Senate Dems move to curb Fed's powers

WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats on Tuesday proposed stripping the Federal Reserve of its supervisory powers and creating instead three new federal agencies to police banks, protect consumers and dismantle failing institutions.

Coakley: No to House bill

BOSTON - Martha Coakley and the three other Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate traded barbs Monday after Coakley said she would have voted against a major health care reform bill because it contained an anti-abortion amendment.

Abortion dispute may derail health reform

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - America's 40-year argument over abortion has moved to the center of its 100-year debate over health care reform.

The House health care reform package, which passed 220-215 on Saturday, includes tough regulations on insurance coverage for abortions - restrictions added at the last minute to attract enough votes for the measure.

As House health vote nears, opponents take to streets

WASHINGTON - With a historic House vote on a $1 trillion health care bill barely 48 hours away, battle lines are hardening as lobbying groups for seniors and doctors endorsed the legislation, while thousands of protesters swarmed Capitol Hill to oppose it.

GOP sweeps governor races in Virginia, New Jersey

WASHINGTON - Independents who swept Barack Obama to a historic 2008 victory broke big for Republicans on Tuesday as the GOP wrested political control from Democrats in Virginia and New Jersey, a troubling sign for the president and his party heading into an important midterm election year.

Gay marriage headed for defeat in Maine

PORTLAND, Maine - Maine voters on Tuesday appeared likely to overturn a state law allowing same-sex marriage, following a heated campaign that polarized the state and drew national attention.

Democrat wins narrowly in upstate New York House race

ALBANY, N.Y. - Democrat Bill Owens has captured the special election for a New York congressional seat that became a fight over the identity of the Republican Party.

Owens defeated Conservative Doug Hoffman and Republican Dierdre Scozzafava in the heavily Republican 23rd congressional District in rural northern New York. Scozzafava abruptly withdrew Saturday and supported Owens.