A new 'national bank' plan by the Federal Reserve will allow the government to lend out up to 800 billion more dollars to banks and businesses.
This is just the latest attempt to bail out the failing financial system in the US.
KBOO's Jenka Soderberg spoke with Mark Weisbrot of the Center for Economic and Policy Research about the economic crisis, and Obama's planned response.
 

Governor Ted Kulongoski unveils his budget on Monday, December 1, and already, rumors suggest it will include across-the-board trim for state departments, reflecting the economic downturn.
But with unemployment and use of social services at record highs in Oregon, charitable organizations say it’s no time for cutbacks in the types of assistance that keep vulnerable families afloat, and could help the economy as well.
Crystal Leighty has more, in collaboration with the Oregon News Service:
 

In Portland, a protest was held Saturday as part of a national effort to mobilize for equal rights for gay, lesbian and transgender couples.
KBOO’s Rebecca Nay spoke with protest organizer Lindsey Asher. 
 

The US Congress is considering a bailout of the top three car manufacturers in the U.S. - General Motors, Ford and Chrysler.
While some unions favor the bailout as a way to save their jobs, others have called for this crisis to be turned into a real opportunity for change in the transportation infrastructure of the country.
Mark Brenner is the head of the Detroit-based periodical 'Labor Notes'.
 

This morning US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson announced that some of the massive bailout package could be used to help consumers.
In his remarks, Paulson acknowledged that the bailout hasn’t delivered what he promised, when he asked Congress for the money last month.
He tried to make the case for the continuation of bank buyouts, but decided against the government buying devalued mortgages.
Dedrick Muhammed, with the Institute for Policy Studies, believes that what Paulson proposes is just more of the same.
 

 Joe Uris hosts. The 14th amendment requires states to provide equal protection under the law to all persons. Does that include marriage? Gay marriage? What is marriage? What should the rules be? What are the rights of conservatives? Call in with your opinion.

Since the so-called "welfare reform" bill was passed during the Clinton administration, the problem of welfare has dropped from public view.  Old Mole Sudarat Musikawong interviews Priya Kandaswamy, Professor of Women's Studies at Portland State University about how the difficulties  of  life on, or off, welfare affect poor  women, especially those in abusive relationships.