 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Tuesday unanimously confirmed Earl Anthony Wayne as U.S. ambassador to Mexico, a post vacated when Washington's last envoy stepped down in a public spat. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said the bitterly fought debt agreement signed into law on Tuesday is a move toward restoring fiscal responsibility and creates room to deal with the nation's economic challenges. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The chaotic and often ugly debt-ceiling talks managed to avert a potential economic catastrophe but inflicted new damage to the political reputations of most of the key players. | |
| Senate panel approves CFTC nominee Wetjen Tue,2 Aug 2011 04:20 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Agriculture Committee approved the nomination of a Democratic commissioner to the U.S. futures regulator on Tuesday, an appointment that if confirmed could prove pivotal in the implementation of some far-reaching Wall Street reforms. Full Story | |
| Senate fails to end partial FAA shutdown Tue,2 Aug 2011 03:08 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate failed in a last-minute bid on Tuesday to end a partial shutdown of federal aviation programs that has halted airport construction projects and thrown tens of thousands of people out of work. Full Story | |
| Congress plans to block consumer agency job Tue,2 Aug 2011 02:07 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Republicans plan to block President Barack Obama from appointing a director for the new consumer agency over the August congressional recess. Full Story | |
| Senate should act on highway bill after break: Reid Tue,2 Aug 2011 01:16 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate should take up legislation laying out how much money the country will spend on roads, bridges and highways when it returns from its month-long recess, Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Tuesday. Full Story | |
 PHOENIX (Reuters) - Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who made a dramatic return to Congress for the first time since an assassination attempt in January, has not decided whether to run for re-election next year, her spokesman said on Tuesday. | |
| U.S. rating at risk of negative outlook: Fitch Tue,2 Aug 2011 01:05 PM PDT Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fitch Ratings does not rule out slapping a negative outlook on the U.S. AAA rating when it concludes a review of the country later this month, the agency's top analyst for the United States said on Tuesday. Full Story | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Tuesday a just-passed bill to raise the U.S. debt ceiling and cut spending was a first step toward ensuring the United States lives within its means but that more was needed to rebuild the world's largest economy. | |
 PHOENIX (Reuters) - Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has made no decision about her political future despite returning to Congress for the first time since an assassination attempt in January, her spokesman said on Tuesday. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Representative Gabrielle Giffords returned to the U.S. House on Monday night for the first time since an assassination attempt, drawing thunderous applause in a rare moment of unity during a contentious vote to raise the U.S. debt ceiling. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tea Party conservatives scored their biggest political triumph with a debt-ceiling deal that cuts federal spending, but their hardline tactics could risk a voter backlash in the 2012 elections. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said he is not sure whether the bitterly fought debt agreement to be considered Tuesday by the Senate will avoid a downgrade of the U.S. top-tier credit rating. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will sign into law a bill raising the government's debt ceiling and cutting spending as soon as it arrives at his desk, White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer said on Tuesday. | |
| Obama to speak after Senate vote on debt deal Tue,2 Aug 2011 07:27 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will make a statement at the White House after the Senate votes on a bill to raise the debt ceiling and cut the deficit, the White House said Tuesday. Full Story | |
| Efforts to end FAA shutdown falter in Senate Tue,2 Aug 2011 05:21 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Efforts to craft a compromise to end a partial shutdown of federal aviation programs faltered in the U.S. Senate on Monday night, raising the near certainty that the standoff will go through August. Full Story | |
| Relief on debt deal but more cuts needed: OECD Tue,2 Aug 2011 05:21 AM PDT Reuters - ATHENS (Reuters) - A last-minute deal on the U.S. debt brings welcome relief but further negotiations involving much bigger cuts will be needed to resolve America's debt problem, the OECD's top official said Tuesday. Full Story | |
| Debt still a threat to global economy: report Tue,2 Aug 2011 05:21 AM PDT Reuters - BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States' debt woes still threaten the global economy despite a last-minute deal struck by the White House and political party leaders, China's main official newspaper said on Tuesday, nonetheless adding there was no short-term escape from the dominance of the dollar. Full Story | |
