lawmakers

It may be a new year, but when Congress returns from its winter break it will be all old business that lawmakers failed to finish before Christmas.

The payroll tax cut is expected to be extended for another two months. How will lawmakers come up with the billions it's going to cost?

Lawmakers are on track to agree to a temporary budget deal ahead of tonight's midnight deadline.

A vote today in Italy passes a round of austerity measures suggested by newly appointed Prime Minister Mario Monti.

But is it enough to make a dent in the problem?

Following a well developed pattern, lawmakers are spending the last few days of the legislative calendar engaged in a high-stakes game of political chicken.

After a year of beating their heads against the wall about reducing deficits, lawmakers in the next few weeks may add to them.

Debt reduction may be consuming Capitol Hill these days, but lawmakers have a number of pricey budget decisions to make before the year's out.

In a year when lawmakers barely averted a federal shutdown and a default on its debts, Congress is poised to spread more uncertainty on an economy already suffering from a consumer confidence crisis.

Sounding a bit like a broken record, Ben Bernanke once again urged lawmakers to not put the recovery at risk as they focus on slashing government spending over the long haul.

Starbucks chief executive Howard Schultz pleaded with Americans Tuesday night to take to the Internet, the mail or the telephone to urge lawmakers to quit their bickering and find solutions to the nation's mounting problems.