Former President Clinton defends his administration's attempt to reshape the nation's health care system in a new book, saying the effort "was killed by politics, not the plan's particulars."

Clinton also disputes the Bush administration's skepticism about the effect of carbon emissions in producing climate change, calling the scientific evidence "overwhelming."

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Hillary Rodham Clinton promised Thursday that as president she would improve health care quality by raising standards for providers, educating patients and requiring insurers to reward innovation.

While most, if not all of her rivals have proposed detailed health care overhaul plans, Clinton is taking an incremental approach. She started with a speech in June on reducing costs, followed by Thursday's address on quality, and will outline her plan for universal health care coverage next month.

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“The difference is now for Sen. Clinton that she learned a lot from that experience,” said Donna Shalala, who served eight years as secretary of Health and Human Services under President Clinton. “The fact is that she’s learned a lot about tactics and a lot about getting things done,” said Shalala, who is now president of the University of Miami.

A Democratic healthcare consultant said Sen. Clinton will be vulnerable to attacks again but it would not stop her from tackling the issue head-on.

“She could unveil President Bush’s healthcare plan and the Republicans would call it a government takeover of healthcare,” the consultant remarked. “People are kind of tired of that rhetoric. … [The GOP] would do that for every presidential candidate who has a ‘D’ by their name.”

A federal version of New Hampshire's ''Michelle's Law'' has been introduced in Washington.

The bill would ensure that full-time college students covered by their parents' health plan can take up to a year of medical leave from school with continued health insurance coverage.

New Hampshire Sens. Judd Gregg and John Sununu, both Republicans, and New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, a Democrat, introduced the bill Thursday.

New Hampshire adopted a similar law last year after 20-year-old Michelle Morse was forced to remain a full-time student at Plymouth State University to keep her coverage, despite being treated for advanced colon cancer. She died in 2005.

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Dust off those tiaras! The Red Cross is banking on some very big names — including former Prez Bill Clinton and his missis, U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton — to help wipe the negative vibes off its yearly Palm Beach ball.

The Clintons, as well as Nixon-era Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, have been made honorary co-chairs. And, taking its cues from other less-established galas, new ball organizers Bill and Nancy Rollnick also are bringing a little bit of Hollywood magic. Former James Bond Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren, who plays Queen Elizabeth II in the Oscar-contending The Queen, RSVP'ed. Add shoe king Kenneth Cole and wedding dress wiz Vera Wang to the mix and you've got yourself a nice crowd.

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Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton struck a deal with G-O-P leaders to free up more money for AIDS funding in rural states, while softening cuts to larger states such as New York and New Jersey.

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Washington, DC – In remarks today on the Senate floor, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton underscored the devastating consequences the proposed bill to reauthorize the Ryan White CARE Act would have on New York. Senator Clinton emphasized her commitment to making sure that all of those living with HIV and AIDS have the care they need and emphasized her commitment to reworking this proposal in order to ensure that states across country have the funding they need. However, taking funding away from New York and other states with the highest rates of HIV and AIDS would only make matters worse.

“As a Senator from New York, which has experienced the heaviest burden of the AIDS epidemic, I don't think anyone cares more about this legislation. I understand completely the profound importance of the Ryan White CARE Act. I'm committed to the reauthorization of a good bill that strengthens and improves the ability of all Americans to access HIV and AIDS care, support, and treatment. But a bill that destabilizes existing systems of care and devastates, even destroying the ability of high-prevalence communities to address needs, is unacceptable. I stand ready to work with my colleagues on a fair, open-minded, nonpartisan, practical solution,” Senator Clinton emphasized on the Senate floor.