Stephen Lynch News Archives

Some of the nation's top political commentators, legislators and intellectuals offer their insight into the biggest question burning up the blogosphere today.

The early push for union support in the special election for U.S. Senate shows the value some candidates have placed on organized labor's ability to not only drive people to the polls but provide an instant network of campaign volunteers.

The stakes are high in the battle for Massachusetts's first new US senatorship in a quarter-century. This is the seat held by legends from John Quincy Adams to John F. Kennedy, and if won by a Democrat, it would guarantee a filibuster-proof majority at a time when high-profile legislation is in the pipeline.

Representative Niki Tsongas, a Lowell Democrat, is endorsing Attorney General Martha Coakley on Wednesday for the Senate seat formerly held by the late Edward M. Kennedy.

Boston officials are launching a multiyear effort to revitalize the city's industrial port that includes expanding the cruise ship terminal, restoring freight rail service, and rebuilding docks to help compete for lucrative ship repair contracts.

A last-minute amendment to proposed legislation to regulate over-the-counter derivatives has been cut , Financial Times reports.

US Representative Michael E. Capuano tried to distance himself in March from a potential Capitol Hill scandal, donating to charity $64,500 his campaign committee had collected through a high-powered lobbying firm that is the subject of a federal pay-to-play investigation.

Representative Barney Frank's central role in drafting new regulations for the US financial industry has dramatically boosted his power as a political fund-raiser, helping him increase campaign contributions by almost a third more than at this point in the last election cycle.

US Representative Michael Capuano may be trailing Attorney General Martha Coakley in the polls, but he's winning so far among Senate race drop-outs. US Representatives Stephen Lynch and John Tierney, both of whom exited the Senate race before it really began, are giving their backing to their congressional colleague.

Required fields are marked with an asterisk The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications.

The giant boots of Edward Kennedy wait to be filled in the Senate, where the health care reforms he once described as the "cause of his life" might soon require every vote to pass.

Derivatives legislation approved by a U.S. House panel yesterday would prohibit swaps dealers such as Goldman Sachs Group and JPMorgan Chase & Co.

The House Financial Services Committee approved a bill 43 to 26 on Thursday designed to regulate derivatives after last minute additions that will cut into industry profits on such contracts.

October 14, 2009 Wednesday 4:57 PM EST SECTION: NEWS & COMMENTARY; Economy and Politics LENGTH: 1337 words HEADLINE: Key House panel nears vote on financial reform BYLINE: Ronald D. Orol, MarketWatch mailto:rorol@marketwatch.com . Ronald D. Orol is a MarketWatch reporter, based in Washington.

The House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday kicked off its final debate on legislation to strengthen oversight of the complex financial instruments known as derivatives, with a vote expected later Wednesday or Thursday.

Taxing financial transactions on Wall Street is gathering support in high places.

Representative Michael Capuano defended his trips, saying foreign policy knowledge is important and that knowledge is enhanced by meeting with foreign dignitaries.

Attorney General Martha Coakley and US Representative Michael E. Capuano are racing furiously to lock up endorsements from labor unions, a prize more coveted than usual this season because they can provide instant ground organizations in the abbreviated Democratic primary campaign for the Senate seat of the late Edward M. Kennedy.

Key players in the drug pricing debate discussed several options for reducing costs -- ranging from statutory pricing to "carving out" a single prescription drug plan for those enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program -- during a private meeting Tuesday on Capitol Hill.

Credit rating agencies should be subject to greater liability for their actions, according to the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee's Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises.