President Barack Obama#39;s appointments to two key agencies during the Senate#39;s year-end break ensures that GOP senators will return to work Monday in an angry and fighting mood.

SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio (AP) -- Defying Republican lawmakers, President Barack Obama on Wednesday barreled by the Senate and installed a national consumer watchdog on his own, provoking GOP threats of a constitutional showdown in the courts.

WASHINGTON — If President Barack Obama, the House and the Senate all want to extend a Social Security payroll tax cut and jobless benefits through next year, why are they fighting so bitterly over doing it? Obama, House Democrats and lopsided majorities of both parties in the Senate want to immediately renew the tax cut and jobless benefits for the next two months, and find a way later to extend ...

The president is stuck in Washington, DC, until Congress resolves its payroll tax extension standoff. Samantha Stainburn Having delayed his vacation in Hawaii until Congress resolves the payroll tax extension standoff, President Barack Obama is using some of his extra time in Washington to finish his Christmas present shopping. More from GlobalPost: Payroll tax cut: No vacation for Senate until ...

US President Barack Obama faced a new political battle Monday after the top Republican in the House of Representatives rejected a two-month payroll tax cut extension already approved by the Senate.