Republican John McCain delivered his toughest criticism so far of President Bush's economic policies as he unveiled a new campaign stump speech that promised an energetic fight to reverse his slide in the polls. ...more

October 14, 2008

After consulting with Barack Obama, Democratic leaders are likely to call Congress back to work after the election in hopes of passing legislation that would include extended jobless benefits, money for food stamps and possibly a tax rebate, officials said Saturday. ...more

October 12, 2008

Freshman Rep. Kathy Castor was among 95 House Democrats to buck Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday by joining with 133 Republicans to defeat a $700 billion financial rescue bill. ...more

September 30, 2008

The Bush administration, moving to prevent an economic cataclysm, urged Congress on Friday to grant it far-reaching emergency powers to buy hundreds of billions of dollars of distressed mortgages despite many unknowns about how the plan would work. ...more

September 20, 2008

The House voted late Tuesday to open waters off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to oil and gas drilling but only 50 or more miles out to sea and only if a state agrees to energy development off its shore. ...more

September 17, 2008

Florida Democrats received assurances Wednesday from their leaders in the House that an election-year energy package would not include expansion of oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Florida. ...more

September 11, 2008

Barack Obama plans to make one or two other local stops today after his economic town hall campaign appearance in St. Petersburg this morning, but campaign officials as of late Thursday wouldn't say where. ...more

August 1, 2008

TAMPA - Barack Obama plans to make one or two other local stops today after his economic town hall campaign appearance in St. Petersburg this morning, but campaign officials as of late Thursday wouldn't say where. ...more

July 31, 2008

It is a privilege to spend 90 minutes with the president of the United States. It is frustrating, though, when 90 percent of those minutes are declared off the record. ...more

July 7, 2008

When Congress started fashioning a sweeping rescue package for struggling homeowners this year, 2.6 million loans were in trouble. But the problem has grown considerably in just six months and is continuing to worsen. ...more

June 29, 2008