Articles tagged with senate

Thu, May 24, 2012

Competing student loan plans blocked in U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats and Republicans on Thursday blocked each other's proposals to extend low-interest federal student loans as a deadline ...

Thu, May 24, 2012

U.S. Senate passes bipartisan FDA funding bill

By Anna Yukhananov

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Thursday showed near-unanimous support for a bill that helps fund the U.S. Food ...

Thu, May 24, 2012

Senate panel backs $631 billion in defense spending

By David Alexander

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate panel voted on Thursday to authorize $631.4 billion in defense spending for the 2013 fiscal year ...

Thu, May 24, 2012

White House contest looms over Virginia Senate race

By Patricia Zengerle

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Virginia (Reuters) - Virginia's Tim Kaine was one of the first state governors to endorse Barack Obama for president in ...

Thu, May 24, 2012

Senate 'Fire Department' seeks to ease partisan rancor

By Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Call it a humble effort to douse the flames of dysfunction and paralysis in the U.S. Senate.

Frustrated ...

Wed, May 23, 2012

Obama officials press Senate to ratify sea treaty

By David Alexander

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington's failure to ratify the Law of the Sea Convention puts the U.S. military at increasing risk ...

Mon, May 21, 2012

U.S. Senate approves tougher Iran sanctions

By Roberta Rampton and Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate unanimously approved on Monday a package of new economic sanctions on Iran ...

Mon, May 21, 2012

California Senate votes to allow self-driving cars

By Mary Slosson

SACRAMENTO (Reuters) - California took a step toward becoming the second state in the nation to allow self-driven cars on its roads ...

Thu, May 17, 2012

JPMorgan's Dimon says will testify before Congress

By Dave Clarke

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co Chief Executive Jamie Dimon has agreed to testify before Congress over the bank's recent trading losses, which have ignited a political debate over whether large U.S. banks need to be reined in by regulators or new laws.

U.S. Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson said in a statement on Thursday that his panel will invite Dimon to appear before Congress.

He did not say on what date the committee wants Dimon to testify but that it would follow a set of hearings with regulators on the trades and efforts to implement Wall Street reforms that will conclude on June 6.

"As always, we will continue to be open and transparent with our regulators and Congress," JPMorgan spokesman Kristin Lemkau said in a statement. She said Dimon will appear before the panel.

Last week JPMorgan announced that it has suffered at least $2 billion in losses due to trades that went bad.

Johnson said committee staff has been discussing the losses with regulators and the bank since they were disclosed and have determined Dimon should testify.

Critics of Wall Street have pointed to the trades as evidence that reforms called for under the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial oversight law should be strictly enforced once finalized.

Two regional Federal Reserve presidents have said the losses underscore the point that banks like JPMorgan are too big to manage and should be broken up.

These reactions are being dismissed by some analysts and lawmakers as an overreaction since the bank's stability has not been put at risk.

"Even with this loss, I believe they're one of the most profitable financial institutions in the country and unless the facts are diametrically different from what we've heard, there is no risk from this loss to depositors or to tax payers," House Financial Services Chairman Spencer Bachus said on Wednesday.

WASHINGTON WRANGLING

The JPMorgan losses have, in particular, put a renewed focus on whether regulators should tighten the so-called Volcker rule that will restrict bank trading activities. A proposed rule was released in October and a final version is expected later this year.

The restrictions will ban banks from proprietary trading, or trades that are made solely for their own profit, and greatly limit their ability to invest in hedge funds.

The crackdown is named after former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker who championed the idea.

Its supporters say banks that receive federal backstops, such as deposit insurance, should not make risky trades that could endanger deposits and possibly taxpayer money.

Banks have lobbied the issue heavily saying if the restrictions are too tightly drawn they will negatively impact financial markets and make it harder, for instance, for companies in a variety of businesses to raise funds.

Democratic Senators Carl Levin and Jeff Merkley, who authored the Volcker rule language in Dodd-Frank, said the October proposal creates a loophole in the crackdown because it would give banks the latitude to hedge against portfolio risk as opposed to individual positions.

They have been publicly pressuring regulators to tighten the rule since the trading losses were announced.

In a sign of the political importance surrounding the issue, Levin told reporters on Thursday that White House National Economic Council Director Gene Sperling called him this week to discuss the Volcker rule. Levin said he urged Sperling to have the White House speak out on the need to tighten the hedging language.

The rule is being written by the federal banking regulators, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, all of which are independent regulators.

Under Dodd-Frank, the Treasury Department is suppose to coordinate the rule writing and Levin has previously said he believes the department pushed for the broader hedging exemption allowed under the October proposal.

On Thursday, he said Sperling had assured him that is not the case and that Treasury has only tried to coordinate discussions.

"I accepted that," he said.

One regulator has come out publicly in favor of tightening the October proposal.

CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler wants a final rule to bar portfolio hedging, his spokesman Steve Adamske said.

(Additional reporting by David Henry and Alexandra Alper; Editing by Neil Stempleman)

Thu, May 17, 2012

U.S. Senate Republicans block new Iran sanctions bill

By Roberta Rampton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Republicans said on Thursday they needed more time to examine a revised packaged of new economic ...

Thu, May 17, 2012

Senate votes put Fed board at full strength

By Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday confirmed two nominees to the Federal Reserve, bringing its short-handed board up to full strength ...

Thu, May 17, 2012

Senate Republicans block Iran sanctions vote

By Roberta Rampton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republicans blocked legislation for new economic sanctions on Iran's oil sector on Thursday saying they needed more ...

Wed, May 16, 2012

Senate expected to confirm two Fed nominees

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate has removed procedural hurdles ahead of the anticipated confirmation on Thursday of President Barack Obama's two stalled nominees to ...

Wed, May 16, 2012

U.S. Senate to consider new Iran sanctions on Thursday

By Roberta Rampton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid will ask the U.S. Senate to approve a new package of oil and ...

Tue, May 15, 2012

N.Y. Senate passes bill to make viewing child porn on Internet a crime

ALBANY, New York (Reuters) - The New York State Senate on Tuesday passed legislation to make it a crime to view child pornography on the ...

Tue, May 15, 2012

Senate sends Obama bill to renew Ex-Im Bank

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate voted on Tuesday to renew the U.S. Export-Import Bank's charter through September 2014 and raise ...

Tue, May 15, 2012

Senate committee approves seven Pentagon nominees

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday approved the nominations of seven civilians for senior jobs at the Defense Department, including Frank ...

Tue, May 15, 2012

Senate leaders move toward vote on Fed nominees

By Thomas Ferraro and Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's two stalled nominees for the Federal Reserve are likely to clear a ...

Tue, May 15, 2012

Nebraska rancher scores upset in Senate primary

Omaha, Nebraska (Reuters) - Rancher and state Senator Deb Fischer overcame two longtime state office holders to win the Nebraska Republican primary for the Senate ...

Mon, May 14, 2012

Senate deal clears way for vote on Ex-Im Bank

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate leaders, under pressure from business groups, reached a deal on Monday that clears the way for a vote on a bill ...

Sat, May 12, 2012

Connecticut, Wisconsin parties consider Senate nominees

By Ebong Udoma and Brendan O'Brien

(Reuters) - The Connecticut Democratic convention on Saturday endorsed Congressman Christopher Murphy for an open U.S. Senate ...

Thu, May 10, 2012

Senate delays action on Ex-Im Bank bill

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday failed to reach a deal to quickly renew the charter of the government-run U.S ...

Wed, May 09, 2012

Senate probes painkiller makers, allied groups

By David Morgan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate panel has launched a probe of possible links between three drugmakers and nonprofit medical groups that advocated ...

Wed, May 09, 2012

Vikings Stadium Plan Passes Minnesota Senate

ST. PAUL, MN (KDAL) - The Minnesota State Senate passed a Vikings stadium bill on Tuesday night.  The House passed their version of the bill ...

Mon, May 07, 2012

Minnesota Senate approves Vikings football stadium plan

By David Bailey

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Minnesota state senators advanced a $975 million plan late on Tuesday to build a new domed stadium for the ...

Mon, May 07, 2012

Senate Republicans block Democratic student loan bill

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republicans blocked on Tuesday a White House-backed bill that would end a tax break for the wealthy in ...

Sat, May 05, 2012

Lugar makes last ditch appeal to save Senate career

By Nick Carey and Eric Johnson

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - Senator Richard Lugar appealed to Democrats to cross party lines and vote for him in the ...

Sat, May 05, 2012

Connecticut Senate passes medical marijuana bill

By Mary Ellen Godin

HARTFORD, Connecticut (Reuters) - The Connecticut Senate passed a bill on Saturday legalizing marijuana use for medical purposes with tight restrictions ...

