By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) - As a new week looms in Washington, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd is eager to nail down an agreement on a financial regulatory reform package that he can bring to his committee for its consideration.

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) - The Senate is expected to begin debating Monday a $150 billion grab bag of measures that include the extension of a raft of expired tax provisions, new farm disaster assistance, an extension of unemployment insurance benefits, and a renewal of COBRA subsides for laid off workers.

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) - Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke will travel to Capitol Hill twice this week to deliver the Fed's semi-annual monetary policy report to Congress.

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) - Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke will travel to Capitol Hill this week to describe the Fed's plans to unwind the central bank's emergency liquidity programs.

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) - In another action-packed week on Capitol Hill, President Obama's economic team will spend much of the week testifying before congressional panels on the administration's 2011 fiscal year budget.

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) - In a week packed with activity, President Obama will travel to Capitol Hill to give his first State of the Union address, the Congressional Budget Office will release its revised 10-year budget and economic report and the Senate will take critical votes to confirm Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke and increase the statutory national debt ceiling.

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) - The Senate returns to Washington this week and will begin what may be an extensive debate on debt limit legislation.

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) - The Senate, after several more days of harsh debate and tough parliamentary maneuvering, is expected to pass sweeping health care legislation by Christmas Eve.

However, it is still unclear when the Senate will follow the House and pass a $290 billion increase in the statutory debt ceiling.