Sean Lengell

U.S. backs China’s push for more financial say

The leader of China's central bank said Tuesday he had secured U.S. support to give emerging economies -- including China's -- a "greater voice and representation" on the international financial scene.

July 28, 2009

U.S. backs Chinese push for greater say in global finance

The leader of China's central bank said Tuesday he had secured U.S. support to give emerging economies — including China's — a "greater voice and representation" on the international financial scene.

July 28, 2009

U.S. courts China cooperation

The Obama administration is hoping that two days of high-level talks with top Chinese officials this week will help restore China's confidence in the dollar and to restore some balance to the lopsided U.S. trade deficit with Beijing.

July 27, 2009

Obama: China, keep Pyongyang in check

President Obama on Monday urged China to pressure North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program, saying that the United States and China have a mutual interest in stunting an arms race in the region.

July 27, 2009

Treasury, Fed debate consumer protection

The Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve continued their public squabble Friday over a proposed consumer protection agency.

July 25, 2009

Treasury, Fed dispute over authority

The Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve continued their public disagreement Friday regarding how the nation's financial services industry should be regulated.

July 24, 2009

New power eyed for FDIC, SEC

The Obama administration sent Congress a new proposal Thursday that would allow the federal government to take over failing financial companies in a way that might avoid a repeat of the $700 billion bailout of firms deemed "too big to fail" passed last year by Congress.

July 24, 2009

GOP seeks bailout limits

House Republicans plan to introduce legislation Thursday that calls for sweeping regulatory reforms of the financial services industry that would make it more difficult for institutions to receive federal bailout money.

July 23, 2009

Fed, Treasury take heat on Capitol Hill

Two government institutions at the heart of America's financial-rescue operations took fire from both sides of the aisle Tuesday on Capitol Hill over lack of transparency and accountability.

July 22, 2009

House GOP seeks bailout limits

By House Republicans plan to introduce legislation Thursday that calls for sweeping regulatory reforms of the financial services industry that would make it more difficult for institutions to receive federal bailout money.

July 21, 2009

Congress urges Treasury to be more open

A House panel fired bipartisan criticism at the Treasury Department on Tuesday for failing to adopt several recommendations by an independent watchdog to increase transparency of the Wall Street bailout program.

July 21, 2009

Watchdog: TARP tab could hit $24 trillion

Think last year's $700 billion Wall Street rescue package was beaucoup bucks to spend bailing out the nation's floundering financial system? That's chump change compared to what the overall price tag could be, a government watchdog says.

July 21, 2009

IG: Bailouts could cost taxpayers $23.7 T

The government's massive bailout of Wall Street could end up costing taxpayers almost $24 trillion, says an independent watchdog.

July 20, 2009

McConnell won’t vote for Sotomayor

The Senate's top Republican said Sunday that he will not vote for Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation for the Supreme Court because he worries that her personal views would cloud her objectivity on the bench.

July 20, 2009

White House holds to health care timetable

Obama administration officials said Sunday that good progress is being made toward the administration's goal of having a bill ready by August to overhaul the nation's health care system.

July 20, 2009

McConnell won’t vote for Sotomayor

UPDATED: The Senate's top Republican said Sunday that he won't vote for Judge Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation as associate justice on the U.S. Supreme Court because he worries her personal views would cloud her objectivity on the bench.

July 19, 2009

TARP chief guards taxpayer cash

Neil Barofsky is one of the most important figures in Washington you've never heard of.

July 19, 2009

Paulson grilled over Merrill merger

A bipartisan chorus of House lawmakers Thursday angrily accused former Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. of misleading Congress in pressuring a reluctant Bank of America last year to takeover Merrill Lynch.

July 17, 2009

Lawmakers grill Paulson over Merrill deal

A bipartisan chorus of House lawmakers on Thursday angrily accused former Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. of abusing his authority and misleading Congress in pressuring a reluctant Bank of America to go through with a takeover of Merrill Lynch last year.

July 16, 2009

Paulson defends push for Merrill merger

Former Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr., in defending the federal government's push for a reluctant Bank of America to complete a planned takeover of Merrill Lynch late last year, said it would have been "unthinkable" and potentially illegal for the bank to scuttle the deal.

July 16, 2009