Newt Gingrich

Rick Santorum has rarely shied away from controversy in his political career, but there's no controversy to be found in his taxes. Based on his recently released returns, Santorum appears to have been a conscientious taxpayer, and a fairly normal (if a little wealthy) guy.

To run for president in this election cycle, it seems, you must have the backing of a super PAC, often heavily supported by a single super-wealthy benefactor. We've all learned lately about Newt Gingrich's billionaire sugar daddy Sheldon Adelson. Now it's time to meet Rick Santorum's No. 1 fan, Foster S. Friess.

Casino mogul Sheldon Adelson has stirred up controversy recently for his $10 million in political help to the Newt Gingrich campaign -- but it's all perfectly legal. Still, with billionaires and corporations now able to make almost unlimited political donations, is the presidency for sale?

While the pundits debated the vices and virtues of Mitt Romney's and Newt Gingrich's tax returns, the folks at Kiplinger were scouring them for ideas that could help you. Even if you'll never have a Swiss bank account or own complex foreign assets, these dozen moves could help you lower your IRS bill.

Mitt Romney paid a lower tax rate on his $21.6 million income in 2010 than the average U.S. family. It's no secret how: He made his money from investments, not wages. But even people who favor low capital gains taxes might not approve if they understood more about a neat little income category he benefited from called "carried interest."

Do you think that the biggest conflict in America today is between the rich and the poor? If so, join the club: According to a recent Pew Research Center poll, 66% of Americans believe the wealth gap is the greatest cause of tension in this country.

In a year saturated with big financial headlines, identifying the fiscal heroes and villains is bound to be an exercise in oversimplification. But DailyFinance is going to try: Herewith, we present our picks for the best and the worst of 2011.

The Republicans are winning this year's budget battle: Discretionary spending will decrease. But this is hardly the time for the GOP to take a victory lap: Next, the GOP will have to lower unemployment and improve the average American's daily life -- two areas where the party has historically come up short.

"More food stamps? Or more paychecks?" Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich suggests that's how the GOP should couch the national policy debate before the midterm elections. But will it work?

Skirting campaign finance laws, News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch, has found an entirely legal way to put millions of dollars directly into the bank accounts of leading Republican candidates like Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin. He hires them.