WASHINGTON - An outside group supporting President Barack Obama's agenda plans to air a series of ads this summer promoting Obama's health care overhaul. Organizing for Action intends to spend at least $1 million this summer on ads to draw attention to the implementation of the health care law, including its quality of care and coverage of uninsured Americans.

PHOENIX - The Arizona Legislature was poised to pass a state budget and proposed Medicaid expansion that has divided the state's Republican leadership. Lawmakers expect to hold a final vote on the budget and health care plan Thursday morning amid opposition from conservatives who have traditionally controlled state government. The Senate advanced the proposals with little debate Wednesday evening, and the House was prepared to do the same.

WASHINGTON - The Senate has approved an amendment that would limit the amount of government subsidies the wealthiest farmers receive when purchasing crop insurance. The amendment is the biggest victory so far for critics of a massive, five-year farm bill that would cost almost $100 billion a year and includes generous subsidies for the nation's biggest crops. Supporters have deflected other attempts this week to reduce government help for agriculture, including efforts to trim sugar subsidies and crop insurance.

DENVER - Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. is challenging the part of the federal health care law that requires for-profit companies to offer employees health coverage that includes products the business owners find morally objectionable, such as certain types of contraception. Few large American employers have weighed in on this because it's a nonissue for them. A survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation found 85 per cent already offered such coverage before the Obama administration mandated it as part of its health care overhaul last year.