Click on photo to enlarge or download: Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner appears before the House Budget committee Thursday to testify about the president's budget. Geithner aggressively defended the administration's policies and compared them unfavorably to policies offered by GOP lawmakers. SHFWire photo by Frank BumbWASHINGTON - Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner attempted to deflect criticism of the president's budget by taking aim at Republican proposals and policies.

 Click on photo to enlarge or download: Tribal representatives ask for less federal involvement in oil and gas leases on their land. From left, Irene Cuch, Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council; Fred Fox, MHA Nation; Tara Sweeney, Indian-owned Arctic Slope Regional Corp., and Randall King, Shinnecock Nation Board of Trustees. SHFWire photo by Robin SiteneskiWASHINGTON – Indian tribes want to take over regulation of oil and gas exploration on their land from the federal government, tribal representatives told a House committee Wednesday.

 Click on photo to enlarge or download: Jeffrey Zients, left, acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., chairman of the House Budget Committee, greet each other before the committee hearing. The pleasantries were swiftly discarded as the two sparred over the President’s budget proposal. SHFWire photo by Frank BumbWASHINGTON - The meeting began amicably enough, with handshakes, welcomes and appreciation. But the battle of words between House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., and acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, Jeffrey Zients, quickly heated up.

Click on photo to enlarge or download: Reps. Randy Neugebauer, R-Texas, with Michael E. Capuano, D-Mass., to his left, questions Richard Cordray, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director, about the bureau’s records at a House subcommittee meeting Wednesday. SHFWire Photo by Jordain CarneyWASHINGTON - Some House Republicans questioned what they called a lack of oversight for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at a hearing Wednesday.

Click on photo to enlarge or download: Newt Gingrich was the last speaker of the day. He praised conservative policies to hundreds of people in the audience and said he will start getting rid of Obama’s policies as soon as he takes office. SHFWire photo by Robin SiteneskiWASHINGTON: The Marriott Wardman Park Hotel was turned into conservative nirvana Friday during the Conservative Political Action Conference. Three of the Republican presidential candidates spoke to the crowd, all but Ron Paul.

 Click on photo to enlarge or download: Lee Edwards, left, who wrote a biography of William F. Buckley Jr., joins Alvin Felzenberg, presidential historian, and Rich Lowry, editor of the National Review, at CPAC on Friday to discuss Buckley’s legacy. SHFWire photo by Frank BumbWASHINGTON - William F. Buckley Jr. may no longer be a physical presence at the Conservative Political Action Conference, but his legacy remains for many conservatives.

WASHINGTON - A new definition of homelessness could expand the number of children and teenagers eligible for aid.

 Click on photo to enlarge or download: President Barack Obama used Joey Hudy’s Extreme Marshmallow Cannon during the White House Science Fair on Tuesday. The 14-year-old boy said he likes to build things but had never built anything “this serious.” SHFWire photos by Robin SiteneskiWASHINGTON – In an unusual day at the office for a president, Barack Obama played with robots and talked to children instead of Cabinet secretaries or foreign ministers.

 Click on photo to enlarge or download: Howard University student Diamond Young laughs as she and other students from Howard, American and George Washington universities participate in the “Cram the (Nissan) Cube” Contest. They were able to cram 20 people into the vehicle. SHFWire Photo by Jessica SabbahWASHINGTON – Glittering and sparkling like jewels under bright lights, the latest and greatest vehicles of the auto industry drew hundreds of people to the Washington Auto Show on a weekday afternoon.

 Click on photo to enlarge or download: Tara Marks speaks about her personal experiences before and after she began receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Listening are Donna Cooper, left, and Elise Gould joined her to support the program at a press conference Thursday. SHFWire photo by Elijah HeringtonWASHINGTON – Contrary to recent comments made by Republican presidential hopefuls about the overuse of food stamps, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program does serve both as an economic and social safety net.