Senate

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Senate Panel Backs Hagel for Defense

But vote in full Senate is no gimme

(Newser) - Chuck Hagel has cleared his first hurdle in becoming secretary of defense: The Senate Armed Services panel voted 14-11 to approve President Obama's pick to succeed Leon Panetta. All of the Democrats on the committee backed Hagel, and all of the Republicans opposed him. The nomination now goes to...

McCain: Let's Not Filibuster Chuck Hagel

Defense nominee nears confirmation

(Newser) - John McCain wasn't easy on Chuck Hagel during the defense secretary nominee's confirmation hearing—but it looks as though he and other Republicans are letting up. (After all, the two were friends before falling out.) McCain says he opposes a filibuster of Hagel's confirmation and will...

Senate Gun Bill May Not Touch Assault Weapons

But Reid camp looking to get measure to floor next month

(Newser) - Senate Democrats are hoping to put a gun control bill on the floor by next month—but it's not likely to include the assault-weapon ban President Obama has urged, a Harry Reid aide tells the Wall Street Journal . Outside of that, however, it would cover most of the measures...

McCain, Hagel Spar Over Iraq
 McCain, Hagel Spar Over Iraq 
Jan 31, 2013 2:13 PM CST

McCain, Hagel Spar Over Iraq

Defense nominee says he's still not sure the surge was worth it

(Newser) - Chuck Hagel got into a testy verbal sparring match with John McCain at his Armed Services Committee hearing today, with McCain demanding that Hagel admit he was wrong when he warned against the "surge" in Iraq. Hagel tried to prevaricate: "I would defer to the judgment of history,...

Deval Patrick Picks Ex-Aide to Replace Kerry

William 'Mo' Cowan gets the call over Barney Frank

(Newser) - Sorry, Barney Frank. Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick will name his former chief-of-staff, William "Mo" Cowan, as John Kerry's interim replacement in the Senate, passing over the more famous retired congressman, a source tells the AP . The pick is expected to be announced later today. Cowan will hold the...

Obama: 'Now's the Time' for Immigration Changes

Praises Senate effort, says he'll submit his own if it gets hung up

(Newser) - President Obama today praised the bipartisan push for immigration reform in the Senate but made clear he would submit his own bill to Congress if it stalls, reports the Washington Post . Still, his speech in Vegas today was upbeat:
  • "The differences are dwindling ... a broad consensus is emerging,"
...

Congress OKs $50B Sandy Aid Bill

Lawmakers win battle against fiscal conservatives

(Newser) - Congress is sending a $50.5 billion emergency relief measure for Superstorm Sandy victims to President Obama for his signature. The Senate today cleared the bill, 62-36. Northeast lawmakers say the money is desperately needed to help recovery efforts from the one of the region's worst storms. The House...

To Dump McConnell, Dems Sidle Up to Tea Party

They offer help backing right-wing 2014 challenger

(Newser) - As the Senate minority leader looks to 2014, he faces an odd couple out to beat him: Democrats and Tea Partiers. Groups like MoveOn and a Democratic super PAC, as well as individual donors, are offering Tea Party activists funding to bring in a right-wing challenger to Mitch McConnell. Come...

Democrat Tom Harkin Retiring From Senate

Iowa senator won't seek re-election in 2014

(Newser) - Surprise news from the Senate today: Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin tells AP he will not run for re-election in 2014. Harkin, 73, pointed out that he would be 81 if he completed a sixth term. "It's just time," he says. Harkin has long been a champion of...

Senators Near Deal on Immigration Reform

Bipartisan group includes Rubio, Schumer: Washington Post

(Newser) - Comprehensive immigration reform has been stuck in limbo for years, but President Obama's domination of the ever-growing Latino vote last fall seems to have changed that, reports the Washington Post . It says a group of six senators from both parties—including Florida's Marco Rubio—is close to the...