| Factbox: Key elements of debt deal Tue,2 Aug 2011 05:21 AM PDT Reuters - (Reuters) - President Barack Obama announced on Sunday that Republican and Democratic leaders had agreed on a last-ditch deal to raise the U.S. borrowing limit and avoid a catastrophic default, and he urged lawmakers to "do the right thing" and approve the agreement. Full Story | |
| WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Representative Gabrielle Giffords returned to the House floor on Monday for the first time since she was shot in the head in January, receiving a thunderous ovation from Democrats and Republicans alike. | |
| Analysis: Angry over debt debate, voters may punish leaders Mon,1 Aug 2011 03:36 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Throw the bums out! Full Story | |
| House Democratic leader Pelosi to back debt bill Mon,1 Aug 2011 02:58 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi plans to vote for a bill to raise the government's debt ceiling, a Democratic Party aide said on Monday. Full Story | |
| Factbox: Republican 2012 hopefuls mostly decry debt deal Mon,1 Aug 2011 02:28 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans looking to unseat President Barack Obama in the 2012 election are taking stands on the proposed 11th-hour deal to raise the U.S. borrowing limit -- mostly against Republican leaders in Congress. Full Story | |
| U.S. business hopes debt deal clears way for trade Mon,1 Aug 2011 01:42 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A deal to raise the U.S. debt ceiling after weeks of tough talks between the White House and Congress has raised hope leaders will now turn their attention to resolving difference blocking three long-delayed trade deals, U.S. business groups said on Monday. Full Story | |
| U.S. Treasury to borrow $331 billion in 3rd quarter Mon,1 Aug 2011 01:34 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury adopted a business-as-usual mode on Monday as it unveiled plans to borrow $331 billion in the current quarter, assuming Congress hikes the debt limit so it can legally do so. Full Story | |
| Pakistan seeks "clear terms of engagement" with U.S. Mon,1 Aug 2011 12:11 PM PDT Reuters - ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari called Monday for his government and the United States to agree on "clear terms of engagement" in the fight against Islamist militants to avert troubles in their relationship. Full Story | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Vice President Joe Biden, emerging from a 2 1/2-hour meeting with Democrats in the House of Representatives, predicted a debt limit increase bill will pass Congress. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Monday that debt limit increase legislation would be completed in the Senate by Tuesday. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will continue to push for an extension of the payroll tax cut despite that not being part of a deficit-cutting deal reached by lawmakers, the White House said on Monday. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said on Monday he was "optimistic" about the prospects for passing a deficit reduction and debt limit increase measure. | |
| Liberal Democrats may vote against debt deal Mon,1 Aug 2011 09:06 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Raul Grijalva, who heads a group of liberal Democrats in the House of Representatives, said on Monday he expects most members of his progressive caucus to vote against a debt ceiling deal crafted by Republican and Democratic leaders. Full Story | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Drug companies should take more responsibility for the safety of ingredients sourced overseas, and Congress should make them if they do not, according to the new U.S. drug regulator for import safety. | |
| CBO: Debt limit deal to save $2.1 trillion Mon,1 Aug 2011 08:43 AM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. budget deal reached by congressional leaders to clear the way for a debt limit increase would achieve at least $2.1 trillion in deficit cuts over 10 years, the Congressional Budget Office said on Monday. Full Story | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Speaker John Boehner told fellow Republicans that he wants the House of Representatives to vote on Monday on a last-minute deal to raise the debt ceiling, a Republican lawmaker said on Sunday. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawmakers bogged down in talks on the debt limit need to reach a deal by an August 2 deadline but the politicians also have one eye another big date: Election Day on November 6, 2012. | |
 NEW YORK (Reuters) - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has said he has no interest in running for president but relentless speculation about his plans could make him a kingmaker in 2012 and position him to run in 2016. | |
 SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California has moved its presidential primary to June, consolidating trips to the poll to save money in an election that most voters in the Democratic leaning state see as a foregone conclusion. | |
 WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House has one important tool in its arsenal to influence congressional talks over further deficit reduction measures in the coming months: the expiry of Bush-era tax cuts at the end of 2012. | |
| White House: expiry of Bush tax cuts to spur reform Sun,31 Jul 2011 07:14 PM PDT Reuters - WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House officials said on Sunday the spending cuts laid out under a new deficit deal would not take effect until 2013 and the expiry of Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans would spur broad tax reform. Full Story |
