Welcome to the Club, Tea Party: Previous Political IRS Scandals
Scandalous, potentially politically motivated behavior at the IRS? Not only isn't that new, it was often far worse. Let's review some lowlights of the IRS's last century.
George W. Bush
'Dow 36,000' Co-Author Says This Time, It'll Happen
With the Dow back to record highs, James K. Glassman, co-author of the most infamously wrong investment book of all time, 1999's "Dow 36,000: The New Strategy for Profiting From the Coming Rise in the Stock Market," has resurfaced to insist that he and Kevin Hassett weren't wrong, just ahead of their time.
Pop Quiz: Fun Facts from Inauguration Days Gone By
On Monday, President Obama will be inaugurated again, and an estimated 800,000 people will descend on Washington, D.C., for the occasion. To get yourself ready for the festivities, take this little quiz that features some high and low points from America's 57 inaugurations.
Obama's Inauguration Price Tag: Still High, but Less Than His First
How much does the the pomp surrounding the inauguration of the president of the United States really cost? Just shy of what you'd pay for a Boeing 737. But taxpayers aren't on the hook for the fun stuff, and this inauguration won't be as expensive as the last one.
Higher Taxes in 2013? You're Already Paying Them for 2012
More than 70 tax breaks enjoyed by individuals and businesses expired at the end of 2011. If Congress doesn't extend them retroactively back to the beginning of this year, a typical middle-class family could face a $4,000 tax increase when it files its 2012 return.
How Far Over the Fiscal Cliff Could Washington Go?
The dealmakers who warn that a year-end plunge off the "fiscal cliff" would be disastrous don't seem to be rushing to stop it. Why aren't they panicking? Because those master procrastinators know that Washington deadlines are rarely firm, and they know precisely how they can finagle more time.
Stocks Rise as Investors Wait for a Presidential Winner
Major stock-market indexes climbed Tuesday as investors waited for the finish of a closely fought U.S. presidential election. The Dow Jones industrial average was up 146 points at 13,259 just before 1 p.m. EST.
Federal Deficit Tops $1 Trillion for Fourth Straight Year
The federal budget deficit has topped $1 trillion for a fourth straight year. But a modest improvement in economic growth helped narrow the gap by $207 billion compared with last year.
The Surprising Facts About Mitt's 47% Who Pay No Income Tax
Mitt Romney has been taking some flak for saying the he's not going to try to win votes among the 47% of the populace that pays no federal income tax -- nor try to convince them to "take personal responsibility and care for their lives." But he should look more closely at who's in that group.
Financial Anxiety Index Falls, Obama's Election Odds Rise
A gauge of consumers' financial insecurity that correlates with the outcome of presidential reelection races declined in March for the third straight month, signaling better odds for Barack Obama in November.
Super PACs: New Rules, But an Old Political Game
Pundits have lately focused on the growth and influence of super PACs -- and the power of the mega-rich men who fund them -- but the current business-sponsored presidential contest isn't unusual: Come along as we review the long and rich tradition of election-buying in American history.
Lean Bonus Season Ahead for Wall Street Bankers
With unemployment still high, late mortgage payments rising, and the number of Americans in poverty at record levels, it seems that Main Street is headed for a hard, cold holiday season. But, somewhat surprisingly, so too are the fat cats of Wall Street -- relatively speaking.
9/11 Survivor Finds 'Purpose' by Helping Others
In 2001, Nicole B. Simpson was just another Morgan Stanley financial planner on the 73rd floor when the 9/11 attacks struck. She survived, but the emotional trauma left her old life in the wreckage. Eventually, though, she found a new purpose in helping others through traumas of their own.
How Rich Is Rich? Where We Draw the Wealth Line
America has always had a love/hate relationship with its wealthiest citizens, and the Great Recession has only made it worse. The trouble is, while everybody knows that "the rich" are the enemy, it's hard to determine where exactly the line lies between salt-of-the-earth members of the middle class and the bloated plutocrats.
Obama to Work With Congress on Tax-Cut Agreement
President Barack Obama, who has disagreed with Republican Congress members on whether to extend George W. Bush-era tax cuts for wealthier Americans beyond this year, said Tuesday that he will work with U.S. senators on finding some sort of tax-policy agreement by the end of the year.