Senate Republicans

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Lamar Alexander to Drop Out of GOP Leadership

Says he'd rather foster consensus

(Newser) - Lamar Alexander will give up his post as Republican Conference chairman—the party’s third-ranking Senate position—in January, and with it his hope of being the Senate GOP whip in the next Congress, he announced today, in what Politico calls a "stunning decision." Alexander says he’s...

McConnell: Big Deficit Deal Is Dead

Top Republican blames White House insistence on tax hikes

(Newser) - Mitch McConnell is jumping right on John Boehner's pronouncement last night that a broad deal on the deficit is impossible, reports Politico. Appearing on Fox News Sunday this morning, the Senate's top Republican said the White House's insistence that a $4 trillion deal be accompanied by tax...

Resolute GOP Stands by Ryan's Medicare Overhaul

Despite its divisive nature, Republicans still fighting for Ryan's plan

(Newser) - Despite the five Senate Republicans who voted against Paul Ryan’s Medicare overhaul yesterday, the GOP remains wedded to the divisive, and increasingly unpopular , plan. Rather than back off, Republicans are responding by increasing attacks on the Democrats’ position, the Wall Street Journal reports. "We need to make it...

GOP Senate to Force Dems to Raise Debt Ceiling Solo?

They're toying with the idea of withholding all support

(Newser) - With the United States poised to crash into its $14.294 trillion debt ceiling no later than May 16, Senate Republicans are considering letting Democrats raise it all on their own, with a straight party vote, reports the Huffington Post . Republicans have been insisting on spending cuts and reforms in...

27% of Senate Press Releases Taunt Other Side

Professor analyzes writings, finds lots of name calling

(Newser) - This could explain why Congress is having such a hard time agreeing on a budget: Its members are too busy taunting one another. A Harvard professor analyzed the writings of Congress members, and found that about 27% of the time, they're just insulting each other. “It’s jarring and...

GOP Wants to Make Unbalanced Budget Illegal

Mandate has full support from Republican senators, none from Dems

(Newser) - The GOP is hoping to tack a 28th amendment on to the Constitution: one that would mandate a balanced budget. All 47 GOP senators are behind the proposal, which was announced yesterday, but "the whole thing is a long shot," an analyst tells Reuters . Earlier attempts have fallen...

Dems to Offer GOP Another $20B in Spending Cuts

...bringing total to $30B, which may not satisfy Republicans

(Newser) - With the threat of a government shutdown less than two weeks away, all eyes are on the budget. The White House and congressional Democrats are working on a proposal to cut another $20 billion in spending, insiders tell the Wall Street Journal . It’s the biggest cut the administration and...

Scandal-Scarred John Ensign to Retire

In wake of scandal, senator ducks reelection fight

(Newser) - John Ensign will announce that he is not running for reelection in 2012 at an afternoon press conference in Las Vegas, sources tell Roll Call . Republicans have been leaning on the Nevada senator to retire, on the assumption that his much-discussed extramarital dalliances would prove a distraction. Rep. Dean Heller...

Senate Passes Spending Bill, Avoids Shutdown

Temporary measure cuts $4 billion, will last 2 weeks

(Newser) - Congress is sending President Obama a Republican-drafted bill to trim $4 billion from the budget to keep the government running for two more weeks. The Senate cleared the measure by an overwhelming 91-9 vote that gives the GOP an early but modest victory in its drive to rein in government....

Government Shutdown Likely Averted, for Two Weeks

Democrats respond favorably to John Boehner's plan

(Newser) - Looks like a government shutdown has been avoided—for two weeks, at least. Democrats responded favorably last night to a Republican plan for a temporary, two-week extension that would allow the government to continue operating. The trade-off? It also requires a first installment of $4 billion in budget cuts to...

Vacancies Leave Federal Courts in Crisis

Republican holds on judicial nominees taking a toll

(Newser) - Republicans’ refusal to allow votes on President Obama’s judicial nominees has pushed courts to the breaking point, particularly in southwestern courts struggling with drug and illegal immigration trials, the Washington Post reports. In Arizona, for example, some judges are handling about 1200 criminal cases simultaneously. The state recently declared...

GOP Health Care Repeal Fails in Senate

Party-line vote came down as expected

(Newser) - A Republican drive to repeal the year-old health care law ended in party-line defeat in the Senate today by a vote of 47-51. Republicans conceded in advance their attempt at total repeal would fall short, but they accomplished an objective of forcing Democrats to take a position on an issue...

Senate Set to Vote on Health Care Repeal

Vote to roll back overhaul expected today

(Newser) - The Senate is expected to hold a showdown vote today on repeal of the health care law. The chamber's Republicans—buoyed by a federal judge's ruling that the health care overhaul is unconstitutional — tacked a repeal amendment onto a massive Federal Aviation Administration budget reauthorization bill being debated in...

Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison to Retire

Wants to give state 'ample time' to ponder successor

(Newser) - Kay Bailey Hutchison won’t be running for reelection in 2012, she announced today in an open letter saying she wanted to live “full-time in Texas with my family.” The three-term Republican said that announcing the move early “should give the people of Texas ample time to...

Senate Passes Bill to Aid 9/11 First Responders
Congress Passes Bill
for 9/11 First Responders
UPDATED
Dec 22, 2010 5:04 PM CST

Congress Passes Bill for 9/11 First Responders

Republicans drop opposition in the Senate

(Newser) - The clout of Jon Stewart : Congress today approved the bill to provide health care for 9/11 first responders and sent it to President Obama for his signature. The House passed the measure late this afternoon (206-60) after the Senate did so earlier in the day, reports AP . The big breakthrough...

GOP Support Grows Ahead of START Vote

Scott Brown is on board; Corker, Gregg likely

(Newser) - Things were looking bleak yesterday for the New START arms treaty—but that was yesterday. Following a closed-door meeting, GOP Sen. Scott Brown said he’d vote for the treaty and two other Republicans said they would likely support it, giving supporters enough votes to push it through as voting...

START Treaty in Trouble
START Treaty
in Trouble
Dec 20, 2010 6:45 AM CST

START Treaty in Trouble

Senate GOP leaders will vote against nuke treaty

(Newser) - Harry Reid says the Senate's choice on the START Treaty is simple—"You either want to keep nuclear weapons out of the hands of terrorists or you don’t"—but the political reality is proving to be a lot more complicated. Top Senate Republicans Mitch McConnell and Jon...

Senate Passes Tax-Cut Deal 81-19
Senate Passes
Tax-Cut Deal 81-19
Dec 15, 2010 1:01 PM CST

Senate Passes Tax-Cut Deal 81-19

Heads for tougher fight in the House

(Newser) - President Obama's compromise tax deal with Republicans—a package of cuts that would add nearly a trillion dollars to the US debt—won approval in the Senate today in a 81-19 vote. The measure still faces stiff opposition in the House where Democrats see it as overgenerous to the wealthy....

Stewart: GOP Has Lost Custody of 9/11

Daily Show host slams senators for blocking bill aiding first responders

(Newser) - If the Republican Party is going to block a bill offering medical help to 9/11 first responders , it should stop exploiting 9/11 for political ends, Jon Stewart complains. Senate Republicans are also blocking the DREAM Act and Don't Ask Don't Tell repeal , but "since when does the Republican Party...

Senate Dems Push to Pass 100 Bills in One Go

Reid seeks filibuster-proof measures for public lands, water

(Newser) - With time running out in the lame-duck session, Democrats are working hard to push through some 100 environmental bills, Politico reports. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is calling on party leaders to compile a list of public lands and water measures Republicans won’t kill with a filibuster. On the...

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