Senate

Stories 1421 - 1440 | << Prev   Next >>

Bush Directs Aides to Defy Subpoenas

Cites executive privilege in bid to stop Miers, Taylor testimony

(Newser) - In an aggressive use of executive privilege, President Bush instructed two of his former aides yesterday to disregard congressional subpoenas demanding they testify about the attorney firings scandal. In a letter to Congress, Bush's counsel rebuffed Democratic senators for encroaching on internal White House affairs, bringing the two branches closer...

Senate Kills Immigration Bill
Senate Kills Immigration Bill
Jun 28, 2007 1:55 PM CDT

Senate Kills Immigration Bill

Vote to move forward falls 14 votes short

(Newser) - In a serious setback for the Bush administration's second-term agenda, the Senate effectively killed the immigration-reform bill today, voting 53-46 to keep the legislation from going forward. The president had actively promoted the bipartisan measure, going so far as to lobby senators by phone this morning, but with his influence...

Domestic Spying Probe Reaches West Wing

Frustrated Senate committee doles out subpoenas

(Newser) - Patrick Leahy came out swinging against the Bush administration's "sweeping assertions of secrecy and privilege" today, issuing subpoenas to the White House, Dick Cheney's office, the Justice Department, and the NSC. The documents demanded by the Senate Judiciary Committee relate to the warrantless wiretapping of terrorism suspects and the...

Senate Revives Immigration Bill
Senate Revives Immigration Bill
Jun 26, 2007 1:46 PM CDT

Senate Revives Immigration Bill

Debate on controversial measure, numerous amendments to resume after 2-week hiatus

(Newser) - The Senate breathed new life into the stalled immigration bill today, voting to resume debate on the signature legislation of President Bush's second term. With a slew of amendments waiting in the wings, passage is hardly a sure thing, the Times reports, but the bipartisan coalition that crafted the measure...

Top Republican Calls for New Iraq Plan

Lugar urges Bush to pursue economic and diplomatic strategy

(Newser) - An influential Republican senator abandoned his support for President Bush's Iraq war strategy last night with a call to cut back the US military's role in the region and focus more on diplomatic and economic options. Richard Lugar, the senior minority member of the Foreign Relations Committee, has a reputation...

Cheney: A Law Unto Himself?
Cheney: A Law Unto Himself?
Jun 24, 2007 8:25 AM CDT

Cheney: A Law Unto Himself?

Veep refuses to comply with executive order signed by President Bush

(Newser) - Vice President Cheney is refusing to comply with an executive order to compile classified documents used by his office. Cheney's theory is that because he has a limited role in the Senate – President he can break ties – he has immunity from executive orders.

Senate Passes Energy Bill
Senate Passes Energy Bill
Jun 22, 2007 5:00 AM CDT

Senate Passes Energy Bill

Vehicles must hit a green 35mpg by 2020; Detroit seeing red

(Newser) - The Senate gave a green light to an energy plan that would pump total fuel-economy standards to 35 mpg by 2020, and require vehicles to run on 85% ethanol by 2015. Democrats say the bill will reduce America's reliance on foreign oil, help control gas prices and counteract the effects...

Alaskan Tribes Score No-Bid Bonanza
Alaskan Tribes Score No-Bid Bonanza
Jun 19, 2007 6:52 AM CDT

Alaskan Tribes Score No-Bid Bonanza

Sen. Ted Stevens under scrutiny for shady contracts

(Newser) - Alaskan tribes are so successful in securing no-bid government contracts, they're spurring a federal investigation into conduct by Alaskan senator Ted Stevens, reports Salon. In 1986, Stevens pushed through a law that gave Alaskan companies "small business" preferences—even if they belong to a multi-billion dollar parent corporation and...

Senate Puts Blackstone on Notice
Senate Puts Blackstone on Notice
Jun 15, 2007 12:48 PM CDT

Senate Puts Blackstone on Notice

Tax maneuver may derail IPO, transform private equity

(Newser) - Less than 2 weeks ahead of Blackstone's IPO, bipartisan legislation introduced in the Senate yesterday threatens to hamper or halt the avidly anticipated stock sale. The private equity behemoth's tax bill would more than double if the measure—under which partnerships like Blackstone would pay the 35% corporate rate rather...

