By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff

Speaking to state and national audiences, Governor Deval Patrick today defended the idea of government ensuring near universal health care, even as he called on lawmakers, health care providers, and the business community to work jointly on controlling its cost. The twin targets reflected his role both as leader of the state and a top surrogate speaker for President Obama. The Democratic incumbent is defending his federal health care overhaul from criticism by Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff

His friendship with President Obama has sparked talk of a Cabinet appointment should the Democrats retain the White House this fall. His travel to presidential primary states and book-writing have prompted speculation about his own presidential candidacy in 2016 should Obama lose. And some time away from the office has fueled the opinion he’s lost interest in his current job. An amused-but-exasperated Governor Deval Patrick today has an answer for all the chatter: “I’m not going anywhere.”

By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff

The Massachusetts Republican Party today called on a Democratic state representative to return thousands of dollars in campaign contributions because he appeared to have violated election finance laws by using a government employee as treasurer of his political committee. The lawmaker, Representative Mark Cusack of Braintree, refused that request but said he immediately replaced his treasurer after learning of the prohibition. “When he started as my treasurer, he was not a public employee,” Cusack said. He labeled it “a complete oversight.”