WASHINGTON — Democrats Saturday appeared likely to get the 60 votes they need to keep their health care legislation moving forward — but reluctant party moderates sent strong signals that the bill still has an uncertain future.

Saturday's test vote was about whether to cut off a Republican-led filibuster and begin formal debate on the Senate Democrats' proposed $848 billion health care overhaul.

Democrats control 60 of the Senate's 100 seats, and Saturday afternoon, Sens. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., agreed to vote with the party, making it likely that the Senate will continue to consider the 2,074-page bill. » read more

WASHINGTON — Rep. Emanuel Cleaver wanted people to stop complaining for a day and count their blessings.

What he got, however, was just more complaints.

Indeed, the Missouri Democrat was on the receiving end this week of an angry torrent of ill will from conservative Web sites about him and about Congress. » read more

WASHINGTON — The dollar chase never stops for California incumbents and challengers alike, who keep busy raising campaign funds for themselves and for others.

In the last week alone, three of the San Joaquin Valley's House members held Capitol Hill fundraisers. The events conducted a year before the next election raised thousands of dollars for the already flush treasuries maintained Reps. Devin Nunes, R-Visalia, Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced, and Kevin McCarthy, R-Bakersfield.

"It's by far the worst part of the job, and I hate it," Nunes said Friday, "but you have to constantly do it." » read more

WASHINGTON — If you're considering Botox to erase frown lines or liposuction to get rid of love handles, you might want to move fast. The "botax" may be on the way.

The $848 billion health care bill that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., unveiled Wednesday includes a 5 percent tax on cosmetic procedures and surgeries. The tax, which would take effect in January, would raise an estimated $5 billion over the next decade to help pay for extending health care coverage to millions of Americans.

Plastic surgeons decried the proposal, saying the recession has battered their practices and they're just beginning to recover. » read more

WASHINGTON — A retired State Department employee will spend life in prison without parole after he and his wife pleaded guilty Friday to serving as covert agents for Cuba for three decades.

Walter Kendall Myers, 72 — known to his Cuban handlers as "Agent 202" — agreed to a life sentence without parole and to cooperate with the federal government. His wife, Gwendolyn Steingraber Myers, 71 — known as "Agent 123" and "Agent E-634" — agreed to a sentence of between six years and 7 1/2 years in prison, and will also continue to cooperate with the government.

Prosecutors said the tough sentences — which will be imposed in April after the couple briefs government investigators — should send a warning to others looking to divulge state secrets. » read more