Reps. Steve King of Iowa, Trent Franks of Arizona, Randy Forbes of Virginia, Jim Jordan of Ohio, and Louie Gohmert and Ted Poe of Texas all showed up at the Tea Party -- and all missed Patriot Act votes that took place at about the same time. Full Article at Talking Points Memo

When it's a choice between strengthening the Patriot Act, or showing up for the Tea Party Patriots, what's a GOP lawmaker to do? We'll give you one guess... Full Article at Beltway Blips

PHILADELPHIA Commuters biked, walked, juggled carpool schedules and hitched rides as a strike ground the city's transit system to a near halt for a second day today, a rush worsened when a regional rail train caught fire. Full Article at The Delaware News Journal

WASHINGTON -- The Democratic health-care plans emerging out of Congress this week are facing stiff opposition from Ohio Republicans and some resistance from Ohio Democrats. Full Article at The Newark Advocate

Forgive Peters Billiards owner Greg Peterson if he feels like he's been behind the eight ball lately. Full Article at Minneapolis Star Tribune

Rep. Denis Kucinich held hearings in October on low-income childrens' access to dental care. (WDCpix) Not even a third of the nation’s lowest-income children receive dental care, and Congress isn’t doing a thing about it. Full Article at The Washington Independent