Senate

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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...

Joe Lieberman: End DADT, Even if We Have to Stay Late

Senator believes 'wanting to go home is not an excuse'

(Newser) - Joe Lieberman is determined to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell —even if he has to work overtime to do it. The senator recently tweeted a link to a blog post recommending that Harry Reid keep the Senate in session until it ends DADT, and his press secretary...

Schumer Turns Attack Dog for Dems
 Schumer Turns 
 Attack Dog 
 for Dems 
analysis

Schumer Turns Attack Dog for Dems

No more 'throwing up our hands,' says NY sen.

(Newser) - Sen. Charles Schumer has been quiet the past few years, with the onetime attack dog turning to bipartisan dealmaking. Now he’s among the Democratic Senate leadership—and as Congress wages war over taxes, he’s resumed his old role as a firebrand, writes Manu Raju for Politico . Over the...

Senate Rejects Democrats' Tax Bills
Senate Rejects Democrats'
Tax Moves

Senate Rejects Democrats' Tax Moves

Expected defeats come as negotiators work on compromise

(Newser) - In a largely symbolic move, Senate Democrats tried unsuccessfully today to push through two measures related to the Bush tax cuts. The first would have extended the expiring cuts to individuals making less than $200,000 a year, and the second would have hit millionaires, reports the Wall Street Journal...

Senate Screw Up Derails Food Safety Bill

House set to send the bill back

(Newser) - House Democrats plan to spike the food safety bill their Senate counterparts trumpeted about passing yesterday , arguing that the upper chamber has stepped on its constitutional authority to create new taxes. The Senate bill includes a set of fees that are classified as revenue raisers, which are technically considered taxes,...

Senate Passes Huge Food Safety Bill

New law would bolster FDA's ability to regulate unsafe foods

(Newser) - The Senate passed a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s food safety rules today, with 15 Republicans joining Democrats in a 73-25 vote. The bill, which is in part a reaction to the tainted egg, peanut butter, and spinach scandals of the recent past, gives the FDA a lot more...

Locavores Say Food Safety Bill Could Hurt Small Farms

Michael Pollen, Eric Schlosser want protections

(Newser) - A major food safety bill cleared a Senate hurdle today, but it's getting friction from a group you might not expect: locavores. They want small family farms to be exempt from the sweeping new regulations and are pushing for an amendment to that effect from Montana Democrat Jon Tester. Two...

GOP Feuds Over Senate Losses
 GOP Feuds Over Senate Losses 
ELECTION 2010

GOP Feuds Over Senate Losses

DeMint's tactics cost party a majority, senators complain

(Newser) - While their counterparts in the House are celebrating a historic win, Senate Republicans are pointing fingers over their failure to recapture the chamber. Some prominent senators and party operatives blame Sarah Palin and South Carolina's Jim DeMint for helping candidates too conservative to win gain the GOP nominations in Colorado,...

Alvin Greene Still With Us— as Comic Superhero

Failed Senate candidates fights foreclosures in 'Ultimate Warrior'

(Newser) - Those saddened by the departure of Alvin Greene from the national stage can take solace—he's still around as a comic book superhero. Greene spent much of his election night party after the loss to Jim DeMint talking up the Ultimate Warrior, his comic book alter ego who uses super-human...

Gawker: O'Donnell's a Hypocrite Prude

Site defends candidate sex romp story

(Newser) - Gawker has launched a spirited defense of its decision to print a controversial story about a booze-fueled near-sex romp by "reborn virgin" Christine O'Donnell. The wanna-be Delaware senator's personal life is legitimate fodder for media scrutiny because O'Donnell "lies about who she is," and "tells that...

Durbin, Schumer Jockeying for Reid's Majority Post

Senators quietly maneuvering to move in if leader goes down

(Newser) - Capitol Hill housemates Charles Schumer and Richard Durbin are likely to end up fighting over a lot more than the breakfast cereal if Harry Reid loses his re-election battle. The senators from New York and Illinois, Reid's top two deputies, are subtly building support for bids to become majority leader—...

More Than Half of Senators Are Millionaires

And Max Baucus, Debbie Stabenow out of the red

(Newser) - If you’re looking for a recession-proof job, try running for Senate. The combined personal fortunes of the upper chamber members rose 4% to $680 million last year, according to financial disclosure information reviewed by Roll Call . More than half of all senators, 54 lawmakers, are worth more than $1...

$2B House, Senate Races Smash Fundraising Record

Spending set to top $4M for each congressional seat

(Newser) - Fundraising records have been shattered as House and Senate candidates head toward the finish line, a Washington Post analysis of campaign finance data finds. House and Senate candidates have raised over $1.5 billion and total spending is on course to top $2 billion as hopefuls dig deep into their...

O'Donnell Has Trouble Naming Democratic Senators

But GOP hopeful is a big Hillary Clinton fan

(Newser) - Christine O’Donnell seemed stymied when asked during last night's debate to name a Democratic senator she’d feel comfortable working with. She gave two names—but neither is currently a Democratic senator. First she mentioned Hillary Clinton, acknowledging “she’s not a senator any more.” Then she...

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