Sean Lengell

Attorneys general back financial monitoring

Two dozen state attorneys general have asked Congress to quickly draft legislation on an Obama administration proposal to create a new federal consumer protection agency to better regulate financial service markets.

August 19, 2009

Obama may drop U.S.-run health plan

Obama administration officials said Sunday that the president is willing to accept a health care proposal that includes nonprofit health insurance cooperatives rather than insist on a government-run insurance program.

August 17, 2009

Sebelius: Government-run insurance plan ‘not essential’

The Obama administration's health secretary said Sunday that the president is willing to accept nonprofit insurance cooperatives rather than a government-run option as part of health-overhaul legislation.

August 16, 2009

Lynndie England lecture nixed after threats

A Friday lecture at the Library of Congress by Lynndie England, one of the most recognizable figures of the Abu Ghraib prison scandal, was scratched after opposition from library employees produced violent threats.

August 15, 2009

Eunice Kennedy Shriver dies at age 88

Years before she organized the first Special Olympics in 1968, Eunice Kennedy Shriver hosted annual summer games for local children with mental disabilities in the backyard of her Rockville, Md., home.

August 12, 2009

Health care furor at fever pitch

Besides blasting Republicans, the Democratic National Committee is attacking insurance companies in its latest TV ads to promote

August 11, 2009

White House: Gitmo closing on schedule

The White House national security adviser said Sunday he is confident the administration will meet its goal of closing the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, detention facility for terrorism suspects by January.

August 10, 2009

Durbin ‘open’ to health reform minus public option

A top Democrat said Sunday he would be willing to support health care legislation without a government-run "public option" insurance plan - a provision being pushed by the administration and many Capitol Hill supporters.

August 10, 2009

Durbin open to health bill sans U.S.-run plan

The Senate's No. 2 Democrat said Sunday he would be willing to support health-care-reform legislation without a government-run "public option" insurance plan.

August 9, 2009

White House: Gitmo closing on schedule

The White House national security adviser said Sunday he is confident the administration will meet its goal of closing the Guantanamo Bay detention facility in Cuba by January.

August 9, 2009

Ethics panel clears Dodd, Conrad

The Senate Ethics Committee on Friday cleared Democratic Sens. Christopher J. Dodd and Kent Conrad of wrongdoing for low-interest mortgages they received in a VIP program, though the panel admonished the pair for a lack of judgment.

August 8, 2009

TARP lobbying rules being finalized

The Treasury Department has yet to establish rules on lobbying for its $700 billion Wall Street bailout, although the head of the program's independent watchdog says he has found no undue outside influence that has affected the program.

August 8, 2009

Dodd, Conrad cleared of Senate ethics violations

The Senate Ethics Committee on Friday cleared Democratic Sens. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Kent Conrad of North Dakota of wrongdoing for participating in a special program that secured them special low-interest home loans with defunct mortgage giant Countrywide Financial Corp.

August 7, 2009

Treasury finalizing TARP lobbying rules

The Treasury Department has yet to establish rules on lobbying for its $700 billion Wall Street bailout, although the program's independent watchdog says he has found no undue outside influence that has affected the program.

August 6, 2009

FedEx, UPS face off over labor-law fix

FedEx and UPS Inc. are sparring over proposed legislation that would make it easier for FedEx employees to unionize, potentially upsetting the balance of power between the shipping giants.

August 4, 2009

House votes to curb exec pay packages

The House of Representatives on Friday overwhelmingly passed a bill aimed at curbing Wall Street pay packages that have stoked public outrage during the worst recession since the 1930s.

August 1, 2009

House votes to limit executive pay

The House passed legislation Friday afternoon aimed at curbing Wall Street pay packages that have stoked public outrage amid the worst recession since the 1930s.

July 31, 2009

Dodd has cancer; plans August surgery

Five-term Sen. Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut, a central player in President Obama's health care and financial reform plans, has been diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer, an aide to the Senate said Friday.

July 31, 2009

U.S. sanctions N. Korean firm for nukes link

The Obama administration on Thursday imposed financial sanctions on a North Korean firm accused of aiding Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.

July 30, 2009

China to get larger international role

The United States opened the door Tuesday to giving China a greater role in the world economy and senior positions at the leading international financial institutions, a tacit recognition of the growing role China is playing in the U.S. economy.

July 29, 2009