Senate Democrats

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Burris Won't Quit, but Vows Not to Run in '10

Senator pitches compromise to Durbin to quell calls for ouster

(Newser) - Roland Burris won’t resign as senator in the wake of allegations he traded campaign donations for his appointment by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich—or at least that’s what Burris will tell fellow Illinois Dem Dick Durbin today, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. But sources say Burris will pledge not...

White House to Burris: Think It Over

(Newser) - As the chorus urging Roland Burris to resign grows larger and louder, the White House today stopped just short of joining but sent an unmistakable "veiled threat," writes Frank James in the Chicago Tribune. At this afternoon's press briefing, Robert Gibbs' words were measured yet blunt: "...

Burris: 'I Have Done Nothing Wrong'

He'll comply with perjury review, but no more interviews

(Newser) - Roland Burris today urged his constituents to "stop the rush to judgment" as he denied any wrongdoing in the process of gaining his Senate seat, the Chicago Tribune reports. "If I had done the things I’ve been accused of, I’d be too embarrassed to stand up...

On Stimulus, White House Kept Congress Close
On Stimulus, White House Kept Congress Close
ANALYSIS

On Stimulus, White House Kept Congress Close

Prez still didn't get much GOP support

(Newser) - President Obama promised a new spirit of cooperation in Washington, and in his relationship with Congress, he did his best to deliver, the Wall Street Journal reports. Obama left congressional leaders wide leeway in crafting the stimulus bill and stayed in close touch with members. Joe Biden stayed on pivotal...

DC Dems Look for Ill. to Act on Burris

'Wait-and-see attitude' likely as concerns grow

(Newser) - As further concerns emerge about Illinois Sen. Roland Burris’ ties to Rod Blagojevich, DC Democrats hoping to escape the former governor’s shadow are hoping Illinois will address the problem for them, Politico reports. Burris has acknowledged Blago contact that he hadn’t mentioned earlier, and while the senator says...

Republicans Shell Out to Fight Franken

59th Dem seat would make legislating easy for left

(Newser) - After President Obama slipped a bill through Congress with just three Republicans’ support, the GOP is digging in to prevent a 59th Democrat from taking Minnesota's contested Senate seat. Al Franken currently leads the interminable race by 225 votes, but Republicans are pouring cash into Norm Coleman’s legal bid...

Forget Bipartisanship— Let's Pass This Bill

Crisis is no time for 'meeting in the middle'

(Newser) - Sure, bipartisanship is great when the country can afford it—but to fix the economic crisis, we’ll have to forgo unity, writes Eugene Robinson in the Washington Post. Expert economists agree that the stimulus package is crucial, and even most Republican senators say something needs to be done. “...

Senators Wrangle Over Stimulus Cuts

Bipartisan group works to carve plan down to size

(Newser) - A bipartisan group of some 20 senators argued late last night over cuts to the $900 billion stimulus package, and will reconvene today, reports the New York Times. Democrats and Republicans alike say they want to slash provisions that won't swiftly create jobs or boost spending—but they are struggling...

Ted Kennedy Upset Caroline Used Cancer as Excuse

Suggestion hurts his legislative efforts: aides

(Newser) - Ted Kennedy and his aides are livid that his niece Caroline is citing his health problems among reasons for her withdrawing from consideration for Hillary Clinton’s Senate seat, Time reports. Associates say the Massachusetts senator is doing well and fully committed to his goal of passing universal health-care legislation—...

Burris Heads to Washington as Tensions Soar

Blago appointee to meet with Reid and Durbin Wednesday

(Newser) - Roland Burris heads to Washington today to claim Barack Obama’s old Senate seat, which he says is rightfully his, though he tells USA Today that he won't sully his reputation by making a "scene" if he meets opposition. Last night, the former Illinois AG spoke at a prayer...

Dodd Endorses Big 3 Bailout as CEOs Hit Hill Again

Senate Democrat enlisted to work on compromise package

(Newser) - Sen. Chris Dodd welcomed the Big Three CEOs back to the Senate Banking Committee today by declaring his support for an auto bailout, the AP reports. Chariman Dodd said inaction would be akin to playing “Russian Roulette with the economy.” He praised the automakers for making a better...

NJ's Menendez Will Head Key Dem Committee

First Latino in Senate campaign post takes over for Schumer

(Newser) - Robert Menendez will replace Charles Schumer atop the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the Hill reports today, giving the committee its first Hispanic leader. New Jersey’s Menendez has a tough act to follow in New York’s Schumer, who helped Democrats pick up six seats to take the majority in...

Lieberman Keeps Chairmanship
 Lieberman Keeps 
 Chairmanship 

Lieberman Keeps Chairmanship

Will lose some meaningless subcommittee job instead

(Newser) - Senate Democrats voted 42-13 today to let Joe Lieberman keep his perch atop the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, hoping to prevent the Connecticut Independent from becoming a full-fledged Republican, the Hill reports, The former Dem, who actively supported John McCain's presidential bid, will instead lose his chairmanship of...

Byrd, 90, Resigns as Appropriations Chairman

Senator, rumored to be under pressure from Reid, will be replaced by Hawaii's Inoyue

(Newser) - Robert Byrd resigned today as chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, acquiescing to Democratic leaders who reportedly wanted him out of the job, the Hill reports. Byrd, 90, has been hospitalized three times in the past year, and said he was willing to leave the committee in younger hands—namely,...

Dems Let Lieberman Keep Chairmanship ... for Now

Connecticut Democrats submit censure resolution to state committee

(Newser) - Joe Lieberman will hold onto his chairmanship of the Senate Homeland Security committee for now, but his future is still unclear following a meeting with Majority Leader Harry Reid, the Hill reports. “While I understand that Senator Lieberman has voted with Democrats a majority of the time, his comments...

Dem Wins Oregon Senate Race
 Dem Wins Oregon Senate Race 

Dem Wins Oregon Senate Race

Incumbent Smith concedes in early-morning call to Merkley

(Newser) - Oregon Republican Gordon Smith has privately conceded the US Senate race this morning to his opponent, Democrat Jeff Merkley, the Oregonian reports after an excruciatingly sluggish ballot count. The final margin was within thousands of votes. Late counting of ballots from the Portland area, which is overwhelmingly liberal, put Merkley...

10 Senate Races to Watch
 10 Senate Races to Watch 
OPINION

10 Senate Races to Watch

Dems could pick up 8 seats; GOP could oust Landrieu in La.

(Newser) - With 35 Senate seats up for grabs Tuesday, Chris Cillizza, in the Washington Post, predicts Democrats will flip eight. Two more are close calls for the Dems, while the GOP has one hope for a pickup. Starting with the most likely:
  1. Virginia is in the bag for Mark Warner; he
...

Dems Loath to Punish Traitor Joe

The party is ticked, but this might not be the time for vengeance

(Newser) - Joe Lieberman has crossed nearly every line there is in supporting John McCain—on Sunday he even praised Sarah Palin—and many liberals want him ousted from the Democratic caucus. But Harry Reid and company show no signs of moving against Lieberman, Salon reports. “We're going to have to...

Dems Wield Cash in Battle for Southern Senate Seats

Unseating McConnell, Dole, others possible with funds high, GOP popularity low

(Newser) - With a huge fund-raising edge allowing for wide advertising blitzes, Democrats are pushing hard for Senate seats in red states even recently thought unwinnable, Alexander Bolton writes in the Hill. In North Carolina, Dems see a chance to unseat Elizabeth Dole; in Georgia, Saxby Chambliss; in Mississippi, Roger Wicker; and...

Senate Version of Bailout Grows Sweeter, Fatter

(Newser) - The Senate version of the bailout bill has ballooned to more than 400 pages as legislators flesh out details in hopes of gaining passage as soon as tonight, Politico reports. The marquee measure boosts FDIC coverage of individual accounts from $100,000 to $250,000, with numerous lower-profile provisions intended...

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