Nation briefs 9/29/15

Senate OKs bill to avoid shutdown

WASHINGTON -- The Senate on Monday delivered a vote of confidence to a bipartisan spending bill that's needed to head off a government shutdown at midnight Wednesday. The 77-19 vote powers the measure past a filibuster by some of the chamber's most ardent conservatives, who were angered Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., stripped a provision that would cancel federal funding of Planned Parenthood in exchange for keeping the government open. McConnell is under fire from tea partiers who demand he fight harder against Planned Parenthood -- even at the risk of a partial government shutdown -- but McConnell is more concerned with protecting his 2016 re-election class from political damage if Republicans are blamed for a shutdown.

McCarthy to run for Boehner's post

WASHINGTON -- A scramble is on to fill the top GOP jobs in the House after Speaker John Boehner's surprise resignation. The front-runner for the speaker's job, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, made his candidacy official Monday in a letter to fellow GOP lawmakers in which he pledged to fight for conservative principles and listen to all members -- something Boehner was accused of failing to do. McCarthy, a Californian in his fifth term, has been endorsed by Boehner. But he faces an opponent in Rep. Daniel Webster, a former speaker of the House in Florida who unsuccessfully challenged Boehner earlier this year and has drawn some conservative support. The No. 3 and No. 4 House Republicans, Steve Scalise of Louisiana and Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, also are pursuing the job, along with the Budget Committee chairman, Tom Price of Georgia.

PP chief 'proud' of fetal-tissue work

WASHINGTON -- Planned Parenthood's president said she is proud of its work providing fetal tissue for researchers as she prepares to make the organization's first appearance before Congress since the release of undercover videos. Cecile Richards said just 1 percent of Planned Parenthood's nearly 700 clinics retrieve the tissue. She said that's a limited part of the group's women's-health services. Richards made the remarks in written testimony prepared for a hearing today by a House committee. Videos recorded by anti-abortion activists and released this summer show Planned Parenthood officials describing how they provide tissue from aborted fetuses. Conservatives say Planned Parenthood has broken federal laws forbidding sales of such tissue for profit. The group has denied breaking any laws.

Worker who aided escape is sentenced

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. -- A sobbing former prison worker who helped two murderers escape from a maximum-security lockup said she regretted her "horrible mistake" as she was sentenced Monday to up to seven years behind bars in a plea deal. Joyce Mitchell apologized as she was sentenced to 2 1/3 to seven years in prison, saying she acted in part out of fear. She may have to contribute to the $120,000 in restitution the state seeks for damages to Clinton Correctional Facility from the June 6 escape.

-- From wire reports