The delay in holding a vote potentially sets up a clash over taxes in Congress's lame-duck session following the election.

WSJ: More Democrats Urge Broad Tax Breaks

Concerns about national security have been a factor in the 20-month delay in holding Williams' inquest, and an agency more used to working in the shadows has had an uncomfortably bright light shone into its practices.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

In April 2009, when talks about saving Chrysler through a bankruptcy filing bogged down, the president faulted bond-holding hedge funds for the delay.

WSJ: Financiers Switch to GOP