There are four vacancies on the D.C. Circuit court. The nomination of Sri Srinivasan, Obama’s deputy solicitor general, has not yet gotten a vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee. In his first term, Obama did not get a single nominee onto the court. Overall, eighteen of Obama’s judicial nominees are currently awaiting confirmation. [Washington Post] [...]
Tag Archives | Harry Reid
Harry Reid to Include Universal Background Checks in Gun Control Bill
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid demanded Thursday that any bill that passes the Senate on gun control include broader background checks, drawing a tougher line on the issue ahead of a contentious floor debate next month. [Politico] WHEN the Senate returns from break, gun control legislation being debated will include the most important aspect that [...]
Assault Weapons Ban Was Never Going to Happen
Feinstein has fought for more gun control for such a long time and was nearly in tears Tuesday when talking about the failure of the ban to even make it to the Senate floor as anything more than an amendment in a much bigger gun bill. “People say, ‘well, are you disappointed?’ ” Feinstein said. [...]
Assault Weapons Ban Unlikely to be Included in Senate Bill
There hasn’t been a news-worthy “mass shooting” in a while now, but even if there had been, and even after the next one we all know will occur, getting anything close to strong regulations passed related to guns and ammunition clips is a big challenge. At Politico: Assault weapons ban loses steam Sen. Dianne Feinstein [...]
Reid Schedules Vote on Hagel for Friday, Republicans Set to Filibuster *Update – HAGEL BLOCKED*
[UPDATE] Senior Democratic aides said that Hagel’s nomination does not have 60 votes at this time to overcome Republican objections before a key Friday procedural vote, leaving the nomination in limbo ahead of next week’s Senate recess. … “We do not have, at 12 o’clock today, a secretary of Defense,” Reid said. “It’s tragic they’ve [...]
Top Story — Obama’s Inaugural Week, Reid and Schumer’s Weaknesses Follow
The joint budget resolution could also call for Medicare reforms and using the chained CPI formula to curb the cost of Social Security benefits. These entitlement reforms combined with tax reform would give Republicans political cover to accept tax increases — or at least more cover than if tax increases were merely packaged as an [...]
Harry Reid Defines Leadership Downward
“I’m not personally, at this stage, ready to get rid of the 60-vote threshold.” – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid THIS MAY not be the most pathetic statement on what the twisting of the meaning of filibuster has done to the meaning of “majority” in the Senate, but it comes close. Reid goes on to [...]
News Desk: Sens. Harry Reid and Mitch McConnell Butt Heads on Filibuster
CONSIDER THIS Senator Harry Reid being inspired by President Barack Obama’s Second Inaugural Address. “I hope that within the next 24 to 36 hours we can get something we agree on. If not, we’re going to move forward on what I think needs to be done,” Reid told reporters. “The caucus will support me on [...]
New Year Beginnings, an F-Bomb from Speaker Boehner
OUR CONGRESS in a soundbite. “Go f*** yourself.” – Speaker of the House John Boehner It came upon Speaker Boehner entering the White House, where Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell were sitting on a sofa. The f-bomb was directed at Reid, who recently labeled Boehner’s leadership a “dictatorship.” I’d [...]
‘Fiscal Cliff’ Drama: Mitch McConnell Filibusters Himself, Unions Launch Ads Opposing ‘Entitlement’ Cuts
The DC designed, media promoted “fiscal cliff” drama continues. No doubt the drama will intensify as the clock ticks down. Two recent “cliff” moments, one on the Senate floor, and one on the airwaves. From HuffPo: (emphasis added) Debt Ceiling Bluff Called By Harry Reid, Leaving Mitch McConnell To Filibuster Himself A move to embarrass [...]
Senate Fails to Ratify UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The purpose of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities” … is to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity. Yesterday, Sen. John Kerry and former Sen. Bob Dole, among [...]
Elizabeth Warren Reported to be Named to Senate Banking Committee
In November Elizabeth Warren defeated Republican Sen. Scott Brown, Massachusetts. Senator-Elect Warren will be, writes Ryan Grim at HuffPo, … tapped to serve on the Banking Committee, according to four sources familiar with the situation. It’s a victory for progressives who battled to win her a seat on the panel that oversees the implementation of [...]
Top Story — Pending Deal or No Deal? Sen. McConnell Rebuffs Taxing Top 2% *Updated*
IT’S BECOMING clear that since President Obama gave in once on extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest that McConnell and Boehner think he will again. The Hill reports: “We’re insisting on keeping tax rates where they are, first and foremost, to protect jobs and because we don’t think government needs the money in [...]
Filibuster Reform Should Begin with Congress Respecting the Voters’ Wishes
THERE SHOULD be cautious optimism on this, but it’s still good foreshadowing about what might happen, even if what Reid is saying is somewhat of a head fake. “I do” have plans to change the Senate rules, he added. “I have said so publicly and I continue to feel that way … I think the [...]
Sen. Reid Forces Scott Brown to Face Elizabeth Warren [Full Video]
“Professor Warren claimed she was a Native American, a person of color — and as you can see, she is not.” – Sen. Scott Brown DID YOU get to see the debate? If not, you can watch the full debate below. Thanks to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, that is. Reid closed down the Senate [...]
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