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GOP hopes IRS scandal will snag health care law

FILE - In this May 16, 2013 file photo, Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Political scandals have strange ways of causing collateral damage, and Republicans are hoping the furor over federal tax enforcers singling out conservative groups will ensnare their biggest target: President Barack Obama’s health care law. But no one appears to have connected the factual dots yet, and it’s unclear whether they will. “Now we’ve learned that the IRS, which is tasked with enforcing this very unpopular bill of Obamacare, the IRS admitted they targeted Americans,” Bachmann said during floor debate this week on repealing the health care law. (AP Photo/Molly Riley, File)Political scandals have strange ways of causing collateral damage, and Republicans are hoping the furor over federal tax enforcers singling out conservative groups will ensnare their biggest target: President Barack Obama's health care law.

Despite controversies, Obama agenda marches on

President Barack Obama gestures as he speaks at Ellicott Dredges in Baltimore, Friday, May 17, 2013, during his second "Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity Tour". (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)Despite Democratic fears, predictions of the demise of President Barack Obama's agenda appear exaggerated after a week of cascading controversies and political triage by the administration.

Merkel and Pope talk about a 'strong' Europe

Pope Francis meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a private audience at the Vatican, Saturday, May 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, Pool)German Chancellor Angela Merkel, mindful of the weight of Christian voters in September elections, made a quick trip to Rome Saturday for a private meeting with Pope Francis.

Probe begins after commuter trains crash

Emergency workers arrive the scene of a train collision, Friday, may 17, 2013 in Fairfield, Conn. A New York-area commuter railroad says two trains have collided in Connecticut. The railroad says the accident involved a New York-bound train leaving New Haven. It derailed and hit a westbound train near Fairfield, Conn. Some cars on the second train also derailed. (AP Photo/The Connecticut Post, Denis O’Malley) MANDATORY CREDITOfficials have begun investigating an accident that sent about 70 people to the hospital, severely damaged the tracks and threatened to snarl travel in the congested Northeast Corridor.

IRS probe ignored most influential groups

In this photo taken June 29, 2011, photo Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. Whitehouse is among a small group in the Senate pushing campaign finance reform measures that would force outside groups to disclose their donors. The Internal Revenue Service has endured withering criticism for its scrutiny of conservative political groups during the 2012 elections. "The IRS goes AWOL when wealthy and powerful forces want to break the law in order to hide their wrongful efforts and secret political influence," he says. "Picking on the little guy is a pretty lousy thing to do." (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)There's an irony in the Internal Revenue Service's crackdown on conservative groups.

Germany's Merkel visits Pope, urges tougher market controls

Pope Francis gestures as he talks to German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a private audience at the VaticanGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel met Pope Francis on Saturday and, apparently responding to his criticism of a heartless "dictatorship of the economy," called for stronger regulation of financial markets.

South Korea says N. Korea fires 3 short-range missiles

A South Korean man watches a TV news reporting missile launch conducted by North Korea, at a Seoul Train Station in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday, May 18, 2013. North Korea fired three short-range guided missiles into its eastern waters on Saturday, a South Korean official said. It routinely tests such missiles, but the latest launches came during a period of tentative diplomacy aimed at easing tensions. The letters at a screen read " Fired three short-range guided missiles." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)North Korea fired three short-range guided missiles into its eastern waters on Saturday, a South Korean official said.

Afghan lawmakers block law on women's rights

FILE - In this Thursday, April 11, 2013 file photo, an Afghan woman peers through the the eye slit of her burqa as she waits to try on a new burqa in shop in the old town of Kabul, Afghanistan. Conservative religious lawmakers in Afghanistan blocked a law on Saturday, May 18, 2013 that aims to protect women's freedoms, with some arguing that parts of it violate Islamic principles or encourage women to have sex outside of marriage. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, File)Conservative religious lawmakers in Afghanistan blocked legislation on Saturday aimed at strengthening provisions for women's freedoms, arguing that parts of it violate Islamic principles and encourage disobedience.

Spin meter: GOP raps Dems for IRS union cash

House Ways and Means Committee member Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa., center, questions the ousted head of the Internal Revenue Service Steven Miller, lower right, as the Republican-run committee held a hearing on the extra scrutiny the Internal Revenue Service gave Tea Party and other conservative groups that applied for tax-exempt status, Friday, May 17, 2013, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Top row, from left are, Rep. Kevin Brady, R-Texas, Committee Chairman Rep. Dave Camp , R-Mich., and the committee's ranking Democrat Rep. Sander Levin, D-Michigan, D-Mich. Front row, from left are, Rep. Todd Young, R-Ind., Kelly, and Rep. Tim Griffin, R-Ark. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)Seeking maximum political gain from the string of controversies swirling around the White House, Republicans are on the attack against Democratic lawmakers who accepted donations from the union that represents Internal Revenue Service employees.

Mystery of moon's magnetic field deepens

Mystery of Moon's Magnetic Field DeepensThe moon generated a surprisingly intense magnetic field until at least 3.56 billion years ago, 160 million years longer than previously thought, a new study reports.

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Saturday, May 18th, 2013

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