Saxby Chambliss Won't Seek Re-election

Republican decides to avoid potential 2014 primary challenge

(Newser) - Saxby Chambliss will announce today that he doesn't intend to run for re-election when his Senate term ends in 2014, sources tell the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . Chambliss reportedly told his senior staff about the decision this morning. Chambliss was considered one of the Republicans most ripe for a primary challenge...

Reid, McConnell Close to Deal on Filibuster

But don't expect a return to actually having to talk to do it

(Newser) - Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell are close to a deal to tweak the filibuster, in an agreement that will likely disappoint proponents of a major overhaul, but save Reid the hand-wringing that would come if he used the so-called " nuclear option " to reform the rules without GOP cooperation....

Washington's Next Brawl: Senate's Budget Plan

Schumer: A 'great opportunity' for new revenues

(Newser) - So the fiscal cliff battle is over, and House Republicans look ready to approve a debt-ceiling increase through March. But taxes aren't out of the spotlight: Now, the stage is set for a tussle over Senate Democrats' budget blueprint, which Dems like Charles Schumer are calling "a great...

House to Vote on 3-Month Debt Ceiling Bump

But they'll demand that Senate pass budget in exchange

(Newser) - House Republicans have decided to vote on a bill to raise the debt ceiling for three months—provided the Senate agrees to pass a budget by the April 15 statutory deadline, John Boehner announced in his closing remarks for his caucus's three-day Williamsburg retreat. "Before there is any...

After Meeting, Chuck Schumer Backs Hagel

Nominee 'regrets' comment on 'Jewish lobby'

(Newser) - Amid concerns over Chuck Hagel's past comments on "the Jewish lobby," leading Jewish Democrat Chuck Schumer had a 90-minute one-on-one with the Pentagon nominee, and emerged supporting his confirmation. Schumer came to the conclusion, despite "previous concerns," and applauded Hagel's support for "Israel'...

Barney Frank on Senate: 'Coach, Put Me In!'

Former congressman admits he'd like John Kerry's seat

(Newser) - Barney Frank wants to temporarily fill John Kerry's probably-soon-to-be-empty Senate seat, and he's not making a secret of it. "I'm not going to be coy. It's not something I've ever been good at. I've told the governor that I would now like, frankly,...

Joe Biden: 'Spread Your Legs, You're Gonna Be Frisked'

VP is Biden-esque form at mock swearing-in of senators

(Newser) - Joe Biden was in jokesy Uncle Joe mode today at the mock swearing-in of new senators. BuzzFeed takes note of the most talked-about line, when he bantered with North Dakota's Heidi Heitkamp and her family as they got directions from the photographer:
  • “Spread your legs. You’re gonna
...

Goodbye, 112th Congress, We Hardly Liked Ye
Goodbye, 112th Congress,
We Hardly Liked Ye
OPINION
Jan 3, 2013 10:42 AM CST

Goodbye, 112th Congress, We Hardly Liked Ye

Pundits remind us just how do-nothing this Congress has been

(Newser) - Today sees the end of the 112th Congress and the start of the 113th , and that has a few pundits shedding a tear—from laughing so hard at how futile and ridiculous this last wave of Congress has been. Among the adieus to the 112th:
  • Gail Collins, the New York
...

Congress Votes Down Pay Hike for Itself

Obama's executive order draws fire

(Newser) - It seems lawmakers on both sides of the aisle can agree on one thing: They don't deserve a raise. The Senate's fiscal cliff bill contains a single sentence provision that will stop Congress from getting a scheduled cost-of-living salary bump, Roll Call reports. President Obama had issued an...

8 Senators Rejected Cliff Deal
 8 Senators Rejected Cliff Deal 
Jan 1, 2013 7:55 AM CST

8 Senators Rejected Cliff Deal

3 Democrats, 5 Republicans said no to bipartisan plan

(Newser) - A deal to neutralize the fiscal cliff cruised through the Senate 89-8 in a late-night session and is headed for the House, whose session today begins at noon . The deal contains the first federal income tax hike in nearly 20 years, but the eight refuseniks weren't all Republicans, the...

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