<div><p>WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate panel dismissed ethics charges against two powerful Democrats Friday but said the lawmakers should have exercised greater care in their personal dealings with Countrywide Financial Corp.</p><p>Senators Chris Dodd and Kent Conrad committed no ethical violations in obtaining loans from the troubled ...

<div id="subtitle">Watchdog group asks Senate Ethics Committee and FEC to investigate Ensign affair</div><div><p>A watchdog group alleged Wednesday that Sen. John Ensign violated the Senate's ethics rules by engaging in an affair with a campaign aide who was married to his administrative assistant, then terminating their ...

<div id="subtitle">INSIDE WASHINGTON: Open government has its limits when it comes to lawmakers' finances</div><div><p>As the government spends billions bailing out cash-strapped businesses and homeowners, Americans might wonder whether their lawmakers are refinancing their own mortgages or benefiting from relief they backed.</p><p ...

<div id="subtitle">Love and marriage: Political spouses visible, vulnerable to rough campaign world</div><div><p>Political spouses increasingly are finding little public love to go with marriage.</p><p>The husbands and wives of elected officials long have been considered fair game, especially those in high-profile ...