Thu, May 03, 2012

Alabama Senate passes tax for bankrupt county

By Verna Gates

(Reuters) - The Alabama State Senate on Thursday approved a bill allowing cash-strapped Jefferson County to revive a local jobs tax that ...

Thu, May 03, 2012

Stricken lawmaker who won Obama's Senate seat heads home

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Mark Kirk, the Republican who won the Senate seat that Barack Obama vacated when he became president, is leaving a medical center ...

Fri, April 27, 2012

Palin, McCain differ again in race for Indiana Senate seat

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - They disagreed as Republican running mates during the 2008 presidential campaign, and on Friday John McCain and Sarah Palin endorsed rival candidates ...

Fri, April 27, 2012

Exclusive: Senate probe finds little evidence of effective "torture"

By Mark Hosenball

(Reuters) - A nearly three-year-long investigation by Senate Intelligence Committee Democrats is expected to find there is little evidence the harsh "enhanced ...

Thu, April 26, 2012

Senate votes to renew Violence Against Women Act

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate approved a bill on Thursday to renew and expand a landmark law to combat domestic violence after ...

Thu, April 26, 2012

Reinert To Seek Re-Election To State Senate

DULUTH, MN (KDAL) - Roger Reinert has announced his candidacy for re-election to Senate District Seven in the Minnesota Legislature.  Reinert, 41, won election to ...

Wed, April 25, 2012

Arizona Senate passes bill demanding return of federal lands

By David Schwartz

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Arizona is poised to join next-door neighbor Utah in demanding the U.S. government transfer title to millions of ...

Wed, April 25, 2012

Senate passes postal bill that would end Saturday mail

By Emily Stephenson

(Reuters) - The Senate advanced legislation on Wednesday that would allow the U.S. Postal Service to end Saturday mail after two ...

Wed, April 25, 2012

Argentine Senate set to approve YPF takeover bill

By Hugh Bronstein

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentine senators on Wednesday were set to approve the nationalization of the country's biggest oil company, underscoring ...

Tue, April 24, 2012

Senate Democrats plan immigration backup plan

By Susan Heavey

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the U.S. Senate are preparing a backup plan to thwart sweeping immigration laws in Arizona and ...

Tue, April 24, 2012

Senate heads toward renewal of domestic abuse law

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republicans, accused by Democrats of waging "a war on women," are expected to yield to election-year pressure as ...

Tue, April 24, 2012

Senate Democrats close ranks to fight Keystone

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats closed ranks on Tuesday to block quick approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline as they begin ...

Tue, April 24, 2012

Smith wins Pennsylvania Republican Senate primary

By Edith Honan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pennsylvania Republican and political newcomer Tom Smith on Tuesday beat out four Republican rivals, including the candidate endorsed ...

Mon, April 23, 2012

Lawmakers to fight for post offices in Senate votes

(Reuters) - Lawmakers will fight to save post offices and other U.S. Postal Service facilities from closure as the Senate gears up to vote ...

Thu, April 19, 2012

Senate Republicans rebuke House on spending bills

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans in the Senate opted on Thursday not to challenge federal spending levels set in last summer's debt-limit ...

Thu, April 19, 2012

Obama, top Senate Democrat split on nuclear nominee

By Jeff Mason and Roberta Rampton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will renominate Republican Kristine Svinicki to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, defying opposition from ...

Wed, April 18, 2012

Senate Democrat Conrad offers budget but no vote

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans have been pressuring Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad to offer up a budget plan, and on Wednesday ...

Tue, April 17, 2012

MF Global trustee Freeh to testify at Senate hearing

By Nick Brown

(Reuters) - Former customers of MF Global , waiting for the return of as much as $1.6 billion missing from their accounts ...

Tue, April 17, 2012

Senate begins debating Postal Service overhaul

By Emily Stephenson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate voted on Tuesday to begin debating legislation that would allow the cash-strapped Postal Service to end Saturday ...

Mon, April 16, 2012

Buffett rule fails Senate vote in tax fight

By Kim Dixon

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republicans on Monday blocked President Barack Obama's "Buffett Rule" legislation, which would have put a 30-percent minimum ...

Fri, April 06, 2012

Senate Democrats push to ease home refinancing

By Margaret Chadbourn

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats on Tuesday tried to drum up support for widening a government program that aims to help homeowners ...

Thu, April 05, 2012

Connecticut Senate votes to repeal death penalty in state

By Mary Ellen Godin

HARTFORD, Connecticut (Reuters) - The Connecticut Senate voted on Thursday to repeal the state's death penalty, moving it one step ...

Wed, April 04, 2012

Connecticut Senate set to vote on repeal of death penalty

(Reuters) - Connecticut's Senate was set to vote on Wednesday on whether to repeal the death penalty, a measure that if approved could make ...

Thu, March 29, 2012

Senate panel OKs nominees to FDIC, Treasury

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Banking Committee on Thursday voted to approve the nomination of JP Morgan Chase and Co executive Jeremiah Norton to fill ...

Thu, March 29, 2012

Senate confirms top bank regulators

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed President Barack Obama's picks for key spots at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp (FDIC ...

Thu, March 29, 2012

Senate rejects Obama call to end Big Oil tax breaks

By Patricia Zengerle and Roberta Rampton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans in the Senate blocked legislation on Thursday to strip billions of dollars in tax breaks ...

Wed, March 28, 2012

No Duluth Projects In Senate Bonding Bill

ST. PAUL, MN (KDAL) - The Minnesota State Senate on Wednesday released its proposed bonding bill totaling about 500 million dollars.  It is more than ...

Wed, March 28, 2012

Arizona Senate passes late-term abortion ban: report

PHOENIX (Reuters) - The Arizona state Senate on Tuesday voted to ban most abortions performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy, according to news reports.

The ...

Tue, March 27, 2012

Senate panel may vote on Russian rights bill

By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Human rights legislation named after an anti-graft lawyer who died in a Russian jail is likely to be considered ...

Tue, March 27, 2012

Bill to ramp up Iran sanctions fails in U.S. Senate

By Roberta Rampton and Rachelle Younglai

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Republican lawmaker on Tuesday blocked Democrats from passing legislation designed to further punish ...

Mon, March 26, 2012

Democrat Bob Kerrey eligible for Senate run

OMAHA, Nebraska (Reuters) - The Nebraska Supreme Court on Monday rejected the state Republican Party's attempt to keep former Governor Bob Kerrey's name ...

Mon, March 26, 2012

Bill ending oil company tax cuts clears Senate hurdle

By Ayesha Rascoe and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Legislation repealing tax breaks for major oil companies passed its first hurdle in the Senate on ...

Fri, March 23, 2012

Senate to take up Postal Service bill next week

By Emily Stephenson

(Reuters) - Legislation to allow the struggling Postal Service to eventually end Saturday mail delivery is expected to be debated in the ...

Fri, March 23, 2012

Idaho state Senate panel nixes teen tan ban

By Laura Zuckerman

SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) - An Idaho Senate committee on Thursday nixed a measure that would have banned the use of tanning beds ...

Fri, March 23, 2012

Idaho state Senate panel nixes teen tan ban

By Laura Zuckerman

SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) - An Idaho Senate committee on Thursday nixed a measure that would have banned the use of tanning beds ...

Thu, March 22, 2012

Congress members face new curbs on insider trading

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday voted overwhelmingly to send President Barack Obama legislation imposing new curbs on insider trading by ...

Thu, March 22, 2012

Bill to boost startups wins Senate approval

By Alexandra Alper

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday voted 73 to 26 to pass the "JOBS ACT," which would make it easier for ...

Tue, March 20, 2012

Eximbank renewal hits snag in the Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans in the Senate on Tuesday blocked efforts to force a vote on renewing the nearly 80-year-old U.S. Export-Import Bank's ...

Tue, March 20, 2012

Startups bill hits speed bump in Senate

By Sarah N. Lynch and Alexandra Alper

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Tuesday postponed a vote to advance a White House-backed bill to boost ...

Tue, March 20, 2012

Senate heads toward final approval of insider trading bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid moved on Tuesday to give final congressional approval to a stalled bill to impose new curbs on ...

Mon, March 19, 2012

New York Republican wins key 3rd-party nod in Senate bid

By Edith Honan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York's Conservative Party nominated a strong social and fiscal conservative, Wendy Long, as its Senate candidate ...

Mon, March 19, 2012

Idaho Senate votes to require pre-abortion ultrasound

By Laura Zuckerman

SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) - The Idaho Senate on Monday approved a measure requiring women seeking abortions to undergo an ultrasound before ending ...

Wed, March 14, 2012

Senate passes transportation bill, sends to House

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Wednesday passed a two-year, $109 billion transportation bill to rebuild roads, bridges and rail systems after rejecting numerous attempts ...

