By any normal political standards, last week's congressional agreement on an economic stimulus package was a great victory for President Barack Obama. He got more or less what he asked for: almost $800 billion to rescue the economy, with most of the money allocated to spending rather than tax cuts. Break out the champagne! ...more

February 15, 2009

Last week the U.S. House of Representatives passed an economic stimulus bill that would cost the American taxpayer $819 billion - enough to give every man, woman, and child almost $2,700. This would be the most expensive spending bill in history, costing more than the equivalent cost of the New Deal, the Marshall Plan and the Louisiana Purchase combined. ...more

February 11, 2009

An $838 billion economic stimulus bill backed by the White House survived a key test vote in the Senate Monday despite strong Republican opposition, and Democratic leaders vowed to deliver legislation for President Barack Obama's signature within a few days. ...more

February 9, 2009

A not-so-funny thing happened on the way to economic recovery. Over the last two weeks, what should have been a deadly serious debate about how to save an economy in desperate straits turned, instead, into hackneyed political theater, with Republicans spouting all the old cliches about wasteful government spending and the wonders of tax cuts. ...more

February 7, 2009

Does Washington really need to do this? Many economists from across the ideological spectrum say yes, although an increasingly vocal group of free-market thinkers says no. ...more

February 2, 2009

The Senate swiftly approved six members of President Barack Obama's Cabinet on Tuesday, but put off for a day the vote on his choice of Hillary Rodham Clinton to be secretary of state. ...more

January 20, 2009

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appears to differ from Barack Obama on at least two issues - tax increases and investigating the Bush administration. ...more

January 19, 2009

"I don't believe it's too late to change course, but it will be if we don't take dramatic action as soon as possible. If nothing is done, this recession could linger for years." ...more

January 12, 2009

Three Bay area members of Congress — Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Kathy Castor and Adam Putnam — say they intend to launch new congressional efforts to create a free-mail-to-troops program for service members in combat zones. ...more

December 23, 2008

Consumers are enjoying the lowest retail gasoline prices in years, a welcome ray of light in an ever-darkening economic picture. ...more

December 21, 2008