The Mississippi Department of Employment Security was in jeopardy after a bill reauthorizing the agency died under a deadline Wednesday amid a fight to force Gov. Haley Barbour to accept $56 million in stimulus funding. House Labor Committee Chairman Rufus Straughter, D-Belzoni, didn't bring the bill out for a vote in time to meet a legislative deadline for the House and Senate to act on bills originating in the opposite chamber.

The Senate bill was amended by his committee to insert changes to the agency that would allow Mississippi to become eligible for unemployment compensation from the economic stimulus. Straughter said he didn't present the amended bill because the changes would have been challenged on a technicality on the House floor.

Barbour had initially refused the stimulus money because it would require the state to change its policy on providing benefits to people seeking part-time jobs. [Read the full article]

House Minority Leader John Boehner of Ohio, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, March 4, 2010. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- House GOP leaders are pushing rank-and-file Republicans to break their addiction to pet projects by going cold turkey and giving up the long-cherished practice of directing federal dollars to their home districts.

The move is an election-year appeal to voters frustrated with Washington's free-spending ways and seeks to trump new reforms announced earlier Wednesday by Democratic leaders. Democrats announced they would ban the much-criticized practice of using annual spending bills to direct pet projects to companies that often return the favor with campaign contributions. Democratic leaders considered -- and dismissed -- the idea of a complete earmark ban. [Read the full article]

The Treasury Department sank billions into auto finance giant GMAC Inc. without an exit strategy or proof the company was viable -- a decision that could cost taxpayers $6.3 billion, a new watchdog report says.

The government said the $17.2 billion bailout was a necessary step to save troubled automakers General Motors and Chrysler. GMAC provides critical financing to auto dealers, who borrow to finance their fleets until the cars can be sold to consumers.

Yet GMAC faced far fewer conditions than the bailed-out automakers, the report says. When the automakers were rescued, they were forced into bankruptcy. Shareholders lost their investments, creditors took a hit and executives were forced to detail plans for making the companies viable.

GMAC was treated more like banks that received bailouts without having to explain what they were doing with the money, the report says. [Read the full article]

Homeownership offers many tax benefits. But recently, laws have been modified so that two home-related costs -- private mortgage insurance and property tax payments -- get special treatment at tax-filing time.Bankrate's 2010 Tax GuideTax tips and toolsHow do I ... ?Filing and refundsReal estate and capital gainsFamily and educationOn the jobInvestments and retirementCharitable givingYour state taxes

Real estate taxes have always been part of property ownership, as well as a valuable tax break for owners who itemized. Now some homeowners can add at least a part of their property tax payments into their standard deduction amount.

Another common home cost is private mortgage insurance, or PMI. This PMI is a policy that, as a homebuyer, you pay for, but it protects your lender in case you default. Homebuyers who don't put at least 20 percent down when they purchase a residence usually have to buy PMI. [Read the full article]