Tue, March 13, 2012

Senate defeats tax break for natural gas trucks

By Roberta Rampton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan proposal to provide tax incentives for natural gas vehicles was defeated in a Senate vote on Tuesday ...

Tue, March 13, 2012

Senate Democrats recast startups bill as investor threat

By David Lawder and Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats rebranded a bill aimed at job growth as a threat to ...

Thu, March 08, 2012

Georgia Senate OKs drug tests for welfare applicants

By David Beasley

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Adults applying for welfare in Georgia would have to pass a drug test before receiving benefits under a bill ...

Thu, March 08, 2012

Georgia Senate OKs drug tests for welfare applicants

By David Beasley

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Adults applying for welfare in Georgia would have to pass a drug test before receiving benefits under a bill ...

Thu, March 08, 2012

Keystone oil pipeline bill fails in Senate

By Roberta Rampton and Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats on Thursday defeated a Republican proposal to give a permit to the Keystone XL ...

Wed, March 07, 2012

Senate to tackle highway bill amendments, House struggles

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate leaders struck a deal on Wednesday to move forward on stalled transportation legislation that now will include votes ...

Tue, March 06, 2012

Oklahoma state senate passes "heartbeat" abortion bill

By Steve Olafson

OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - The Oklahoma Senate approved a bill on Tuesday that would require doctors to tell women they have the ...

Tue, March 06, 2012

Former Maine governor seeks Snowe's Senate seat as independent

By Jason McLure

(Reuters) - Former Maine Governor Angus King has announced he'll run as an independent for the U.S. Senate seat vacated ...

Tue, March 06, 2012

Highway vote keeps Keystone fight alive in Senate

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republicans' push for a vote to authorize the $7 billion Keystone XL oil pipeline project gained momentum on ...

Tue, March 06, 2012

Abortion bill stalls in Florida Senate

By Michael Peltier

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Reuters) - A controversial measure requiring women to wait 24 hours before undergoing an abortion stalled on Monday in the ...

Mon, March 05, 2012

Abortion bill stalls in Florida Senate

By Michael Peltier

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Reuters) - A controversial measure requiring women to wait 24 hours before undergoing an abortion stalled on Monday in the ...

Mon, March 05, 2012

Senate OKs bill aimed at China subsidies

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Monday voted unanimously to preserve Washington's ability to slap duties on subsidized goods ...

Wed, February 29, 2012

Senate rejects Republican birth control challenge

By David Morgan and Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate narrowly backed a key plank of President Barack Obama's healthcare law on Thursday by ...

Wed, February 29, 2012

Bob Kerrey buoys Democrats with Nebraska Senate bid

By James B. Kelleher

(Reuters) - Bob Kerrey, the former Nebraska governor and U.S. senator, said on Wednesday he will run for his old ...

Wed, February 29, 2012

Bob Kerrey buoys Democrats with Nebraska Senate bid

By James B. Kelleher

(Reuters) - Bob Kerrey, the former Nebraska governor and U.S. senator, said on Wednesday he will run for the U ...

Wed, February 29, 2012

Bernanke's Q&A testimony to Senate panel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Below are highlights from the question and answer session of a Senate Banking Committee hearing with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke testifying ...

Wed, February 29, 2012

Virginia Senate passes ultrasound law minus vaginal probe

By Matthew Ward

PORTSMOUTH, Virginia (Reuters) - The Virginia state Senate on Tuesday approved a law forcing a woman to have an ultrasound before an ...

Tue, February 28, 2012

Republican Snowe walks away from 'partisan' Senate

By Thomas Ferraro and Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator Olympia Snowe, one of the few remaining Republican moderates in Congress, stunned both parties on ...

Tue, February 28, 2012

Senate budget chair says more Pentagon cuts likely

By David Alexander

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The head of the Senate Budget Committee delivered a sobering message to top U.S. defense officials on Tuesday ...

Tue, February 28, 2012

Longest-serving Senate Republican in fight of his life

By Nick Carey

CRAWFORDSVILLE, Indiana (Reuters) - Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana is one of the Senate's conservative titans, the courtly, silver-haired elder of ...

Mon, February 27, 2012

Virginia Senate approves voter ID bill over objections

By Matthew A. Ward

PORTSMOUTH, Virginia (Reuters) - The Virginia state Senate approved a measure on Monday that would require a valid identification for a ...

Thu, February 16, 2012

Synthetic Drug Bill Stalled In U-S Senate

WASHINGTON, DC (KDAL) - A bill co-authored by Minnesota U-S Senator Amy Klobuchar that would ban dangerous synthetic drugs is being blocked from a final ...

Thu, February 16, 2012

Anti-abortion "personhood" bill clears Oklahoma senate

By Steve Olafson

OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - Oklahoma lawmakers edged closer toward trying to outlaw abortion on Wednesday by approving "personhood" legislation that gives individual ...

Wed, February 15, 2012

Senate fight seen soon over birth control rule

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Democratic-led Senate is expected to reject as early as Thursday a largely symbolic Republican challenge to a White House rule guaranteeing ...

Tue, February 14, 2012

Florida Senate defeats prison privatization bill

By Michael Peltier

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Reuters) - A measure to turn over nearly a third of Florida's prisons to private for-profit corporations died in ...

Mon, February 13, 2012

New Jersey Senate approves gay marriage; veto looms

By Edith Honan

TRENTON, New Jersey (Reuters) - New Jersey's Democratic-controlled state Senate approved a same-sex marriage bill on Monday but New Jersey was ...

Fri, February 10, 2012

Keystone backers try to hitch ride on Senate highway bill

By Roberta Rampton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican senators who back the Keystone XL pipeline plan to file an amendment that would attach the project to ...

Thu, February 09, 2012

Senate transportation bill clears key hurdle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan proposal for the government to spend $109 billion over two years to upgrade roads, bridges and transit systems and create ...

Thu, February 09, 2012

Senate panel approves bill to televise high court

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Proceedings of the Supreme Court, long kept out of the view of most Americans, would be televised under a bipartisan bill approved ...

Wed, February 08, 2012

Keystone could be part of Senate highway debate: Thune

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The contentious Keystone XL oil pipeline could become part of the debate on the Senate floor over highway funding ...

Tue, February 07, 2012

Bernanke's testimony on economy to Senate panel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Below are highlights from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's testimony on Tuesday on the state of the U.S. economy to ...

Mon, February 06, 2012

Michigan Senate candidate slammed over Asian campaign ad

By David Bailey

(Reuters) - A Michigan Republican Senate candidate's campaign ad showing an Asian actress speaking in halting English drew fire from Asian-American ...

Mon, February 06, 2012

Virginia Senate votes to repeal limit on gun purchases

By Matthew A. Ward

PORTSMOUTH, Va (Reuters) - Virginia lawmakers on Monday moved toward lifting a 19-year-old law limiting handgun purchases to one per month ...

Mon, February 06, 2012

Senate approves sweeping aviation bill, sends to White House

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate approved a $63 billion bill on Monday that funds U.S. aviation programs for four years and authorizes new steps ...

Fri, February 03, 2012

Senate Democrats ready backup plan on payroll tax bill

By Donna Smith and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats have begun preparing a backup plan to extend a tax cut for workers if ...

Thu, February 02, 2012

House to move insider trading bill next week

By David Lawder

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives will swiftly take up a Senate-passed bill to curb insider trading by lawmakers next week ...

Thu, February 02, 2012

Key Senate Republican says drilling bill faces hurdles

By Ayesha Rascoe

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top Republican on the Senate energy committee on Thursday acknowledged passing legislation to boost domestic energy production will ...

Thu, February 02, 2012

Ohio Senate advances anti-puppy mill bill

By Kim Palmer

CLEVELAND (Reuters) - Ohio senators have advanced a long-standing proposal to regulate dog breeding facilities, one of several measures aimed at changing ...

Thu, February 02, 2012

Senate panel backs tough pressure on Iran

By Roberta Rampton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Banking transactions with Iran and financing for its oil shipments could come under tougher scrutiny after a bipartisan sanctions ...

Wed, February 01, 2012

Washington state Senate passes gay marriage bill

By Nicole Neroulias

OLYMPIA, Wash (Reuters) - The Washington state Senate passed legislation on Wednesday to legalize gay marriage in a highly charged vote that ...

Wed, February 01, 2012

Virginia Senate backs pre-abortion ultrasound

By Matthew A. Ward

PORTSMOUTH, Virginia (Reuters) - Women seeking an abortion in Virginia would be required to first have an ultrasound and be given ...

Wed, February 01, 2012

Virginia Senate backs pre-abortion ultrasound

PORTSMOUTH, Virginia (Reuters) - Women seeking an abortion in Virginia would be required to first have an ultrasound and be given the opportunity to view ...

