WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives on Wednesday voted to renew the U.S. Export-Import Bank#39;s charter until September 2014 and gradually raise its lending cap to $140 billion, disappointing conservative groups who want the nearly 80-year-old bank to die. The bill now goes to the Senate, which is under pressure to approve the legislation before the Ex-Im Bank#39;s temporary charter ...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration plans to ask Congress this year to renew White House quot;trade promotion authorityquot; so it can finish talks on an Asia Pacific trade pact and pursue other possible initiatives, the top U.S. trade official said on Wednesday. quot;We#39;ve got to have it,quot; U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk told the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee, referring ...

WASHINGTON/CLEVELAND (Reuters) - A defiant President Barack Obama on Wednesday took his boldest action yet to show voters he will confront Republicans, announcing he will bypass Congress and install nominees into politically sensitive jobs overseeing consumer lending and the labor force. Obama will make recess appointments placing Richard Cordray in charge of the new Consumer Financial ...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Here is what is happening on Friday as lawmakers scramble to close in on a deal for Congress to raise the government's $14.3 trillion borrowing limit by an August 2 deadline and avoid a debt default:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Six days before the U.S. government has to start ducking phone calls from debt collectors, congressional leaders are mapping out an endgame for avoiding a default that could shake the world economy.