Senate

Stories 661 - 680 | << Prev   Next >>

Showdown Looms as Abused Filibuster Frays Senate Tempers

GOB blocks routine nomination, has Dems eying reform options

(Newser) - Last night's GOP filibuster of a routine nomination to the National Labor Relation Board left Democrats livid, and considering reforms to stop a filibuster-happy GOP from crippling the Senate. "I'm in my thirty-sixth year. I've never seen anything like it," Sen. Pat Leahy told the Huffington Post . Leahy...

Schumer's Wall Street Donors Look for Revenge
Schumer's
Wall Street
Donors Look
for Revenge
analysis
Feb 9, 2010 5:57 PM CST

Schumer's Wall Street Donors Look for Revenge

Which might explain Harold Ford's run

(Newser) - Chuck Schumer is making enemies in high places among "his wealthiest and most powerful constituents," writes Chris Smith. These Wall Street honchos have long poured money into Schumer's campaign coffers, but now they think he's not doing enough to protect them from regulation attempts. “Chuck says, ‘...

Democrats Fault Rahm Emanuel on Health Care

Many believe his inexperience in Senate maneuvering stalled bill

(Newser) - Democrats in Congress think Rahm Emanuel’s lack of Senate experience slowed health care reform legislation to a death crawl. Liberals and centrists have different complaints, but agree that the White House chief of staff’s time in the House did not prepare him for Senate maneuvering. “They're a...

Shelby Drops Holds on Obama Nominees

Alabama Republican says he was just trying to get the president's attention

(Newser) - Richard Shelby has decided to release the holds he's been using to block more than 70 Obama nominees in hopes of scoring two lucrative projects for his home state. The Alabama senator, who was hammered by Democrats for obstructionism, said he used the holds "to get the White House's...

Mighty America Descends Into Farce
Mighty America Descends
Into Farce
PAUL KRUGMAN
Feb 8, 2010 8:20 AM CST

Mighty America Descends Into Farce

Paralyzing GOP tactics make us look like 18th-century Poland

(Newser) - When Richard Shelby put a hold on all outstanding Obama nominees last week, it reminded Paul Krugman of 18th-century Poland. Back then, the country’s legislature was run by unanimous consent, so anyone could block any legislation by shouting, “I do not allow!” Sound familiar? The US Senate,...

Where Has Our Favorite Maverick Gone?
  Where Has 
  Our Favorite 
  Maverick Gone? 
Dana Milbank
Feb 6, 2010 8:19 AM CST

Where Has Our Favorite Maverick Gone?

A John McCain fan laments the senator's new 'reflexive opposition'

(Newser) - Narry a whimper when the Supreme Court gutted the campaign finance laws he vowed to fight for "until I draw my last breath." No support for a bipartisan commission on the national debt that he had sponsored. Hectoring an admiral who supports the end of "don't ask,...

GOP Sen. Shelby Blocks 70 Obama Nominations

Extraordinary 'blanket hold' over earmarks for Alabama

(Newser) - Richard Shelby, the GOP senator from Alabama, is holding all of President Obama's pending nominations—at least 70—hostage until a couple of programs benefiting his home state get favorable treatment, Talking Points Memo reports. Shelby has put an extraordinary blanket hold on all the nominations the White House has...

Reid Promises Vote on Jobs Bill Next Week

But so far, not one Republican senator is on board

(Newser) - Harry Reid plans to bring the first of several Democratic bills aimed at creating jobs to the Senate floor on Monday, with the goal of passing the measure by the end of next week. “For Senate Democrats, creating jobs is job number one,” the majority leader said. “...

Scott Brown May Be Sworn In Tomorrow

Senator-elect asks governor to speed up certification

(Newser) - A spokesman for Harry Reid says the Senate will aim to swear in Scott Brown tomorrow afternoon. The development comes after Brown sent a letter to Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick today asking that results of the special election be certified immediately. Patrick agreed to have it done by tomorrow morning....

GOP Filibusters Routine Obama Nomination

All 60 Senate Dems needed to confirm Labor Department solicitor general

(Newser) - It took all 60 Senate Democrats yesterday to break a filibuster over the confirmation of a fairly run-of-the-mill mid-level Obama appointee. New York Labor Commissioner Patricia Smith is hardly a liberal radical—she has support from her state’s Chamber of Commerce, and several New York Republicans in the House—...

