The health care initiative encountered a major hurdle last week when the Congressional Budget Office reported that the House bills would not bring down health care costs over the next 10 years, despite White House contentions that lower health costs would be a long-term effect.

NPR: Obama Presses Anew For Health Care Overhaul

Mr Kaplan was turned down by 18 publishers before a small house agreed to bring out a Japanese-language edition.

ECONOMIST: Asia's criminal underworld: Love, money and revenge | The

The Senate Finance Committee is trying to bring the total costs of the bill down to a trillion dollars or less, and I understand the White House supports that goal, as well.

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing