Senate

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Reid, McConnell May Weaken Filibuster Reform

Senior senators hold private talks ahead of new Congress

(Newser) - Looks like filibuster reform won't be all that sweeping, after all. Junior Democratic senators—including Tom Udall of New Mexico—are pushing to revamp the rules to prevent what they say is Republican obstruction, but the Senate leadership of both parties looks ready to water down any changes, reports Talking...

Harry Reid May Rewrite Filibuster Rules

Democrats complain current system is being abused

(Newser) - Harry Reid is pushing forward with a plan to reform the filibuster procedure in the Senate—and at least make it harder for Republicans to gum up the works with the mere threat of one, reports the Washington Post . Nothing's guaranteed, of course, but all returning Democratic senators are on...

Senate Ratifies Nuclear Arms Treaty
Senate Ratifies
Nuclear Arms Treaty
Dec 22, 2010 2:17 PM CST

Senate Ratifies Nuclear Arms Treaty

Obama gets his top foreign policy goal with 71-26 vote

(Newser) - The Senate today ratified the much-debated nuclear arms control treaty with Russia, giving President Obama a major foreign policy win in the closing hours of the postelection Congress. Thirteen Republicans broke with their top two leaders and joined 56 Democrats and two independent in providing the necessary two-thirds vote to...

Lawmaker: McCain Killed Soldier Counseling

Measure sought to provide Reserve soldiers with more help

(Newser) - Prompted by the suicide of a young soldier, a Democratic representative tried to pass legislation to get more counseling and resources to Reserve members—and he blames John McCain for quashing it. “I know for a fact, because he told me, that Sen. McCain doesn't support it,” New...

Congress Protects Sharks Against 'Finning'

Measure bans hunt to satisfy Asia's taste for soup

(Newser) - Both the House and Senate have approved new protections for sharks, effectively outlawing the practice of "finning"—in which the shark is killed for its fin and the rest of the body discarded, reports the Washington Post . Thanks to big demand for shark fin soup in Asia, the...

Nuclear Arms Treaty Clears Biggest Senate Hurdle

Vote to end debate makes passage all but certain tomorrow

(Newser) - It looks like President Obama's full-court press on the New Start treaty will give him his top foreign policy priority of the year. The Senate today voted 67-28 to end debate on the nuclear arms pact with Russia, all but assuring final passage tomorrow. Democrats needed at least nine Republicans...

GOP Support Grows Ahead of START Vote

Scott Brown is on board; Corker, Gregg likely

(Newser) - Things were looking bleak yesterday for the New START arms treaty—but that was yesterday. Following a closed-door meeting, GOP Sen. Scott Brown said he’d vote for the treaty and two other Republicans said they would likely support it, giving supporters enough votes to push it through as voting...

Senate Passes Food Safety Bill in Surprise Vote

Revised measure passes by unanimous consent

(Newser) - The Senate surprised the political world by passing a revision to its food safety bill last night by unanimous consent. The Senate originally passed the bill 73-25 , but it had been in limbo thanks to a technical snafu that stepped on the House’s constitutional tax-writing powers. Democrats scrambled to...

Democrats' New Hero (for a Day): Joe Lieberman

He draws raves for his efforts to get 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' repealed

(Newser) - Democrats' love-hate relationship with Joe Lieberman is definitely on the warm and fuzzy side today after his legislative maneuvering to get Don't Ask, Don't Tell repealed. Lieberman, the Democrat-turned-independent who campaigned for John McCain, was all thumbs-ups and smiles after his role in helping secure the necessary Republican votes. “...

Repeal of 'Don't Ask' Clears Huge Senate Hurdle
Repeal of 'Don't Ask'
Clears Huge Senate Hurdle
breaking news
Dec 18, 2010 10:59 AM CST

Repeal of 'Don't Ask' Clears Huge Senate Hurdle

Ban on gays in the military is expected to fall today or tomorrow

(Newser) - The military's 17-year-old ban on gays in the military is all but dead. Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell cleared its crucial 60-vote procedural hurdle in the Senate today and is expected to easily pass in the final vote later today, reports AP . The vote to kill a GOP filibuster...

