Senate – News Stories About Senate - Page 39

Analysis

Dec 9, 2009 10:41 AM CST

Reid Needs Snowe's Vote

Health care unlikely to pass without moderate Republican

(Newser) - Harry Reid’s leaky supermajority probably won’t hold together well enough to pass health care reform without an assist from Olympia Snowe. Though Reid announced yesterday that “consensus has been reached” among Democrats, any number of them could still peel off, including Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, or Independent...

Senate Rejects Nelson's
Abortion Amendment

Dec 8, 2009 4:44 PM CST

Senate Rejects Nelson's Abortion Amendment

He wanted tougher language, has vowed to vote against overall bill

(Newser) - The Senate today rejected an effort to stiffen abortion restrictions in the health care bill. The move could ultimately complicate Harry Reid's ability to get 60 votes for the overall bill. Democrat Ben Nelson and Republican Orrin Hatch wanted to ban any insurance plan that gets taxpayer dollars from offering...

Few Voters Go to Polls in Primary for Kennedy's Seat

Dec 8, 2009 11:14 AM CST

Few Voters Go to Polls in Primary for Kennedy's Seat

Martha Coakley favored in less-than-energetic race

(Newser) - A handful of voters have been trickling into polls around Massachusetts today for the special election that will almost certainly determine Ted Kennedy’s successor. As few as 300,000 to 500,000 may vote in the Democratic primary, the winner of which is expected to trounce Republican Scott Brown....

The Senate's Health Care Plan: Try Everything

analysis

Dec 7, 2009 2:27 PM CST

The Senate's Health Care Plan: Try Everything

Pilot programs might be the best way to solve the cost problem

(Newser) - The Senate health care plan ensures universal coverage, but when it comes to controlling costs, all it offers is…pilot programs. Sounds pretty flimsy, right? “Two thousand seventy-four pages and trillions of dollars later, this bill doesn’t even meet the basic goal,” complained Mitch McConnell, “to...

GOP: Congress, Prez Must Go On Public Option

bluff and counterbluff

Dec 7, 2009 9:28 AM CST

GOP: Congress, Prez Must Go On Public Option

If there is one, which we hope there isn't. Good idea, say Dems.

(Newser) - In the circus that is the Senate these days, a couple of anti-public-option Republicans—Tom Coburn and David Vitter—rolled out an amendment to the health care bill Friday requiring members of Congress to enroll in any such plan that might come to pass. When Dems didn’t object—Sherrod...

Obama Goes to Hill
Tomorrow to Cajole Dems

health care reform

Dec 5, 2009 4:14 PM CST

Obama Goes to Hill Tomorrow to Cajole Dems

He will meet with Senate Democrats to try to iron out differences

(Newser) - President Obama will head to Capitol Hill tomorrow afternoon to try to keep health care reform from flying off the track in the Senate. Obama will attend a meeting of Senate Democrats at 2pm as internal squabbles intensify over key parts of the legislation. The two big ones revolve around...

Senate Targets
Insurance
Exec Pay

rare saturday debate

Dec 5, 2009 9:40 AM CST

Senate Targets Insurance Exec Pay

Meanwhile GOP will keep battling Medicare cuts

(Newser) - Democratic senators are taking aim at insurance industry executive pay today as they jockey for advantage in a rare weekend session to debate health care overhaul. Republicans will be targeting the bill's cuts to Medicare, seeking to undermine support among seniors. With talks on the key divisive issues of abortion...

Max Baucus
Nominated His
Girlfriend for
US Attorney

Dec 5, 2009 5:42 AM CST

Max Baucus Nominated His Girlfriend for US Attorney

Woman withdrew after she moved in with Senate Dem

(Newser) - Max Baucus was having an affair with a woman he recommended for US attorney last year, the senator's office admitted last night after Roll Call reported the apparent lapse. Baucus, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and former state office director Melodee Hanes began their relationship in the summer...

Senate Abortion
Amendment Set to Fail

Dec 4, 2009 6:55 AM CST

Senate Abortion Amendment Set to Fail

But Ben Nelson says he won't vote for final bill if it does

(Newser) - Ben Nelson’s strict anti-abortion amendment appears set to fail, despite the support of nearly all 40 Senate Republicans. The amendment, which mirrors the language of Bart Stupak’s House amendment, banning insurance companies that offer abortion from receiving government funds, would need 60 votes to pass, and there’s...

Senate Safeguards Mammograms

Dec 3, 2009 2:47 PM CST

Senate Safeguards Mammograms

Vote on amendment kicks off legislative debate on health care

(Newser) - The Senate cast its first votes on remaking the nation's health care system today, approving an amendment to safeguard coverage of mammograms and preventive screening tests for women. The 61-39 vote on a provision by Democrat Barbara Mikulski and Republican Olympia Snowe was the first substantive ballot in an acrimonious...

Senators to Watch in the Health Care Debate

Nov 30, 2009 8:26 AM CST

Senators to Watch in the Health Care Debate

Reid, Snowe, Lieberman, Burris, and more to star

(Newser) - The Senate’s health care debate heads to the floor this week, in a show that figures to star a cadre of colorful and influential characters. USA Today breaks down the senators to watch:

Harry Reid: The man in the middle of it all, Reid will have to keep his

...

Nader Considers
Run Against Dodd

Nov 28, 2009 3:50 PM CST

Nader Considers Run Against Dodd

He's 'absorbing' reaction and studying grassroots support

(Newser) - Ralph Nader says he is "absorbing" the reaction he's receiving about a possible bid for the Senate and wants to first gauge the level of grassroots support before making a decision. Supporters have called on the 75-year-old Connecticut native to jump into the hotly contested race to challenge Democrat...

Lincoln
Swings to
Center of
Health Debate

Eyes on 2010

Nov 22, 2009 1:03 PM CST

Lincoln Swings to Center of Health Debate

Dems come calling as GOP eyes her seat in 2010

(Newser) - With all eyes on her last night, Blanche Lincoln cast the deciding vote to push health reform forward—and simultaneously swung herself soundly into the epicenter of the brouhaha. By warning fellow Dems she won't support a final bill with a public option, she guaranteed their attention. But in casting...

Senate Democrats Clear
Health Care Hurdle, 60-39

Nov 21, 2009 7:13 PM CST

Senate Democrats Clear Health Care Hurdle, 60-39

Reid gets 60 votes to open full debate after Thanksgiving recess

(Newser) - Harry Reid's hope of passing health care legislation before Christmas took a giant step forward tonight. Reid got the 60 votes he needed to ward off a Republican filibuster and clear the way for full debate on the Senate floor after the Thanksgiving recess. "We can see the finish...

Reid Gets 60th Vote:
Holdout Lincoln Agrees

Nov 21, 2009 1:51 PM CST

Reid Gets 60th Vote: Holdout Lincoln Agrees

She'll allow health care bill to move forward; vote at 8pm

(Newser) - Democrats have hit the 60-vote number needed to move ahead on health care legislation. Just hours before the 8pm roll call, Arkansas' Blanche Lincoln said on the Senate floor that she will vote with her party. The centrist Democrat had been the last remaining Democratic holdout, after Mary Landrieu and...

Landrieu's Officially In, Leaving Only One Holdout

60 votes?

Nov 21, 2009 12:05 PM CST

Landrieu's Officially In, Leaving Only One Holdout

She'll allow bill to move forward; Blanche Lincoln hasn't tipped her hand

(Newser) - And then there was one. Mary Landrieu confirmed today she'd vote in favor of allowing the Senate health care bill to move forward. "Much more work needs to be done," said the Louisiana Democrat, but she's seen enough modifications for now. She warned this doesn't mean she'll vote...

All Eyes on Blanche Lincoln in Cliffhanger Senate Vote

showtime: 8pm

Nov 21, 2009 7:24 AM CST

All Eyes on Blanche Lincoln in Cliffhanger Senate Vote

Mary Landrieu and Ben Nelson expected to back health reform in first vote

(Newser) - Arkansas Sen. Blanche Lincoln is in the hot seat tonight, as the last Democratic holdout to the 60 votes Harry Reid needs in balloting tonight to bring the health care bill to the Senate floor for debate. Nebraskan Ben Nelson said yesterday he would vote yes, and Louisiana's Mary Landrieu...

Most Red State Dems Can Vote for Health Care

Nate Silver

Nov 20, 2009 9:27 AM CST

Most Red State Dems Can Vote for Health Care

Only Blanche Lincoln faces 2010 fight, and she'll be a tough sell

(Newser) - The main reason Senate Democrats have a prayer of passing health care reform is that not many of them are up for reelection next year, says Nate Silver. Only a third of the Senate is up for re-election in 2010, and most of the Democrats in that group come from...

Senators See Upcoming Vote on Obama—Not Health

NATE SILVER & CO.

Nov 19, 2009 10:18 AM CST

Senators See Upcoming Vote on Obama—Not Health

Eye constituents' votes in 2008, not polls on health care

(Newser) - The upcoming Senate debate on health care reform, like the House vote before it, will be more a referendum on President Obama than a reflection of constituents’ concerns, Andrew Gelman, Nate Silver, and Daniel Lee write. What happened in the House is clear: 31 of 39 Democrats who voted no...

GOP Traffic-Jam Ploy
Is Snarling Senate

OPINION

Nov 19, 2009 9:43 AM CST

GOP Traffic-Jam Ploy Is Snarling Senate

Stalling tactics are making Democrats turn on each other

(Newser) - Senate Democrats are starting to turn on each other like angry drivers stuck in rush-hour traffic thanks to Republican obstructionism, writes EJ Dionne. Republican senators are eating every word they once said against filibusterism and are stalling even legislation that they support in a Machiavellian effort to keep the Democrats...