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When members of the U.S. Senate went home earlier this month, they left the future of 50 individual and business tax breaks in limbo. All expire at the end of 2009.

Among the disappearing breaks are the research tax credit and an annual alternative minimum tax “patch,” which keeps 23 million additional middle-income Americans from being forced into calculating and paying the dreaded AMT. (For 2009, with the patch in place, 4 million upper-middle- and high-income families will pay AMT.)

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — President Obama is calling on Congress to send another $250 relief payment to 57 million seniors and other Americans to stem the economic strain.

Congress approved $250 emergency payments as part of the $787 billion economic recovery act that lawmakers passed in February.

“Even as we seek to bring about recovery, we must act on behalf of those hardest hit by this recession,” Obama said in a statement Wednesday. “That is why I am announcing my support for an additional $250 in emergency recovery assistance to seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities to help them make it through these difficult times.”

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — As thousands of jobless Americans lose their weekly unemployment checks every day, Congress is still debating who should qualify for a benefits extension.

Two weeks after the House passed an extension, Senate Democrats Thursday introduced a bill to lengthen unemployment insurance by up to 14 weeks in all states. Those living in states with unemployment levels greater than 8.5% would receive an additional six weeks.

The proposal would be funded by extending the longstanding federal unemployment tax levied on employers through June 30, 2011.

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WASHINGTON – The stimulus package Congress passed last night imposes new limits on executive compensation that could significantly curb multimillion dollar pay packages on Wall Street and goes much further than restrictions proposed by the Obama administration last week.

The bill, which President Obama is expected to sign into law next week, limits bonuses for executives at all financial institutions receiving government funds to no more than a third of their annual compensation.

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AP) The Treasury Department said Tuesday it has distributed another $386 million to 23 banks, the first awards from the federal bailout fund since President Barack Obama took office.

The department said the latest capital infusions went to banks in 16 states, bringing the total number of institutions that have been helped to 317.

The new distributions were made Friday and mark the first money from the $700 billion bailout fund distributed since Obama became president last week. Under the law that established the fund, the administration has to publicly disclose its funding actions within two business days after the money is disbursed.