WASHINGTON-While all eyes were on the auto bailout debate last week, Congress passed a bill to provide federal aid to victims of trafficking both in the United States and abroad, with provisions that downplay the role of law enforcement with trafficking victims.

A 2004 Department of Justice study estimated that between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked in the United States annually, and 600,000 to 800,000 worldwide.

WASHINGTON - Negotiations in the Senate fell apart late Thursday night as Senate Democrats and the Bush administration failed to garner 60 votes to pass legislation for a $14 billion bailout to the auto industry.

Though the House of Representatives passed the bill, the Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell said he did not support it Thursday, which signaled the bailout's almost certain death.

"I dread looking at Wall Street tomorrow," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

WASHINGTON - Though the automakers' bailout appears to face insurmountable challenges in the Senate, the House of Representatives passed legislation in a 237-170 vote Wednesday night to provide the U.S. industry with $14 billion in loans, with the contingency that President Bush would appoint a "car czar" to oversee restructuring in the three companies-Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler.

The Senate plans to vote on the legislation later in the week.

Five Anglican primates from Africa and South America held a meeting with Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, the head of the Anglican Communion, on Friday to discuss the schism in the North American Episcopal Church.

WASHINGTON-Santa showed up late, but President Bush was right on time Thursday night for his final lighting of the National Christmas Tree overlooking the White House, a tradition that drew a crowd of about 3,000 to the Ellipse lawn near the Washington Monument.

Santa's arrival drew more cries of delight from children in the audience than did the president's. After thanking Santa for showing up, President Bush said he and Laura would have time next Christmas to come visit him at the North Pole.

WASHINGTON-Chastised and having driven 525 miles from Detroit in hybrids instead of flying in corporate jets, the top executives of the Big Three U.S. automakers presented renewed pleas to Congress for federal funds to save their companies.

"We're here today because we made mistakes, which we're learning from," General Motors CEO Richard Wagoner told the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday.

WASHINGTON-Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has used up almost half of the $700 billion economic bailout, and one Texas Republican proposes that the other half go back to taxpayers.

Rep. Louie Gohmert has proposed a two-month tax holiday beginning in January 2009 for all Americans-corporations excluded.

"We need to give this money to the people who earned it," said Gohmert in a statement. "I am sick of Washington millionaires trying to decide which of their cronies should get the next wad of taxpayer money."