Associated News.net

Senate Democrats needed all the 60 votes at their disposal Thursday to muscle through legislation allowing the government to go $1.9 trillion deeper in debt.

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that corporations may spend as freely as they like to support or oppose candidates for president and Congress, easing decades-old limits on business efforts to influence federal campaigns.

The high court will consider whether Washington state officials can release more than 138,500 names on a petition seeking a vote on overturning the state's domestic partnership rights.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule as early as Tuesday in a case that could open the door for corporations, unions and wealthy individuals to pour money into election ads.

The U.S. Secret Service says it is investigating an effigy of President Barack Obama found hanging by a noose from a building in the hometown of former President Jimmy Carter.

Washington is one of four states where measures to legalize and regulate marijuana have been introduced, and about two dozen other states are considering bills to relax current laws.

The real question behind the Howard Dean for President movement is "Why is this happening to President Obama?"

Advocates and officials say two main factors are driving the surge in disability filings: the aging of the baby boomer generation and the slumping economy.

Wells Fargo and Citigroup will repay the public bailout money, freeing them from the close scrutiny and pay restrictions that came with the rescue program.

The Obama administration has extended the $700 billion financial bailout program until October, setting up a struggle between Democrats and Republicans.