http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/newshour/topic/government_programs/The latest news, analysis and reporting about Government Programs from the Online NewsHour and its Web site, the feed is updated periodically with interviews, background reports and updates to put the news in a larger context.en-usThu, 12 Nov 2009 15:21:03Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:21:03Copyright ©2009 MacNeil/Lehrer Productions. All Rights Reserved.144144http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/newshour/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/images/rss/promo_rss.jpghttp://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/health/july-dec09/cbo_11-12.htmlThu, 12 Nov 2009 14:48:00 ESTThis week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is waiting to hear back from one of the most influential yet least well-known figures in this year's health care reform debate: Douglas Elmendorf, the director of the Congressional Budget Office.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/business/july-dec09/economy_11-12.htmlThu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 ESTForeclosure numbers dropped for the third straight month in October, and new claims for unemployment benefits dropped more than expected last week, according to figures released Thursday.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/july-dec09/states_11-11.htmlWed, 11 Nov 2009 18:23:00 ESTWith the national economy beginning to see glimmers of a comeback, the budget woes of at least 10 states threaten to derail a broad economic recovery. Gwen Ifill reports.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/social_issues/july-dec09/iraqis_11-10.htmlTue, 10 Nov 2009 18:21:00 ESTNearly 32,000 Iraqi refugees have come to the United States over the past three years to escape violence and political uncertainty. But as Jeffrey Kaye reports, more refugees are learning that personal safety often comes at the cost of economic security.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/health/july-dec09/abortion_11-09.htmlMon, 09 Nov 2009 17:44:00 ESTAbortion opponents scored a victory Saturday night as the House passed a health care reform bill that includes strong anti-abortion language. Two advocates give their take on the bill and what comes next as the focus shifts to the Senate.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/health/july-dec09/adjuvants_11-09.htmlMon, 09 Nov 2009 12:42:00 ESTU.S. health officials are dealing with shortages and production delays of H1N1 vaccine, but stand by the choice not to opt for vaccine boosters, called adjuvants, that could stretch supply of H1N1 vaccine, but are not licensed in the United States.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/social_issues/july-dec09/jobsnumbers_11-05.htmlThu, 05 Nov 2009 10:39:00 ESTCongress has passed legislation that would expand a popular homebuyer's tax credit and extend unemployment benefits in a bid to breathe more life into the struggling American economy.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/health/july-dec09/burnham_11-04.htmlWed, 04 Nov 2009 15:15:00 ESTIn the past few months, American politicians and press have portrayed Britain's National Health Service in two very different lights: as an example of effective universal health care and, on the other hand, as a morass of long lines and rationing.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/business/july-dec09/opel_11-04.htmlWed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 ESTIn a surprise reversal that has left politicians across Germany fuming, General Motors' board has voted to abandon a deal to sell its European operations to car-parts supplier Magna International Inc. and Russian bank Sberbank.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/business/july-dec09/cit_11-02.htmlMon, 02 Nov 2009 16:56:00 ESTCIT, a major lender to small U.S. businesses, filed on Sunday for one of the largest Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections in history.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/health/july-dec09/healthwrap_10-30.htmlFri, 30 Oct 2009 17:05:00 ESTDeclared nearly dead this summer, the public option has made a comeback. Health correspondent Betty Ann Bowser discusses the week's health care reform news.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/business/july-dec09/stimulus_10-30.htmlFri, 30 Oct 2009 10:33:00 ESTMore than 650,000 jobs have been created or saved by the government's fiscal stimulus program, the White House said Friday.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec09/healthcare_10-29.htmlThu, 29 Oct 2009 18:20:00 ESTHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled an $894 billion health care reform bill Thursday that would expand insurance coverage to as many as 36 million people. In a nod to moderates, the plan includes a public option in which rates are negotiated with doctors and hospitals. Betty Ann Bowser reports.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/july-dec09/economy_10-29.htmlThu, 29 Oct 2009 18:03:00 ESTThe U.S. economy ended a year of contraction in the third quarter, expanding by 3.5 percent. While much of the growth is being attributed to President Obama's $787 billion stimulus plan, critics continue to ask, when will jobs return?http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/health/july-dec09/househealth_10-29.htmlThu, 29 Oct 2009 13:37:00 ESTHouse Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday unveiled a massive health care reform bill that would expand health insurance coverage to 36 million Americans at a cost of $894 billion over 10 years.