Congressional aides say Democratic leaders are prepared to soften a proposal that more lawmakers be briefed on secret CIA operations to make an intelligence bill more acceptable to the White House.

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• Wiretap foes turn Obama's words against feds

Republican Sen. John Ensign of Nevada said his parents gave his mistress and her family nearly $100,000 "out of concern for the well being of longtime family friends during a difficult time."

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• Ill. Dem Burris reportedly won't seek full term

Gov. Schwarzenegger's budget plan, which he touts as a way to solve the state's deficit, has a glitch that may jeopardize $10 billion in federal stimulus funds for California's public schools, colleges and prisons. Matthew Yi

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• State's first lady won't influence governor
• Saunders: The state budget mess

He's already banned spending city money to buy bottled water and mandated composting citywide. Now, the mayor of San Francisco is taking on something more basic than water and trash: food. Heather Knight

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