He said Sallie Mae was working with Congress and the Bush administration "to make solutions for lending viable ... The effort has been very pleasantly bipartisan to this point."

Hillenbrand Industries, Inc. announced today that on March 14, 2008, its Board of Directors formally approved the previously announced tax-free spin-off of Batesville Holdings, Inc., to be the post separation holding company for the Batesville Casket funeral service business.