November 13, 2007

Earlybird Roundup: Spending Impasse, 'Hidden Costs' Of Wars

Washington. President Bush rejected a written request from Democratic congressional leaders to discuss the spending impasse and show "some willingness to find common ground."

Military. A new study from congressional Democrats that tallies the "hidden costs" of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, such as higher gas prices and interest payments on borrowed funding, shows they total about $1.5 trillion.

Iraq. Turkish troops launched an airstrike across the border with Iraq today, using helicopter gunships to fire on villages near a Kurdish town.

Administration. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will travel to Africa today to discuss economic policy, and he may face criticism over U.S. currency policy.

Nation. Wal-Mart, the nation's largest private employer, is planning to overhaul its health care benefits for employees.

See Earlybird (subscription) for more of this morning's headlines.

Posted at 8:30 AM
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