Hutchison resolution aims to eliminate FCC’s net neutrality rules before they take effect

In the fight to safeguard the openness of the Internet, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) remains a vocal opponent the Federal Communications Commission’s new rules protecting net neutrality. And as ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and author of an anti-net neutrality resolution, Hutchison is More…

Texas business lobbyists extend reach to Washington, pushing back on spending, EPA

One of Texas’ most influential lobbying groups has expanded its reach to Washington, taking its arguments against government spending and environmental regulation to a national stage.

The Texas Association of Business announced its new venture

Senators agree on high-skilled immigration reform, but Democrats insist it must be comprehensive

The current employment-based immigration system is dysfunctional and needs reform, panelists and lawmakers stated at a Senate Judiciary committee hearing on Tuesday. Judiciary Chairman Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) presided over the hearing, which heard testimony from leaders in the business, higher education and immigrant communities, as well as three American mayors.

First DREAM Act U.S. Senate hearing pits supporters against opponents

A few minutes into the the first ever Senate hearing on the DREAM Act, Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., chairman of the subcommittee holding the meeting, had to tell supporters to not applaud any comments. #

The DREAM Act — reintroduced this year by More…

NRSC chair Cornyn still not sure about Kyl’s ‘not intended to be factual’ Planned Parenthood stats

Last week, Twitter was host to a Stephen Colbert-encouraged pillorying of Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) following a spokesman’s claim that when Kyl said on the Senate floor that “well over 90 percent of what Planned Parenthood does” is abortion-related, it was “not intended to be a factual statement” More…

Democrats play hot potato with DSCC chairmanship

The Democratic and Republican leadership elections are finally upon us, and it seems that most of the drama and uncertainty has already worked itself out well in advance. On the GOP side, the only contested race — which featured Rep. Jeb Hensarling (Texas) facing off against Tea Party favorite Rep. More…

Senate Races to Watch for Immigration Policy

Today’s elections will almost certainly make it harder for Congress to push through progressive agenda items such as comprehensive immigration reform. Although a lot of the changes will be broad — more Republicans will mean more arguments for border security and enforcement and less support for paths to legalization — More…

GOP Senators Accuse Obama Administration of Avoiding Immigration Enforcement (Again)

Senate Republicans have long criticized the Obama administration as lax on immigration enforcement, and their argument was bolstered by news this week that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is dismissing a record-high number of cases against immigrant detainees in Houston. In response, seven pro-enforcement Republican senators sent a letter More…

The Secret World of ALEC’s Hacks

In early August, an obscure measure called Proposition C — which prohibits the government from mandating the purchase of health insurance — passed overwhelmingly in a Missouri referendum and soon became national news. While seen by many legal scholars as a largely symbolic act of defiance, the new statute More…

Could Latino Voters Tip the Scales Toward Dems in November?

President Obama won the 2008 presidential election with help from Latino voters, who voted for him over John McCain by a more than two-to-one margin. Some of this support has lagged as Obama has so far failed to deliver on a campaign promise to pass immigration reform. But More…