WASHINGTON — For Democratic Rep. Ben Chandler, controversial votes against a health care overhaul backed by the House Democratic leadership and for cap-and-trade energy policies that could lead to penalties for his state's leading industry are like floodlights signaling to critics that the once seemingly unbeatable congressman may have an exposed flank.

"I knew going into this thing that I would be criticized no matter what I did. That's one of the problems when you take a moderate viewpoint in today's climate," said Chandler, a fourth-term lawmaker from Versailles, who tends to eschew the political spotlight. "You can't appease both liberals and conservatives. And I don't vote the way folks want me to vote all of the time."

Indeed, scarcely had votes been cast Saturday night than the conservative Americans for Limited Government sent an e-mail to its members and media outlets condemning Chandler for supporting the measure that would create a government-run health insurance plan. The organization, which sharply criticized Chandler earlier this summer for failing to hold town hall meetings, was forced to issue a hasty retraction and begrudging congratulations when it realized Chandler was one of 39 Democrats who voted against the measure. » read more

WASHINGTON — Some of the nation's most esteemed scientists will review recent environmental decisions that have curtailed California irrigation water deliveries, officials affirmed Tuesday.

Pressed by California lawmakers and the Obama administration, the National Research Council's governing board agreed to undertake a two-part, $1.5 million California water study. The study could lead to revised water delivery plans.

"Getting the best scientific minds together to look at the problem is a good idea," Environmental Defense attorney Cynthia Koehler said. » read more

WASHINGTON — United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon met with Senate Republicans and Democrats on Tuesday and urged them to save international climate talks next month by speeding up work on a climate and energy bill.

Ban's admonition to the Senate comes as many are worried that next month's talks in Denmark won't produce a worldwide agreement to cut emissions of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming.

In contrast to his earlier hopes for a formal climate treaty in Copenhagen, Ban now expects that world leaders would sign a "robust global agreement that can serve as the foundation of a climate treaty." » read more

WASHINGTON — An American Muslim who was captured while fleeing Somalia in 2007 accused two FBI agents and two other U.S. officials Tuesday of illegally interrogating him and threatening torture while he was allegedly held at U.S. behest in Kenyan and Ethiopian jails.

In a lawsuit filed on behalf of Amir Meshal of Tinton Falls, N.J., the American Civil Liberties Union alleged that he'd been held in "stark and inhuman conditions" and had "suffered physical injuries, pain and suffering, severe mental anguish, as well as loss of income and livelihood."

U.S. officials "threatened Mr. Meshal with serious physical and mental abuse, told him he would be made to 'disappear,' and denied him access to counsel and other due process protections," said the lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court. » read more

WASHINGTON — A key Senate committee chairman unveiled a sweeping 1,136-page bill Tuesday that, if enacted, would mandate the most comprehensive overhaul of financial regulation since the Great Depression.

The legislation would affect both average Americans and the well-heeled on Wall Street. It would bring unregulated entities such as hedge funds under closer supervision, give the government the power to shut down large financial firms, and merge numerous federal banking regulators under a single roof.

The bill proposed by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., would give ordinary folks tough protections against predatory lending and abuses by credit card companies, and would create a government agency to oversee mortgages, credit cards and other consumer-credit products. » read more