Opinion by Jonathan Cohn Read the Article>

The battle over the future of Medicare and the federal budget has been joined unusually early by independent political groups, providing an indication of the large role they are likely to play in the 2012 campaign and beyond. Read the Article>

Possible presidential candidate Rick Santorum conceded Sunday that he made a "mistake" in voting for the Medicare prescription drug benefit back in 2003, as he tried to bolster his fiscal credentials. Read the Article>

Republicans who used seniors’ rage over health care changes to sweep into office last fall are now facing the same type of heat over the same issue: Modifications in Medicare and Medicaid. Read the Article>

The backlash that some Republican members of Congress are facing in town hall meetings over their 2012 budget proposal rings a familiar bell. Read the Article>

Republican legislatures across the country are passing tough new anti-abortion laws — and while abortion rights advocates believe the new laws are unconstitutional, they’re not rushing to court to stop them. The reason: There’s a decent chance they’d lose. Read the Article>

The plight of health care’s have-nots is vividly illustrated alongside a highway on the outskirts of Yazoo City, the hometown of Mississippi governor and potential Republican presidential candidate Haley Barbour. Read the Article>

Senate and House members, seeking to break an impasse over curbing the nation’s debt, are looking at a “club in the closet” mechanism that would force Republicans to agree to tax increases and Democrats to accept cuts to entitlement programs. Read the Article>

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D), former Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle (D) and Center for American Progress Chief Operating Officer Neera Tanden formally announced the formation of an education and “grass-roots lobbying” group to advocate for the health care reform law. Read the Article>

Amid a budget debate that will affect the health care of virtually every family, a new poll finds support for President Barack Obama's overhaul at its lowest level since passage last year. Read the Article>