Push to curb credit-card rates fades Efforts in Congress to cap credit-card interest rates are faltering because of opposition from Democrats and a lack of specific support from the White House, despite growing consumer outrage over a rush by banks to impose rates as high as 30 percent. (Page A1, 945 words)By: Michael Kranish|Date: Nov 18, 2009

In fight over credit rules, she wields a plan CAMBRIDGE - Her critics portray her as an ivory tower elitist intent on disrupting the American Dream. But to her legions of fans in the Democratic Party, Harvard law professor Elizabeth Warren is the nation’s leading economic David, fighting to protect middle-class families from corporate Goliaths. (Page A1, 1239 words)By: Michael Kranish|Date: Nov 3, 2009

As Representative Barney Frank nears his goal of pushing a massive financial regulation package through the House Financial Services Committee, parts of the legislation are coming under blistering assault from consumer groups as well as key Democrats, who say it contains loopholes that could set the stage for another financial meltdown. (Page A1, 1146 words)By: Michael Kranish and Alan Wirzbicki|Date: Oct 31, 2009

House Financial Services Committee chairman Barney Frank, under fire from some fellow Democrats and consumer groups for carving out what they call loopholes in legislation designed to prevent another economic meltdown, said in a letter released last night that “there may be a problem here’’ and that he wants to reconsider. (Page A10, 594 words)By: Michael Kranish|Date: Nov 5, 2009

As darkness fell and Kennedy family members and friends gathered around, Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s personal appeal to the pope was read aloud at his gravesite at Arlington National Cemetery, reflecting a sense of humanity, humility, and enduring faith. (Page A1, 1078 words)By: Michael Kranish and Bryan Bender|Date: Aug 30, 2009

WASHINGTON - Edward M. Kennedy filled two seemingly contradictory roles during his years in the Senate: He was known as the chamber’s most liberal member and as the Democrat with an uncanny ability to reach across to conservative Republicans and reach compromises. (Page A20, 794 words)By: Michael Kranish and Lisa Wangsness|Date: Aug 27, 2009

Upon Arlington hill, the tributes go on ARLINGTON, Va. - They arrived early yesterday outside the iron gates, waiting to place bouquets on the freshly laid sod or whisper a brief prayer before a simple white cross and a marble slab etched with “Edward Moore Kennedy 1932-2009.’’ (Page A1, 891 words)By: Bryan Bender and Michael Kranish|Date: Aug 31, 2009

WASHINGTON - The presence of the Kennedy family has been a singular force in the life of Senator John F. Kerry. (Page A21, 796 words)By: Michael Kranish|Date: Aug 27, 2009

As President Obama prepares to deliver a make-or-break address on health care to a joint session of Congress next week, he is expected to turn the focus away from controversial issues such as the “public option’’ plan and toward key areas of bipartisan agreement, including enabling anyone to buy insurance regardless of preexisting conditions, according to White House ... (Page A1, 1096 words)By: Michael Kranish|Date: Sep 4, 2009

WASHINGTON - President Obama, breaking his silence on the disputed presidential elections in Iran, said Iranians are entitled to have every vote counted, urged a full investigation into vote-rigging allegations, and called for an end to violence. (Page A3, 950 words)By: Michael Kranish|Date: Jun 16, 2009

WASHINGTON - President Obama was surprised and wasn’t sure he deserved it. His Republican critics were stunned and appalled. Even some of Obama’s allies declared themselves amazed at the turn of events. (Page A1, 1247 words)By: Susan Milligan and Michael Kranish|Date: Oct 10, 2009

Hedge fund managers - a secretive, lightly regulated group portrayed by some as villains in last year’s financial meltdown - appear to have a new degree of clout on Capitol Hill in shaping legislation that will determine how they will be regulated. (Page A1, 1378 words)By: Michael Kranish|Date: Oct 16, 2009

WASHINGTON - The former head of the nation's pension insurance agency, who last year pushed through a high-risk strategy that shifted the insurance fund heavily into stocks just before the market crash, committed a "clear violation" of agency rules by contacting Wall Street firms that were bidding to oversee the new policy, while also seeking the help of one firm ... (Page A2, 909 words)By: Michael Kranish|Date: May 15, 2009

