Free Republic

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama urged Congress on Tuesday to strip health insurers of their decades-old exemption from federal antitrust laws—hardening his stand against the industry as he tries to revive his stalled health care overhaul. The White House announced Obama's support for a House bill that would repeal the industry's antitrust exemption, saying that would foster a more competitive marketplace that benefits consumers. The announcement follows Obama's call for new federal rate-setting powers that would give the Health and Human Services department the power to deny excessive increases in health insurance premiums. "Removing this exemption will allow appropriate...

<p>WASHINGTON - Major League Baseball's political action committee contributed $108,000 to 65 congressional candidates last year, much of it to incumbents who sit on committees of strategic interest to the sport.</p> <p>Federal Election Commission reports show that the PAC gave to 40 House candidates and 25 Senate candidates, about 60 percent to Democrats and 40 percent to Republicans. Baseball also contributed $170,000 in unregulated "soft money" to the national parties in the last election, $95,000 to the Democrats, $75,000 to the GOP.</p>