Senate

Stories 141 - 160 | << Prev   Next >>

Senate Democrats Block GOP Policing Bill

Schumer called it 'irrevocably flawed'

(Newser) - A police reform bill introduced by Senate Republicans last week has been blocked by Democrats who called it too flawed to even be a starting point for debate. A motion to introduce Senate debate on the bill, which needed 60 votes, was defeated in a 55-45 vote Wednesday, reports NBC...

McConnell, Pelosi: We 'Respectfully Decline' Offer From Trump

The Senate is returning to work Monday, while the House stays away

(Newser) - Weighing the risks, the Senate will reopen on Monday as the coronavirus crisis rages and the House stays shuttered, an approach that leaves Congress as divided as the nation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s decision to convene 100 senators at the Capitol during a pandemic gives President Trump the...

McConnell Insists Senators Can Safely Return to Work

But there may not be capacity to test all senators

(Newser) - A group of up to 100 people, many of them elderly, will be traveling from across America to return to work Monday—and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell insists it can be done safely. The Republican declined to say Thursday whether Dr. Brian Monahan, the Capitol's attending physician, had...

Trump Threatens to Invoke a Power Never Before Invoked

President wants to adjourn Congress in order to push through nominees

(Newser) - President Trump on Wednesday threatened to use a constitutional clause that's never been invoked before in order to forcibly adjourn Congress so he can push through nominees who would otherwise need to be confirmed by the Senate. He says there are 129 nominees for various federal agencies awaiting confirmation,...

'We Have a Deal' on $2T Relief Package

'Help is on the way, big help and quick help'

(Newser) - "Ladies and gentlemen, we are done. We have a deal," top White House aide Eric Ueland announced early Wednesday after the White House and Senate leaders reached agreement on the biggest economic relief package in American history. The $2 trillion measure to help workers, businesses, and the health...

Your $1.2K Check May Be Very Close

As both sides near relief deal, Trump asks if Democrats 'want virus to win'

(Newser) - After a day of anger and insults , a bipartisan Senate deal on a massive economic stimulus bill could be announced as early as Tuesday morning. Negotiations finished shortly before midnight without a deal, but Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said they were very close to...

Relief Bill Descends Into Insults on Senate Floor

Measure remains stalled as things get heated between Democrats and Republicans

(Newser) - A huge coronavirus stimulus package—the one that would result in relief checks going to Americans—remained very much stuck in Senate limbo Monday afternoon. And things got seriously heated and chaotic on the chamber's floor, reports the Washington Post . For the second straight day, Democrats blocked a procedural...

After Coronavirus Briefings, 4 Senators Dumped Stocks

Burr reassured public but privately gave dire warnings about pandemic

(Newser) - A number of senators who received briefings on the coronavirus outbreak earlier this year publicly offered reassurances that America was ready—and privately sold off large amounts of their stock holdings. Bloomberg puts the count at four members of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Coverage:
  • Chairman Richard Burr sold between $628,
...

GOP Stimulus Plan: $1.2K for Adults, $500 Per Child

Cash payments have opposition among Republican senators

(Newser) - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday presented the third part of the legislation intended to help the economy recover from the pandemic, built around payments of $1,200 to anyone with an income up to $75,000. The amount of the payment would decline as household income neared $99,...

As Senate Holds Up Aid, Democrats Seek Another $750B

Mnuchin negotiates with GOP leaders on package

(Newser) - With an urgency unseen since the Great Recession, Congress is rushing to develop a sweeping economic lifeline for American households and businesses capsized by the coronavirus outbreak. Democrats said at least $750 billion would be needed, the AP reports. "We will need big, bold, urgent federal action to deal...

Chances of Senate Power Flip Just Got Bigger

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock will run, adding to a list of possible wins for Democrats

(Newser) - Before Monday, political observers thought Democrats had a plausible chance of regaining control of the Senate in 2020. Now they think the chances are even better. On Monday, Montana Gov. Steve Bullock said he would run to try to unseat Republican incumbent Steve Daines, reports Politico . An analysis at the...

