David R. Sands

Coalition spends big for stimulus blitz

A broad coalition of liberal, environmental and labor groups Thursday announced plans to spend up to $5 million to lobby Congress on a massive new economic stimulus plan that would be ready for President-elect Barack Obama to sign the day he takes office Jan. 20.

December 18, 2008

Madoff scheme hits Jewish charities hard

UPDATED: The collapse of Wall Street legend Bernard L. Madoff's investment empire has generated scandal, bankruptcy, financial panic - and some socially awkward situations.

December 17, 2008

Illinois rivals Louisiana for most corrupt state

Revelations this week that Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and his chief of staff have been charged with trying to sell the Senate seat of President-elect Barack Obama have sparked a perverse debate over which state is the nation's most corrupt, with partisans rushing to defend the (dis)honor of their native lands.

December 12, 2008

Lawmakers spar over bailout breakdown

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Christopher Dodd Friday urged the White House to act immediately to free up billions of dollars to bail out Detroit's Big Three, a day after the Senate killed a rescue package for the beleaguered car companies.

December 12, 2008

‘Most corrupt state’ title now in question

Take that, Louisiana.

December 11, 2008

Bush, Democrats OK $15 billion for Big 3

The White House and senior congressional Democrats reached an agreement on the outlines of a $15 billion taxpayer bailout plan for troubled Detroit automakers General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC.

December 10, 2008

Rush opposes Durbin’s call

Rep. Bobby Rush, a leading black lawmaker from Chicago, said Tuesday he opposed a special election to fill the Illinois Senate seat of President-elect Barack Obama, saying the process would take too long and would leave minority candidates at a disadvantage in the race to replace the Senate's only African-American.

December 9, 2008

UPDATED: Hopes dim for quick auto rescue

UPDATED: The Senate's top Republican poured cold water on plans for a $15 billion taxpayer bailout of Detroit's Big Three on Tuesday, as his Democratic counterpart said hopes for quick passage of the emergency funding bill appeared to be slipping away.

December 9, 2008

$15 billion auto bailout goes to White House

Congressional Democrats on Monday delivered to the White House an emergency $15 billion taxpayer bailout of Detroit's beleaguered Big Three automakers.

December 9, 2008

Frank says auto deal could be made today

Rep. Barney Frank, House Financial Services chairman, predicted Monday that a deal for a short-term bailout of the auto industry could be struck by the end of the day, with one last funding issue still to be resolved.

December 8, 2008

Obama’s NSC selection admired by both sides

Tall, square-shouldered and square-jawed, James L. Jones looks like central casting's version of exactly what he is: a straight-talking, straight-shooting Marine.

December 7, 2008

Bush prods Congress for Big Three bailout

President Bush, acknowledging for the first time publicly that the economy has slipped into a recession, Friday urged Congress to pass a federal rescue plan in the next week to prevent Detroit's Big Three from failing.

December 6, 2008

Jobs report aids Big Three’s bailout case

Detroit's Big Three automakers received a marginally warmer reception Friday on the second day for their Capitol Hill lobbying blitz for a federal bailout, boosted by a new jobs report that showed the nation's economic plight worsening by the day.

December 5, 2008

Big Three CEOs grovel for bailout

UPDATED: Chastened Big Three auto executives told Congress on Thursday that they are prepared to take painful steps to qualify for a $34 billion federal bailout.

December 5, 2008

UAW offers concessions to help Big Three

The president of the United Auto Workers said the union is willing to revamp its contract to pressure Congress on a $34 billion federal bailout loan for the crippled industry.

December 4, 2008

Obama, Congress proceed with caution

President-elect Barack Obama and congressional leaders were taking a wait-and-see attitude Wednesday as the nation's Big Three carmakers prepared to make a critical pitch for tens of billions of dollars in federal aid.

December 3, 2008

Allies launch bailout blitz for Big Three

Major business groups and local officials whose communities depend on the auto industry Tuesday joined the Big Three automakers in a major lobbying blitz to pry tens of billions of dollars in federal aid from a reluctant Congress.

December 3, 2008

Panel warns of risk of an attack by 2013

The world will "more likely than not" face a terrorist attack using nuclear or biological weapons by 2013 if governments fail to undertake major security and prevention measures, according to a new bipartisan commission report released Tuesday.

December 3, 2008

Nuclear, biological terrorist attack likely

The world will "more likely than not" face a terrorist attack using nuclear or biological weapons by 2013 if governments fail to undertake major security and prevention measures, according to a new bipartisan commission report released Tuesday.

December 2, 2008

Obama picks cause new headaches

President-elect Barack Obama has received favorable reviews for the personnel choices he has made for his administration so far, but the picks are causing some political heartburn for Democrats around the country.

December 2, 2008