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Bush's lawyer

President Bush has chosen Fred Fielding, formerly the top lawyer in the Reagan administration, to be his White House counsel.

The announcement will be made today, according to a Bush administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the appointment had not been made.

Mr. Fielding, 67, will become Mr. Bush's counsel just as newly empowered Democrats in Congress plan deeper scrutiny of the administration. From the Iraq war to environmental policy and secret surveillance, the Democrats who now control both the House and Senate are armed with subpoena power and ready to summon panels of witnesses.

Mr. Fielding, a longtime Washington lawyer, will replace Harriet Miers, Mr. Bush's failed Supreme Court nominee and longtime adviser. She submitted her resignation Thursday after six years in the White House. It will take effect Jan. 31.

Mr. Fielding served as President Reagan's counsel from 1981 to 1986, where one of his assistants was John G. Roberts Jr., now the chief justice of the United States. Under President Nixon, Mr. Fielding served as deputy White House counsel from 1972 to 1974 and associate counsel from 1970 to 1972.

More recently, he served on the bipartisan panel that investigated the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Arnold's plan

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday proposed to extend health coverage to nearly all of California's 6.5 million uninsured, promising to spread the cost among businesses, individuals, hospitals, doctors, insurers and government.