Senate

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Best Members of Congress
 Best Members of Congress 
opinion
Oct 18, 2008 4:22 AM CDT

Best Members of Congress

There are "public servants." Then there are people who actually serve.

(Newser) - It's easy, and usually fun, to bash members of Congress. But what about those who deserve praise? Esquire picks some favorites, starting with Rep. Henry Waxman of California; the Democrat has long been the sole member not only criticizing the Bush team's missteps but actually investigating them. Then there's principled...

Once a Shoo-In, Dole Faces the Race of Her Life

NC senator falls back amid GOP doldrums, Democratic onslaught

(Newser) - In 2002, Elizabeth Dole easily claimed the rock-solid Republican seat in North Carolina once held by Jesse Helms. But in 2008, Dole's seat has become a prime target for a Democratic pick up, reports the New York Times, and the party's senatorial fund has spent more there than in any...

Stevens May Testify Tomorrow
 Stevens May Testify Tomorrow 
Oct 14, 2008 2:29 PM CDT

Stevens May Testify Tomorrow

Wife could also take stand in senator's corruption trial

(Newser) - Sen. Ted Stevens appears likely to testify tomorrow as part of his defense against corruption charges, Reuters reports. The Alaska Republican, charged with failing to disclose $250,000 gifts from oil firms, told a Washington court today he understood he was not legally required to testify. Stevens’ wife, Catherine, may...

Stevens Jurors Hear Tape of Plot to Hide Free Work

(Newser) - Two close friends of Sen. Ted Stevens schemed to conceal the fact that one was paying for extensive work done at the senator's cabin in Alaska, according to FBI audiotapes played today at Stevens' corruption trial. The pair, Bill Allen and Bob Persons, are heard on tape fretting in February...

Bill's New Baubles Persuade Some, May Scare Others

Adding pet projects could cost support of conservative Blue Dog Dems

(Newser) - The Senate’s version of the bailout bill is loaded with provisions specifically designed to sweeten the pot for House dissenters, Politico reports, including $3.3 billion for rural schools, equal health coverage for the mentally ill, and a suspension of the Alternative Minimum Tax. These changes may win over...

Mac Chilly to Obama's Senate Greeting

GOP nominee rewards Dem's advance with cursory handshake

(Newser) - Last night's bailout vote featured a moment of campaign drama on the Senate floor, the New York Times notes. Barack Obama, who arrived in the chamber at 5pm, crossed the aisle to greet John McCain when he arrived about three hours later. Their handshake lasted barely a second, as McCain...

Senate Puts Pressure on House to Pass Bailout

New bill will cost even more

(Newser) - By resoundingly passing its version of the bailout bill, the Senate has ratcheted up the pressure on House leaders to go along with the plan, the Swamp reports. “We’re going to fix the problem this week,” promised Mitch McConnell. The new bill more than doubles the FDIC...

McCain, Obama Bury Hatchet to Back Bailout

Partisan bickering shelved for crucial Senate vote

(Newser) - The partisan rancor of earlier this week was put on hold as John McCain and Barack Obama went back to their day jobs to vote in favor of the bailout bill, reports the Washington Post. The senators struck remarkably similar tones on the campaign trail earlier in the day, calling...

Senate Passes Sweetened Bailout Bill

(Newser) - The Senate overwhelmingly passed a historic $700-billion bill tonight to salvage the US economy, MSNBC reports. Senators backed the measure 74-25, hailing changes to the House measure that would aid the middle class and small businesses. Senate leaders said they hoped their bill would persuade House members to get on...

Candidates Return to Capital to Back Bailout

McCain, Obama stress urgent need for financial intervention

(Newser) - The presidential candidates took a break from stumping today to visit Washington, DC, and support the Senate's financial bailout plan, the New York Times reports. Barack Obama repeated his pro-bailout argument on the Senate floor, saying that "the worldwide economy could be plunged into a very, very deep hole....

