Harry Reid

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Lawmakers Go Bipartisan on Housing
Lawmakers
Go Bipartisan
on Housing
Apr 2, 2008 10:45 AM CDT

Lawmakers Go Bipartisan on Housing

It wasn't April Fool's Day, it was 2 weeks with voters that did it

(Newser) - Lawmakers are suddenly coming together on housing, with Republicans supporting a bill they left for dead two weeks ago, and Democrats cooling the political rhetoric for a change. The difference: those two weeks were spent back home with constituents, Politico notes. “Unless every member of the Senate was in...

Housing Bill Clears Key Senate Hurdle

Package of relief measures garners bipartisan support

(Newser) - The Senate voted 94-1 to move a housing legislation package into formal consideration today, reports the New York Times. Banking committee chair Chris Dodd and ranking Republican Richard Shelby now have until noon tomorrow to work out a compromise acceptable to both parties. “Inaction is not an option,"...

Reid: Race Will End Before Convention

Big Dem expects Michigan, Florida delegates to play role—without new votes

(Newser) - The top Senate Democrat says his party's presidential nomination will be wrapped up before the Aug. 25-28 convention. “It will be done,” majority leader Harry Reid declared of the race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama—adding mysteriously, Politico reports, that he’d spoken to party chairman Howard...

GOP Senators Try to Outflank Dems on Iraq Funding Bill

See chance to show war is succeeding

(Newser) - After months of blocking Democrat-sponsored anti-war bills, Senate Republicans changed course sharply yesterday, agreeing to advance a bill that cuts off funding for combat in Iraq after 120 days. GOP senators made the switch on grounds that a debate over conditions in Iraq allows them time to hail progress in...

Mortgage Crisis: Judges to the Rescue?

Democrats back plan to let jurists change loan terms

(Newser) - Over the loud objections of lenders, Senate Democrats are lining up behind a plan to give bankruptcy judges the power to alter mortgages, the LA Times reports. The proposals could go to the floor as early as today. “This bill will have more impact… than any other option currently...

Bush Signs $168B Stimulus Plan
Bush Signs $168B Stimulus Plan
Feb 13, 2008 2:30 PM CST

Bush Signs $168B Stimulus Plan

First rebates from 'booster shot for our economy' to be mailed in May

(Newser) - President Bush signed Congress’ economic stimulus bill into law today, ensuring that the tax rebates at the heart of the $168 billion plan will find their way into American bank accounts by May. The average rebate for an individual will be $600, with $1,200 for couples and a $300...

For Dems, West May Be Winnable in November

The states moving fastest from right to left are not in the East

(Newser) - The political geography of Western states has been shifting from Republican to Democratic, and four—Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona—could be winnable for Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton for the first time in decades, Colorado Confidential writes. Party brass wouldn’t talk up a “Western strategy,”...

Obama Snubs Clinton at State of the Union

Dem political theater overshadows Bush's lame-duck address

(Newser) - Forget President Bush's last hurrah, it was Barack Obama’s snub of Hillary Clinton that had the press box chattering last night, reports the Chicago Tribune. After greeting seemingly the entire room, including the Supreme Court and the Joint Chiefs, Obama was standing by his seat next to Ted Kennedy...

Congress, Bush Push Stimulus Plan
Congress, Bush Push Stimulus Plan
Jan 12, 2008 8:55 AM CST

Congress, Bush Push Stimulus Plan

Smelling recession, two parties step up effort for economic relief package

(Newser) - With Democrats and Republicans increasingly spooked about a looming recession, the two sides appear ready to work together on an economic stimulus package of about  $100 billion in tax cuts and spending, the New York Times reports. Reps. Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid yesterday wrote to President Bush, "We...

Senators Fly Solo, Foiling Bush Move

Seconds-long sessions continue, preventing recess appointments

(Newser) - A contentious Justice Department nomination lies behind Harry Reid's plan to keep the Senate in session over the holidays, if only for seconds at a time. Dems offered to give the White House a pass on a slew of other recess appointments in exchange for putting controversial terrorism expert Steven...

Bush Vetoes Defense Bill, Delays Troops' Pay Raise

Iraq lawsuit provision sidetracks measure

(Newser) - President Bush vetoed a wide-ranging defense-spending measure today after Iraqi politicians objected to a proviso buried in the bill enabling Iraqis to sue their government in US court over Saddam Hussein-era injuries. The bill does not fund the war in Iraq, the Chicago Tribune reports, but does contain a pay...

