Claire McCaskill

Senate hearing shows Wall Street can be bigger gamble than Las Vegas. During TuesdayÕs Senate hearing into the causes of the financial crisis, Goldman SachsÕ notorious mortgage-backed financial investments were skewered by senators, who repeatedly referred to the firmÕs actions in gambling terms. The word bet was used 54 times, bets 13, betting 83 and bettor three times. The word odds was uttered five times, some form of the word gamble was used 15 times, there were two references to casinos and seven mentions of Las Vegas.Whew.

Debt settlement companies would be more tightly regulated under proposed legislation. Debt settlement companies that charge high fees and mislead consumers would be more tightly regulated under new legislation introduced Wednesday.

Among masters of the universe and kings of Capitol Hill, contrition's not an option. Two deeply unpopular U.S. institutions ? Congress and Wall Street ? slung blame for the shaky economy around a Senate hearing room Tuesday, none of it landing among the dark suits at the witness table or the politicians behind the dais.

Poll: Americans' confidence in the federal government at a 50-year low, 80 percent are wary. America's "Great Compromiser" Henry Clay called government "the great trust," but most Americans today have little faith in Washington's ability to deal with the nation's problems.

Poll: Americans' confidence in the federal government at a 50-year low, 80 percent are wary. America's "Great Compromiser" Henry Clay called government "the great trust," but most Americans today have little faith in Washington's ability to deal with the nation's problems.

Electric-vehicle maker gets $22M federal grant to produce zero-emission trucks at KC plant. The U.S. Department of Energy is awarding a Kansas City maker of electric vehicles an additional $22 million to help with the development of zero-emission trucks and research their effectiveness.

US President Barack Obama's Republican foes, angry over his historic health overhaul, derailed Senate hearings Wednesday on Afghan police training and North Korea's nuclear drive.

Obama returns to campaign-style politics as he visits some Dems and stays away from others. After a rousing campaign rally for New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine last summer, President Barack Obama flashed a broad smile to an aide as he boarded his helicopter back to the White House.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Karl Rove, architect of George W. Bush's two presidential election wins, says he believes Republicans need to offer more than just opposition to Democrats in the November congressional elections.

In blow to Obama, Democrats question effort to block regulation of heat-trapping gases. Eight Democratic senators from industrial states want Congress ? not the Environmental Protection Agency ? to regulate pollution blamed for global warming, saying the issue has big implications for thousands of U.S. jobs and businesses.

Democratic-controlled Senate approves $1.9T increase in federal borrowing limit. The Senate voted Thursday to allow the government to go a whopping $1.9 trillion deeper in debt, offering a vivid election-year reminder that the government has to borrow 40 cents of every dollar it spends.

In rebuke to Obama, Senate rejects near-freeze on spending bills. Just days after President Barack Obama endorsed a partial freeze on domestic spending, his Democratic allies in the Senate have rejected a plan attempting to do pretty much the same thing.

Congressional Budget Office sees 2010 deficit of $1.35 trillion as economy lags. The Senate on Tuesday rejected a plan backed by President Barack Obama to create a bipartisan task force to tackle the federal deficit this year, despite glaring new figures showing the enormity of the red-ink threat.

Auditors call State Department oversight of $2.5B Iraq training contract weak, ineffective. For nearly $4.5 million a year, the State Department in June assigned a 16-person security detail to protect six U.S. contractors in Iraq who already had a team of hired guards they didn't really need.

Auditors call State Department oversight of $2.5B Iraq training contract weak, ineffective. For nearly $4.5 million a year, the State Department in June assigned a 16-person security detail to protect six U.S. contractors in Iraq who already had a team of hired guards they didn't really need.

After Mass. loss, Democrats urge Obama to focus on economy, be more forceful campaigner. Wounded in Massachusetts, frustrated Democrats on Wednesday urged the White House to focus on jobs and the economy ? not the health care overhaul that's now at risk ? and pressed President Barack Obama to more forcefully make their case against Republicans ahead of potentially disastrous elections this fall.

Republican Scott Brown, fresh from a stunning Massachusetts Senate victory that shook the power balance on Capitol Hill, declared Wednesday that his election had sent a "very powerful message" that voters are weary of backroom deals and Washington business-as-usual.

Republican Scott Brown, fresh from a stunning Massachusetts Senate victory that shook the power balance on Capitol Hill, declared Wednesday that his election had sent a "very powerful message" that voters are weary of backroom deals and Washington business-as-usual.

Democratic senator calls for opening final health care negotiations to cameras. A Democratic senator says party leaders should open health care negotiations to C-SPAN cameras, echoing Republicans who have called for greater transparency.

Democratic senator calls for opening final health care negotiations to cameras. A Democratic senator says party leaders should open health care negotiations to C-SPAN cameras, echoing Republicans who have called for greater transparency.