[March 04, 2009]

AP Political NewsBrief at 11:14 a.m. EST

(AP Online Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Obama seeks major change in federal contractingWASHINGTON (AP) _ President Barack Obama has approved an order to overhaul the way the U.S. government awards contracts for work to be done by the private sector. Obama joined Republican Sen. John McCain, his presidential campaign rival, and other congressional figures Wednesday to announce an executive memorandum that commits his administration to a new set of marching orders for awarding contracts. Obama said "the days of giving government contractors a blank check are over" and said changes could save up to $40 billion a year.

Supreme Court rejects limits on drug lawsuitsWASHINGTON (AP) _ The Supreme Court has upheld a $6.7 million jury award to a musician who lost her arm because of a botched injection of an anti-nausea medication. The court brushed away a plea that it limit lawsuits against drug makers. In a 6-3 decision Wednesday, the court rejected Wyeth Pharmaceuticals' claim that federal approval of its Phenergan anti-nausea drug should have shielded the company from lawsuits like the one filed by Diana Levine of Vermont.

Britain's leader warns against US protectionismWASHINGTON (AP) _ British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says an "economic hurricane" has swept the world and leaders of the United States should not think that it's confined to America's borders. In a formal address to a Joint Meeting of Congress Wednesday, Brown said that any protectionist instincts on trade must be resisted and said such policies ultimately make every nation vulnerable. He said the financial system is so interwoven that "a bad bank anywhere is a threat to good banks everywhere." Safety panel told minimum of 2 for train cabsDATELINE (AP) _ Rail union officials have told a federal safety panel that a minimum of two people should be assigned to the cabs of all freight, passenger and commuter trains. This happened Wednesday as a panel of the National Transportation Safety Board resumed its hearings into a train crash in California last year that killed 25 people and injured at least 130 others.

Steele: Limbaugh fracas a 'sideshow distraction'WASHINGTON (AP) _ Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele now says the sparring between himself and conservative radio commentator Rush Limbaugh was a "sideshow distraction." Steele told NBC's "Today" that there are disagreements among conservative leaders, but said: "My job is to try to balance that. I wasn't that effective at it this week." Obama budget director urges patience with recoveryWASHINGTON (AP) _ President Barack Obama's budget director says the administration inherited "a big mess" economically and the public is going to have to be patient as a rescue plan goes forward. Peter Orszag, director of the Office of Management and Budget, also echoed Obama's statement about Wall Street, saying policymakers should not get caught up in the day-to-day swings in the stock market.

Clinton: Israeli home demolitions 'unhelpful'RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) _ U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday promised vigorous and personal involvement in stalled Mideast peace efforts and criticized Israel's demolition of Palestinian homes in Jerusalem as "unhelpful." Clinton also displayed strong public support for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The Palestinian Authority is the "only legitimate government of the Palestinian people," she told a news conference, standing next to Abbas.

US urged to lead in cutting greenhouse emissionsWASHINGTON (AP) _ For the United States to play a leadership role crafting a global warming treaty, negotiators say Congress and the Obama administration must enact limits this year to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. Among those pressing for a new U.S. law is Todd Stern, the Obama administration's envoy for climate talks that begin in December in Copenhagen, Denmark.

INSIDE WASHINGTON: Is the FDA a broken agency?WASHINGTON (AP) _ Every few months, the Food and Drug Administration goes into fire-brigade mode, rushing to get control over another safety crisis. Tainted peanuts. Unsterilized syringes. Salmonella in Mexican chili peppers. A contaminated blood thinner from China that sent patients into life-threatening shock.

Democrats reach deal on mortgage relief billWASHINGTON (AP) _ For key moderate Democrats in the House, giving debt-strapped homeowners the right to seek mortgage modifications in bankruptcy court had to be a last resort. So they wrote a compromise to a housing bill that requires bankruptcy judges to consider whether banks offered homeowners reasonable loan restructuring deals before they weigh in with judicial remedies.

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