Financial meltdowns, bailouts, credit crisis, recession, depression..These are the headlines we hear everyday now. We get it, our economy is in trouble. So, what can we do to help turn it around?

Democratic leaders in Congress want the Big Three automakers to present a plan showing the money will make them financially viable.

Top executives testified again Wednesday on Capitol Hill but the action is going on behind the scenes.

Auto executives told a Senate panel yesterday and will tell a House committee today that if their companies fail, other businesses will also be pulled under, resulting in the loss of millions of jobs.

A judge has refused to immediatly block payments for an $18 million settlement for the former CEO of South Carolina’s largest publicly traded bank, but also did not toss out a shareholder’s lawsuit over the agreement.

It was the first time Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson faced lawmakers in public since he announced he would not be using the bailout money to buy bad debt as he’d promised.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson told Congress Tuesday that the administration remains firmly opposed to dipping into the government’s $700 billion financial bailout fund to provide the
Big Three automakers the $25 billion rescue they are seeking.

The chief executives of GM, Ford and Chrysler go before the Senate Banking Committee today—ahead of this week’s vote on a Democratic plan to provide their companies $25 billion in loans.

The Bush administration has informed top lawmakers it does not intend to use at least half the $700 billion bailout fund that Congress approved this fall to aid the financial industry.

Obama is also expected to announce cabinet positions this week with Hillary Clinton a possibility for Secretary of State.

The White House says it supports aid for struggling automakers, but believes it should not come from the $700 billion financial system rescue fund.

GM, Ford and Chrysler are seeking $25 billion in emergency loans from the financial industry bailout package.

Internal power struggles will also play out in both parties.

Sen. Chris Dodd suggests it would be better to wait until President-elect Barack Obama and a new Congress are sworn in.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said Wednesday that the $700 billion government rescue program will not be used to purchase troubled assets as originally planned.