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Audie Cornish Audie Cornish is a co-host of All Things Considered.
Audie Cornish at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C., May 22, 2018. (photo by Allison Shelley)
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Audie Cornish

On The Road To Safety

Congress' Safety Agenda Faces Obstacles

With a sour economy, spiraling deficits and automakers in trouble, Congress' safety agenda faces some tough obstacles. Federal transportation and highway safety laws are set to expire this year, and a bill to renew their funding is stalled. So Rep. James Oberstar (D-MN) is pushing a six-year, $500 billion transportation reauthorization bill.

Congress' Safety Agenda Faces Obstacles

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Economy

Senate Extends Jobless Benefits, Homebuyer Credit

The Senate has voted to extend unemployment insurance benefits for up to 20 weeks. The 24 billion dollar bill also expands an eight thousand dollar tax credit for first-time homebuyers. The legislation is expected to sail through the House.

Senate Extends Jobless Benefits, Homebuyer Credit

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Politics

Congress Takes On 'Too Big To Fail' Institutions

Congress is trying to rewrite financial regulations to avoid the company failures and rescues of the last 18 months. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner appeared Thursday before a key House panel to tout a plan that would allow federal regulators to unwind troubled financial companies, which are considered too big to fail. He got skepticism from both sides of the aisle.

Congress Takes On 'Too Big To Fail' Institutions

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Politics

Senate Panel Considers Reporters' Shield Law

Most state have laws protecting journalists from having to reveal their confidential sources. But efforts to get a federal version have been stalled for years. The Senate Judiciary Committee takes up the issue Thursday. Sponsors say the Obama administration is resistant to the measure.

Senate Panel Considers Reporters' Shield Law

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Economy

Senate To Work On Extending Jobless Benefits

After weeks of political infighting, the Senate voted Tuesday to take up a bill to extend unemployment benefits. House lawmakers passed similar legislation last month. Since then, 400,000 people had their benefits end. The Senate is scrambling to pass the provision this week before thousands more run out of benefits.

Senate To Work On Extending Jobless Benefits

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Politics

House Panel Approves Consumer Protection Agency

Congress moved forward on a major piece of the Obama administration's efforts to overhaul the financial industry. A key House panel approved a bill Thursday to set up a new agency to regulate consumer credit — everything from payday loans to debit cards. The proposal has taken some hits after intense lobbying from banks and other creditors.

House Panel Approves Consumer Protection Agency

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Politics

Has Obama Administration Gone A 'Czar' Too Far?

President Obama did not invent policy czars, but he has contributed to their proliferation — by appointing some three dozen, critics say. Conservatives have been raising concerns for months, and now a Senate panel led by Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold is looking into whether these presidentially appointed managers are a way to get around the Senate's confirmation process.

Has Obama Administration Gone A 'Czar' Too Far?

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Legislators Push Early Start For Credit Card Rules

Alain Filiz shows off some of his credit cards as he pays for items at Lorenzo's Italian Market in Miami in May. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

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Your Money

Legislators Push Early Start For Credit Card Rules

With the holiday shopping season just weeks away, some on Capitol Hill are pushing to move up the start date of a law aimed at protecting credit card holders. It isn't scheduled to go into effect until February, but lawmakers say credit card companies are taking advantage of the lag time by lowering credit limits and raising rates.

Legislators Push Early Start For Credit Card Rules

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Economy

Geithner Urges Financial Watchdog For Consumers

The health care debate has slowed things down, but Congress is still working on new rules governing the financial industry. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner testified on Capitol Hill Thursday about the need to protect consumers and rein in financial institutions. He wants lawmakers to create a Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

Geithner Urges Financial Watchdog For Consumers

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Economy

Geithner Shows Flexibility On Regulator

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner agreed Wednesday to scale back provisions for a new agency to regulate consumer credit. Geithner testified on Capitol Hill, and said he agreed with House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank, who has opposed the proposed agency's scope.

Geithner Shows Flexibility On Regulator

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Economy

House Bill Adds To Jobless Benefits In 27 States

House lawmakers have voted to extend unemployment benefits for 13 weeks to people in states where the unemployment rate is at least 8.5 percent. That's about half the states. It affects about 300,000 workers whose benefits would otherwise run out this month. The Senate is working on a similar bill.

House Bill Adds To Jobless Benefits In 27 States

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Education

House Bill Lets Students Bypass Private Lenders

The House is expected to vote on a bill Thursday that would let students borrow directly from the U-S Treasury — instead of from private lenders subsidized by the government. House Democrats say this would save millions in the long run. But the bill has opponents in the loan industry — and obstacles in the Senate.

House Bill Lets Students Bypass Private Lenders

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Politics

Rep. Wilson's Admonishment A First For Congress

Nearly a week after Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) interrupted President Obama's speech on health care, shouting "You lie!" Congress has passed a resolution admonishing him. Democratic leaders had hoped he would apologize to the House body on his own, but that apology never came. Now he's the first member in the history of Congress to be formally chastised for heckling the president during an appearance on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Wilson's Admonishment A First For Congress

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Politics

Sen. Snowe On Health Care Overhaul

Sen. Olympia Snowe of Maine, a member of the bipartisan gang of six, may be the one Republican who votes for a health care bill in the Senate. "What we have to do is develop a plan that's going to be available to people on an affordable basis, and, secondly, containing costs both for the American consumer and the American taxpayer," Snowe says.

Gang Of Six Profile: Sen. Olympia Snowe

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