David R. Sands

Reid defends earmarks, cites duty to direct spending

The Democratic president and the Democratic leader of the Senate are not exactly on the same page regarding earmarks.

February 25, 2009

GOP gloom lightens for 2010

It's still an uphill fight, but Senate Republicans are finding the playing field has become just a little less tilted in the run-up to 2010 midterm elections.

February 24, 2009

Pressure builds on Burris to resign

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and other Democratic officials called on Sen. Roland Burris to resign from the Senate, which is investigating him for perjury. The White House wants hi actions leading up to his appointment explained.

February 21, 2009

Democrats revive Populist Caucus

A group of nearly two dozen House Democrats last week revived the party's moribund Populist Caucus, vowing to push aggressively for a broad "middle-class agenda" of good jobs, tougher corporate regulation, progressive tax cuts, universal health care and a deep suspicion of traditional trade deals.

February 17, 2009

Senate voting on stimulus bill

The House passed a $787 billion economic recovery package of spending and tax cuts Friday, sending the bill to the Senate, which is expected to approve the measure this evening before it's forwarded to President Obama.

February 13, 2009

Deal reached on historic stimulus

UPDATED: The White House and Democrat-controlled Congress struck a deal Wednesday for a $789 billion stimulus package.

February 12, 2009

Bankers deny misusing TARP money

Eight of the nation's most prominent bankers, representing an industry pilloried for its lavish bonuses and perks, defended their use of billions of taxpayer bailout dollars Wednesday before a House panel whose members collected $1.8 million in political donations connected with those banks during the last election.

February 12, 2009

Historic stimulus deal reached

The White House and Democrat-controlled Congress struck a deal Wednesday for a $789 billion stimulus package.

February 12, 2009

Bankers defend bailout record

The expected grilling amounted to a light toasting Tuesday as executives of some of the nation's biggest banks came before a House panel angry over the results to date from the government's $700 billion Wall Street bailout.

February 11, 2009

Struggle begins on stimulus bills

Congressional leaders began hurried negotiations Tuesday to reconcile House and Senate versions of an economic-rescue package, struggling to keep the price tag low enough to preserve a few key Senate Republican votes while satisfying House Democrats eager for more spending.

February 11, 2009

Congress works to preserve fragile stimulus

UPDATED: Congressional leaders began hurried negotiations Tuesday to merge House and Senate versions of an economic rescue package, struggling to keep the price tag low enough to preserve a few key Senate Republican votes while satisfying House Democrats eager for more spending.

February 11, 2009

Congress works to preserve fragile stimulus

UPDATED: Congressional leaders began hurried negotiations Tuesday to merge House and Senate versions of an economic rescue package, struggling to keep the price tag low enough to preserve a few key Senate Republican votes while satisfying House Democrats eager for more spending.

February 11, 2009

Calls for ‘regular order’ grow louder

It lacks the rhetorical flair of "Remember the Maine!" or even "Yes We Can!" but the demand for "regular order" has become a potent rallying cry for lawmakers from both parties unhappy with the way Congress is being run.

February 10, 2009

Leahy calls for ‘truth commission’

UPDATED: The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday called for a "truth commission" with subpoena powers to investigate a string of policies adopted by the Bush administration in the post-Sept. 11 war on terror.

February 10, 2009

Taxes trip up another Obama nominee

Labor Secretary-designate Hilda L. Solis on Thursday became the fourth senior administration nominee in a month to see their Senate confirmation slowed or scuttled over problems with their taxes.

February 6, 2009

More Obama nominee tax problems?

A Senate committee abruptly canceled a confirmation vote for Labor Secretary-designate Hilda L. Solis Thursday amid fresh reports of tax problems involving the husband of the California congresswoman.

February 5, 2009

Madoff whistleblower blasts regulators as inept

The financial analyst who tried to blow the whistle on disgraced Wall Street investor Bernard Madoff lashed out at federal regulators, telling a congressional hearing that the Securities and Exchange Commission was "overmatched" and "totally incapable" of uncovering Mr. Madoff's suspected $50 billion Ponzi scheme on its own.

February 5, 2009

Whistleblower blasts feds over Madoff

UPDATED: The financial analyst who tried to blow the whistle on disgraced Wall Street investor Bernard Madoff lashed out at federal regulators, telling a congressional hearing that the Securities and Exchange Commission was "overmatched" and "totally incapable" of uncovering Mr. Madoff's suspected $50 billion Ponzi scheme on its own.

February 4, 2009

Democrats positioned well for 2010

The decision Tuesday by three-term Republican Sen. Judd Gregg to join President Obama's Cabinet as secretary of commerce makes him the fifth Republican incumbent who will not be defending his Senate seat in 2010, handing Democrats a number of opportunities to expand their majority.

February 4, 2009

Senate votes down add to stimulus

The Senate voted down an amendment Tuesday that would have added $25 billion to the stimulus for more transportation project, a popular economic remedy that fell to Republican concerns over the $885 billion bill's ballooning price tag.

February 3, 2009