Politics

WASHINGTON - Midterm politics are distorting economic decision-making as leaders of both parties spin rival views of the road ahead, offering visions based on questionable economics. Full Story »

WASHINGTON - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner had praise Wednesday for one of the top candidates to head a new consumer protection agency but said it would be up to the president to decide who will fill the post. Full Story »

BRUSSELS (AFP) - The European Union reached agreement Thursday on a package of sanctions against Iran which targets Tehran's energy sector over its refusal to halt sensitive nuclear work, an EU diplomat said. Full Story »

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack rushed to judgment when he dismissed a former government official over racism allegations, U.S. President Barack Obama said in an interview on Thursday. Full Story »

Pressure to support campaign finance disclosure legislation continues to mount for Maine Republicans Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins, this time in the form of a letter from eight Maine organizations urging the senators to back the measure. Full Story »

WASHINGTON — Embattled Rep. Charles Rangel, the former chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, will face a trial-like session of a special House subcommittee next week on at least one ethics violation charge, a House investigatory subcommittee decided Thursday. Full Story »

Ending months of partisan wrangling, the House on Thursday sent President Obama an extension of unemployment benefits for jobless workers who have exhausted their regular six months of benefits. Full Story »

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is sticking with plans to allow temporary tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans to expire this year and is open to discussing reductions in corporate tax rates next year, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Thursday. Full Story »