Government And Institutions

California officials are considering reducing the state's gas tax by 7.5 cents, although consumers may not see a difference at the pump.

Brazilian oil firm Petrobras has now been downgraded to junk bond status by Moody's.

Some lawmakers are pushing proposals to advance nuclear power as part of Washington's future energy mix.

The Wyoming Transportation Commission has awarded contracts totaling $29.5 million for eight projects around the state, including two highway projects to be funded through a 10-cent increase in the state fuel tax.

Interest rates on short-term Treasury bills were mixed in Monday's auction with rates on three-month bills rising to the highest level in five weeks while rates on six-month bills were unchanged.

The Obama administration is proposing tougher restrictions on brokers who manage Americans' retirement accounts, reigniting a confrontation with the financial services industry over rules affecting trillions of dollars in 401k and other savings accounts.

Ohio officials have tweaked questions on a new quiz used by the state to catch phony income-tax returns.

President Barack Obama warned Monday that states will feel the pain of a Homeland Security Department shutdown if Congress can't break an impasse by week's end.

Lawyers, accountants, camp directors and others whose customers would be newly taxed under Republican Gov. Paul LePage's budget plan told lawmakers on Monday that the proposal would drive away business and hurt their bottom lines.

A judge has ordered Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and the state Legislature to put more money into pension funds for retired public workers.

A special inspection is underway after damage to a nuclear reactor under construction in South Carolina, federal regulators said Monday.

The Czech government has approved a plan to cap public debt within a limit set by the European Union.

Some Connecticut taxpayers might receive income tax refunds a few weeks later than expected as state revenue officials verify that fraudulent returns are not being submitted.

About 150 people, businesses and organizations filed written comments on a proposal to increase minimum allowable distance between oil and gas wells and homes in Wyoming from 350 to 500 feet, state Oil and Gas Supervisor Mark Watson said Monday.

The fight over union rights returns to Wisconsin this week.

Commonwealth Edison's customers have been unknowingly contributing millions of dollars to the utility's charities, including politically influential groups and projects that have close ties to company executives.

The rich aren't taxed enough and the middle class is taxed too much.

Several Republican governors are urging GOP congressional leaders to stand firm against legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security if the bill doesn't also overturn President Barack Obama's executive action on immigration.

In a new setback for the health care law and the people it's supposed to help, the government said Friday it made a tax-reporting error that's fouling up the filings of nearly a million Americans.

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