Senate to Tweak Bailout —But not Much

Dissenting Dems, GOP want different changes

(Newser) - Senators are scrambling to revive legislation for the financial bailout after its surprise failure in the House yesterday, but must strike the right balance to attract new House votes without driving away initial supporters, Bloomberg reports. House Republicans want an expanded role for the FDIC in the bailout and for...

Stumping McCain and Obama May Skip Bailout Vote

Both might be stumping in key states

(Newser) - Despite the heated campaign debate about the US financial crisis—and John McCain's emergency "suspension" of his campaign until a deal on the rescue package was struck last week—both John McCain and Barack Obama may skip the vote on the bailout, reports Politico. Neither camp has committed to...

Palin Effect Reinvigorates GOP Slate
Palin Effect Reinvigorates GOP Slate
ANALYSIS
Sep 19, 2008 2:09 PM CDT

Palin Effect Reinvigorates GOP Slate

Enthusiasm for VP pick may help limit damage in Senate, House races

(Newser) - The Sarah Palin factor has energized Republican donors and campaign volunteers, giving the party a boost in the fall’s congressional races, the Washington Post reports. Everyone agrees the GOP won't be able to win back the House or Senate, but it looks like the Democrats won't get to a...

Kennedy Crafts Proposal for Paid National Service 'Army'

Bill would recruit 175,000 workers

(Newser) - Sen. Ted Kennedy has crafted a sweeping national service bill, to be introduced today, that would recruit 175,000 citizens of all ages to work in health, education, environmental protection and anti-poverty programs—with their pay partially subsidized by the government. The plan would provide $5 billion over five years...

House Dems Told to Pony Up for Kanye Show

Senate rules OK the freebie; House says it's an ethics violation

(Newser) - Tonight's Kanye West concert at the Democratic Convention is the unlikely source of an ethics quandary, ABC News reports, as Senate Democrats attend for free while the House is making staffers pay up. Under new rules intended to reduce the influence of lobbyists, members of Congress aren't allowed to take...

Indictments Be Damned, Stevens Wins Alaska Primary

Republican wins primary easily, despite federal charges against him

(Newser) - Alaska’s Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate, may be facing federal charges, but he’ll also be running for re-election after drawing 63% of the vote in his primary race yesterday, reports the AP. And, says Stevens, 84, his upcoming fight with popular Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich...

Lieberman Shakes Both Sides of Aisle
 Lieberman
 Shakes Both
 Sides of Aisle
ANALYSIS
Aug 21, 2008 10:53 AM CDT

Lieberman Shakes Both Sides of Aisle

Connecticut senator stands at the middle of Republican/Democrat divide

(Newser) - Had things gone just a bit differently in Florida in 2000, Joe Lieberman might be ending his second term as a Democratic vice president. Instead, the now-Independent is delivering a primetime RNC address and again being bandied about as a potential veep—this time for John McCain. The Boston Globe...

NH Senate Rematch a Likely Bellwether Race

Incumbent Sununu faces Shaheen in key test of Democratic wave

(Newser) - As Democrats look to pick up as many as 10 Senate seats in November, perhaps no race has so much riding the Democratic wave than New Hampshire, where Democrat Jeanne Shaheen again takes on John Sununu for a seat Republicans have held for 30 years. As the New York Times ...

Stevens Pleads Not Guilty
Stevens Pleads Not Guilty
UPDATED
Jul 31, 2008 12:57 PM CDT

Stevens Pleads Not Guilty

Judge sets pre-Election Day trial date, but defers ruling on venue change to Alaska

(Newser) - Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens pleaded not guilty today in federal court in Washington to seven counts of corruption, the Anchorage Daily News reports. At his lawyers' request, the judge set a tentative trial date of Sept. 24, more than 5 weeks before the Nov. 4 general election. He'll rule on...

House Votes to Let FDA Regulate Tobacco

Cigarettes would be controlled by FDA

(Newser) - The House passed landmark legislation yesterday to bring the tobacco industry under the regulatory control of the Food and Drug Administration. The FDA wouldn't have the power to ban cigarettes under the bill, but it could order nicotine levels in cigarettes reduced and restrict other harmful ingredients, reports the New ...

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