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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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Politics

Congress Leaves Long List Of Things Left Undone

Congress has left town with a long list of non-accomplishments. Among the proposals getting short shrift from one or both chambers: the Bush-era tax cuts; all 12 annual spending bills; the arms control treaty with Russia; the defense bill; "don't ask, don't tell"; child nutrition; food safety; renewable electricity; Chinese currency manipulation; net neutrality; and cybersecurity. Lawmakers will be back in Washington for a lame-duck session after the midterm elections, where they will face immediate consequences unless they do something about the tax cuts, the spending bills and expiring unemployment benefits.

Congress Leaves Long List Of Things Left Undone

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A Piece Of Immigration Debate Returns To Senate

The DREAM Act has been talked about for more than a decade. At this 2004 rally in Washington, D.C., supporters held a mock graduation ceremony. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption

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Election 2010

A Piece Of Immigration Debate Returns To Senate

The DREAM Act would put some young people on a course toward citizenship. But it's unclear whether bringing it up now will nudge the issue forward, or further inflame already red-hot feelings and end up going nowhere.

A Piece Of Immigration Debate Returns To Senate

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Politics

Much To Do, Congress Faces Nov. Elections Deadline

Congress is back at work this week after a five-week recess. Reams of bills await attention -- including more than 300 the House has sent to the Senate. Add to that President Obama's calls for billions of dollars for small-business tax breaks. But only about four weeks of work are scheduled before lawmakers head back on the campaign trail.

Much To Do, Congress Faces Nov. Elections Deadline

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Elena Kagan's Supreme Court Nomination

Senate Confirms Elena Kagan To Supreme Court

Solicitor General Elena Kagan was confirmed Thursday to the Supreme Court, with support from Democrats and a handful of Republicans. The vote was 63-37. During debate, Republicans took the opportunity to question Kagan's lack of judicial experience and commitment to judicial restraint. Democrats questioned the direction of the Roberts court and observed that it seemed devoted to protecting "powerful interests."

Senate Confirms Elena Kagan To Supreme Court

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Politics

House Ethics Charges Put Democrats In Tight Spot

Last week, a House ethics panel outlined 13 charges of House rules violations against long-term Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel. Now, the panel has charged Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters. Both are denying any wrongdoing and appear headed for full-blown "trials" before their peers in September. And that puts the House leadership in a tight spot: The last thing leaders want is a spotlight on Democratic wrongdoing right before the November election.

House Ethics Charges Put Democrats In Tight Spot

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Business

Senate Passes Sweeping Financial Overhaul Bill

President Obama and the Democrats scored another major legislative victory Thursday. The Senate passed a broad bill to overhaul financial regulations. The measure rewrites the rules for Wall Street to try to avoid crises like the 2008 economic meltdown. This time the Democrats got a little help from Republicans.

Senate Passes Sweeping Financial Overhaul Bill

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Business

Senators Likely To Pass Wall Street Bill

A bill to overhaul financial regulations is expected to clear a crucial test, with Democrats expected to get the 60 votes they need for it to advance. But it may get little bipartisan support.

Senators Likely To Pass Wall Street Bill

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Business

Democrats Make Final Push On Financial Overhaul

Democrats have been struggling to round up the 60 votes they'll need to push the financial regulations bill over the finish line. They agreed to some changes in the bill Tuesday in order to win some Republicans' votes.

Democrats Make Final Push On Financial Overhaul

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Strange News

A Fish Story Where The Cash Prize Got Away

When college senior Peter Wann reeled in an 883-pound marlin off the coast of North Carolina earlier this month, he thought for sure he and his shipmates had won nearly a million dollars in prize money in the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament. Unfortunately, his prize slipped the hook.

A Fish Story Where The Cash Prize Got Away

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Gulf Oil Spill: Containment And Clean Up

Hayward 'Deeply Sorry', Rep. Barton Also Apologizes

Capitol Hill lawmakers grilled BP's top executive Tony Hayward in nearly 7 hours of hearings investigating the Gulf Oil spill Thursday. Hayward said he was sorry for the incident but refused to comment on technical decisions the company made leading up to the oil rig explosion in April. But he wasn't the only one issuing apologies.

Hayward 'Deeply Sorry', Rep. Barton Also Apologizes

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Politics

House, Senate Differ Over Regulations On Derivatives

The financial regulatory bill headed for a House-Senate conference would set up federal oversight of the controversial derivatives market. It requires most derivatives be vetted through clearinghouses. The Senate bill would require banks to spin off their derivatives business.

House, Senate Differ Over Regulations On Derivatives

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Politics

Consumer Protection Agency Contentious Issue

Congressional efforts to overhaul the rules for Wall Street are on the home stretch. Members of the House and Senate will meet over the next few weeks to work out the differences between their two bills. And while banks are the focus of the legislation, competing provisions on consumers are some of the most contentious.

Consumer Protection Agency Contentious Issue

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Business

Senate Passes Wall Street Bill

The Democratic-led Senate has pushed through the largest rewrite of financial regulations since the aftermath of the Great Depression. But some Republicans and liberal Democrats say the bill, which must be reconciled with a similar House measure, falls short of its goal.

Senate Passes Wall Street Bill

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Politics

Senate Approves Sweeping Financial Overhaul

The U.S. Senate on Thursday passed a sweeping measure to overhaul the rules for Wall Street. The bill still has to be reconciled with a similar House measure.

Senate Approves Sweeping Financial Overhaul

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Business

Financial Overhaul Examines Credit Rating Agencies

As the Senate finishes up its financial regulatory bill, another key player in the economic meltdown is getting some scrutiny: credit rating agencies. They were giving favorable ratings to questionable financial products. Under new proposals, product issuers could no longer shop around for rating agencies -- they would be assigned by the SEC.

Financial Overhaul Examines Credit Rating Agencies

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