Politics

Obama Is Said to Favor About $775 Billion for U.S. Economic Stimulus Plan President-elect Barack Obama told House Speaker Nancy Pelosi he favors a price tag of about $775 billion for the U.S. economic stimulus plan, a Democratic aide said.

Obama May Use Chavez as First Test for Pledge to Engage With Adversaries In a mirrored office tower overlooking Caracas, a top Venezuelan official says his government is ready to accept Barack Obama’s offer to talk with U.S. adversaries -- if the president-elect scraps George W. Bush’s division of the world into friends and foes.

Panetta's Selection as CIA Chief Draws Concern From Rockefeller, Feinstein Leon Panetta’s selection by President- elect Barack Obama to become CIA chief surprised two top Democrats on the Senate intelligence panel, who expressed reservations about his lack of background in the spy world.

Democrats Franken, Burris Won't Claim Seats as U.S. Senate Convenes Today A new Congress with strengthened Democratic majorities convenes tomorrow with one overriding goal: speed.

Biden Plans Asia Trip as Obama Reviews U.S.'s Afghan, Pakistan Policies Vice President-elect Joe Biden will lead a delegation of five Senate Democrats and Republicans to southwest Asia as the new administration of Barack Obama reviews U.S. policy on Afghanistan, Pakistan and the region.

Coal-Ash Spill May Strip TVA of `Exaggerated Deference' From U.S., States The deluge of ash from a coal-fired power plant that buried 300 acres of eastern Tennessee is sparking new state and federal scrutiny of the Tennessee Valley Authority, the largest U.S. public power company.

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