WASHINGTON - Days before President-elect Barack Obama is to take the oath of office, Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) and U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) called upon his new administration to help in their effort to withhold federal contracts from those who owe taxes to the federal government. McCaskill and Ellsworth sent a letter highlighting a serious problem in the awarding of government contracts - ironically, the very people who don't pay their taxes are making off with the tax dollars of law-abiding Americans by way of federal contracts.

WASHINGTON - In the aftermath of the worst year of job losses since the 1940s, many Americans are losing more than their paychecks, they're also losing their health insurance. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the American economy shed more than 2.6 million jobs in 2008. As economic conditions deteriorate and employers cut back on hours and benefits to survive, many workers have lost their employer-based insurance or are no longer able to afford private insurance on their own. Yesterday, Congress moved to address the growing problem by reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), which provides health care coverage to children of families with modest means.