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/business/july-dec09/gdprebound_10-29.htmlThu, 29 Oct 2009 09:51:00 ESTThe U.S. economy expanded at a 3.5 percent annual pace from July to September, according to Commerce Department figures released Thursday, in a signal that the worst recession since the 1930s may be easing.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/july-dec09/economy_10-28.htmlWed, 28 Oct 2009 18:28:00 ESTThe head of a key House committee unveiled legislation Wednesday that would grant the federal government sweeping new powers to police giant financial firms. Jim Lehrer talks to two financial analysts about the debate over "too big to fail" institutions.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/business/july-dec09/2big2fail_10-28.htmlWed, 28 Oct 2009 12:42:00 ESTThe U.S. government would be given broad new powers to shrink financial firms deemed "too big to fail" and shift the cost of rescuing troubled companies from taxpayers to other large firms, according to draft legislation released Tuesday.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec09/h1n1_10-26.htmlMon, 26 Oct 2009 18:37:00 ESTBetty Ann Bowser takes an in-depth look at two families attempting to cope with the H1N1 flu.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/health/july-dec09/flu_10-23.htmlFri, 23 Oct 2009 17:07:00 ESTThe H1N1 swine flu virus is now widespread in 46 states, has hospitalized more than 20,000 people and caused more than 1,000 deaths in the U.S., Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Friday.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/july-dec09/stimulus_10-22.htmlThu, 22 Oct 2009 18:40:00 ESTRay Suarez speaks with Dante Chinni of the Patchwork Nation project about tracking federal stimulus money as it is dispersed through America.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/forum/business/july-dec09/patchwork_10-22.htmlThu, 22 Oct 2009 12:00:00 ESTPatchwork Nation project director Dante Chinni answers your questions about how funds from President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package are making their way across the country and about the Patchwork Nation reporting project itself.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/government_programs/july-dec09/stimulus_10-21.htmlWed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 ESTAmericans and government watchdogs are getting their first glimpse at the results of the massive economic stimulus package heralded by President Barack Obama soon after taking office.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec09/flu_10-20.htmlTue, 20 Oct 2009 18:35:00 ESTHealth officials warn that young people are expected to be hit the hardest this year by the H1N1 virus. Margaret Warner speaks with the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/health/july-dec09/hivvaccine_10-20.htmlTue, 20 Oct 2009 17:43:00 ESTPARIS | The complete results of the first vaccine trial to ever show some protection against HIV were released Tuesday, and researchers sought to refute criticism that the study's results could be weaker than indicated.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/business/july-dec09/hedgefund_10-19.htmlMon, 19 Oct 2009 15:28:00 ESTThe arrests of a prominent Wall Street hedge fund founder and five others on Friday have unsettled the hedge fund world and could spur calls for new rules governing the largely unregulated financial sector.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/business/july-dec09/bankofamerica_10-16.htmlFri, 16 Oct 2009 12:52:00 ESTBank of America reported Friday that it lost more than $2.2 billion in the third quarter, largely due to loan defaults and credit card delinquencies.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/july-dec09/cannabis_10-14.htmlWed, 14 Oct 2009 18:37:00 ESTWith budget woes causing cuts to essential services across California, several communities in the state are weighing whether to raise additional revenue through tax hikes on medical marijuana. Spencer Michels reports.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/july-dec09/rx_10-14.htmlWed, 14 Oct 2009 18:24:00 ESTTop Senate Democrats and White House officials have turned their health reform efforts toward crafting a compromise package that can unite Democrats and avoid a GOP filibuster. Policy analysts examine the different ways a public option could take shape in Congress.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/july-dec09/execs_10-14.htmlWed, 14 Oct 2009 18:12:00 ESTDespite heightened scrutiny from both the public and regulators in the wake of the AIG bonus scandal, compensation on Wall Street is set for a record year in 2009. Jeffrey Brown reports.http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/government_programs/july-dec09/othernews_10-14.htmlWed, 14 Oct 2009 18:04:00 ESTIn other news, President Obama asked Congress to approve extra social security payments for the nation's seniors, and tensions over an American aid package for Pakistan appeared to ease.