Senate Doesn't Need Another Messiah
 Senate Doesn't Need 
 Another Messiah 
EUGENE ROBINSON
Feb 2, 2010 1:20 AM CST

Senate Doesn't Need Another Messiah

Scott Brown is part of the problem, writes Eugene Robinson

(Newser) - Victory appears to have gone to Scott Brown's head and that's bad news for Washington, writes Eugene Robinson. The senator—who has already hinted at a 2012 presidential run—is calling himself a Scott Brown Republican and promising to chart his own course, but the last thing the Senate needs...

Bernanke Gets Second Term
 Bernanke Gets Second Term 
Jan 28, 2010 3:20 PM CST

Bernanke Gets Second Term

Senate confirms him to remain in his post as Fed chairman

(Newser) - Ben Bernanke will keep his job as chairman of the Federal Reserve. The Senate today agreed to let him serve a second term by a vote of 70-30, the closest ever margin for a Fed chief nominee. The vote came amid roiling public anger over the economy and stubbornly high...

Obama Will Create His Own Deficit Panel

But it'll be weaker than the one the Senate rejected yesterday

(Newser) - In his State of the Union address tonight, Barack Obama will announce the creation of a panel to devise recommendations for reducing the national debt—a day after a proposal for a similar commission failed in the Senate. But Obama’s version will be established by executive order, and, unlike...

CBO Predicts Hefty Deficit, Jobless Figures

Senate, meanwhile, rejects bipartisan panel on red ink

(Newser) - The CBO issued some bleak news today about the economy and prospects for a quick recovery. The nonpartisan agency predicted a $1.35 trillion budget deficit this year—on par with last year's record of $1.4 trillion—and unemployment averaging 10.1%. The forecast for next year doesn't look...

Gillibrand Is Coakley 2.0

 Gillibrand Is 
 Coakley 2.0 
OPINION
Jan 26, 2010 1:11 PM CST

Gillibrand Is Coakley 2.0

New York's incumbent can't communicate, and that could be her downfall

(Newser) - Kirsten Gillibrand bears a lot of unfortunate similarities to Martha Coakley, and could soon suffer the same fate. Like Coakley, she assumes she’s in for a cakewalk, with the full weight of her party behind her in a mostly-blue state. And like Coakley, she has “dreadful communication skills,...

NY Senate Race Gets Ugly Fast
 NY Senate Race Gets Ugly Fast 
Jan 26, 2010 11:34 AM CST

NY Senate Race Gets Ugly Fast

Incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand, challenger Harold Ford Jr. out for blood

(Newser) - Kirsten Gillibrand isn’t playing nice anymore. The New York Democrat is heeding advisers’ counsel and going for the jugular against Senate primary opponent Harold Ford Jr., who’s been lobbing bombs faster than she can keep up. Until now, Gillibrand’s mostly attacked Ford through proxies, generating little buzz...

Udall Launches New Assault on Filibuster

Proposes law allowing Senate to regularly change rules

(Newser) - New Mexico Democrat Tom Udall has introduced a resolution that could, in the unlikely event that it passes, eliminate the Senate’s dreaded filibuster. Udall’s law doesn’t specifically end the filibuster; rather, it calls for the Senate to change its rules every two years based on a simple...

Beau Biden Decides Against Senate Run
Beau Biden Decides Against Senate Run
Jan 25, 2010 10:16 AM CST

Beau Biden Decides Against Senate Run

Democrats had hoped he'd replace dad in Delaware

(Newser) - In a major blow to Democrats, Beau Biden sent an email to supporters telling them that he won’t be running for his dad’s open Senate seat after all. Instead, he’ll try for another term as Delaware’s Attorney General. Democrats had been counting on him to beat...

Conservative Hayworth Will Challenge McCain

Former congressman quits radio show ahead of formal announcement

(Newser) - Former Arizona Congressman JD Hayworth has stepped down from hosting his conservative radio show in Phoenix to run against John McCain for the Senate. Legally, he wouldn't have been able to host the show and be a candidate. Hayworth didn't formally announce, but he acknowledged "we're moving forward to...

Health Reform Hit Partisan 'Buzz Saw': Obama

President says he won't quit trying 'just because it's hard'

(Newser) - President Obama says his health care overhaul has "run into a bit of a buzz saw" and acknowledges the process is looking ugly. Nonetheless he says he'll keep working to finish sweeping legislation. In comments prepared for a town hall meeting in Ohio today, Obama said, "I am...

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