The Pennsylvania Democrat , who became the de facto voice of veterans on Capitol Hill and later an outspoken and influential critic of the Iraq War had been suffering complications from gallbladder surgery.
Polls show that many Americans feel Democrats have not sought enough GOP input, while Democrats say Republicans have shown virtually no interest in seeking a realistic agreement.
Although material for the fissile core of a nuclear warhead must be enriched to a level of 90 percent or more, just getting its stockpile to the 20 percent mark would be a major step for the country's nuclear program.
Economic strains extended to the Western U.S. in the final month of last year as foreclosure and bankruptcy rates rose even as the national unemployment rate held steady.
The National Weather Service called the storm "historic" while the Mid-Atlantic region dug out from as much as three feet of snow that left tens of thousands without power.
Sweden's unemployment agency has been found guilty of discrimination for expelling an immigrant from a job training program because he refused to shake hands with a woman.
