We’re Paying Congress for This?

Stanley Kutler / Truthdig Mar 28, 2009 Congress’ work has often offered us transparency and has usually led to useful, progressive legislation. And now comes Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank’s choreographed extravaganza in the House of Representatives, supported by an echoing committee, with sound bites worthy of a night in the Borscht Belt. Dig deeper ( 5 Min. Read )

Our Justified Populist Rage

E.J. Dionne Jr. / Truthdig Mar 19, 2009 We are at the beginning of a great popular rebellion against those who showed no self-restraint when it came to lining their own pockets. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

N.Y. Attorney General Investigates AIG’s ‘Staggering’ Bonus Mess

Staff / Truthdig Mar 18, 2009 In a letter to House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, reprinted here, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo shares what his office has discovered so far about AIG's scandalous bonuses, which "made more than 73 millionaires in the unit which lost so much money that it brought the firm to its knees, forcing a taxpayer bailout." Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

‘Daily Show’: American Grandstand, Banking Episode

Staff / Truthdig Feb 14, 2009 Was it too much to expect a show of contrition or sacrifice when CEOs from eight of the nation's biggest banks turned up on Capitol Hill last week to dodge questions about how they used their respective chunks of bailout change? Probably. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Fed Takes a Swing at Foreclosures

Staff / Truthdig Jan 28, 2009 After pumping hundreds of billions into the banking system with not much to show for it, Fed chief Ben Bernanke says he will try to reduce the number of foreclosures. As he put it to Rep. Barney Frank: "The goal of the policy is to avoid preventable foreclosures on residential mortgage assets that are held, owned or controlled by a Federal Reserve Bank." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Gauging Obama’s Silence on Gaza

Staff / Truthdig Jan 6, 2009 It's hard to remember a time when so much was at stake during a presidential transition in America. Barack Obama is still two weeks shy of taking office, but even so, his silence about the current crisis in Gaza in particular has not gone unnoticed. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

A Frank Assessment: Rev. Rick Is Offensive

Staff / Truthdig Dec 22, 2008 Rep. Barney Frank, the first openly gay member of Congress, isn't happy about the "high honor" Barack Obama has bestowed on the Rev. Rick Warren, who recently likened gay marriage to incest and pedophilia. This isn't a speech at a forum, the congressman points out, but a role that is "traditionally given as a mark of great respect." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Paulson and Bernanke Grilled on the Bailout

Staff / Truthdig Nov 19, 2008 On Tuesday, Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke faced a lineup of vexed, perplexed and otherwise agitated members of Congress, including Reps. Barney Frank, Ron Paul and Nydia Velazquez, all eager to ask some serious questions about the infamous bailout. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Barney Goes Rogue

Staff / Truthdig Nov 7, 2008 Perhaps the heightened emotion and tension of this election season got to First Dog Barney Bush on Thursday: The president's wee Scottie, clearly out of sorts, munched down on a Reuters reporter's finger. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Pelosi Claims ‘Great Progress’ on Bailout Deal

Staff / Truthdig Sep 27, 2008 Just a day after negotiations seemed to break down, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi struck a confident tone. So did Rep. Barney Frank, who threw in some of his patented sass: "Now that Sen. McCain is safely in Mississippi, we can get to serious work." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Bailout Negotiations Inch Forward

Staff / Truthdig Sep 23, 2008 It seems that some key officials involved in the negotiations with the Bush administration over the terms of Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson's $700-billion bailout proposal for Wall Street aren't about to make a deal unless it includes specific plans for congressional oversight and help for homeowners on the brink of foreclosure. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Super Mega Housing Bill on Bush’s Desk

Staff / Truthdig Jul 24, 2008 There's a lot the president doesn't like about the new housing bill, just passed by the House, but he'll hold his nose and sign it. The package includes huge guarantees for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae -- the national debt ceiling had to be lifted by about $800 billion, just in case -- but also rescue for hundreds of thousands of homeowners at risk of foreclosure. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )