In other news, the House voted overwhelmingly to rein in credit card companies, and the Senate defeated a measure to give homeowners relief in federal bankruptcy court. In Iraq, British troops handed command of Basra to U.S. forces.

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In other news, the Senate voted to confirm Kathleen Sebelius as the next secretary of Health and Human Services, and lawmakers reached a pact that would endorse President Obama's budget agenda.

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Five-term Republican Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania said Tuesday that he plans to change parties, explaining that he finds his "political philosophy more in line with Democrats than Republicans."…

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After the release of new details on the approval of harsh U.S. interrogation tactics, two lawmakers weigh in on whether any of the officials involved should be investigated.

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Gen. David Petraeus testified before a Senate panel Wednesday about the Obama administration's new strategy for the Afghan-Pakistan region. Sens. Carl Levin and Susan Collins give their perspectives.

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Congressional Democrats outlined plans Wednesday to scale back the Obama administration's budget plan as the president visited Capitol Hill to drum up support. Reporters examine the politics at play.

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President Obama signed a $410 billion spending bill Wednesday, despite the fact that the bill contains the kind of earmarks he decried on the campaign trail. Congress watcher Norman Ornstein examines the issue.

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Facing criticism from some lawmakers, government officials defended their economic recovery plans. Kwame Holman reports.

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In other news, the Labor Department reported that U.S. jobless claims rose to their highest levels since 1982 and markets fell on concerns that medical and drug companies would lose money under the president's new health care budget.

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Accused Wall Street investor Bernard Madoff may not have bought securities for customers in 13 years, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for pragmatic diplomacy in China.

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