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Talks To Merge Health Care Bill Bills Begin Behind The Scenes
Roll Call reports that the Congressional aides have begun setting up the negotiations between the House and Senate for the health care bill, though at a very early stage. “Everything happening this week is happening behind the scenes,” said a Senate aide. “Staff is taking the week to review documents. Informal staff meetings may happen, but nothing is scheduled just yet.”

Health Lobby Takes Fight To The States
The New York Times says that with the federal government poised to pass a health care reform bill, the states are set to become the new battlegrounds over issues of opting into some programs, opting out, or fighting them entirely: “Last year, for example, the drug industry poured more than $20 million into political contributions in states around the country. In California alone, the industry spent an additional $80 million on advertising to beat back a California ballot measure intended to push down drug prices.”

U.N. Report: Civilian Deaths Up In Afghanistan
A new United Nations report finds that civilian casualties were up in Afghanistan in 2009. During the first ten months of the year there were 2,038 civilian deaths in the Afghan War, up from 1,838 civilian deaths in the same period during 2008.

U.S. Concerned About New Japanese Prime Minister
The Washington Post reports that the Obama administration has become increasingly concerned with the newly-elected government in Japan, which has seemingly been making moves towards an independent foreign policy: “Since the election, a series of canceled dinners, diplomatic demarches, and publicly and privately broken promises from the new government has vexed senior White House officials, causing new concern about the U.S. friendship with its closest Asian ally. The worry extends beyond U.S. officials to other leaders in Southeast Asia, who are nervous about anything that lessens the U.S. security role in the region.”

Boren Expects More Blue Dog Retirements
Rep. Dan Boren (D-OK), one of the most conservative Democrats in the HOuse, said he expects more Blue Dog members of Congress to retire during this cycle. “The political environment is definitely a contributing factor,” said Boren. “Some may decide they want to do something else for a few years.”

Orszag Engaged To ABC News Correspondent
White House Budget Director Peter Orszag has gotten engaged to ABC News correspondent Bianna Golodryga. The two met in May, at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner. “She’s a Russian Jew,” said Orszag, “who gets up earlier than I do.”

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