Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'dollars'

Deficit Projections Spur Debt Fears

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST

The Congressional Budget Office is predicting a $1.2 trillion federal deficit for 2009, a record both in dollars and as a percentage of the gross domestic product. Many people are concerned high deficits will push overall debt levels dangerously high.

Obama To Deliver Major Economic Address

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:00:00 EST

President-elect Obama suggests his economic stimulus package would add up to about $775 billion over two years, but not the trillion dollar estimate that some economists have called for. Obama delivers a major speech on the economy Thursday. He's expected to make the case for urgent action on his stimulus package — a plan aimed at creating millions of jobs.

Obama Appoints Officer To Oversee Spending

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST

President-elect Barack Obama announced Wednesday the latest appointees to his administration, including an officer to oversee government spending — a position that will take on new importance with the $300 billion dollar stimulus package.

Obama Asks Congress To Approve Billions

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST

With unemployment through the roof, foreclosure rates at an all-time high and a wildly fluctuating stock market, President-elect Barack Obama is asking Congress to approve hundreds of billions of dollars in new government spending.

Judge Urged To Jail Madoff Without Bail

Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:00:00 EST

Prosecutors in New York are asking a judge to put Bernard Madoff behind bars without bail. They told the judge Monday that the disgraced financier had violated bail conditions by mailing about a million dollars worth of jewelry and other assets to relatives. At about the same time in Washington, a House hearing got underway on how the alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme Madoff is accused of running eluded regulators.

Why Couldn't Regulators Bust Madoff...

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST

Regulators investigated Bernard Madoff's investment fund at least eight times before the scheme was exposed. And Wall Street firms have advised against dealing with him for years. We explore why regulators were unable to bust the scheme before dozens of people lost billions of dollars.

IRS Sends Confusing Letters To Detroit Man

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 05:41:00 EST

James Howarth of Detroit has a new pen pal — the Internal Revenue Service. First came a letter in November. The IRS said Howarth owed a nickel and should pay up or face additional penalties or interest. Then came the second letter. Howarth told the Detroit Free Press that letter said the IRS owed him four cents. That letter said Howarth won't get the money back automatically since it's less than a dollar. Howarth called an IRS toll free number to sort it out. But after waiting on hold for a long time, he gave up.

Disgraced Investors Stolen Statue Returned

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 06:07:00 EST

Bernard Madoff was robbed. The Wall Street investor is accused of making billions of dollars disappear in an alleged Ponzi scheme. And now we know that somebody made off with a statue from his Florida estate. It was a copper statue, worth $10,000 dollars. After they took it, the mysterious robbers brought it back. And they attached a note: "Lesson: Return stolen property to rightful owners."

Economists Duke It Out Over Stimulus Plan

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 06:00:00 EST

Economists often disagree about ways to solve economic problems. Two economists duke it out in a boxing match of words. In one corner, a supporter of the incoming Obama administration's stimulus plan who says government spending is essential to create jobs. In the other corner, an economist who believes taxpayers — not the federal government — should decide where to spend a trillion dollars of the nation's economy.

Prisons Excluded From DTV Coupon Programs

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:43:00 EST

Prisons are excluded from legislation giving millions of dollars to television viewers for coupons to cut the cost of a converter box for digital television. TV is crucial for cash-strapped, under-staffed prisons, many of which rely on analog television sets to keep prisoners occupied.

Wisc. Web Site Puts State Capitol In Minneapolis

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 06:03:00 EST

Wisconsin's Government Accountability Board is having to account for why its new Web site shows the state capitol in Madison in front of the Minneapolis skyline. An ethics officer explains that the Minneapolis skyline is a placeholder until an image of Madison that isn't copyrighted is found. The board didn't explain why the outside company it paid a million dollars to design the web site couldn't just take a picture.

Shipment Shows Dark Side Of Foreign Puppy Mills

Fri, 26 Dec 2008 00:01:00 EST

Purebred dogs go for top dollar in pet stores around the country, but buyers of cute, cuddly puppies may not know that some come from unregulated breeding mills overseas. In Los Angeles, one recent shipment of dead and ailing puppies from South Korea got the city's attention.