Wed, February 01, 2012

Senate panel to look at Verizon spectrum deals

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate antitrust panel is planning a hearing to discuss Verizon Wireless's multibillion dollar deals to buy wireless airwaves from cable ...

Wed, February 01, 2012

Indiana senate OKs anti-union "right-to-work" bill

By Susan Guyett

(Reuters) - The Indiana state Senate on Wednesday gave final approval to a new law allowing workers at unionized businesses to avoid ...

Wed, February 01, 2012

Washington state Senate poised to OK gay marriage

By Nicole Neroulias

OLYMPIA, Wash (Reuters) - The Washington state Senate was expected to endorse legalization of gay marriage Wednesday night in a vote that ...

Wed, February 01, 2012

Indiana becomes 23rd "right-to-work" state

By Susan Guyett

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - Indiana became the 23rd state to pass anti-union "right-to-work" legislation on Wednesday and the first in the nation's ...

Tue, January 31, 2012

Dayton Says Senate Republicans Are Unfit To Govern

ST. PAUL, MN (KDAL) - The Minnesota State Senate has rejected Governor Mark Dayton's appointment of Ellen Anderson as chair of the state Public ...

Fri, January 27, 2012

Senate banking panel to vote on Iran sanctions February 2

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - - The Senate Banking Committee expects to vote on Thursday, February 2 on legislation containing more sanctions on Iran, the panel announced on ...

Thu, January 26, 2012

White House urges Senate on insider trading bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate scheduled a vote next week on legislation banning insider trading by members of Congress, a measure the White House described ...

Wed, January 25, 2012

Exclusive: Senate investigating HSBC for money laundering

By Carrick Mollenkamp, Brian Grow and Brett Wolf

(Reuters)- HSBC Holdings PLC is under investigation by a U.S. Senate panel in a money-laundering ...

Tue, January 24, 2012

Senate's Reid: Payroll tax plan should not include Keystone

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Tuesday he does not think a provision to speed approval of the Keystone XL pipeline ...

Mon, January 23, 2012

Indiana state Senate passes right to work bill

By Susan Guyett

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - The Indiana state Senate on Monday approved a controversial measure that would make it the first right-to-work state in ...

Fri, January 20, 2012

Congress puts brakes on anti-piracy bills

By Jasmin Melvin

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawmakers stopped anti-piracy legislation in its tracks on Friday, delivering a stunning win for Internet companies that staged an ...

Thu, January 19, 2012

Top Senate Republican wants Web bill shelved

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top Senate Republican urged Democrats on Thursday to set aside a bill aimed at stopping online piracy of movies and music ...

Mon, January 16, 2012

Tea Party "kingmaker" DeMint focuses on Senate races

By Nick Carey

MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina (Reuters) - Everybody was waiting for Jim DeMint. Mitt Romney had reason to hope the South Carolina senator ...

Thu, January 12, 2012

Texas Senate race exposes Republican tensions

By Erin Mulvaney

ROUND ROCK, Texas (Reuters) - The fierce battle between the conservative Tea Party movement and establishment Republicans for control of the party ...

Thu, January 12, 2012

Texas Senate race exposes Republican tensions

By Erin Mulvaney

ROUND ROCK, Texas (Reuters) - The fierce battle between the Tea Party and establishment Republicans for control of the party is on ...

Wed, January 11, 2012

As Romney rises, Tea Party sees Senate as "bulwark"

By Nick Carey

CHICAGO (Reuters) - As Mitt Romney inches toward the Republican Party's presidential nomination, many conservative activists are increasingly focused on a ...

Tue, January 10, 2012

Senate Republicans eyeing suit on Obama appointees

By Alexandra Alper and Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top Senate Republicans are weighing whether to file a lawsuit to challenge President Barack Obama's ...

Fri, January 06, 2012

Indiana senate committee advances right-to-work bill

By Susan Guyett

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - An Indiana Senate committee sent to the full Senate a right-to-work bill that opponents view as an assault on ...

Fri, January 06, 2012

Indiana senate committee advances right-to-work bill

By Susan Guyett

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - After nearly six hours of testimony, an Indiana Senate committee on Friday voted to advance to the full Senate ...

Wed, January 04, 2012

NC senate votes to override veto of gutted law

By Wade Rawlins

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - North Carolina state senators voted on Wednesday to override a veto by the state's governor of ...

Wed, January 04, 2012

N.Carolina senate votes to override veto of gutted death row law

By Wade Rawlins

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - North Carolina state senators voted on Wednesday to override the governor's veto of a measure that ...

Tue, December 27, 2011

Democrat Nelson to retire from Senate

By Tim Reid

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Senator Ben Nelson said on Tuesday that he will retire next year, dealing a significant blow to his ...

Mon, December 19, 2011

ESPN analyst Craig James running for Senate

By Erin Mulvaney

AUSTIN (Reuters) - ESPN analyst and former professional football player Craig James filed as a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate on ...

Sun, December 18, 2011

House Republicans oppose Senate payroll tax bill

By David Lawder and Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The fate of an expiring tax break for 160 million American workers was in doubt on ...

Sat, December 17, 2011

Keystone pipe outlook no rosier after Senate vote

By Timothy Gardner

(Reuters) - Senate Republicans claimed victory on Saturday for a bill that may force President Barack Obama to make a speedier decision ...

Sat, December 17, 2011

Senate delays decisions on Obama financial nominees

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate on Saturday postponed until next year decisions on whether to approve President Barack Obama's choices to lead agencies that oversee ...

Sat, December 17, 2011

Senate confirms McFaul as U.S. envoy to Russia

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration's top adviser on Russia policy, Michael McFaul, was approved by the Senate on Saturday to serve as the ...

Sat, December 17, 2011

U.S. Senate ok's two-month payroll tax cut extension

WASHINGTON(Reuters) - The Senate voted on Saturday to extend a payroll tax cut for two months in legislation that also attempts to force President ...

Thu, December 15, 2011

Senate passes new rules on detainees, sends to Obama

By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congress on Thursday approved a defense bill requiring the military to handle suspected foreign militants allied with al Qaeda ...

Wed, December 14, 2011

Ohio Senate sets aside "heartbeat" abortion bill

COLUMBUS (Reuters) - The Ohio Senate on Wednesday suspended discussion of a controversial bill that would have banned abortions after the first fetal heartbeat was ...

Mon, December 12, 2011

Senate confirms one ambassador, blocks another

By David Ingram

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two U.S. ambassadors on the verge of being forced to return home met opposite outcomes on Monday, as ...

Mon, December 12, 2011

House-Senate panel agrees new sanctions on Iran

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Leaders of a U.S. House and Senate negotiating panel on Monday said they had agreed to compromise legislation imposing new sanctions ...

Fri, December 09, 2011

Congress punts hard payroll tax work to 2012

By Richard Cowan and Rachelle Younglai

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama signed into law a two-month payroll tax cut extension on Friday, capping a ...

Thu, December 08, 2011

Warren leads in Massachusetts Senate race

BOSTON (Reuters) - Democrat Elizabeth Warren, a prominent consumer activist and former official in President Barack Obama's administration, leads Republican Senator Scott Brown in ...

Mon, December 05, 2011

Parties in legal tussle over control of Virginia state Senate

By Matthew A. Ward

PORTSMOUTH, Va (Reuters) - Democrats in what is seen as a potentially key swing state in next year's presidential election ...

Sun, December 04, 2011

Obama, fellow Democrats push tax cut extension

By Thomas Ferraro and Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama prodded congressional Republicans on Monday to extend a payroll tax cut, and his ...

Fri, December 02, 2011

Senate panel may subpoena MF Global's Corzine

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Agriculture Committee will meet next week to vote on whether to subpoena former MF Global CEO Jon Corzine, if he ...

Thu, December 01, 2011

Former Wisconsin governor Thompson launches Senate run

By Brendan O'Brien

MADISON, Wis (Reuters) - Former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson officially launched his campaign on Thursday for the Senate seat being vacated ...

Thu, December 01, 2011

Republican payroll tax cut plan fails in Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday blocked a Republican plan to extend the payroll tax cut for workers for one year.

By a vote ...

Thu, December 01, 2011

Senate backs military custody for terror suspects

By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate voted on Thursday to broaden the armed forces' powers over suspected militants, requiring that foreigners allied with ...

Thu, December 01, 2011

Senate defeats Democratic payroll tax cut plan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans in the Senate on Thursday blocked a one-year extension and expansion of the payroll tax cut that was coupled with a ...

Thu, December 01, 2011

Senate OK's sanctions on Iran central bank

By Arshad Mohammed and Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate unanimously approved tougher sanctions against Iran on Thursday, voting to penalize foreign financial institutions ...