The Hill Has Recess, But It's No Fun

Seconds-long Senate sessions stave off controversial appointments

(Newser) - Democrats in Congress are keeping a watchful eye on President Bush and preventing him from making any appointments during the monthlong holiday recess. The strategy requires the Senate to be in session every couple of days—even if only for a few seconds. On Friday, the Politico reports, the Senate...

Dems Finish Frustrating Year in DC
Dems Finish Frustrating
Year in DC
Dec 20, 2007 5:45 PM CST

Dems Finish Frustrating Year in DC

Despite control of Congress, cherished initiatives elude them

(Newser) - Democrats are leaving Washington with a decidedly unsatisfactory taste in their mouths after their first year back in charge of Congress in more than a decade, the LA Times reports. Though they can count successes with the energy bill, the minimum wage, and ethics reforms, they failed to put a...

Democrats Withdraw Spy Bill
Democrats Withdraw Spy Bill
Dec 18, 2007 3:20 AM CST

Democrats Withdraw Spy Bill

Delay vote that would give phone companies immunity in spy scandal

(Newser) - Legislation that would have granted retroactive immunity for phone companies that cooperated in the National Security Agency's warrantless surveillance program was abruptly withdrawn by Senate majority leader Harry Reid late yesterday. The legislation, favored by the White House, had deeply divided Democrats. Reid said the Senate would deal with the...

Senate Votes to Aid At-Risk Homeowners

Bill, approved 93-1, would allow feds to back refinanced loans

(Newser) - In an attempt to quell the ongoing housing crisis, the Senate approved a bill today that would allow the Federal Housing Administration to back refinanced loans for the thousands in danger of defaulting on mortgages. The bill, which passed 93-1, also repositions the FHA as an attractive alternative to subprime...

Energy Bill Blocked by 1 Vote
Energy Bill Blocked by
1 Vote
Dec 13, 2007 12:42 PM CST

Energy Bill Blocked by 1 Vote

Dems fail to override filibuster; $21B in taxes on oil companies draw GOP's ire

(Newser) - Senate Democrats today failed by one vote to advance a broad energy bill that would have increased mileage standards to 35mpg by 2020. The sticking point for Republicans was  $21 billion in new taxes, mostly on oil companies, the New York Times reports. The vote to invoke cloture scored 59...

Senate Blocks Tax Hikes
Senate Blocks Tax Hikes
Dec 7, 2007 2:50 AM CST

Senate Blocks Tax Hikes

Fix shields millions from alternative minimum tax

(Newser) - The Senate has voted overwhelmingly to shield 23 million Americans from tax increases imposed by the alternative minimum tax—without replacing $50 billion in lost revenue. The vote to extend protection from the tax represents a retreat for Democrats who had pledged to meet the shortfall with spending cuts or...

Throw the Bums Out, Says Poll
Throw the Bums Out, Says Poll
Nov 9, 2007 4:35 PM CST

Throw the Bums Out, Says Poll

Record numbers say congressional incumbents need to go

(Newser) - Americans are so unhappy with Congress that they've set a polling record. Fifty-three percent of those surveyed in a new poll say most members shouldn’t be re-elected, which might foreshadow a rough 2008 for incumbents, CNN reports. Republicans inspired more anger than Democrats, with 38% and 50%, respectively, saying...

Mukasey Hits Resistance on Torture
Mukasey Hits Resistance
on Torture
Oct 27, 2007 6:47 AM CDT

Mukasey Hits Resistance on Torture

Dems balk over AG nominee's refusal to rule out waterboarding

(Newser) - If AG nominee Michael Mukasey doesn't clarify his views on which interrogation techniques are constitutional, Democratic senators say they may oppose his confirmation. Proceedings that were expected to be smooth sailing ran into trouble this week when Mukasey, who has denounced the use of torture, declined to specify whether he...

Bush Asks $46B More for Wars
Bush Asks $46B More for Wars
Oct 22, 2007 4:07 PM CDT

Bush Asks $46B More for Wars

Request brings the total to $196.4 billion this year

(Newser) - Citing the need to "provide our troops with the support they need to get the job done," President Bush asked Congress today for $46 billion more to fund wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the AP reports. Not so fast, said congressional Democrats, who vowed not to act until...

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