Senate Democrats – News Stories About Senate Democrats - Page 10

Senate Dems Cry 'Uncle' on Cap and Trade

Dec 28, 2009 9:42 AM CST

Senate Dems Cry 'Uncle' on Cap and Trade

Nervous moderates ask White House not to push climate bill

(Newser) - At least half a dozen Senate Democrats have asked the White House to back off on its push for cap-and-trade climate legislation, afraid another bruising partisan battle like health care could wreck their 2010 reelection prospects. “Climate change in an election year has very poor prospects,” says Kent...

Health Bill Passage
a Tribute to Ted Kennedy

DANA MILBANK

Dec 24, 2009 6:06 PM CST

Health Bill Passage a Tribute to Ted Kennedy

'Liberal lion' invoked by both left and right, but what would he think?

(Newser) - The memory of Ted Kennedy was a vivid presence today on both sides of the aisle as the Senate passed its version of his signature issue, health care reform. The late Massachusetts senator “remained the Democrats' spiritual floor leader,” Dana Milbank writes in the Washington Post , and almost...

Health Care Victory
is Sweet But Stinks

OPINION

Dec 24, 2009 1:45 AM CST

Health Care Victory is Sweet But Stinks

Historic bill is tainted by political travesty

(Newser) - Getting a health care reform bill through the Senate is a historic victory for the Democrats but it's one you have to hold your nose to appreciate, writes David S. Broder. This should have been a proud moment for the Senate, but it instead degenerated into "a travesty of...

Own Ill Health Doesn't Keep Byrd From Voting on Reform

Dec 23, 2009 10:00 PM CST

Own Ill Health Doesn't Keep Byrd From Voting on Reform

92-year-old Dem brought to Senate floor via wheelchair

(Newser) - His own battles with ill health haven’t kept Democrat Robert Byrd from making it to the Senate for key milestones on the long road to the health-care reform vote scheduled for tomorrow morning. The 92-year-old—wheelchair-bound and with a live-in nurse after a recent hospital stay—has only added...

Nebraska Senator
for Sale—Cheap!

OPINION

Dec 23, 2009 4:19 AM CST

Nebraska Senator for Sale—Cheap!

Ben Nelson was easily bribed, writes Michael Gerson

(Newser) - There's a fine line between bribery and political maneuvering and Harry Reid's brazen buyoff of Ben Nelson was nowhere near it, writes Michael Gerson. The Nebraska senator was granted an exemption on the state paying its share of Medicare expansion that will add up to $100 million over 10 years...

Pork Applied Liberally to
Grease Health Care Votes

Dec 22, 2009 7:36 AM CST

Pork Applied Liberally to Grease Health Care Votes

Critics slam Senate bill's special deals for holdouts

(Newser) - A close look at the health bill before the Senate reveals that there was no shortage of pork-barrel spending thrown in to get the Democrats the 60 votes they needed. The "cash-for-cloture" deals include one dubbed the "Louisiana Purchase"—$100 million in Medicare cash for the state....

VP Urges Dems to Unite Behind Senate Health Bill

joe biden

Dec 20, 2009 2:04 PM CST

VP Urges Dems to Unite Behind Senate Health Bill

'In Washington big changes never emerge in perfect form,' ex-senator writes

(Newser) - As president of the Senate, Joe Biden has the run of the place, but the vice president takes to the op-ed page of the New York Times to urge fellow Democrats to stop sniping and support the health care bill. "I’ve been around a long time," the...

If Harry Reid Could Only
Find His Inner Pelosi

eugene robinson

Dec 18, 2009 9:35 AM CST

If Harry Reid Could Only Find His Inner Pelosi

Some of the players in the health care game have stumbled badly

(Newser) - As the health care bill stumbles towards the finish line, it's painfully obvious that some lawmakers just play the game much better than others, writes Eugene Robinson. Nancy Pelosi's a master, having delivered a House bill with nearly everything the president wanted despite the Republicans and Blue Dogs. and Joe...

Dems Block
GOP War Bill
Filibuster

Dec 18, 2009 6:17 AM CST

Dems Block GOP War Bill Filibuster

Gates slams tactic to delay health bill

(Newser) - Senate Democrats beat back a Republican attempt to filibuster a huge Pentagon spending bill in a post-midnight session last night. Republican success would have forced the government to seek a new stopgap way to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, delaying health care legislation in the process. Three Republicans...

Democrats
Are Lost
Without Bush

OPINION

Dec 17, 2009 1:23 AM CST

Democrats Are Lost Without Bush

Party needs to stop feuding and find a direction

(Newser) - George Bush was the best unifier the Democrats ever had, and now that he's out of the picture, they're collapsing into infighting, writes EJ Dionne. The party has to govern America through this difficult time, but they "are being held hostage by political narcissists and narrow slivers of their...

