Senators’ Kids Steal the Show at Mock Swear-In
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — They have been sworn into the Senate Thursday, but for Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), their kids were the ones who stole the show.First was Gillibrand’s son, …
Senate Swears in a Historic 20 Female Senators
Martin H. Simon/ABC(WASHINGTON) — On Thursday, the Senate will make history, swearing in a record-breaking 20 female senators — four Republicans and 16 Democrats — in office.As the 113th Congress is sworn in Thursday on Capitol Hill, ABC’s World New…
Sen. Mark Kirk to Climb Capitol Steps as He Returns from Stroke
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., will walk up the steps of the Capitol Thursday morning as he returns to the Senate for the first time since he suffered a stroke early last year.Nearly one year ago, doctors determine…
Congress Approves Compromise to Avert Fiscal Cliff
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The House of Representatives has approved a bipartisan Senate deal to avert the “fiscal cliff” and preserve Bush-era tax cuts for all Americans making less than $400,000 per year.The compromise is now on its way to…
House GOP Wary of Senate Deal That Could Add Trillions to Deficit
Photo Courtesy: Architect of the Capitol(NEW YORK) — Top House Republicans Tuesday opposed a bipartisan compromise that passed the Senate in the wee hours of New Year’s Day to avert the “fiscal cliff,” as new studies conclude that the compromise on ta…
What ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Deal Would Do — and Not Do
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The fiscal cliff deal passed by the Senate and under consideration in the House Tuesday is 48 pages of legislative legalese, but here are the key points of what is in the bill — and what is not in the bill.&b…
White House Sees ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Deal as Game Changer
(WASHINGTON) — It’s hard to find anyone in Washington happy about the outcome of the “fiscal cliff” brinksmanship.But inside the Obama White House, senior officials are elated by what they call a significant presidential achievement:…
Cliff Campaigners? Marco Rubio, Republicans Up for Election Say ‘No’ to Deal
Joe Raedle/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Who voted “no” on the “fiscal-cliff” deal this morning? Republicans up for re-election in 2016, that’s who.
The Senate passed its last-minute “fiscal-cliff” deal 89-8 at 1…
Fiscal Cliff: Can the House Follow Through?
Drew Angerer/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — It was after midnight, but not by much. In a town and for a Senate that has become synonymous with gridlock, the two parties came together for an imperfect solution to a big problem.After several days of hurried…
Senate Passes ‘Cliff’ Deal, House to Vote
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — Two hours after a midnight deadline for action, the Senate passed legislation early New Year’s Day to avert the so-called fiscal cliff with an overwhelming vote of 89-8. Senate passage set the stage for a final sho…
Tentative Deal Reached on ‘Fiscal Cliff,’ But No House Vote Before Deadline
Drew Angerer/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — The so-called “fiscal cliff” came Monday night — but now there is a specific deal on the table to try to soften it after the fact, according to congressional sources.Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., s…
Graham Says No Debt Ceiling Increase Without Entitlement Reform
KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) – Sen. Lindsey Graham, (R-S.C.), said Sunday he would vote no to raise the debt ceiling, if concessions to reform Social Security and Medicare were not made, despite a previous statement by Graham to sugges…
Ominous Senate Prayer: ‘Save Us From Self-inflicted Wounds’
Photo Courtesy: Architect of the Capitol(NEW YORK) — The Senate opened its first session Sunday in the days between Christmas and New Years since 1962 with an ominous prayer, as Congress and President Obama scramble to come up with a deal to avoid the…
Obama Suggests Any ‘Cliff’ Deal Would Be Small
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — With less than two days remaining for Congress to reach a budget agreement that would avoid the so-called “fiscal cliff,” President Obama on Sunday suggested that a small deal remains the best hope to…
Sen. Charles Schumer: More than 50-50 Chance of Reaching Fiscal Cliff Deal
Win McNamee/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — Sen. Charles Schumer, (D-N.Y.), called Congress’ failure to reach an agreement on a fiscal cliff deal “embarrassing,” but said he believed there was a better than 50-50 chance of a compromise befo…
As Fiscal Cliff Nears, All Eyes Turn to the Senate
Architect of the Capitol(WASHINGTON) — A fiscal-cliff fix went nowhere in the House. Now, the Senate will take its turn. With just three days before their end-of-the-year deadline, Congress and the White House are hurtling toward the so-called “fiscal…
GOP Weekly Address: Senator Roy Blunt Discusses Progress on Avoiding the Fiscal Cliff
United States Senate(WASHINGTON) — In this week’s Republican address, Missouri Senator Roy Blunt highlighted the need for Republicans and Democrats to solve the fiscal cliff.“Divided government is a good time to solve hard problems—a…
White House Fiscal Cliff Summit Brings Hope for a Deal
The White House(WASHINGTON) — Washington brinkmanship appears to have created a last minute chance for the White House and Congress to agree on a plan to avoid sending the country over the fiscal cliff.President Obama emerged from a White House summit…
Rep. Ed Markey to Run for John Kerry’s Senate Seat
Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call(WASHINGTON) — Democratic Representative Ed Markey of Massachusetts announced plans on Thursday to run in 2013 for the U.S. Senate seat from his state that is expected to be available in the wake of Democratic Sen. John Kerry&rs…
Hawaii Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz Picked to Replace Late Sen. Daniel Inouye
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(HONOLULU) — Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced on Wednesday Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz will replace the late Sen. Daniel Inouye as the U.S. senator from Hawaii — not Sen. Inouye’s first choice.On the day he died, the late senato…