So, either James Murdoch has to continue to plead ignorance, opening himself to the charge that he's the sort of guy who writes massive cheques without knowing why or asking questions which could and should have revealed what had really been going on.

BBC: Updates from inside James Murdoch hearing

Still, the decision took the focus off economic growth while also opening up Democrats to the charge they were pumping up the size of government at the wrong time.

WSJ: Lessons of Reagan's Rebound

Opening the debate, Milan Cabrnoch, the MEP in charge of stewarding the report through Parliament, said the new rules would be easier to understand and would offer greater protection for more people in Europe.

BBC: MEPs welcome new social security rules