David R. Sands

Senate panel approves Treasury pick

Timothy Geithner overcame concerns about irregularities in his income-tax returns and won Senate panel approval for his nomination to head the Treasury Department, as the agency he may soon head received a vote of no confidence from House lawmakers displeased with its handling of the Wall Street bailout.

January 23, 2009

House blasts bailout in symbolic vote

In a vote without impact but heavy on symbolism, the House on Thursday voted overwhelmingly to deny the Obama administration the remaining $350 billion under the Wall Street bailout package.

January 22, 2009

Panel votes 18-5 to approve Geithner

UPDATED: The Senate Finance Committee on Thursday approved the nomination of Timothy Geithner as secretary of the Treasury on an 18-5 vote, despite lingering doubts from Republicans on the panel over irregularities in the nominee's tax records.

January 22, 2009

Obama takes charge

Barack Hussein Obama became the nation's first black president on Tuesday, beckoning Americans to move beyond divisive politics and a "collective failure to make hard choices." Now Wednesday, the real work begins.

January 20, 2009

Kennedy suffers seizure at luncheon

DEVELOPING: Sen. Edward M. Kennedy fell ill with what one lawmaker described as a "lengthy seizure" and was removed from the luncheon honoring President Obama.

January 20, 2009

‘Begin again the remaking of America’

UPDATED: Promising a "new era of responsibility," Barack Hussein Obama Tuesday took the oath as the 44th president and first black commander-in-chief.

January 20, 2009

Six in Cabinet OK’d; Clinton waits

The Democrat-dominated Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved the first six members of President Obama's Cabinet just hours after he was sworn in, but the day was marred by a seizure that struck Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

January 20, 2009

Following Lincoln a tall order

In ways great and small, 44 is very big on 16.

January 18, 2009

Senate welcomes Burris to fold

A who's who of senators and House members flocked to Sen. Roland Burris on the U.S. Senate floor after his swearing-in Thursday as the chamber's newest member, ending an embarrassing episode for Democrats who vowed to block his appointment.

January 16, 2009

Senate gives Obama use of bailout

The Senate on Thursday turned back a bid to cut off the second $350 billion phase of the unpopular Wall Street bailout, after President-elect Barack Obama fulfilled Democrats' desire to use funds to aid homeowners.

January 16, 2009

Biden, Clinton bid Senate goodbye

Joseph R. Biden Jr. offered passion and Hillary Rodham Clinton offered mostly prose as they said their goodbyes to the Senate Thursday to take up top posts in the Obama administration.

January 15, 2009

Hill support erodes for bailout funding

President-elect Barack Obama scrambled Wednesday to shore up congressional support to spend the second $350 billion under the Wall Street taxpayer bailout plan, amid mounting signs that Republicans who backed the original plan in October will overwhelmingly oppose it this time around.

January 15, 2009

New Congress bids to make history

They made it to Washington. Now, the big question is whether they can make history.With Democrats firmly in control of the White House and Congress for the first time in 14 years, two hot wars, a deepening economic crisis and an ambitious reform agenda laid out by President-elect Barack Obama, the 111th Congress has a chance to claim a slot as one of the most productive and influential legislative sessions ever.

January 14, 2009

Bush requests bank bailout funds

President Bush on Monday formally asked Congress for the second half of the $700 billion Wall Street bailout package at the behest of President-elect Barack Obama.

January 13, 2009

Burris takes Senate seat

UPDATED: Overcoming intense opposition from his own party leaders, former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris on Monday won a battle of wills and is expected to fill the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

January 13, 2009

House approves bills for equal pay

House Democrats put their beefed up majority to work Friday to pass two bills that ease limits on pay discrimination lawsuits, the first pieces of legislation passed this session.

January 10, 2009

Frank wants $40 billion for homeowners

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank Friday laid out a series of conditions he will demand before the Treasury Department can spend the second half of the $700 billion Wall Street bailout fund that Congress approved in October.

January 10, 2009

Four Senate terms enough for Bond

Longtime Missouri Republican Sen. Christopher S. Bond, a dominant force in his state's politics for more than three decades, announced Thursday he will not seek a fifth term, dealing his party another setback in a bid to cut into the Democratic majority in the chamber.

January 9, 2009

Citigroup to back rewriting mortgages

Giant lender Citigroup announced Thursday it would support an effort in Congress to rewrite bankruptcy laws to give struggling homeowners the ability to rewrite the terms of their mortgages to avoid foreclosure -- the first major crack in the banking industry's opposition to the idea.

January 9, 2009

Sen. Bond won’t seek fifth term

Longtime Missouri Republican Sen. Christopher S. Bond, a dominant force in his state's politics for more than three decades, announced Thursday he will not seek a fifth term, dealing his party another setback in a bid to cut into the Democratic majority in the chamber.

January 8, 2009