Health insurance exchange launched despite signs of serious problems  —  Days before the launch of President Obama's online health ­insurance marketplace, government officials and contractors tested a key part of the Web site to see whether it could handle tens of thousands of consumers at the same time.

HHS brings in Verizon to help HealthCare.gov  —  You might think that a website needed to help over 40 million people would be ready to accommodate those 40 million people.  Apparently, it's a little more complicated than that.  VPC  —  CONNECT  —  WASHINGTON — The international …

Poll: Major damage to GOP after shutdown, and broad dissatisfaction with government  —  Video: Will voters remember the shutdown next year?  Incumbents usually win elections.  But after a shutdown, near-default and historic lows in Congressional approval, voters are claiming they'll reverse that trend in 2014.

Gov. LePage lets slip what he really thinks about Maine people  —  At a speech to a conservative audience in Falmouth last week, Governor Paul LePage made a statement that is deeply revealing.  —  Informed that the event was wrapping up, LePage said he had two more points to make.

Inside The Meeting Where Obama And Reid Vowed Not To Be ‘Taken In By These Crazy People’  —  WASHINGTON — Barack Obama and Harry Reid needed to clear the air.  The relationship between the president and the Senate majority leader had been deteriorating since 2011, with Reid losing respect …

Man Spends 4.5 Hours on Obamacare Hotline But Still Can't Sign Up  —  Yesterday in the Rose Garden, President Obama touted the Obamacare hotline and recommended people call to sign up for Obamacare.  “[T]he point is the call centers are available,” Obama said, sounding as though he were in the middle of an infomercial.

Marco Rubio bill would delay Obamacare  —  Sen. Marco Rubio said Tuesday that he will introduce legislation that would delay the individual mandate under Obamacare for six months and he slammed the White House for the problems with the enrollment website.  —  “How are you going to go after …

U.S. Drone Strikes Killed Pakistani Grandmother And Workers, Amnesty International Claims  —  U.S. drone strikes killed a Pakistani grandmother and 18 civilian labourers last year, Amnesty International said on Tuesday, shedding new light on a major source of tension in U.S.-Pakistani relations.

U.S. Energy-Related Carbon Dioxide Emissions, 2012  —  U.S. ENERGY-RELATED CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS DECLINED 3.8 PERCENT IN 2012  — The 2012 downturn means that emissions are at their lowest level since 1994 and over 12 percent below the recent 2007 peak.

Democratic Takeover of the House Is Still a Long Shot  —  Democrats will need Republicans to continue self-destructing, among other things, to return to the majority in 2014.  —  Those who already are saying that the House of Representatives is now “in play” are getting a little ahead of their skis—forgetting a few key factors.

Nineteen Organizations Spend More Than $1 Million a Month Lobbying  —  Lobbying the federal government is a big business with nineteen companies and trade associations spending over $1 million a month lobbying during the third quarter.  —  Organizations are required to disclose how much they spend …

The Employment Situation in September  —  While job growth remained solid in September, there is no question that the focus of policy should be on how to achieve a faster pace of job growth by increasing certainty and investing in jobs, rather than the self-inflicted wounds of the past several weeks …

Michael Bloomberg to buy big for Terry McAuliffe  —  Michael Bloomberg's pro-gun-control super PAC will drop $1.1 million on ads for Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the final two weeks of the Virginia governor's race.  —  The billionaire New York City mayor's money will be siphoned through Independence USA PAC …