Kara Kennedy, senator's daughter, dies of heart attack  —  WASHINGTON — Kara Kennedy, the oldest child of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, died at a Washington-area health club, her brother said Saturday.  She was 51.  —  Patrick Kennedy, a former congressman from Rhode Island, said his sister died Friday.

House GOP rejects Obama jobs proposals  —  WASHINGTON — House Republican leaders say they are rejecting President Barack Obama's jobs proposals to rebuild schools and blighted neighborhoods, and help keep state and local employees on the job.  —  In a memo to GOP lawmakers that was also issued publicly …

Obama Tax Plan Would Ask More of Millionaires  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama on Monday will call for a new minimum tax rate for individuals making more than $1 million a year to ensure that they pay at least the same percentage of their earnings as middle-income taxpayers, according to administration officials.

‘Pass This Jobs Bill!’  —  The president has taken to the campaign trail to promote his “American Jobs Act.”  That's a good name for it: an act.  “Pass this bill now!” he declared 24 times at a stop in Raleigh, N.C., and another 18 in Columbus, Ohio, and the act is sufficiently effective that …

Obama's Solyndra scandal reeks of the Chicago Way  —  Those of us from Chicago know exactly what the Solyndra scandal smells like.  And It doesn't smell fresh and green.  —  The Solyndra scandal cost at least a half-billion public dollars.  It is plaguing President Barack Obama.

Smart money betting on stupid politicians  —  Are Republicans stupid?  —  This seems to be the question du jour.  Chris Matthews entertained this idea with guests recently, pointing to several Republican presidential candidates as evidence.  How else to explain why so many in the GOP seem proud …

US taxpayers could be on hook for Europe bailout  —  The U.S. is coming to Europe's financial rescue.  —  So far, America's role is fairly limited.  But if the crisis continues to grow and the U.S. takes on a wider role, U.S. consumers and taxpayers could feel a bigger impact.

Bachmann makes health claims about HPV vaccine not ‘speaking as a doctor’  —  Asked about her stance against mandatory vaccinations against the human papillomavirus (HPV), Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) said Friday that “it's something that could have dangerous side effects.”

Constitution Has Its Day Amid a Struggle for Its Spirit  —  In the 100 years since Constitution Day was first established, most Americans have lumped it with holidays like Grandparents' Day and Administrative Assistants' day — a noble cause, lightly observed.