Thu, December 01, 2011

Senate backs military custody for terror suspects

By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday voted in favor of a requirement that captured terrorism suspects, including those detained in the ...

Thu, December 01, 2011

Senate defeats competing payroll tax cut bills

By Thomas Ferraro and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday defeated competing payroll tax cut extension plans by Democrats and Republicans, clearing ...

Thu, December 01, 2011

Republican payroll tax cut plan fails in Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday blocked a Republican plan to extend the payroll tax cut for workers for one year.

By a vote ...

Thu, December 01, 2011

Former Wisconsin governor Thompson makes Senate run official

By Brendan O'Brien

MADISON, Wis (Reuters) - Former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson officially launched his campaign Thursday for the Senate seat being vacated by ...

Wed, November 30, 2011

Senate pushes to hurry up Afghanistan pullout

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate voted on Wednesday to require President Barack Obama to devise a plan for expediting the pullout of U.S. troops ...

Wed, November 30, 2011

Republicans make pipeline jobs issue for Obama

By Roberta Rampton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans in Congress signaled on Wednesday that they plan to keep the Keystone XL pipeline alive as a tool ...

Wed, November 30, 2011

Senate Republicans make pipeline a jobs issue for Obama

By Roberta Rampton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans in the Senate signaled on Wednesday they plan to keep the Keystone XL pipeline alive as a tool ...

Wed, November 30, 2011

Senate Republicans offer tax-cut renewal plan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A pay freeze for federal workers would be extended for another three years as part of a Senate Republican plan offered on ...

Thu, November 17, 2011

Obama signs stopgap funding bill: White House

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Friday signed a bill to fund the government until December 16, the White House said, after it was ...

Thu, November 17, 2011

Senate to take up cyber bill in 2012

By Diane Bartz

(Reuters) - The Senate will take up cybersecurity legislation next year to fight online fraud, espionage and intellectual property theft whether or ...

Wed, November 16, 2011

Former New York state Senate leader's conviction tossed

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Wednesday overturned the corruption conviction of the former majority leader of the New York State Senate ...

Wed, November 16, 2011

New York court tosses conviction of former state Senate leader

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Wednesday overturned the conviction of the former majority leader of the New York State Senate, Joseph ...

Mon, November 14, 2011

House, Senate negotiators agree on spending bill

By JoAnne Allen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional negotiators agreed late on Monday to extend funding for many U.S. government programs to mid-December in a ...

Thu, October 13, 2011

Nathan, NY judicial nominee, narrowly passes Senate

By Carlyn Kolker

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A nominee for the federal court in New York whom Republicans had criticized for lack of courtroom experience ...

Tue, October 11, 2011

Senate passes China yuan bill, House fate unclear

By Paul Eckert

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate approved a controversial bill aimed at forcing China to raise the value of the yuan in an ...

Tue, October 11, 2011

Senate panel approves long-delayed trade deals

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate panel on Tuesday backed long-delayed trade pacts with South Korea, Colombia and Panama that are expected to ...

Tue, October 11, 2011

Six antiwar, economic protesters arrested at Senate offices

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Six people were arrested on Tuesday during a protest in a Senate office building involving antiwar and Occupy DC demonstrators, police and ...

Tue, October 11, 2011

Senate Republican jobs bill urges tax reform and cuts

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republicans, having rejected President Barack Obama's jobs bill, offered a sweeping and largely repackaged plan of their ...

Mon, October 10, 2011

Senate to push Obama jobs bill piece by piece: White House

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Wednesday the Senate would hold votes on separate parts of President Barack Obama's jobs bill after ...

Mon, October 10, 2011

Warren draws $3 million in first weeks of Senate bid

BOSTON (Reuters) - Democrat Elizabeth Warren raised $3.15 million in the first stage of her bid for the U.S. Senate from Massachusetts, the ...

Sat, October 08, 2011

Obama ups pressure ahead of Senate jobs bill vote

By Alister Bull

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama maintained his attack against congressional Republicans over his jobs bill on Saturday, upping pressure before it ...

Thu, October 06, 2011

Senate delays vote on China yuan bill to next week

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday delayed a vote on a bill to get tough with China over its currency practices until next week ...

Thu, October 06, 2011

Senate and House to vote on trade deals Wednesday

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives and the Senate will vote next Wednesday on three long-delayed trade deals with South Korea, Panama and Colombia ...

Thu, October 06, 2011

Fitch slams proposed foreign profit tax break

By Kevin Drawbaugh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Giving corporations a tax break on their overseas profits likely would not boost the economy or jobs, said credit ...

Thu, October 06, 2011

Obama hits China on trade; cautious on currency bill

By Doug Palmer and Matt Spetalnick

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama accused China on Thursday of "gaming" international trade by keeping its currency weak ...

Thu, October 06, 2011

Senate panel approves White House economic adviser

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Banking Committee on Thursday approved Princeton University economics professor and labor expert Alan Krueger to serve as the top White ...

Thu, October 06, 2011

China currency narrowly clears Senate hurdle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Legislation aimed at cracking down on China's currency practice narrowly cleared a major procedural hurdle on Thursday when the Senate voted ...

Thu, October 06, 2011

Key China currency vote hits snag in Senate

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. legislation designed to get China to revalue its currency hit a snag on Thursday as the Democratic ...

Thu, October 06, 2011

Senate panel seen voting on trade pacts next week

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Finance Committee will vote on Tuesday on three long-delayed trade deals with South Korea, Panama and Colombia, a congressional source ...

Wed, October 05, 2011

Senate leader blocks defense bill over detainees

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will block consideration of the wide-ranging defense bill until provisions on how terrorism suspects will be treated ...

Wed, October 05, 2011

Senate eyes Thursday vote on China currency bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate is expected to vote on Thursday on legislation designed to press China to let its yuan currency rise in value ...

Wed, October 05, 2011

Tax on rich will pay for Obama jobs plan: Democrats

By Richard Cowan and Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats want to hit millionaires with a 5 percent surcharge on their taxes to pay ...

Tue, October 04, 2011

Warren in Senate campaign mode with first debate

By Ros Krasny

BOSTON (Reuters) - Consumer advocate and former Obama administration official Elizabeth Warren got into the nitty-gritty of campaigning for the U.S ...

Tue, October 04, 2011

Tommy Thompson files for Wisconsin Senate run

By Mary Wisniewski

MADISON, Wis (Reuters) - Former Wisconsin governor Tommy G. Thompson, a Republican, filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Elections Commission ...

Mon, October 03, 2011

Senate finds home healthcare companies at fault

By Kavyanjali Kaushik

(Reuters) - The Senate Finance Committee said Amedisys , Gentiva Health and LHC Group , three of the biggest players in the home healthcare ...

Mon, October 03, 2011

Senate finds home healthcare companies at fault

By Kavyanjali Kaushik

(Reuters) - The Senate Finance Committee said Amedisys , Gentiva Health and LHC Group , three of the biggest players in the home healthcare ...

Mon, October 03, 2011

Senate will consider Obama jobs plan this month

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said on Monday that his chamber will consider this month President Barack Obama's embattled ...

Sun, October 02, 2011

White House voices concern on China currency bill

By Paul Eckert and Alister Bull

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The prospects for U.S. legislation designed to get China to revalue its currency appeared to ...

Tue, September 27, 2011

Senate to take up China currency bill next week

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate plans to vote next week on legislation to crack down on China's currency practices, despite concerns that ...

Tue, September 27, 2011

Consumer advocate gets endorsement for Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold endorsed Elizabeth Warren's bid for a Senate seat on Tuesday, a strong sign that the prominent ...

Mon, September 26, 2011

House expected to pass funding bill Thursday

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives is expected to pass on Thursday a short-term funding bill to avert a government shutdown, a top Republican ...

Fri, September 23, 2011

Olympian Carl Lewis quits state senate race in New Jersey

By Dave Warner

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Olympic track star Carl Lewis ended his run for the state senate in New Jersey on Friday after a ...

Fri, September 23, 2011

Senate to delay disaster bill until Monday

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate agreed to delay further action on a stopgap spending bill until Monday as Democrats and Republicans remained at odds over the ...

Thu, September 22, 2011

Congress delays budget fight until Monday

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Congress set the stage for another last-minute budget showdown as lawmakers delayed action on a broad spending bill ...

Thu, September 22, 2011

Senate OKs retraining program key to U.S. trade deals

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday handed President Barack Obama a victory by passing a bill to help workers displaced by ...

Thu, September 22, 2011

China steps up condemnation of U.S. over Taiwan arms

By Chris Buckley

BEIJING (Reuters) - China stepped up its condemnation of the United States on Thursday for selling arms to Taiwan saying they could ...