Billionaire Bails Out L.A. Museum

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST

In Los Angeles, the financially troubled Museum of Contemporary Art gets a bailout from billionaire arts patron Eli Broad. He'll match donor funding dollar-for-dollar up to $15 million and will also give MOCA $3 million a year for exhibits over the next five years.

Wal-Mart To Settle Class Action Lawsuits

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 06:00:00 EST

Wal-Mart says it has settled 63 wage and hour abuse lawsuits against the company. The world's largest retailer says the total to be paid depends on the amount of claims submitted by class members, but it could go up to as much as 640 million dollars.

Obama's Highway Plans Face Funding Roadblock

Wed, 24 Dec 2008 00:01:00 EST

President-elect Obama has big plans for the nation's crumbling roads and bridges. But with people driving less and fewer gas-tax dollars coming in, where will the money come from? That's just one of the questions looming as Obama and Congress get set to overhaul transportation policy.

Madoff Scammed Jewish Charities Out Of Millions

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST

Bernard Madoff scammed more than just primary investors. Hard-hit Jewish charities won't be able to fund many causes because of million-to-billion-dollar losses. CEO of Physicians for Human Rights, Frank Donaghue, discusses how his organization is coping with a tremendous loss in funds.

What Are Banks Doing With Bailout Money...

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST

With oversight next to nonexistent, many banks are refusing to disclose what they're doing with billions of tax payer dollars. We explore how TARP dollars are being spent and why no one is keeping track.

Recycling Suddenly Gets Expensive

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST

The market for recyclables is down sharply with shrinking demand from factories for raw material. In Seattle, the municipal recycling program that brought in millions of dollars each year may now end up costing money instead.

More Help, New Hopes For Chrysler

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST

Canada will join the U.S. in loaning billions of dollars to struggling automakers General Motors and Chrysler. But a worker at one Chrysler plant in Detroit remains optimistic, even as his plant shuts down for a month.

Do Automakers Have To Make Concessions...

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:04:00 EST

President Bush says the U.S. will provide $17.4 billion dollars in short-term loans to automakers. The loans go to GM and Chrysler — not Ford, which says it can do without for now. The automakers will have to make some concessions. The president described these as short-term loans — which could be called back in a few months if the automakers fail to change.

Subtle Wording Keeps Banks From Going Under

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 06:00:00 EST

One of the crucial moments in the economic crisis came last month when Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced the government would help banks by purchasing billions of dollars of their stock. Paulson had previously opposed the idea but some people credit it with preventing financial collapse. Paulson only had authority to buy that stock because of some subtle wording that made it into the bailout bill.

What Do You Do Once Your House Is Foreclosed...

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST

The Wazadally family will likely be foreclosed on early next month. With just $22,000 dollars in annual income, bankers gave the Wazadallys a $550,000 home loan earlier this year. Meanwhile, the Hope for Homeowners program has failed.

Obama To Name Mary Schapiro As SEC Chief

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 08:44:00 EST

President-elect Obama on Thursday is expected to name Mary Schapiro to head the Securities and Exchange Commission, an agency that has been the focus of criticism in recent weeks for apparently failing to act on questionable practices that may have cost investors billions of dollars.

Company Behind Chrysler Maintains Privacy

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST

Cerberus is the private equity firm that owns most of automaker Chrysler. The company is private and makes no financial disclosures to anyone, including Congress. It has said it won't put any more of its own dollars in Chrysler, but it still wants taxpayer help.

Minority Banks See Clients Through Tough Times

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:00:00 EST

Although the federal government is pouring billions of dollars into the nation's banks, minority-owned financial institutions serving African-American and Latino communities face their own unique challenges, such as higher unemployment rates and less access to credit. Bill Cunningham, of Creative Investment Research and Luis Pastor, of the Latino Community Credit Union, discuss helping their clients through economic crisis.