UPDATED 12:48 PM EST, February 21, 2013
While the White House and Congress lurch combatively from one budget crisis to the next, another Washington institution has been bolstering the economy steadily and with little fanfare since the 2008 financial crisis began.
And the Federal Reserve seems likely to keep its stimulus pumps running at least awhile longer — although minutes from a recent meeting show growing nervousness among U.S. central bankers over possible long-range harmful consequences, including steep inflation and instability in financial markets.