Senate Leaders Reach Deal to Revive Immigration Bill

Vote expected before Fourth of July break

(Newser) - Derailed last week, the controversial immigration bill will get a second chance, Senate leaders from both parties announced last night. The statement followed days of closed-door negotiations, the AP reports, and a personal pledge from President Bush to immediately provide $4.4 billion for border security—a key concern of...

Bush Lobbies for Immigration Bill
Bush Lobbies for Immigration Bill
Jun 12, 2007 3:28 PM CDT

Bush Lobbies for Immigration Bill

President pushes fellow Republicans to push legislation

(Newser) - President Bush took the unusual step of climbing Capitol Hill today to pressure members of his own party on the stalled immigration bill. After a lunch meeting with GOP senators, CNN reports, the president warned that passing the signature legislation of his second term will take "a lot of...

Vote on AG Derails in Senate
Vote on AG Derails in Senate
Jun 11, 2007 8:11 PM CDT

Vote on AG Derails in Senate

Legislative maneuver comes up 7 votes short

(Newser) - A no-confidence vote on Alberto Gonzales failed to get out of the Senate today when a procedural vote to cut off debate failed by seven votes. Both sides proclaimed partial victory: Republicans had blasted the vote as a stunt, but Democrats lured seven GOP senators across party lines to support...

Dems Withdraw Immigration Bill
Dems Withdraw Immigration Bill
Jun 8, 2007 4:50 AM CDT

Dems Withdraw Immigration Bill

Bill "on life support" - may revive this year

(Newser) - The hotly contested immigration reform bill collapsed on the Senate floor Thursday, after appearing to survive challenges from detractors in both parties. The measure fell 15 votes short of a move to curtail debate and move toward a final vote. That leaves it stalled, although the New York Times reports...

Immigration Bill Survives Senate Onslaught

Coalition in tatters, but holding, despite barrage of amendments

(Newser) - The immigration bill before the Senate dodged bullets from the right and the left yesterday; when the smoke cleared the coalition backing it appeared to be intact—if barely, the Washington Post reports. An amendment to block legalization for many illegals was defeated; one to extend visas to many more...

Immigration Bill Walks Fine Line
Immigration Bill Walks Fine Line
Jun 4, 2007 12:30 PM CDT

Immigration Bill Walks Fine Line

Senate coalition sees its bipartisan brainchild grow from concept to pending legislation

(Newser) - The "grand bargain"—the compromise on which the proposed immigration bill turns—is the product of a process that saw senators from every point on the political compass unite around a common goal. With the senate scheduled to take up the legislation this week, the LA Times goes...

Americans Walk Soft Line on Immigration

Poll shows support for guest-worker programs, path to citizenship

(Newser) - Lou Dobbs, take note: A majority of Americans back key immigration reform proposals  making their way through Congress, a new CBS News/New York Times poll finds. Americans across the political spectrum say they support a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, and two-thirds back a guest-worker program.

Dem Congress Still Dishing Out Pork
Dem Congress Still Dishing Out Pork
May 24, 2007 4:42 PM CDT

Dem Congress Still Dishing Out Pork

The new majority is not as kosher as they claim to be

(Newser) - Democrats in Congress pledged to cut the pork out of appropriations bills, but the new majority is already cheating on the diet, reports the  Washington Post. Using a technique called "phonemarking," congressmen are contacting federal agencies directly and asking them to fund their pet projects, all while boasting...

McCain Curses Out Colleague —Again

Outburst at fellow Republican raises pesky temper issue

(Newser) - John McCain raised the temper issue again by getting into a shouting match with GOP Sen. John Cornyn yesterday, the LA Times reports. The candidate and Cornyn had a dust-up just off the Senate floor over details of a compromise on immigration legislation. Cornyn accused McCain of being too busy...

McCain Misses 42nd Straight Senate Vote

Why vote on Iraq if you could be campaigning in New York?

(Newser) - John McCain missed his 42nd straight Senate roll call yesterday, marking a whopping five weeks in a row that he hasn't showed up to be counted. If he misses the next three votes, he will have been AWOL for 50% of the votes in the 110th Congress, the Washington Post...

Ex-Justice No. 2 Tells of Attempt to Strong-Arm Ashcroft

Gonzales, Card visited AG in hospital

(Newser) - The Senate investigation of Alberto Gonzales took a turn toward high drama today as a former deputy AG described his hospital-room standoff with White House officials attempting to secure the signature of his critically ill boss. James Comey, then No. 2 at Justice—and, with John Ashcroft incapacitated, the...

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