Thu, September 22, 2011

Senate nears vote on program blocking trade deals

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate appeared set to approve on Thursday a program to help workers displaced by foreign competition, which business ...

Wed, September 21, 2011

Congress heads to another budget showdown

By Andy Sullivan and Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A sharply divided Congress careened toward another high-stakes budget battle on Thursday as lawmakers remained at ...

Wed, September 21, 2011

Analysis: Jobs deficit fuels Senate action on China yuan

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Legislation aimed at pressing China to let its yuan currency rise has been propelled to the top of the ...

Tue, September 20, 2011

Smackdown II: wrestling exec in new Senate bid

(Reuters) - Former professional wrestling entrepreneur Linda McMahon on Tuesday launched her second bid to win a U.S. Senate seat from Connecticut.

McMahon, a ...

Tue, September 20, 2011

Smackdown II: wrestling exec McMahon in new Senate bid

BOSTON (Reuters) - Linda McMahon, a former wrestling entrepreneur, on Tuesday launched a second bid to win a Senate seat from Connecticut.

Republican McMahon, who ...

Tue, September 20, 2011

Senate rejects trade promotion authority for Obama

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats banded together on Tuesday to reject a Republican amendment that would give President Barack Obama ...

Tue, September 20, 2011

Warren leads Brown in Massachusetts Senate race

BOSTON (Reuters) - Elizabeth Warren, a prominent consumer advocate and former official in President Barack Obama's administration, narrowly leads Republican Senator Scott Brown in ...

Mon, September 19, 2011

Senate moves toward action on trade deals

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate began debate on Monday on a bill that waives tariffs on goods from developing countries in a ...

Mon, September 19, 2011

Nearly $44 million spent on Wisconsin recall elections

By Jeff Mayers

MADISON, Wisc (Reuters) - A record of nearly $44 million was spent this year to persuade voters in nine Wisconsin state Senate ...

Mon, September 19, 2011

Top Senate Republican slams Obama deficit plan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's call for $3 trillion in new government savings, through a mix of tax increases and spending cuts, was ...

Sun, September 18, 2011

Google preparing for Senate hearing

By Diane Bartz

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Google's Eric Schmidt, the online search giant's point man for all things Washington, goes before a Senate ...

Fri, September 16, 2011

Senate aims to launch debate on worker aid bill

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate aims to begin debate Monday on legislation to retrain U.S. workers who lose jobs due to ...

Thu, September 15, 2011

Senate approves $6.9 billion in disaster aid

By Deborah Charles

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Democratic-led Senate on Thursday sent the House of Representatives a measure to fund disaster aid by twice as ...

Thu, September 15, 2011

Senate panel keeps budget boosts for SEC, CFTC

By Christopher Doering and Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Securities and futures regulators will see large budget increases to help them implement sweeping new ...

Thu, September 15, 2011

Senate approves FAA, highway funding extensions

By John Crawley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate approved legislation on Thursday to temporarily renew funding for airport and highway improvement projects, averting threatened shutdowns of ...

Wed, September 14, 2011

Senate wrangling threatens transport shutdowns

By John Crawley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A senator's objection to federal spending on bike paths and scenic projects threatened on Wednesday to hold up ...

Wed, September 14, 2011

Senate hopeful Warren vows to help middle class

By Ros Krasny

FRAMINGHAM, Massachusetts (Reuters) - Consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren took the message that made her unpopular with Wall Street to Massachusetts voters on ...

Tue, September 13, 2011

Senate leader vows push on China currency bill

By Andy Sullivan and Paul Eckert

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate will try to pass legislation in coming weeks aimed at forcing China to stop ...

Tue, September 13, 2011

Senate hopeful Warren vows to help middle class

By Ros Krasny

FRAMINGHAM, Ma. (Reuters) - Consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren took the message that made her unpopular with Wall Street to Massachusetts voters on ...

Tue, September 13, 2011

Senate approval sends same-sex marriage issue to N.C. voters

By Ned Barnett

RALEIGH, North Carolina (Reuters) - North Carolina residents will vote next year on a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage after the ...

Tue, September 13, 2011

Senate panel backs freeze in Pentagon base budget

By David Alexander

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The nominee to become Defense Secretary Leon Panetta's top deputy cautioned against "draconian" cuts in the U.S ...

Thu, September 08, 2011

Congress approves patent overhaul bill

By Diane Bartz

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congress gave final approval to an overhaul of the U.S. patent system on Thursday, sending the bill aimed ...

Thu, September 08, 2011

Senate advances bill for flood insurance

By Lisa Lambert

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate committee advanced a bill to approve billions of dollars in funding for national flood insurance just weeks ...

Wed, September 07, 2011

Senate panel passes USDA disaster, famine aid funds

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - About $266 million was earmarked for U.S. agricultural disaster relief in a funding bill approved by a Senate committee on Wednesday ...

Wed, September 07, 2011

Italy Senate okays austerity plan, moves to chamber

By James Mackenzie

ROME (Reuters) - The Italian Senate on Wednesday approved the government's widely criticized austerity program aimed at staving off financial crisis ...

Tue, September 06, 2011

Senate to consider House patent bill

By Diane Bartz

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Legislation designed to curb the growth of patent litigation advanced on Tuesday when the Senate voted to take up ...

Tue, September 06, 2011

Senate panel OKs disaster aid as funds dry up

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate panel approved $6 billion in disaster aid on Tuesday but it was unclear whether Congress would be ...

Tue, September 06, 2011

Openly gay Wisconsin congresswoman enters Senate race

By John Rondy

MILWAUKEE (Reuters) - Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin, one of the few openly gay members of Congress, announced on Tuesday that she will run ...

Mon, September 05, 2011

Italy austerity plan moves to Senate as markets press

By James Mackenzie

ROME (Reuters) - The Italian parliament begins debating a much criticized austerity package on Tuesday after President Giorgio Napolitano issued a stark ...

Fri, September 02, 2011

Senate panel to vote on 7 SEC, financial nominees

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Banking Committee on Friday said it will vote next week on the nominations of seven individuals for senior federal regulatory ...

Thu, September 01, 2011

Senate Democrats seek to leverage transport support

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Key senators sought on Thursday to short-circuit any challenge to extending temporarily funding for highway construction programs when Congress returns next week ...

Mon, August 29, 2011

Key Republican in Wisconsin union fight to run for Senate

By Jeff Mayers

MADISON, Wis (Reuters) - Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, a key Republican leader in the state's battle earlier this year over ...

Thu, August 11, 2011

Consumer advocate Warren to decide Senate run soon

By Dave Clarke

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Obama administration official Elizabeth Warren will make a decision after Labor Day on whether to run for the ...

Wed, August 10, 2011

GOP Keeps Senate Majority In Wisconsin After Recall Elections

MADISON, WI (KDAL) -  Republicans have retained their majority in the Wisconsin State Senate after Tuesday's recall elections.  Four of the six GOP senators ...

Tue, August 09, 2011

Senate Democrats urge FAA bill settlement

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats on Tuesday urged Republicans in the House of Representatives to begin "serious negotiations" on an aviation funding bill that they ...

Tue, August 09, 2011

Republican tax hardliners on debt super panel

By Kevin Drawbaugh and Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans named their six members Wednesday to a congressional deficit-reduction super committee, including a favorite of ...

Tue, August 09, 2011

Senate Democrats urge FAA bill settlement

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats on Tuesday urged Republicans in the House of Representatives to begin "serious negotiations" on an aviation funding bill that they ...

Tue, August 09, 2011

Factbox: Wisconsin Senate recall elections

(Reuters) - Wisconsin voters are going to the polls on Tuesday to vote in six state Senate recall elections stemming from the uproar earlier this ...

Mon, August 08, 2011

Senate panel reviewing S&P downgrade

By Rachelle Younglai and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Banking committee has begun looking into last week's decision by Standard and Poor ...

Thu, August 04, 2011

Wisconsin spending soars as Senate recall elections near

By David Bailey

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Spending on recall election campaigns for Wisconsin's Senate, seen as a potential gauge of public sentiment, has reached ...

Thu, August 04, 2011

IRS will not go after airline fare hikes

By John Crawley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The government does not plan to go after more than $400 million in airline revenue from fare increases that ...

Tue, August 02, 2011

Senate confirms new ambassador to Mexico

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Tuesday unanimously confirmed Earl Anthony Wayne as U.S. ambassador to Mexico, a post vacated when Washington's last ...

Tue, August 02, 2011

Senate should act on highway bill after break: Reid

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate should take up legislation laying out how much money the country will spend on roads, bridges and highways when it ...

