.

The case against the former nine-term Louisiana Democrat included allegations of influence-peddling and the discovery of $90,000 in cash in his freezer.