Sean Lengell

Army chief wary of backlash against Muslim soldiers

The Army chief of staff said Sunday that he is concerned that speculation about the Muslim faith and the motives of the accused Fort Hood gunman could spark retaliation against Muslin soldiers and hurt diversity within the branch's ranks.

November 8, 2009

House votes to move up tougher credit card rules

The House passed a bill Wednesday to move up tough new rules for credit card lenders, lashing out at an industry that has been raising interest rates and fees at a furious pace since the rules were passed in May.

November 5, 2009

Frank defends banking measure

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank is refuting accusations that a bill he helped author would lead to a rash of taxpayer-funded Wall Street bailouts.

November 4, 2009

Both sides scrutinize bailout-deterrent bill

Lawmakers from both parties are concerned that an Obama administration-backed bill intended to deter future taxpayer-funded Wall Street bailouts would have the opposite effect and give the White House too much power over the nation's financial sector.

October 31, 2009

Geithner says plan won’t lead to more bailouts

Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner says that bankruptcy - not taxpayer-funded bailouts - will be the federal government's primary response to failing Wall Street firms in the future.

October 30, 2009

Inside Politics

"Chairman Edolphus Towns [New York Democrat] of the House Committee for Oversight and Government Reform [last week] announced a major investigation 'into whether mortgage companies employed deceptive and predatory lending practices, or improper tactics to thwart regulation, and the impact of those activities on the current crisis,' " writes the Nation Editor Katrina vanden Heuvel on the Web site of the liberal magazine.

October 30, 2009

Geithner: Plan won’t lead to more bailouts

Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner says that bankruptcy -- not taxpayer-funded bailouts -- will be the federal government's primary response to failing Wall Street firms in the future.

October 29, 2009

Pay czar hopes Wall Street takes cuts ‘to heart’

The Obama administration's "pay czar" told a congressional panel Wednesday that his authority shouldn't be expanded beyond the seven biggest corporate recipients of government aid and that the government should get out of the business of regulating Wall Street salaries in the long run.

October 29, 2009

Inside Politics

FETING PHILLIPS

October 29, 2009

Pay czar says ‘no’ to more authority

The Obama administration's "pay czar" told a congressional panel Wednesday that his authority shouldn't be expanded beyond the seven biggest corporate recipients of government bailout aid and that the government should get out of the business of regulating Wall Street salaries in the long run.

October 28, 2009

Inside Politics

The conservative Americans for Tax Reform has announced a series of ads aimed at encouraging Sen. Ben Nelson, a moderate Nebraska Democrat, to oppose the Senate health care bill on the grounds that it violates his "taxpayer protection pledge."

October 27, 2009

Public option seen buoyed by ‘opt out’

A leading Senate Democrat said Sunday that a health care proposal that lets states decide whether to participate in a "public option" insurance plan is close to gaining the 60 votes needed for passage, and a key moderate Democrat hinted at being open to such a plan.

October 26, 2009

Inside Politics

Benjamin Disraeli's most famous advice to aspiring politicians was: 'Never complain and never explain.' For the greatest orator of our time, a man who makes Churchill, Lincoln and Henry V at Agincourt look like first-round rejects on 'Orating With the Stars,' Barack Obama seems to have pretty much given up on the explaining side," writes Mark Steyn on NationalReview.com.

October 26, 2009

Nelson: Give states ‘opt in’ public health plan

Sen. Ben Nelson, Nebraska Democrat, says he is open to a government-run health insurance program if states are given the choice to participate.

October 25, 2009

H1N1 is declared a national emergency

The White House has declared the 2009 H1N1 "swine flu" pandemic a national emergency, a designation that will make it easier for medical facilities to handle a surge of patients infected with the potentially deadly virus.

October 25, 2009

White House declares H1N1 flu national emergency

The White House has declared the 20009 H1N1 swine flu a "national emergency," a designation that will make it easier for medical facilities to handle a recent surge of patients infected with the potentially deadly virus.

October 24, 2009

Consumer protection bill advances

A key House committee on Thursday voted to approve the creation of a federal agency that backers say will give consumers new protections against abusive credit card rate and fee increases, and deceptive mortgage practices that helped fuel the nations economic woes.

October 23, 2009

House panel OKs new consumer agency

A key House committee on Thursday voted to approve the creation of a new federal agency to protect consumers against abuses in the financial world, though the bill still faces hurdles in the full House and Senate and stiff opposition from Wall Street.

October 22, 2009

Bernanke: Speeding up credit card rules could hurt consumers

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke warned Congress this week about efforts to move up the effective date of tough new rules for credit card companies, saying such action could hurt consumers as much or more than help them.

October 22, 2009

Hill panel OKs state banking powers

The House Financial Services Committee voted Wednesday to give states the power to regulate national banks on consumer-protection issues unless federal regulators intervene.

October 22, 2009