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Two hundred and twenty-three years ago, Thomas Jefferson wrote a passionate letter to a woman he had met in Paris. Come to Monticello to paint the finest landscape, Jefferson implored the artist Maria Cosway, writing, "Where has nature spread so rich a mantle under the eye?" (Page M1, 1257 words)By: Michael Kranish|Date: Apr 12, 2009

WASHINGTON - In recent years, residents of this city - the "last colony," some call it - have resorted to political theater in their fight for representation in Congress. They dumped tea into the Potomac River. They sarcastically petitioned for reunification with Britain. They produced license plates that proclaimed they lived in a place of "Taxation Without Representation," which President ... (Page A1, 1148 words)By: Michael Kranish|Date: Dec 31, 2008

WASHINGTON - With Democratic congressional leaders and White House officials agreeing yesterday on $15 billion in emergency loans to US automakers, one of the most vociferous foes is Senator Richard Shelby, an Alabama Republican who says the Big Three automakers "can't compete" and who has threatened a filibuster to stop the deal. (Page A1, 1234 words)By: Michael Kranish|Date: Dec 10, 2008

WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama yesterday unveiled the latest element of his plan to rebuild the nation's battered economy, vowing that his team would comb through a federal budget that "bleeds billions of taxpayer dollars on programs that have outlived their usefulness" and end those that "exist solely because of the power of politicians, lobbyists, or interest groups." (Page A12, 931 words)By: Michael Kranish|Date: Nov 26, 2008

WASHINGTON - Senator Judd Gregg moved closer to being nominated secretary of commerce yesterday after an administration official said the New Hampshire Republican had become President Obama's "leading candidate" for the job. (Page A14, 572 words)By: Michael Kranish|Date: Feb 1, 2009

In stunning shift, Gregg pulls out WASHINGTON - Republican Senator Judd Gregg of New Hampshire abruptly withdrew yesterday as President Obama's nominee to be commerce secretary, citing "irresolvable conflicts" on policies including the economic stimulus bill nearing final passage in Congress and how the next census will be conducted. (Page A1, 1160 words)By: Michael Kranish and Lisa Wangsness|Date: Feb 13, 2009

WASHINGTON - Senator Judd Gregg, the New Hampshire Republican who is the leading candidate to be secretary of commerce, has assured Senate colleagues that he would be replaced by a person aligned with Republicans even though the appointment would be made by the state's Democratic governor, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said yesterday. (Page A2, 729 words)By: Michael Kranish|Date: Feb 2, 2009

WASHINGTON - Just one week after President Obama signed a stimulus package designed to give a short-term boost to the economy, some of the nation's top budget analysts plan to deliver a stark warning today at a White House summit that an even more foreboding long-term crisis will unfold unless Obama quickly fixes Social Security, healthcare, the tax code, and ... (Page A1, 1264 words)By: Michael Kranish|Date: Feb 23, 2009

WASHINGTON - Barack Hussein Obama, in a moment rich with hope and history, was inaugurated today as the nation's first black president, and called on an anxious nation to join him in the "work of remaking America" by ushering in "a new era of responsibility." (Page Z1, 1199 words)By: Michael Kranish and Scott Helman|Date: Jan 20, 2009

US on right track, Obama vows WASHINGTON - President Obama, addressing public outrage over executive bonuses and anxiety about continued economic uncertainty, urged the nation last night to be patient, pledging a presidency of perseverance that he said will eventually result in recovery from the recession. (Page A1, 986 words)By: Michael Kranish|Date: Mar 25, 2009

WASHINGTON - Joining a chorus of outrage, President Obama vowed yesterday to use "leverage" from more than $170 billion in federal aid and "every single legal avenue" to try to block bonuses being paid to executives at insurance giant American International Group . (Page A1, 1014 words)By: Michael Kranish|Date: Mar 17, 2009

WASHINGTON - With major banks flailing and criticism swelling in some quarters over how President Obama is handling the crisis, a growing chorus of economists, former top government officials, and analysts is calling on the Obama administration to put the institutions into federal receivership and closely follow the model of how the government dealt with the savings and loan crisis. (Page A1, 1185 words)By: Michael Kranish|Date: Mar 7, 2009