Tag: U.S. Senate

Democrats, Please Use Your Power

Filed in National by on November 4, 2010 56 Comments

I give some ideas of what Democrats can do in the lame duck session and discuss what I’ve learned from this year’s election.

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We Will Miss Ted Kaufman

Filed in National by on October 1, 2010 51 Comments

Ted Kaufman is leaving the Senate, but not leaving public service all together. He’s been chosen as the new head of the Bailout Oversight Committee.

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Here’s Why We Need Senate Reform

Filed in National by on September 28, 2010 38 Comments

South Carolina Senator Jim DeMint says he will block any legislation that isn’t cleared through his office.

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Filibuster Reform Gaining Momentum

Filed in National by on July 29, 2010 3 Comments

Netroots Nation panel on filibuster reform.

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Senator Robert Byrd Dies

Filed in National by on June 28, 2010 32 Comments
Senator Robert Byrd Dies

West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd, 92, passed away this morning.

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Financial Reform Passes The Senate

Filed in National by on May 20, 2010 5 Comments

President Obama scored another big legislative victory in the Senate tonight. The Senate approved a far-reaching financial regulation bill Thursday evening, paving the way for enactment of the most extensive reworking of financial oversight in generations and a second major legislative victory of the year for President Obama and congressional Democrats. … The Senate voted […]

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The GOP Is Now Officially Guilty of Petulance

Filed in National by on March 25, 2010 24 Comments

I think it was noted here somewhere the other day that on Tuesday, Senate Republicans used a little-known rule to prevent hearings from proceeding past 2:00 PM. In fact, our own beloved Sen. Carper was forced to halt a Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on transparency due to Republicans’ refusal to give unanimous consent to […]

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Filibuster Reform on the Horizon?

Filed in National by on March 11, 2010 4 Comments

This sounds like welcome news to me. Via Ezra Klein and Sam Stein of HuffPo, there is starting to be some serious talk about filibuster reform. Yesterday at a reporters’ briefing, Harry Reid had some interesting comments about the present and future of Senate procedure.

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The New “Super Majority” Problem

Filed in National by on December 21, 2009 31 Comments

Despite all our differences on Health Care, the real problem is the new 60 vote or nothing framework.  This new Super Majority or nothing dilemma must be addressed if we ever want to govern.  Needing 60 votes to do anything is impossible mainly because it results in only two outcomes: 1. It stops legislation. 2. […]

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Senate Bill Passes First Cloture Vote

Filed in National by on December 21, 2009 1 Comment

Early this morning the Senate health care reform bill passed its first cloture vote. Moments ago, the Senate voted 60-40 to end the Republican filibuster of the manager’s amendment to the Senate health care bill, clearing an important hurdle to passing health care reform before the end of the year. The Senators voted from their […]

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A Modest Healthcare Proposal

Filed in National by on December 8, 2009 6 Comments

I would love to see an interim law get passed for heathcare reform that drops all elected legislators from their government healthcare as of January 1st.  This will give legislators a few weeks to find their free-market healthcare options and sign up.  I wonder how many of them would be unable to get insurance due […]

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Senate Health Care Reform Debate Starts Today

Filed in National by on November 30, 2009 1 Comment

The debate on the health care reform deal starts today in the U.S. Senate at 3 p.m. There is still one major sticking point in the negotiations: the fate of the public option. Don’t worry though, Compromisin’ Carper is on the case: There is one idea that supporters hope could rally the centrists: Call it […]

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Senate Health Care Reform Bill Unveiled

Filed in Delaware, National by on November 19, 2009 11 Comments

Last night the Harry Reid unveiled the Senate health care reform bill, called The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The whole bill can be read here (warning PDF) and a 2-page summary can be read at this link (PDF). The CBO score for the bill was released yesterday, the bill costs $850M and covers […]

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