WASHINGTON, Nov 11 (Reuters) – The percentage of Americans
who have health insurance through their employer slipped to a
new low of 44.5 percent in the third quarter, a drop of over 5
percentage points in three years, according to a new poll
released on Friday.

Pollsters at Gallup and Healthways Inc., who surveyed more
than 90,000 U.S. adults, blamed the decline on high
unemployment, under-employment and an increased number of
employers who do not offer health insurance to their workers.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A special U.S. committee charged with reducing the federal deficit entered a critical week for reaching a deal amid expectations its members will fail to bridge their differences over taxes before a Nov. 23 deadline.

“Every member understands that time is running out,” said House of Representatives Democrat Chris Van Hollen, who is on the so-called super committee. “This is the moment to get it done if we’re going to get it done,” he said in an interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program on Monday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The number of poor Americans hit a record 49 million in 2010, or 16 percent, according to new data released on Monday that showed poverty rates for the elderly, Asians and Hispanics higher than previously known.

The figures were calculated by the Census Bureau under a broad new measure intended to supplement the official standard with a fuller picture of poverty in the United States. Results contrast with official poverty data, released in September, that put the number of poor Americans at 46.2 million.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A special committee charged with reducing the federal deficit is entering a critical week for reaching a deal but has not considered extending its November 23 deadline, a panel member said on Monday.

“Every member understands that time is running out,” said House of Representatives Democrat Chris Van Hollen, a member of the “super committee.” “This is the moment to get it done if we’re going to get it done,” he said in an interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program.

By David Morgan

(Reuters) – A group of Medicare patients and their families sued the Obama administration on Thursday, saying they were deprived of coverage by the government health plan because of a policy that allows hospitals to avoid admitting elderly people with chronic ailments as inpatients.

The plaintiffs, who are seeking class-action status for the case, asked a U.S. district court in Hartford, Connecticut, to stop Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius from authorizing doctors to place Medicare hospital patients on “observation” status rather than admitting them for inpatient care.

WASHINGTON, Oct 28 (Reuters) – The congressional “super
committee” charged with slashing the U.S. deficit have heard
from legions of lobbyists and lawmakers bent on influencing the
outcome. Now members are getting an earful from Republican and
Democratic leaders who want them to reach a deal and help
restore voters’ faith in Congress before the 2012 elections.

The panel’s six Republicans and six Democrats are under
pressure to avoid a deadlock that could further anger voters
fed up with the partisan gridlock that has plagued major
legislation since President Barack Obama took office in January
2009, according to aides, analysts, lawmakers and lobbyists.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama hailed Muammar Gaddafi’s death as a warning to authoritarian leaders across the Middle East that iron-fisted rule “inevitably comes to an end” and as vindication for his cautious U.S. strategy on Libya.

Obama joined U.S. politicians and ordinary Americans in welcoming the demise of Gaddafi, who was for decades regarded as a nemesis of American presidents, and he also sought to claim some of the credit for the Libyan strongman’s downfall.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. politicians welcomed Muammar Gaddafi’s death on Thursday and President Barack Obama planned to speak about the demise of Libya’s autocratic ruler who was for decades regarded as a nemesis by Washington.

The reaction reflected a long, tortured history with the Libyan strongman, viewed by most Americans as a villain for his government’s links to the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am flight over Scotland and a 1986 disco bombing in Berlin that targeted U.S. troops.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain acknowledged on Sunday his “9-9-9″ tax reform plan would raise taxes on some Americans but denied criticism it would help the rich while hurting the poor.

“Some people will pay more. But most people will pay less,” Cain, a former chief executive of Godfather’s Pizza who has never held elected office, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain acknowledged on Sunday his “9-9-9″ tax reform plan would raise taxes on some Americans but denied criticism it would help the rich while hurting the poor.

“Some people will pay more. But most people will pay less,” Cain, a former chief executive of Godfather’s Pizza who has never held elected office, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”