Sean Lengell

WH aide: ‘Tea party’ protesters ‘wrong’

A top White House aide said Sunday that the thousands of conservative "tea party" demonstrators who marched in Washington on Saturday were "wrong" because they represent only a fringe section of society.

September 13, 2009

Sebelius: Swine flu vaccine ready in Oct.

The swine flu vaccine could be ready early next month -- sooner than expected -- Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said.

September 13, 2009

SEC: Madoff fraud missed by ‘trusting’ investigators

Investigators were intimidated and swayed by disgraced financier Bernard Madoff, allowing him to run a multibillion-dollar fraud scheme that went undetected for 16 years, a government watchdog told Congress on Thursday.

September 11, 2009

Fed winds down rescues

The Obama administration has begun to unwind several government programs used during the past year to rescue the ailing economy, an encouraging sign that the nation's financial outlook is improving.

September 11, 2009

Geithner: Economy growing but recession will linger

Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner told a congressional panel Thursday that the nation's economy is in better position now than earlier this year to emerge from the recession, but cautioned that a full recovery will not happen anytime soon.

September 10, 2009

TARP auto fund loss projected

Taxpayers are not likely to recover their $81 billion investment in Chrysler and General Motors, a government watchdog panel said Wednesday, recommending that the federal government consider shifting its stake in the troubled automakers to an independent trust.

September 10, 2009

Taxpayers likely to face losses on auto bailout

A government watchdog panel says it's unlikely that taxpayers will recover their $81 billion investment in Chrysler and General Motors and that the federal government should consider shifting its stakes in the troubled automakers to an independent trust.

September 9, 2009

Chamber attacks plan for consumer agency

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is spending millions of dollars to attack the Obama administration's plan for a new consumer financial protection agency, saying it would create an unnecessary bureaucracy that would go far beyond consumer protection.

September 9, 2009

Musical chairmanship in Senate

The Obama administration's push to overhaul Wall Street's regulatory system could face a hurdle if Senate banking committee Chairman Chris Dodd quits to help lead the health care reform debate.

September 6, 2009

Schumer: Boost SEC’s budget to fight fraud

On the heels of a damning independent report that blamed the failure to catch Bernard Madoff's fraud scheme on widespread incompetence at the Securities and Exchange Commission, a key lawmaker said Thursday he wants to change the way the agency is funded to ensure it has the resources to prevent future Wall Street abuses.

September 4, 2009

SEC rapped for bungling Madoff probes

A government watchdog has concluded that the Securities and Exchange Commission repeatedly bungled investigations of the disgraced former financier Bernard Madoff for 16 years, but said it found no evidence of improper ties between agency officials and the convicted felon.

September 3, 2009

Ad campaign targets rising deficit

Health care reform isn't the only issue negatively affecting President Obama's once-robust approval ratings, as the nation's skyrocketing deficit has become an increasing public worry - and a target for conservative groups.

September 2, 2009

Reid trails in polls, but has instinct on side

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, one of the nation's most powerful Democrats, is in danger of losing his seat to either a former Miss America runner-up or the son of a famous basketball coach who never has held high public office.

September 1, 2009

Cheney: CIA torture probe ‘outrageous’

Former Vice President Dick Cheney on Sunday called the Justice Department's decision to investigate whether CIA interrogators abused terrorism suspects after the Sept. 11 attacks "an outrageous political act" that "offends the hell out of me."

August 31, 2009

Dems to honor Kennedy with reform bill

Capitol Hill Democrats said Sunday that the best way for Congress to honor the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy is to set aside partisan disputes and pass health care reform legislation.

August 31, 2009

Cheney blasts probe of CIA by Justice

Former Vice President Dick Cheney on Sunday called the Justice Department's decision to investigate whether CIA interrogators abused terror suspects after the Sept. 11 attacks a political move that "offends the hell out of me."

August 30, 2009

Kennedy’s death leaves void in Senate

As the nation mourns the death of one of its all-time political giants, Senate Democrats are preparing for life without Sen. Edward M. Kennedy - and the crucial liberal vote he would have delivered to help push through President Obama's agenda.

August 27, 2009

Bernanke selection lauded

President Obama's decision on Tuesday to nominate Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke for a second term played to generally good reviews on Capitol Hill and Wall Street, though the former college professor would face some knotty challenges managing the economy during the next four years if confirmed.

August 26, 2009

Obama quiets, but ‘pay czar’ to hit bonuses

The Obama administration, which only months ago was blasting Wall Street for paying huge executive bonuses at failing companies, has quietly toned down its rhetoric in recent days about outsized corporate pay packages.

August 25, 2009

Bailed-out banks chafe at executive-pay curbs

Some banks awarded federal bailout money have complained that Treasury Department rules limiting executive pay are too restrictive, inconsistent and have caused top employees to quit, says a new report by a federal government watchdog.

August 20, 2009