Sanders on Health Bill:
'Not Voting for It'

Dec 16, 2009 8:36 PM CST

Sanders on Health Bill: 'Not Voting for It'

Independent senator wanted public options since excised

(Newser) - Senate Democrats might’ve secured Joe Lieberman’s vote for the health-reform bill by killing various government-funded options, but they look to have lost another independent in the process. “I’m struggling with this,” Vermont’s Bernie Sanders told Fox News tonight. “As of this point, I’...

In Lieberman Rage, Michael Moore Urges Conn. Boycott

Dec 16, 2009 8:13 PM CST

In Lieberman Rage, Michael Moore Urges Conn. Boycott

Wants senator recalled over health-reform stances

(Newser) - Filmmaker Michael Moore fired the latest salvo from Joe Lieberman’s left today, calling on the citizens of Connecticut to get the senator out of office or face a national shunning. “People of Connecticut: What have u done 2 this country?” Moore tweeted . “We hold u responsible. Start...

Senate's Reading
Marathon Ends Early

parliamentary maneuvers

Dec 16, 2009 4:12 PM CST

Senate's Reading Marathon Ends Early

Sanders pulls amendment after GOP delaying tactic

(Newser) - Pity the poor Senate clerk's office, which finds itself at the center of parliamentary games. Staffers spent nearly three hours today reading aloud an amendment—a move forced by Republican Tom Coburn to gum up the works—before independent Bernie Sanders angrily yanked it back. They had gotten only to...

Howard Dean:
Kill the Bill

health care reform

Dec 15, 2009 4:30 PM CST

Howard Dean: Kill the Bill

Lieberman's moves have made it worthless, he says

(Newser) - President Obama may be pushing for Senate Democrats to keep working on health care reform, but Howard Dean has had enough. The former party chairman says Joe Lieberman's success at weeding out the Medicare buy-in—which itself had replaced the public option—makes the bill worthless.

Obama Rallies Dems:
I'm 'Absolutely Confident'

Dec 15, 2009 3:11 PM CST

Obama Rallies Dems: I'm 'Absolutely Confident'

President makes late push for health care reform

(Newser) - President Obama met with Senate Democrats behind closed doors today to make a final push for health care reform, then emerged with a note of cautious optimism. "I am absolutely confident if people know what's in this bill and if the senators know what’s in the bill ... it...

Dems Still Need Lieberman on Other Issues

analysis

Dec 15, 2009 2:00 PM CST

Dems Still Need Lieberman on Other Issues

White House working with him on climate change, gay benefits

(Newser) - Joe Lieberman’s health care gadfly act may have Democrats royally cheesed off, but they’re still working with the Connecticut senator on other important legislation. White House officials regularly meet with Lieberman on climate change, sources tell Talking Points Memo , as well as several bills in the Homeland Security...

Lieberman Wins:
Dems to Drop
Medicare Buy-In

updated

Dec 15, 2009 7:00 AM CST

Lieberman Wins: Dems to Drop Medicare Buy-In

Health bill takes another hit as leaders seek votes

(Newser) - Senate Democrats, in danger of losing the votes they need to pass health care reform, bowed to Joe Lieberman last night and acknowledged that they are ready to drop the plan to allow people over 55 to buy coverage under Medicare. That idea itself was a compromise intended to appeal...

Senate Sends Obama
$1.1T Spending Bill

Dec 13, 2009 3:54 PM CST

Senate Sends Obama $1.1T Spending Bill

3 Republicans vote yea, 3 Dems vote nay

(Newser) - Working on a second consecutive weekend, the Senate passed a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill today, with the support of three Republicans but the opposition of three Democrats. The measure has already cleared the House and now advances to President Obama, who is expected to sign it. With pressing...

Senate Deal Includes 'Triggered' Public Option

Dec 9, 2009 6:02 AM CST

Senate Deal Includes 'Triggered' Public Option

Option will be revived if insurers fail to provide nonprofit plans

(Newser) - The Senate compromise on health care reform means the public option is dormant but not dead, according to an aide party to negotiations. The tentative deal reached last night will give insurance companies the option of creating nonprofit insurance plans to be offered on exchanges, but a federal public option...

Dems Reach Deal to Ditch Public Health Option

Dec 8, 2009 7:29 PM CST

Dems Reach Deal to Ditch Public Health Option

Reid had pushed senators for agreement tonight

(Newser) - Democratic senators say they have a tentative deal to drop a government-run insurance option from health-care legislation. No further details were immediately available. But liberals and moderates have been discussing an alternative, including a private insurance arrangement to be supervised by the federal agency that oversees the system through which...