Sean Lengell

Bush signs $700B bailout bill

President Bush has signed the $700 billion bailout package, moments after Congress gave Wall Street the financial lifeline it was seeking when the House reversed course and approved it on Friday.

October 3, 2008

Senate plans vote on modified bailout bill

UPDATED -- Senate leaders late Tuesday scheduled a vote for Wednesday on the elusive $700 billion Wall Street bailout package -- a measure to restore the financial market, including a tax cut and a provision to increase FDIC limits.

October 1, 2008

Future of rescue bill uncertain in House

House Democrats are uncertain whether the new version of a $700 billion Wall Street rescue bill can pass the House, even if it does clear the Senate as expected late Wednesday.

October 1, 2008

Bailout backers gambled on arm-twisting

Democrats and Republicans knew they didn't have the votes Monday morning to pass the Wall Street bailout bill but went ahead anyway, risking the markets on the hope that reluctant lawmakers could be steamrolled.

September 30, 2008

$634 billion spending bill OK’d

The Senate on Saturday passed a stopgap $634 billion spending measure to keep federal agencies funded through March that also includes money for U.S. automakers, disaster relief and billions of extra dollars for the Pentagon.

September 28, 2008

House OKs stopgap to buoy government

The House on Wednesday easily passed a $630 billion stopgap spending bill to continue funding the federal government into March that includes billions for the Pentagon and loans for the struggling U.S. auto industry.

September 25, 2008

Top Hill Democrat seeks longer workday

A top Capitol Hill Democrat says federal employees should condense their workweek as part of a plan to help workers cope with skyrocketing gasoline prices.

September 23, 2008

The economic proposal explained

The administration's plan seeks to give the Treasury Department the authority to buy up to $700 billion in failed mortgages and related assets from any financial institution headquartered in the United States.

September 20, 2008

House Democrats push through pro-gun bill

Conservative House Democrats defied party leaders Wednesday and pushed through legislation that loosens gun laws in the District, saying that the Second Amendment trumps their party's long-standing advocacy of Home Rule in the nation's capital.

September 18, 2008

House votes to ease D.C. gun rules

The House voted this morning to allow District residents to buy and own firearms, including semiautomatic weapons, despite claims from critics the action tramples the District's right to self govern.

September 17, 2008

House OKs drilling; GOP calls it ‘hoax’

The Democrat-led House, facing voter outrage over high gas prices, late Tuesday approved a bill allowing some new offshore oil drilling, though critics say the plan would still leave most known underwater oil fields off-limits.

September 17, 2008

Polls looking up for GOP

Capitol Hill Republicans say a recent swing in polling numbers might translate into fewer losses in November elections - and maybe some unexpected victories - as they recover from massive midterm losses in 2006 that gave Democrats control of Congress.

September 14, 2008

Pelosi: Oil bill will have ethics clause

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday knocked down speculation that an Interior Department sex and drug scandal would undermine a Democratic plan for new offshore oil drilling, saying the measure will include a "strong integrity piece" to shield the government from oil industry influence.

September 12, 2008

House Democrats to OK some offshore drilling

House Democratic leaders, who for months rejected Republicans' demands to expand offshore drilling for oil, now say they are willing to allow coastal oil as close as 50 miles offshore, if states agree.

September 12, 2008

Land acquisition, costs threaten border fence

Delays and cost overruns have threatened a scheduled end-of-year completion of a 670-mile security fence along the U.S.-Mexico border, while the House voted to deny Mexican truckers full access to U.S. highways.

September 11, 2008

Dems agree on offshore oil drilling vote

Capitol Hill Democrats have agreed to vote on expanding oil drilling off the U.S. coast, but have drawn guffaws from Republicans after proposing a second economic-stimulus package.

September 10, 2008

Congress returns to gridlock over oil drilling

Congress returned to work Monday to the same gridlock over energy and oil drilling it faced before adjourning for summer break in early August, despite a softening by House Democratic leaders to include some expanded drilling.

September 9, 2008

Labor fears bias may hurt Obama

Labor leader Gerald W. McEntee has a simple plea to white blue-collar workers - don't be afraid to vote for Sen. Barack Obama because he is black.

September 8, 2008

Battle heats up on union measure

Democratic Senate candidate Al Franken is knocked as anti-worker.

September 7, 2008

GOP’s rising stars point to future

When Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor addressed an audience at the Republican National Convention four years ago, the setting was a midafternoon ice cream reception - and he wasn't even the main speaker.

August 29, 2008