Free Republic

In the nation's capital, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is on the brink of pushing through a national health program that Democrats rank alongside the creation of Social Security and Medicare. In Nevada, that very achievement is imperiling his re-election prospects. At a recent speech at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in front of a largely friendly audience, Mr. Reid faced a series of hecklers. When he said only in the U.S. do people go bankrupt because of health costs, a man wearing a red "Dump Harry" shirt said loudly: "It's an outright lie." Mr. Reid's plight reflects that...

WASHINGTON - The Senate passed legislation Thursday to add 3 million lower-income children to a popular health insurance program in bipartisan defiance of President Bush's threatened veto. The 68-31 vote, one day after the House passed a more ambitious and expensive version over bitter Republican opposition, handed Democrats a solid achievement to trumpet as they leave Washington for a summer break. It also gave Democrats, who secured a veto-proof margin, a chance to draw a stark distinction between their priorities and Bush's on an issue that resonates with voters. "For the life of me, I can't understand why the president...

GREENBELT, Md. (AP) - A federal judge on Thursday blocked a county school system from instituting a health curriculum that includes discussions of homosexuality. U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams agreed with two groups that sued contending such discussions gave preference of religions that are tolerant of homosexuality over those that reject it. Williams issued a temporary restraining order that prevents the Montgomery County school system in suburban Washington, D.C., from using the pilot health program in six schools. The program was set to begin Monday. During the 10-day restraining order, another hearing will be held on whether to extend it,...