Republicans Help Pass Limits on Trump's War Powers

Senators say Congress needs to reclaim that authority

(Newser) - The Senate has approved restricting President Trump's authority to wage war on Iran. The resolution, passed 55-45, would require the president to end any military action within 30 days unless he had the approval of Congress, the Hill reports. Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, introduced the War Powers...

Impeachment Trial: Dems Float a Lesser Penalty
Democrats Now Face
a 'Mathematical Impossibility'
the rundown

Democrats Now Face a 'Mathematical Impossibility'

Closing impeachment arguments are over, and Politico already counts enough acquittal votes

(Newser) - Closing arguments in President Trump's impeachment trial have wrapped up. Now senators will have two days to make individual speeches ahead of the final vote on Wednesday. Meanwhile, some Democrats were at least hoping for a censure of President Trump after the trial is over, though the prospect looks...

Sen. Alexander: Why I Cast My Deciding Vote

The Tennessee Republican voted against allowing witnesses in the Trump impeachment trial

(Newser) - Can you put out a fire with gasoline? Sen. Lamar Alexander says you really can't. The Tennessee Republican is getting a lot of attention for his key vote to block witnesses from the Senate impeachment trial of President Trump, and now the press is quoting him on it. "...

Analysis: Mitch McConnell Played This Masterfully

One writer thinks the Lamar Alexander 'tease' was an orchestrated charade

(Newser) - It's not a sure thing, but the smart money says the Senate is poised to acquit President Trump of impeachment charges without calling witnesses . That became clear after GOP Sen. Lamar Alexander, whose vote was said to be in question, announced that he did not want to hear new...

One Big Wildcard Looms in Debate Over Witnesses

Would John Roberts break a tie vote in the Senate?

(Newser) - The Senate is expected to vote Friday on whether to call witnesses in President Trump's impeachment trial. The big focus is on whether Democrats can get the necessary four votes from Republicans to make that happen. But what if they get only three, resulting in a 50-50 tie? At...

3 Democratic Senators Could Be Leaning Toward Acquittal

Republicans hope to wrap trial up Friday

(Newser) - President Trump's defense rested its case in his impeachment trial Tuesday, with White House lawyers urging senators to vote to acquit—and at least three Democrats may end up joining Republicans in doing so. Politico reports that Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia, Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, and Doug...

WH Counsel: 'That's Fake, That's Not the Real Call'

President Trump's legal team launches its defense in the Senate impeachment trial

(Newser) - Enter the defense. President Trump's legal team, led by personal lawyer Jay Sekulow and White House counsel Pat Cipollone, gave a two-hour presentation Saturday morning against impeaching the president, the Washington Post reports. This after House managers, led by Rep. Adam Schiff, argued that Trump had abused his power...

Impeachment Day 1 Includes Scolding From Roberts
Impeachment Day 1
Includes Scolding From Roberts
THE RUNDOWN

Impeachment Day 1 Includes Scolding From Roberts

Oral arguments set to begin later Wednesday

(Newser) - The Senate approved the rules for President Trump's impeachment trial along party lines early Wednesday, setting the stage for oral arguments that could begin later in the day. After a long, tense hearing, the resolution to approve Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's trial plan passed by 53 votes...

One Definite in Impeachment Trial: Silent Senators
McConnell Loosens Rules
as Impeachment Trial Starts
the rundown

McConnell Loosens Rules as Impeachment Trial Starts

Each side will now get 3 days to make its case, instead of 2

(Newser) - The impeachment trial of President Trump has begun. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts gaveled the historic proceedings into session shortly after 1pm. First up: Senate Republicans and Democrats are haggling over the rules before opening arguments begin. Developments:
  • McConnell eases up: Mitch McConnell has loosened up on his short timeline
...

Stories 141 - 160 | << Prev   Next >>
Most Read on Newser