SPB News for Wednesday

Obama Will Visit House To Build Budget Support

White House Unveils Mexico Border Security Plan

Geithner grilled on connections to Goldman Sachs

I wanted to sue AIG: Bernanke

Coleman won't rule out federal appeal

Mulls taking his election lawsuit further if he can't reverse Franken lead.

Deputy treasury secretary named

New torture claims link back to Bush years New accounts of torture have been thrown up in the debate over whether the Bush regime should be held to account over its detention policies. Torture allegations have surfaced from a secret document whereby prisoners allege they were held by the CIA at secret locations outside the United States. Last week, The New York Review of Books published excerpts of an International Committee of the Red Cross report that had not been made public. Allegations were made to the ICRC after the men were transferred to Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba in 2006.

Chicago may replace some police patrols with private secrurity They're private security guards, already on patrol, but they may soon have the powers of Chicago Police officers. As CBS 2 reports, the private security officers now on patrol on the city's Far South Side are expected to have their powers expanded as part of a citywide ordinance now being prepared. But officials are questioning whether this means public safety is being outsourced. Mayor Richard M. Daley has already privatized many city functions.

Poland will send 400 more troops to Afghanistan: PM Poland will bolster its 1,600-strong contingent in Afghanistan with 400 more troops to help improve security in the leadup to an August election there, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday. NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said recently the NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Afghanistan will need some 4,000 extra soldiers to secure Afghanistan's presidential poll

WSJ: Obama to Meet Friday With Top Bank CEOs President Barack Obama plans to meet Friday with about a dozen of the U.S.'s top banking chiefs in an unusual gathering designed to discuss the administration's plans to shore up the financial sector. Attendees are expected to include Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS), Morgan Stanley (MS), J. P. Morgan Chase & Co. and Citigroup Inc. (C). The meeting comes as relations between Washington and Wall Street are frayed following last week's furor over bonuses paid to American International Group Inc. (AIG) employees. At the same time, the administration is relying heavily on private investors and Wall Street banks to implement its various rescue programs and needs to repair its relationship.

Obama envoy Holbrooke served on AIG's board Obama administration special envoy Richard Holbooke was on the American International Group Inc. board of directors in early 2008 when the insurance company locked in the bonuses now stoking national outrage. Holbrooke, a veteran diplomat who is now the administration's point man on Pakistan and Afghanistan, served on the board between 2001 and mid-2008.

Stimulus? U.S. to buy Chinese condoms, ending Alabama jobs The U.S. Agency for International Development has distributed an estimated 10 billion U.S.-made AIDS-preventing condoms in poor countries around the world. But not anymore. In a move expected to cost 300 American jobs, the government is switching to cheaper off-shore condoms, including some made in China... The switch comes despite implied assurances over the years that the agency would continue to buy American whenever possible. A USAID official, who spoke on the condition that he would not be named, said the reasons for the change included lower prices and the fact that Congress dropped "buy American language" in a recent appropriations bill.

Senate Confirms Locke's Nomination For Commerce Secretary Senate has approved former Washington Gov. Gary Locke's nomination for U.S. commerce secretary.

Banker: UK can't afford stimulus

Bank of England chief's comment exposes major row with Downing Street.

Specter delivers death blow to labor union bill — Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) announced Tuesday he will oppose card check, giving an apparent death blow to the most important congressional issue to organized labor. — Specter made the dramatic announcement in a floor speech.

Obama Sends to D.C. Superior Court Nominees to the Senate - President Barack Obama has nominated Marisa Demeo and Florence Pan to the D.C. Superior Court, the White House announced Tuesday.