This week the House Appropriations Committee approved $153 million worth of legislative earmarks. Commentator Amity Shlaes says such funding certainly isn't new. There's a lot of history behind the pork barrel.

Today the Senate Education Committee voted to reauthorize the Higher Education Act. Jeremy Hobson has a report card for what the proposed changes would mean for student loan lenders large and small.

The Senate Finance Committee today is scheduled to vote on legislation that would rev up research into green energy at the expense of the oil industry. Rachel Dornhelm reports.

Both Democrats and Republicans are working to make their 2008 national conventions the greenest ever. It may be all about appealing to voters, but regardless of motivation, activists happily point out, the environment wins. Jill Barshay reports.