Broker Regulation

Members of Congress' deficit-reduction supercommittee face daily pressure from groups defending programs like Social Security, veterans benefits and defense spending from cuts. This week will offer something different: Millionaires insisting that their own taxes be raised.

A consumer advocate group wants to be part of an insurance-industry discussion on whether to exempt broker and agent compensation from a health reform law that aims to cut wasteful insurer spending.

The Supreme Court on Monday promised an extraordinarily thorough springtime review of President Barack Obama's historic health care overhaul more than five hours of argument, unprecedented in modern times in time for a likely ruling affecting millions of Americans just before the presidential election.

The No. 2 Republican in the House said Monday he's still confident that a bipartisan deficit "supercommittee" will be able to reach agreement even though there's little more than a week to go before its deadline.

Nothing about the Supreme Court not its magnificent building atop Capitol Hill nor its very title suggests that its word is anything other than final. Yet federal appellate judges and even state court judges sometimes find ways to insist on an outcome the Supreme Court has rejected.

The Obama administration will give up to $1 billion to those who come up with the best ideas for improving care, lowering costs and creating jobs within the health sector.