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SEC head prods Congress on derivatives rules (Reuters)

Reuters – The top U.S. securities regulator said market watchdogs need to supervise credit default swaps, securities blamed for exacerbating 2008’s market meltdown and more recently the Greek debt crisis.

King Abdullah Shares Vision for Future of Saudi Arabia in Keynote Address (PR Newswire)

PR Newswire – WASHINGTON, March 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz delivered the keynote address yesterday at the inauguration of the annual session of the Majlis Al-Shura (Consultative Council). His speech addressed a variety of issues, including employment, education, counterterrorism, women’s rights, economic policies, oil prices, the Arab-Israeli conflict and humanitarian aid. The audience included members of the Saudi royal family, foreign diplomats, ministers and senior government officials.

Greece urging US to better regulate hedge funds (AP)

AP – Greece is urging the United States to step up regulation of hedge funds that Athens blames for making Greece’s economic crisis worse.

W.House reserves judgment on consumer watchdog talk (Reuters)

Reuters – The White House said on Tuesday it is reserving judgment on moves by two U.S. senators to make the Federal Reserve the home of a new government watchdog for consumers, pending details of a bill.

Political Economy: Toasting Tax Reform (CQPolitics.com)

CQPolitics.com – Nothing gives tax geeks heart palpitations quite like a proposal to overhaul the income tax code in the manner of the 1986 Tax Reform Act. Nothing Congress has done since has been accorded the same reverence.

Summers: China holdings of U.S. debt fluctuate (Reuters)

Reuters – Top White House adviser Lawrence Summers on Thursday played down the significance of a decline in China’s holdings of U.S. Treasuries.

Obama Hopes NATO Push Fosters Bipartisanship

President Obama is headed to Camp David, where he’ll continue following the progress of U.S. troops in southern Afghanistan. The White House is also hoping for a success story from the front to bolster the president’s bid for greater political cooperation at home. Guest host Gwen Thompkins discusses politics with NPR Senior Washington Editor Ron Elving.

Summers: U.S. economy on mend but has ways to go (Reuters)

Reuters – Top White House economic adviser Lawrence Summers said on Tuesday that the job market was stabilizing but the economy still had a long way to go to return to health.

DEP Plans New Oil and Gas Office in Scranton to Improve Regional Oversight, Response Capabilities (PR Newswire)

PR Newswire – HARRISBURG, Pa., Feb. 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger today announced plans to open a new Oil and Gas Management office in Scranton, Lackawanna County, to improve the agency’s ability to oversee and respond to issues stemming from increased natural gas drilling throughout the region.

SEC Budget Would Increase 11% Under Obama’s Request (Bloomberg)

Bloomberg – Feb. 1 (Bloomberg) — President Barack Obama’s budget would boost U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission funding 11 percent to $1.23 billion to help the agency improve technology and hire staff with expertise in financial products.