WASHINGTON — With the 2009 hurricane season now underway, the Internal Revenue Service encourages individuals and businesses to safeguard themselves by taking a few simple steps.

WASHINGTON – Taxing workers for employer-provided medical benefits could become the next big controversy for President Barack Obama in his quest to overhaul the nation's health care system.

With federal spending in 2009 at 28% of the economy and deficits heading north, Democrats are eyeing tax increases on everything from soft drinks to electricity to health benefits to charitable contributions. But the palm for creativity goes to the Internal Revenue Service, which is contemplating a new tax on the use of business cellphones.

By NICK TIMIRAOS.- Worried that rising mortgage rates could damp the prospects for a housing recovery, a business group is making a new push for Congress to boost and extend a home-buyer tax credit.

By SARAH E. NEEDLEMAN.- Employers may be scaling back on layoffs, according to a new survey of large companies, but that doesn't mean an end to the pain for workers, as employers say they plan to introduce plenty of other cost-cutting measures.