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As his committee has taken center stage in the battle over health-care reform, Sen. Max Baucus has emerged as a leading recipient of campaign contributions from the industry.

The story of Sen. John Ensign's affair with a former staffer took a new twist Thursday with the revelation by Ensign that his parents gave the woman's family $96,000 as a gift.

Nevada Sen. John Ensign's ex-lover says she did "everything possible" to keep their affair private, but a spokesman for the Republican lawmaker refuted the claim Thursday, saying the woman's husband approached a major television news channel before Ensign's public confession.

Republican senator from Nevada acknowledges having an affair with a campaign staffer. "I deeply regret and am very sorry for my actions," he said.

Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana is facing a potentially risque challenge next year. Porn star Stormy Daniels is considering running for the Republican's seat in 2010.