Plan to Save Transit Agencies Floated in Congress
Help might be on the way for cash-strapped city transit agencies seeking relief from the lame duck Congress.
As ProPublica and others reported recently, the meltdown of insurance giant AIG could leave more than 30 public transit agencies on the hook for up to $3 billion in payments to banks. The problem stems from the recent failure of longstanding financing deals that gave banks sizeable tax breaks and the agencies much-needed cash up front. AIG guaranteed about 75 percent of these so-called tax shelters – until its credit rating … more…
Obama Details Promises for Transparency
Yesterday, we looked at President-elect Obama’s stance on transparency. As we noted, Obama’s record on the issue isn’t spotless, but he … more…
The Bush-Obama Bailout?
We’ve been hearing for weeks about how the Treasury Department is on the cusp of dramatically widening its current bailout program. First … more…
Will Obama Keep Transparency Promises?
[Update 11.17: Obama just released more details about his proposals on transparency. Here's a short piece we've just posted about … more…
Surprise Us!
President-elect Obama’s transition team is making noise about tight ethics restrictions in the coming administration. From the Washington … more…
Congressmen Under Investigation? 11; Number Victorious Tuesday? 9
One was convicted of seven felony counts just days before the election. Another is under indictment for bribery after FBI agents found … more…
GOP Senate Leader Hedges on Expulsion for Stevens
We’ve been wondering about Senator Ted Stevens' future on Capitol Hill now that he's both a convicted felon and apparently on his way to … more…
Legal Questions Surround Stevens’ Future in Senate
Earlier we asked what might happen if Alaskan voters re-elected Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), who was convicted last month of a felony. … more…
Success! No Major Election Meltdown!
The verdict is in: Our election system bent but did not break yesterday, and while there were plenty of incidents (see VoteWatch) and … more…
Isolated Voting Problems, But (Seemingly) No Catastrophe
As you can see below and on VoteWatch, there’s been a steady stream of reports of incidents from around the country. Long lines, … more…
Electronic Voting Machine Maker Responds
Earlier this afternoon, we reported about a warning letter from a county clerk in Michigan about electronic voting machines that … more…
| Topics in "Government & Politics" | |
|---|---|
| Elections | Lobbying |
| Regulators | |
November 20, 2008
Bailout Gives a Nod to Bicycle Commuting Joel Gay, New Mexico Independent, November 20, 2008
Daschle’s Lobbyist Wife Might Complicate New Post Derek Kravitz, Washington Post, November 20, 2008
Conrad Black Pursues Clemency from Bush Sinclair Stewart and Paul Waldie, Globe and Mail, November 20, 2008
Treasury Probes Bank Payout to Ex-CEO Dan Freed, The Street, November 20, 2008
Figure in Abramoff Probe Pleads Guilty Derek Kravitz, Washington Post, November 20, 2008
Report: U.S. Aid Not Always Apolitical Colum Lynch, Washington Post, November 20, 2008
Hill Dems Seek to Preserve Endangered Species Rules AP, November 20, 2008
After Losses, Pensions Ask for a Change Mary Williams Walsh, New York Times, November 20, 2008
States Lacking in Children’s Mental Health Care Marilyn Elias, USA Today, November 20, 2008
States Cut Services for Elderly, Disabled Philip Shishkin, Wall Street Journal ($), November 20, 2008