Politics: Afternoon Edition: House moves forward on health-care repeal

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Friday, January 7, 2011 HEADLINES 1) 44: House moves forward on health-care repeal On a largely party-line vote, the House on Friday cleared the way for debate on legislation that would repeal the national health-care overhaul, setting up a repeal vote next week. » Read full article 2) Obama names another top aide President Obama on Friday named Gene Sperling director of the National Economic Council, choosing a veteran of the Clinton administration budget battles to navigate the rocky shoals of record budget deficits, high unemployment and a Congress dominated by resurgent Republicans. » Read full article 3) Tim Pawlenty defends Palin Tim Pawlenty takes aim at critics of Sarah Palin in his new book, which is set to released Tuesday and a copy of which was obtained by the Fix. » Read full article 4) FEDERAL EYE: Gates: We're moving fast on 'don't ask' repeal Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates wants military leaders to start training troops about the formal end to the "don't ask, dont' tell" policy in a "very few weeks," he said Thursday. » Read full article 5) THE FIX: The ten weakest incumbents of 2012 With Republicans gaining a whopping 63 seats in the 2010 election and the decennial redistricting process just beginning to ramp up, uncertainty is the watch word heading into 2012 House election. » Read full article QUOTE OF THE DAY White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, going a little Zen master on Washington's new power tie color: "Pale blue is a calming color and good in an uncertain world." COMMENT OF THE DAY familynet, on Manuel Roig-Franzia's 'Nothing but blue ties' article: Hah! I'm wearing a light blue tie today too! But, do my blue jeans make me less of a power symbol? Q&A Discussion Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) was online at at 12:30 p.m. ET to discuss the new session of Congress and health-care repeal: Still the party of no?: Republicans in the House have said their first goal is to repeal the entire Obama agenda. A vote to repeal The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is first on their list. Has there been a national outcry to repeal the entire bill? Is this the number one issue for voters? Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz: On the contrary. In short, the number one issue for Americans right now is creating jobs. When people are asked if they feel that insurance companies should be back in the driver's seat on health care decisions, they say no. When seniors are asked whether they think we should restore the massive gap in their prescription drug coverage aka the donut hole, they say no. When people are asked if they think insurance companies should be able to drop people or deny them coverage for preexisting conditions, they say no. Americans support health security because it means economic security. » View full Q&A session MULTIMEDIA Video: Obama names sperling to top economic post Video: Obama names sperling to top economic post President Barack Obama appointed Gene Sperling as his director of the National Economic Council Friday, placing a Washington veteran with a bipartisan track record in the White House as the administration contends with a divided Congress. SEND US A TIP | ADVERTISE | UNSUBSCRIBE | PRIVACY POLICY | NEWSLETTER CENTER Washington Post Digital c/o E-mail Customer Care 1150 15th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20071