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As foreclosures continue to rise, regulators and others are questioning the role of credit agencies, which gave top ratings to risky mortgage-backed securities. Critics say the system, in which firms are paid by the companies they rate, is inherently flawed.

The U.S. rating agency Moody's announced Thursday morning more downgrades are on the horizon — this time for nearly 20 global banks and dozens of additional European firms. Names like Morgan Stanley and UBS could see their long-term credit ratings affected. It's another indicator of the wide reach of Europe's debt crisis.

As the "fiscal cliff" nears, Morning Edition evaluates some of the deductions and credits that are in the tax code. As part of our 12 Days of Tax Deductions, David Greene examines the Adoption Tax Credit, which supports families who adopt children from foster care, as well as infant and international adoptions.

Several states have embraced a new way to fund school choice: tax credits that pay for scholarships to private schools. The scholarships are popular with school choice advocates, but even some supporters say the program may be open to abuse.

Many small-business owners have had a tough time securing credit since the start of the economic downturn. "I couldn't understand why they wouldn't be willing to give us a loan," one owner says. A new website aims to help such owners, grading banks based on the percentage of deposits that are used for small-business loans.

The Argentine government has hired a private plane for an upcoming trip for President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner. They fear that creditors would try to have the official government plane, Tango 01, seized in an effort to collect debts owed to them by the Argentina government. Melissa Block talks with Shane Romig, a foreign correspondent for Dow Jones News Service and the Wall Street Journal, for more on the story.

Lehman Brothers' decision to declare bankruptcy has rocked Wall Street. Bob Lenzner, national editor at Forbes magazine, says he feels like he's watching a boxing match because there have been many rounds of financial failures beginning with the subprime market. He believes the credit crisis is not over yet.

"Without Romneycare, I don't think we would have Obamacare," the 2012 GOP presidential nominee admits in an obituary remembering his friend Staples founder Thomas Stemberg.

According to figures released by Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus, Americans' credit ratings vary significantly by region. South Dakotans boast the best scores, Texans the worst. Hear NPR's Steve Inskeep and Beth Kobliner, author of Get A Financial Life.

Some clean energy jobs will disappear from the Pacific Northwest in 2013. Industry leaders say that’s a consequence of letting a wind tax credit expire on…