AP - Rep. Charles Rangel emerged from a private meeting with fellow lawmakers Monday night having survived another day as chairman of the House tax-writing committee, despite lingering questions about his personal finances and unpaid taxes on a beach house.

AFP - It took a real-world crisis to wrench the White House race away from lipstick and pigs, with the Wall Street meltdown offering a sudden chance of a breakout moment for Barack Obama or John McCain.

Reuters - The House of Representatives is expected to vote on Tuesday on a comprehensive energy package that would open most of the U.S. coastline to offshore drilling, a Democratic aide said on Monday.

AP - A new set of potential problems in Rep. Charles Rangel's financial papers has prompted the tax-writing lawmaker to decide to hire a forensic accounting expert to try to unravel the mess.

AFP - Wall Street's meltdown sent shockwaves through the White House race, as Barack Obama and John McCain sought a decisive political dividend from the fast-moving crisis just 50 days from the election.

Reuters - The House of Representatives plans to debate legislation this month to inject another $50 billion of stimulus into the faltering U.S. economy, mostly with the goal of creating new jobs, a senior House Democratic aide said on Monday.

AFP - Barack Obama's campaign announced Sunday a record fundraising haul of 66 million dollars in August, amassing a big advantage over John McCain in the closing stretch of the White House race.

Reuters - John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate has given Republican lawmakers new hope of minimizing anticipated losses in the November 4 congressional elections.

AP - Democrats have the money and reach to add substantially to their House majority in November, but public sentiment is moving in Republicans' direction, according to a poll that suggests the GOP could limit those gains.

AP - Even when Rep. Charles Rangel tries to explain how he got into his tax mess, he mangles the facts so much it's easy to see how his accounts — and accountants — are muddled. And this from the lawmaker who has such a big say in determining who pays taxes and how much.

AP - Democrats sought on Saturday to drum up support for compromise legislation on offshore drilling, challenging Republicans to break from Bush administration policies that neglect development of alternative energy sources.