In a political climate where the most mundane of tasks often appear mired in complex partisan strategies designed to show one party or the other holding a strategic advantage, a U.S. Senate committee has managed something quite unusual. It has managed to come to agreement on the first authorization bill More…
A new NBC poll indicates that an overwhelming majority of Americans agree with the Obama administration’s decision not to release the photos of Osama bin Laden’s corpse.
Fifty-two percent said they strongly believe the Obama administration should not release the photos, and an additional 12 percent agreed,
The U.S. Senate failed to file cloture on the National Defense Authorization Act, which included an amendment to repeal “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” the military’s ban on allowing openly gay service members in the armed forces. The bill was blocked from proceeding to full debate by 57-40 margin. All Republicans More…
The midterm hangover having finally worn off, the 111th Congress returns today to kick off the lame-duck session, its last hurrah before its successor takes over. And the 112th Congress will look radically different, with Republicans in control of the House and the Democratic majority in the Senate significantly reduced. More…
Despite widespread public opposition to the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision and multiple exhortations by the president for Congress to act, Senate Democrats were unable to overcome a Republican filibuster to pass the DISCLOSE Act, a bill requiring interest groups to name the donors behind their campaign ads, More…
Momentum is building for Democrats to try one last time to pass a version of the DISCLOSE Act once Congress resumes, this time without the extraneous (and some say, onerous) prohibitions on campaign spending by federal contractors or companies with partial foreign-ownership. The New York Times and Politico More…
Mark Kirk, the Republican senator-elect from Illinois, could be sworn in as early as Nov. 29 due to special circumstances regarding his seat, which used to belong to President Obama but was handed over to Sen. Roland Burris (D-Ill.) when Obama took office. Kirk will serve in the More…
Obama chided Republicans Saturday for filibustering the defense authorization bill that could have included the DREAM Act and other reform-minded measures like a repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Obama said he hoped Republicans would “come to their senses” on the DREAM Act after the November elections.
The vote’s not over yet, but it might as well be.
As senators vote now on the DISCLOSE Act, it’s worth noting that the blogosphere has been alive with activity today — almost all of which is urging members to vote ‘no’ on the bill. Despite Democrats’ choice to rally the base by fighting for an issue dear to many liberals’ More…
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