The Washington Independent

Posts Tagged John Thune

Hotline Presidential Power Rankings put Romney on top, dismiss Tea Party

By | 11.09.10 | 5:29 pm

With just over 14 months remaining before the Iowa Caucus, National Journal’s The Hotline has released its Presidential Power Rankings, assessing the viability of 15 Republicans who might mount bids to become their party’s representative in the race against President Obama.

The list breaks the potential candidates down into More…

Senators Gripe About DREAM Act, Will Likely Still Vote for Defense Bill

By | 09.15.10 | 4:34 pm

Some Republican senators, along with centrist Democrats, aren’t happy with Harry Reid’s decision to slip the DREAM Act into a defense authorization bill up for a vote next week — and they are arguing it could kill the bill, although none have explicitly said they plan to vote More…

Embattled Small Business Bill Inches Forward

By | 07.23.10 | 2:32 pm

The Senate has two weeks until it adjourns for the August recess, and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has promised that legislation to help small businesses is the highest priority on his docket.

Normally, small business bills are the welcome fruits of bipartisan labor. But not this small business bill. More…

Ron Paul Wins 2010 CPAC Presidential Straw Poll

By | 02.20.10 | 5:44 pm

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) scored a victory in the annual CPAC straw poll, besting nine other Republicans in a vote taken by around 2,395 attendees — around 25 percent of the people at this conservative conference. Paul won 31 percent of the vote; Mitt Romney came in second with More…

The CPAC Presidential Straw Poll

By | 02.16.10 | 6:34 pm

Matt Lewis has the latest edition of the presidential straw poll to be distributed later this week to paying attendees of the annual CPAC conference. In presidential years, candidates often buy tickets for supporters in order to help them win these polls. Not coincidentally, the 2007, 2008, More…

Thune Urges End of TARP as Part of Unemployment Benefits Extension

By | 11.02.09 | 5:07 pm

In a few moments, the Senate will hold a procedural vote setting the stage for final passage of legislation extending unemployment insurance benefits. Leading up to the vote, Republicans are taking every opportunity to blast the Democrats for not allowing votes on all of their amendments.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) More…

Clarifying Those Amendments That Have Stalled the Unemployment Debate

By | 10.29.09 | 5:32 pm

As we just noted, Senate Republicans are urging consideration of three amendments on the proposal to extend federal unemployment benefits, but only two are the source of disagreement between the parties.

The first, sponsored by Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), would fund the extension using unspent stimulus money, rather More…

Breakdown of the Senate Vote on Thune Amendment

By | 07.22.09 | 1:25 pm

Just posted to the Senate’s site: 20 Democrats — mostly from rural, low-population states — voted in favor of the gun amendment. Two Republicans, Sens. George Voinovich (Ohio) and Richard Lugar (Ind.), voted against it.

Missing: GOP Message on Iran

By | 06.17.09 | 11:03 am

Here’s a really smart Manu Raju piece on how Republicans, who were completely on message mere weeks ago with anti-Nancy Pelosi and anti-Gitmo closing campaigns, are flummoxed by the Iran revolt. Sen. John Thune (R-Nev.) backs the president’s careful approach, and no Senate Republican is as agitated as Sen. More…

Free Money for Everybody!

By | 02.06.09 | 6:22 pm

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) is the second Republican senator to propose an amendment that would scrap the entire stimulus and replace it with tax cuts. Via Marc Thiessen:

Senator John Thune today introduced an across-the-board middle class tax rebate amendment (S. AMDT #538) to the American Recovery and

More…