July 24, 2008 -- The oil debate is still on the agenda but progress on oil probably isn’t. The Senate spends the day talking energy, but once again Republicans and Democrats have driven a bill into a procedural ditch. To get out of it they’ll have to agree on how many amendments are allowed on a bill about oil speculation. Democrats are offering Republicans a couple of chances to change the bill. Republicans want more and they say the issue is too important to limit debate.

July 23, 2008 -- The markets watch as Congress wraps up a housing bill that extends an emergency credit line to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Some conservatives complain the bill smells of socialism.

July 22, 2008 -- The Senate is all about oil prices today. Democrats’ have their bill teed up tightening the screws on oil speculators. Senate Leader Harry Reid threatens to keep the Senate around over the weekend to make the Senate vote.

July 21, 2008 -- Oil and gas prices top the agenda in Congress this week. Parties are still divided over more domestic drilling as bills come to the floor in both the House and Senate. Most busy senators wish they could be in two places at once, but tonight Virginia Sen. Jim Webb pulls it off through the magic of television. Webb is set to promote his new book on Comedy Central's Colbert Report and on Charlie Rose on PBS, which at least in the Washington area are on the air simultaneously.

July 18, 2008 -- Rhetorical bombs gets thrown in Congress on oil and gas prices as Republicans want attention on energy, not the VP race. A group of about a dozen House Republicans led by leader John Boehner go on a jaunt, making a case for more domestic drilling.The Senate spends time mulling a bill that takes aim at oil speculators in the commodities markets.