Jan. 7 at 3:35 p.m.
Filed under:
Energy,
Policy,
Politics
By Julie Wernau
The Illinois House backed a controversial bill Friday that would help Power Holdings of Illinois move forward with a plant slated for Jefferson County that would turn coal into synthetic natural gas.
The bill, SB1927, is the second bill related to synthetic natural gas to move forward in the lame duck session and must pass the senate next week for the governor to sign it into law.
Representatives voted 82 to 31 to pass the bill, which would force state gas utilities to purchase 100 percent of the gas the plant would produce for 10 years: a last-minute amendment to a bill aimed at protecting patients against abuse and neglect. Get the full story »
Jan. 7 at 10:20 a.m.
Filed under:
Economy,
Policy,
Politics
By Associated Press
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke sketched a more optimistic outlook for the economy, but said a $600 billion bond-buying program is needed because it will take up to five more years to bring unemployment back to healthy levels. Get the full story »
Jan. 6 at 10:57 a.m.
Filed under:
Policy,
Politics
By Tribune staff report
President Barack Obama has chosen Bill Daley to serve as his new chief of staff, a senior administration official said Thursday morning.
Jan. 6 at 10:48 a.m.
Filed under:
Economy,
Policy,
Politics
By Reuters
U.S. House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday that any move to increase the United States’ $14.3 trillion debt limit must be accompanied by spending cuts. Get the full story »
By Tribune staff report
President Barack Obama is considering bringing former Secretary of Commerce Bill Daley into the administration in a top-ranking position, a move that would cement the Chicago presence in the White House and possibly bring to full-circle a chain of events set off by Daley’s own brother.
Jan. 3 at 10:18 a.m.
Filed under:
Policy,
Politics,
Taxes
By Reuters
Most Americans think the United States should raise taxes for the rich to balance the budget, according to a 60 Minutes/Vanity Fair poll released Monday.
President Barack Obama last month signed into law a two-year extension of Bush-era tax cuts for millions of Americans, including the wealthiest, in a compromise with Republicans.
Republicans, who this week take control of the House of Representatives, want to extend all Bush-era tax cuts “permanently” for the middle class and wealthier Americans. They are also demanding spending cuts to curb the $1.3 trillion deficit. Get the full story »
Dec. 30, 2010 at 4:59 p.m.
Filed under:
Energy,
Policy,
Politics
By Associated Press
A law professor being paid $950 an hour with BP’s money has declared that the czar of the $20 billion claims fund for Gulf oil spill victims is independent of the oil giant. Get the full story »
Dec. 29, 2010 at 5:19 p.m.
Filed under:
Economy,
Policy,
Politics
By Associated Press
Six banks have repurchased investments the government made under its taxpayer-funded financial rescue program, paying a total of $626 million including dividends, the Treasury Department said Wednesday. Get the full story »
Dec. 23, 2010 at 11:38 a.m.
Filed under:
Government,
Policy,
Politics
By Reuters
President Barack Obama will renominate Nobel-prize winning economist Peter Diamond to the Federal Reserve Board next year when the new Senate convenes, a White House official said Thursday.
The Senate scuttled Diamond’s nomination Wednesday by failing to vote on it before adjourning its lame duck session for the year. Get the full story »
Dec. 23, 2010 at 5:47 a.m.
Filed under:
Policy,
Politics
By Reuters
The nomination of Nobel prize-winning economist Peter Diamond to the Federal Reserve’s Board was scuttled on Wednesday when the Senate failed to vote on it before adjourning for the year. Get the full story »
Dec. 22, 2010 at 4:17 p.m.
Filed under:
Economy,
Policy,
Politics
By Associated Press
President Barack Obama says the economy will be his “singular focus” over the next two years.
He says the nation is past the “crisis point” in the economy, and that he’ll now be working to bring down the jobless rate and equip the nation to compete with the rest of the world. Get the full story »
Dec. 20, 2010 at 3:29 p.m.
Filed under:
Economy,
Policy,
Politics
By Reuters
The Federal Reserve does not believe any one hedge fund can topple the financial system and therefore the private pools of capital may escape direct supervision by the central bank, an industry source familiar with the Fed’s position said. Get the full story »
Dec. 17, 2010 at 10:31 a.m.
Filed under:
International,
Investigations,
Politics
By Reuters
Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency said Friday that it had formally dropped bribery charges against former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and oil services company Halliburton after the company agreed to pay a fine.
“It was formally dropped today,” Economic and Financial Crimes Commission spokesman Femi Babafemi said. He said the Nigerian government had agreed to an offer made by Halliburton to pay fines totalling up to $250 million.
Halliburton could not immediately be reached for comment.
Dec. 10, 2010 at 5:42 p.m.
Filed under:
Policy,
Politics
By Associated Press
Bill Clinton implored Democrats to back the tax-cut deal that President Barack Obama negotiated with Republicans as the former president made a surprise appearance with Obama in the White House briefing room Friday — and later took over the podium.
Dec. 10, 2010 at 11:24 a.m.
Filed under:
Policy,
Politics,
Taxes
By Reuters
There could be more changes to the tentative tax agreement between President Barack Obama and congressional Republicans, the White House said Friday. Get the full story »