Tue, August 02, 2011

Shadowy shell companies targeted by Senate bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - State governments would have to identify persons forming corporations under legislation that was reintroduced on Tuesday in the Senate, taking aim at ...

Tue, August 02, 2011

U.S. aviation shutdown likely through August: LaHood

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Only congressional action can end a partial shutdown of U.S. federal aviation programs that has suspended hundreds of airport construction projects ...

Tue, August 02, 2011

Snapshot: Obama signs debt limit bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Just hours ahead of a deadline to avert an unprecedented default, President Barack Obama, without public ceremony, signs a bill that raises ...

Tue, August 02, 2011

Snapshot: Senate to vote on debt deal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Here is a rundown of the final actions in Congress on Tuesday as lawmakers try to rush to the White House a ...

Tue, August 02, 2011

Obama to speak after Senate vote on debt deal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama will make a statement at the White House after the Senate votes on a bill to raise the debt ...

Mon, August 01, 2011

Senate panel approves CFTC nominee Wetjen

By Christopher Doering

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Agriculture Committee approved the nomination of a Democratic commissioner to the U.S. futures regulator on Tuesday ...

Mon, August 01, 2011

Senate to vote Tuesday on debt bill: aides

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate likely will vote on Tuesday on a bill to raise the government's debt limit, leadership aides said on Monday ...

Mon, August 01, 2011

Efforts to end FAA shutdown falter in Senate

By John Crawley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Efforts to craft a compromise to end a partial shutdown of federal aviation programs faltered in the U.S ...

Mon, August 01, 2011

Reid says debt limit vote in Senate by Tuesday

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Monday that debt limit increase legislation would be completed in the Senate by Tuesday.

"This vote ...

Mon, August 01, 2011

Senate Republican leader optimistic on debt vote

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said on Monday he was "optimistic" about the prospects for passing a deficit reduction and debt limit ...

Sun, July 31, 2011

Senate may vote on debt deal as early as Monday: aide

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate will likely vote on Monday on a proposed, bipartisan deal to increase the U.S. debt limit and avert a ...

Sun, July 31, 2011

Obama, Senate leaders reach debt ceiling agreement

WASHINGTON (WSAU) Several sources say Democratic and Republican leaders have reached a final agreement on raising the debt ceiling, avoiding a U.S. Treasury ...

Sun, July 31, 2011

Senate vote unlikely until at least Monday: aide

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate vote on a possible debt-limit deal is "highly unlikely" until at least on Monday, a senior congressional aide said.

"This ...

Sat, July 30, 2011

High-ranking Senate Democrat upbeat on debt deal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The No. 2 Democrat in Senate said on Saturday he was more optimistic about chances for a debt limit increase deal, despite ...

Sat, July 30, 2011

Senate delays key debt vote until later on Sunday

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Saturday delayed a test vote on the Democratic debt limit increase plan until 1 p.m ...

Sat, July 30, 2011

Senate Republicans say will block Reid debt bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Nearly all Republicans in the Senate signed a letter saying they will not vote for a Democratic plan to raise the debt ...

Fri, July 29, 2011

Republican debt bill headed for defeat in Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bill to raise the debt ceiling that passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives was headed for defeat on Friday in the ...

Fri, July 29, 2011

Senate Democrats debt timeline close to deadline

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats are trying to propose a compromise debt limit increase bill that would likely not come to a final vote in ...

Thu, July 28, 2011

Senate panel schedules Google antitrust hearing

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate's antitrust panel has scheduled its hearing on Google Inc's use of its considerable market clout for mid-September, the ...

Thu, July 28, 2011

House Republicans challenge Senate Democrats

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives Republican leader Eric Cantor Thursday challenged the Democratic-led Senate to accept a House-passed bill raising the debt limit or ...

Thu, July 28, 2011

Senate will defeat Boehner bill tonight, Reid says

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Democratic-controlled Senate will defeat House Speaker John Boehner's plan to raise the debt ceiling shortly after the Republican-controlled House of ...

Wed, July 27, 2011

Senate Democrats will vote against Boehner bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Some 53 senators -- all 51 Democrats and two independents who usually vote with them -- signed a letter on Wednesday saying they will ...

Wed, July 27, 2011

Senate confirms Gary Locke as U.S. envoy to China

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Wednesday confirmed former Commerce Secretary Gary Locke as ambassador to China, sending to Beijing an envoy who has said ...

Wed, July 27, 2011

Senate Democrats debt plan saves $2.2 trillion: CBO

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats' legislation to reduce the U.S. deficit and increase borrowing authority would cut $2.2 trillion from deficits, about $500 ...

Tue, July 26, 2011

Boehner says his debt plan can pass House and Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Congress, said Tuesday his two-stage deficit reduction plan could pass through the House and ...

Mon, July 25, 2011

Boehner introduces debt plan, says can pass Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Speaker John Boehner, the top Republican in Congress, introduced a new plan on Monday to approve an increase in the debt ...

Mon, July 25, 2011

Senate Democrats unveil debt limit plan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats on Monday offered a $2.7 trillion spending-cut plan that includes large savings from domestic and defense programs to try ...

Tue, July 19, 2011

Former Bush aide Stanzel considering Senate run

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Scott Stanzel, a former spokesman for President George W. Bush, said on Tuesday he is considering a run for a Senate seat ...

Tue, July 19, 2011

Senate group offers $3.75 trillion deficit cuts

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan group of senators on Tuesday revived an ambitious budget plan that could provide new ideas for breaking ...

Mon, July 18, 2011

Liberals push Elizabeth Warren to run for Senate

By Ros Krasny

BOSTON (Reuters) - Elizabeth Warren, who locked horns with Wall Street while creating a consumer protection agency during the U.S. bank ...

Sun, July 17, 2011

Senate nears debate on backup debt plan: aides

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate will likely begin consideration this week of a bipartisan fallback plan to avert an unprecedented U.S. default of its ...

Fri, July 15, 2011

senate bill would kill stock option tax break

By Kevin Drawbaugh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A tax code loophole that gives corporations large deductions on executive stock options would be closed under legislation unveiled ...

Thu, July 14, 2011

Italy Senate gives austerity budget first nod

By Philip Pullella

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's austerity budget passed its first parliamentary hurdle Thursday but the opposition says Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's ...

Thu, July 07, 2011

Senate deal would axe $6 billion ethanol tax credit

By Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Three senators reached a deal on Thursday to repeal the $6 billion per year ethanol tax credit by the ...

Tue, July 05, 2011

Default avoided but fears on economy remain

By Andy Sullivan and Jeff Mason

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States stepped back from the brink of default on Tuesday but congressional approval of ...

Tue, July 05, 2011

Senate's Reid scraps Libya measure for debt

By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Tuesday pulled a resolution to authorize the U.S. military conflict ...

Thu, June 30, 2011

Rhode Island Senate approves same-sex civil unions

PROVIDENCE (Reuters) - Rhode Island's Senate approved same-sex civil unions on Wednesday, passing a controversial bill not amended from the House version and sent ...

Tue, June 28, 2011

Pennsylvania Senate threatens state control of Harrisburg

By Edith Honan

HARRISBURG (Reuters) - As Pennsylvania's deeply indebted capital of Harrisburg weighs a rescue plan proposed by the state, the Pennsylvania Senate ...

Tue, June 28, 2011

Strong words, student attendance mark Senate DREAM hearing

By Molly O'Toole

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Strong words and hundreds of students, a number of them undocumented immigrants, kicked off the first Senate hearing ...

Fri, June 24, 2011

New York state Senate again delays gay marriage vote

By Dan Wiessner

ALBANY, New York (Reuters) - The New York state Senate again put off a vote on legalizing same-sex marriage on Thursday, and ...

Wed, June 22, 2011

Senate Democrats seek new economic stimulus

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the Senate on Wednesday called on Vice President Joe Biden to include new economic stimulus spending in ...

Tue, June 21, 2011

Senate confirms Panetta as Pentagon chief

By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate voted unanimously on Tuesday to confirm outgoing Central Intelligence Agency chief Leon Panetta as the new secretary ...

Mon, June 20, 2011

NJ Senate OKs public-sector pension changes

By Edith Honan

TRENTON, New Jersey (Reuters) - New Jersey's Democrat-controlled Senate on Monday approved changes to the state's pension and benefits system ...

Fri, June 17, 2011

Don't retry ex-New York state senate leader: lawyer

By Basil Katz

NEW YORK (Reuters) - There is insufficient evidence against former New York Republican Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno to allow for a ...

Fri, June 17, 2011

Wisconsin Budget Passes State Senate

MADISON, WI (KDAL) - The Wisconsin Senate passed the new two year budget on Thursday that was previously passed by the Assembly.  The measure now ...