Immigrant DREAM Act Fails in Senate
Immigrant DREAM Act
Fails in Senate
Dec 18, 2010 10:38 AM CST

Immigrant DREAM Act Fails in Senate

Bill would have granted legal status to illegal immigrant students

(Newser) - Despite an intense campaign by Latino leaders and President Obama, the DREAM Act has fizzled in the Senate. The measure to give illegal immigrant students a path to citizenship fell five votes short of the necessary 60 votes to stave off a GOP filibuster, reports AP . Opponents generally said it...

Senate Could Kill 'Don't Ask' This Weekend

Supporters confident of 60 votes; spending bill fails

(Newser) - The Senate will begin voting on the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell tomorrow, and supporters think they've got the 60 votes necessary. The new confidence comes with news that three GOP senators—Scott Brown, Lisa Murkowski, and Olympia Snowe—are on board. Some legislative juggling remains, but the collapse...

Hoyer: Senate Has Votes to Kill DADT

Majority leader says stand-alone repeal will pass

(Newser) - The House has fired the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell back into the Senate's court , and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer says he's confident it has enough votes to pass this time. Hoyer tells the Huffington Post that he's been working closely with reform advocates Joe Lieberman and Maine...

Senate's Fight Over Christmas Schedule Still Going

'Sacrilegious,' says Jim DeMint; 'Sanctimonious,' says Harry Reid

(Newser) - The Senate may be too busy to get done everything it needs to get done by Christmas, but senators aren't too busy to argue about working the holiday. Today's latest, from Politico :
  • Jim DeMint: “We shouldn’t be jamming a major arms control treaty up against Christmas; it’s
...

Earmarks' Last Hurrah: Bill Stuffed With $8B

John McCain, others speak out against spending bill

(Newser) - Well, don’t say goodbye to earmarks just yet: A $1.2 trillion spending bill released yesterday has more than 6,000 earmarks—adding up to $8 billion. "The American people said just 42 days ago, 'Enough!' … Are we tone deaf? Are we stricken with amnesia?" asked...

Reid: Senate Can Work Past Christmas

GOP accuses Reid of dissing holiday

(Newser) - Senators dreaming of Christmas turkey should be thinking more about lame duck, Harry Reid warns. The majority leader says that after the tax cut deal is passed, he wants to address the START treaty, the DREAM Act, health care for 9/11 first responders, and the Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal,...

Tax Cut Deal Garners 60 Votes in Senate

Measure could go to House tomorrow

(Newser) - Legislation to avert a Jan. 1 increase in US income tax rates has gained 60 votes in the Senate, the level needed to advance toward a final vote. The roll call is continuing, and the test vote is not final. But the bipartisan show of support is a strong indication...

Inside Bernie Sanders' Epic 8.5-Hour Speech

Senator was 'nervous,' feared nature would call

(Newser) - Sen. Bernie Sanders was “a little bit nervous” before his over-the-top 8 1/2-hour speech against President Obama's tax deal on Friday. “I was afraid that after two or three hours I’d have nothing more to say or I’d be tired or have to go to the...

Senate Will Try Again on Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Collins, Lieberman will introduce another measure

(Newser) - Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell will get another chance. Republican Susan Collins and Independent Joe Lieberman say they plan to introduce a stand-alone measure in the lame-duck session, and Harry Reid says he's on board, reports MSNBC . It's no gimme by any stretch—opponents could try to talk it...

Senate Will Consider 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Tonight

It's likely make-or-break time for repeal this year

(Newser) - Tonight will be a pivotal night in determining whether Don't Ask, Don't Tell will be repealed this year. Harry Reid plans to introduce a defense spending bill that includes repeal of the ban on gays in the military, though it remains unclear even now whether he's got the necessary 60...

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