Where is the Money Going?
Is the U.S. About to Give Up Financial Independence to a Banking Elite?: Ellen Brown
Within the nearly 90 pages of President Barack Obama’s plan to reform the government’s regulation of the financial industry is a recommendation to expand the role of a little-known international banking body called the Financial Stability Board. T... read more
New IRS Form May Help Jon & Kate
For Jon and Kate Gosselin, stars of the reality TV show “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” the news isn’t all bad. They are still getting a divorce, but it just so happens that the Internal Revenue Service has just changed its rules that apply to claiming child... read more
Cash for Clunkers: How to Apply
A federal program intended to boost automobile sales and help reduce gas consumption is supposed to begin operation by the end of July, now that President Barack Obama has signed the legislation. After being known as “Cash for Clunkers” while Cong... read more
VA Moves Brain Injury Lab after 2 Years without Testing a Single Vet
After spending $3 million, not testing a single patient, and enduring accusations of program mismanagement, the Department of Veterans Affairs has decided to move its brand new state-of-the-art testing facility for vets suffering from brain trauma... read more
FTC to Monitor Paid Blogger Endorsements
As the blogosphere has grown into a resource for shoppers looking for advice or recommendations on products, so too has the practice of bloggers being paid by companies to promote their goods or services—which is why the federal government has dec... read more
Obama’s Wall Street Plan is FDR Lite…Very Lite: Joe Nocera
Franklin Roosevelt made Wall Street good and angry with his overhaul of the financial system and the imposition of strong government oversight during the New Deal. But one can hardly imagine bankers getting little more than ruffled over President ... read more
Senators Owned Stock in Bailed-Out Banks
More details have surfaced about last week’s disclosure of banking investments held by senators who played a key role in crafting the federal bailout of Wall Street. In additions to the likes of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who had considerable hol... read more
Construction Industry Opposes Obama “Buy American” Stimulus Plan
Contractors are complaining about a key provision of the Obama administration’s stimulus package requiring materials for new infrastructure projects to be made in the United States. Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) says the “Buy Ame... read more
Many Members of Congress Own Investments in Health Industry
As Congress takes up the issue of health care reform, the financial interests of the industry are well represented on Capitol Hill, and not just through the employment of hundreds of lobbyists. Many lawmakers have investments in insurance, pharmac... read more
Cash for Clunkers Law: Which Cars Will Be Eligible?
A federal plan designed to boost sales of automobiles with better gas mileage is getting closer to passing Congress, despite its uneven provisions for improving fuel efficiency. The Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save and Act (CARS) will provi... read more
Average American Lost $4,239 in First Quarter of 2009
While recent news of slight improvements in retail sales and unemployment figures offer modest signs of economic recovery, a new report released by the Federal Reserve offers a sobering reminder of just how harsh the recession has been for the cou... read more
Companies and Foreign Governments Pay for Pentagon Travel
Who doesn’t have a potential conflict of interest these days in Washington, DC? If it’s not economic advisors in the White House, it’s lawmakers on Capitol Hill—or even Joe the Civil Servant at the Pentagon. The Center for Public Integrity, a gove... read more
Obama Only a Small Player in Rising Deficit
The good news for supporters of President Barack Obama is that he may not be nearly as responsible for the ballooning state of the national debt as Republicans like to claim. The bad news is that even if President Obama isn’t contributing signific... read more
Since 9/11, Iraq War Costs Have Outpaced Fighting Terrorism 3 to 1
The U.S. government has not put its money where its mouth is when it comes to fighting terrorism, at least not when compared to what’s been spent on the war in Iraq. According to an analysis by the Congressional Research Service, the United States... read more
For Halliburton/KBR, War is a Gift that Keeps on Giving
Despite allegations of bribery, despite accounts of over-charging the government, despite reports of faulty work endangering the lives of American soldiers, the companies of Halliburton and its one-time subsidiary KBR are doing better than ever. W... read more
How Dell and Others Gave Tax Break Savings to Shareholders Instead of Creating Jobs
Five years ago the federal government gave American corporations a one-time tax holiday on profits made overseas so that they would invest the savings in the U.S. operations and create new jobs. A new study has found, however, that few companies u... read more