WASHINGTON  -- Influential senators working to overhaul the nation's health care system have investments and family ties with some of the biggest names in the industry. The wife of Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., sits on the boards of four health care companies and Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., holds stakes in several health care businesses.

Dear Editor:

Dear Editor:

Dear Editor:

The readers of Mike McClellan’s recent piece on the opinion page should be asking Mike why he has neglected to include some facts that do not support the re-election of progressive candidates. Mike neglected to inform you that the Dow exceeded 14,000 points in September 2007 after the Democrats took control of the House and Senate and handed control of the financial markets to Barney Frank and Chris Dodd. As a result of the expertise of these two and the uncertainty of Obama’s election, investors pulled back and the market swooned.

The readers of Mike McClellan’s latest piece on the Opinion page should be asking Mike why he has neglected to include some facts that do not support the re-election of progressive candidates. Mike neglected to inform you that the Dow exceeded 14,000 points in September 2007 after the Democrats took control of the House and Senate and handed control of the financial markets to Barney Frank and Chris Dodd. As a result of the expertise of these two and the uncertainty of Obama’s election, investors pulled back and the market swooned.

It must be that the Mesa tea party has become an echo chamber for disinformation. In a letter from tea party member Bill Sandry, we are asked to believe that the Glass-Steagall Act, which separated commercial savings banks from Wall Street investment banking since 1933, was repealed by the likes of favorite tea party targets Barney Frank, Chris Dodd and Charlie Wrangle. It didn’t take five minutes of research to disprove such nonsense.

OKLAHOMA CITY - Curtis Millage ripped off his jersey on his way to Arizona State's locker room and once he was inside yelled, “One more assist. I needed one more assist.”

 There many ways to solve the credit crisis without the $800 billion bailout. One way would be to temporarily suspend the rule to mark down mortgage securities to present market value. Nobody knows their true value anyway.

I asked this question of Josh Romney (Mitt Romney’s son) when he spoke at our tea party meeting last year. He promised to send me an answer but I have not received one. I have asked this question of the Romney Campaign headquarters and the Arizona Republican Party headquarters. None of them will even dignify my request with an answer. So I am asking the public. Maybe someone will know the answer. What is candidate Romney’s position on restoring the Glass-Steagall Act?

“Read the paper and saw a new reason for the liberals to celebrate: Abortions in Arizona are up. Liberals: Pro choice, as long as the choice is abortion. Proud of that?”

We encourage readers to submit letters to the editor on issues of interest to East Valley residents. Submissions should be no longer than 300 words, factually accurate and original thoughts of the writer. Please be brief and include name, address, city and phone number for verification. Letters and comments may be edited for clarity and length.

Desert Vista is back in the 5A state baseball tournament. Corona del Sol will have to play its way in.

For the six seniors completing their eligibility, there were emotional hugs and a few tears shed inside the Arizona State locker room Saturday evening at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City.

HILLSBOROUGH, N.H. - The Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000 endorsed Republican John McCain for president on Monday, scandalizing Democrats in Washington and giving the GOP hopeful a much-needed boost in New Hampshire where independents outnumber Republicans and Democrats.

New York  --  Well aware that the television audience may be particularly sensitive, the Showtime network aired a disclaimer warning audiences of violent content in the season finales of its dramas “Homeland” and “Dexter” last weekend. It was two days after a gunman killed 26 people in a Newtown, Conn., elementary school.

“It’s depressing how bad Americans have become. A big percentage of our citizens openly root and pray for the complete downfall and destruction of our president. Why do we want our president, and in turn, our country to fail? Is that what it means to be American these days?”

NEW YORK - Four presidential candidates are lined up to visit Jon Stewart on "The Daily Show" over the next three weeks as Comedy Central's satirical news review ramps up its "Indecision 2008" coverage.

The preliminary first-quarter fund-raising reports from the presidential candidates are out and they come with a shocker: Barack Obama raised $25 million, almost as much as Hillary Rodham Clinton’s $26 million.

A severe drought with no end in sight and the influx of winter residents is prompting Scottsdale to ask residents to conserve water.

October 25, 2004

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Friday turned back a Republican effort to eliminate a long-term care insurance program to help seniors and the disabled, saving the plan once championed by the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in its health overhaul bill.