Fri, June 17, 2011

Wisconsin Senate passes budget, sends to governor

By Jeff Mayers

MADISON, Wis (Reuters) - The Republican-controlled Wisconsin state Senate on Thursday night approved a two-year $66 billion state budget that cuts spending ...

Thu, June 16, 2011

Senate vote marks start of end for ethanol subsidies

By Tom Doggett

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to eliminate billions of dollars in support for the U.S. ethanol industry ...

Thu, June 16, 2011

New York Assembly backs gay marriage, Senate showdown next

By Dan Wiessner

ALBANY (Reuters) - The New York state Assembly approved same-sex marriage on Wednesday and the bill is likely to face a vote ...

Wed, June 15, 2011

Texas Senate passes bill on cities aiding illegal immigrants

By Corrie MacLaggan

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - The Texas Senate early on Wednesday passed a measure pushed by Governor Rick Perry aimed at cracking down ...

Wed, June 15, 2011

Wisconsin Senate approves concealed carry bill

By Jeff Mayers

MADISON, Wisconsin (Reuters) - The Wisconsin Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved legislation that would legalize the carrying of concealed weapons in the ...

Tue, June 14, 2011

China urged to help in Senate counterfeit probe

By Jim Wolf

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Armed Services Committee urged China to let investigators travel unfettered to the Chinese mainland to probe reports ...

Tue, June 14, 2011

Senate panel approves Panetta as defense chief

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Armed Services Committee unanimously approved Leon Panetta on Tuesday as the next Pentagon chief, a committee spokeswoman said, sending the ...

Fri, June 10, 2011

California Senate OKs budget, tax bill fails

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's state Senate approved on Friday a budget plan that would close the state's nearly $10 billion deficit but ...

Fri, June 10, 2011

California tax bill for budget fails to pass Senate

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California's state Senate failed on Friday to approve a tax bill to help fund a budget plan it approved earlier ...

Fri, June 10, 2011

Jefferson County tax bill dies in Alabama senate

By Verna Gates

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (Reuters) - Alabama's troubled Jefferson County suffered another financial blow as the state legislature failed to pass a bill ...

Thu, June 09, 2011

Senate readies bill to use Gaddafi assets for aid

By JoAnne Allen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama could use frozen Libyan government assets to pay for humanitarian aid to Libyan people caught in ...

Tue, June 07, 2011

Debit card fight coming to Senate floor

By Dave Clarke

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The battle over whether to delay a new cap on the amount banks can charge retailers when a debit ...

Tue, June 07, 2011

Senate confirms Verrilli as solicitor general

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Monday voted to confirm White House deputy counsel Donald Verrilli to be Solicitor General of the United States.

Verrilli ...

Wed, June 01, 2011

Blagojevich explains comments on Senate seat

(Warning: Use of explicit language)

By Janan Hanna

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich said on Wednesday that he was just discussing ideas ...

Sun, May 29, 2011

Texas House and Senate send governor budget that cuts spending

By Corrie MacLaggan

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - The Texas House and Senate late on Saturday approved a two-year budget that spends $15 billion less in ...

Fri, May 27, 2011

Senate OKs promotion for member of Treasury crime unit

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday confirmed Daniel Glaser for a top post in the Treasury Department's anti-terrorism unit.

Glaser's nomination to ...

Wed, May 25, 2011

Obama's transportation plan to shrink in the Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's sweeping spending plan for roads, rail and bridges is shrinking as it travels through Congress.

In the next ...

Wed, May 25, 2011

Senate plans 5 p.m. vote on Republican Medicare plan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the Senate plan a 5 p.m. vote on Wednesday to force their Republican opponents to take a stand on ...

Tue, May 24, 2011

Legacy Bill Would Benefit Duluth

ST. PAUL, Min. (KDAL) - The Minnesota Senate passed the Legacy amendment bill on Tuesday which allocates money collected from the dedicated sales tax approved ...

Tue, May 24, 2011

Senate committee to vote Wednesday on concealed carry bill

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - A Wisconsin Senate committee will vote Wednesday on a revised bill to let people carry concealed weapons.

The main sponsor, Wausau ...

Mon, May 23, 2011

Senate Democrats back Obama on trade deals delay

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Forty-one Senate Democrats told President Barack Obama on Monday they agreed with his decision to not send three free-trade agreements with South ...

Thu, May 19, 2011

Senate will await Biden group budget plan

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate will place its annual budget process on hold to give the outcome of bipartisan deficit-reduction talks a ...

Thu, May 19, 2011

Voter ID bill approved in Senate

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Amid protests from Democrats and cries of “recall” from the gallery, Wisconsin senators voted 19 to 5 Thursday morning to make ...

Thu, May 19, 2011

Senate blocks move to open up offshore drilling

By Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate blocked a move by Republicans to speed domestic offshore oil and natural gas drilling on Wednesday, a ...

Wed, May 18, 2011

Voter ID bill blocked by Senate Dems, Debate continues Thursday

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin’s Republican senators tried early Wednesday morning to give final legislative approval to the requirement that voters sign in and ...

Wed, May 18, 2011

Ex-8th District Congressman Kagen thinking about U.S. Senate run

APPLETON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Former U.S. House Democrat Steve Kagen of Appleton is the latest to say he’s thinking about running for Herb ...

Tue, May 17, 2011

Senate stops move to repeal Big Oil tax breaks

By Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate blocked a move by Democrats to repeal billions of dollars in tax breaks enjoyed by the biggest ...

Tue, May 17, 2011

Ryan Decides Not To Run For Senate

UNDATED (WRN) - Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan has decided against a run for the U-S Senate.  The Janesville Republican says he can have the greatest ...

Tue, May 17, 2011

Rep. Paul Ryan won't run for U.S. Senate

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin’s best known U.S. House Republican said Tuesday he would not run for the Senate seat to be vacated ...

Tue, May 17, 2011

Paul Ryan says no to Senate run in Wisconsin

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Representative Paul Ryan said Tuesday he will not run for a Senate seat from his home state of Wisconsin, saying he ...

Tue, May 17, 2011

Report: Tommy Thompson considers U.S. Senate run

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - For the fourth time in six years, Tommy Thompson is rumored to be a possible candidate for a major office.

The ...

Mon, May 16, 2011

Iowa Senate passes measure aimed at abortion doctor

By Kay Henderson

DES MOINES (Reuters) - The Iowa Senate on Monday narrowly approved a measure designed to prevent a doctor who specializes in late-term ...

Mon, May 16, 2011

Minnesota Senate bans abortions after 20 weeks, veto seen

By David Bailey

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - The majority Republican Minnesota Senate on Monday voted to restrict abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy except in medical ...

Mon, May 16, 2011

Ryan, Neumann mull possible U.S. Senate runs

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan is considering a run for the U.S. Senate seat held by outgoing Democrat Herb Kohl ...

Mon, May 16, 2011

Crunch Time At Minnesota Legislature

ST. PAUL, Min (KDAL) -  The final week of this year's Minnesota Legislative session is underway and there is still no agreement between the ...

Sun, May 15, 2011

Paul Ryan to decide on Senate run soon

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan said on Sunday he would decide this week whether to run for the seat of ...

Thu, May 12, 2011

Senate Committee Clears Lutsen Water Use

ST. PAUL, Min. (MNN) - A bill that would allow snowmaking at a North Shore resort is making its way through the Minnesota state Legislature ...

Thu, May 12, 2011

Defining Marriage Amendment Passes Senate

ST. PAUL, Min. (MNN) - The state Senate has approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit same-sex marriages in Minnesota.  The House is expected ...

Thu, May 12, 2011

Senate panel OKs anti-terrorism nominees

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate panel on Thursday approved two top Treasury officials to lead the department's anti-terrorism unit that aims to deprive insurgents ...

Thu, May 12, 2011

Senate panel OKs Diamond for Fed, prospects cloudy

By Rachelle Younglai

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate panel on Thursday approved for the third time the nomination of Nobel laureate Peter Diamond to a ...

Thu, May 12, 2011

Senate OK's Bill Repealing Early Release Program

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin’s early release program for state prisoners would be a thing of the past under a bill approved by the ...

Thu, May 12, 2011

Assembly passes voter ID bill, moves to Senate

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - The Wisconsin State Assembly has passed a controversial voter ID bill.

Democrats introduced more than 50 amendments to the bill that ...

Wed, May 11, 2011

Minnesota Senate approves gay marriage ban referendum

By David Bailey

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - The Minnesota Senate voted on Wednesday to put a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage in the state to ...

Wed, May 11, 2011

Senate Democrats weigh 3 percent tax on millionaires

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - People who earn more than $1 million per year would face a 3 percent surtax under a plan that has been floated ...

Wed, May 11, 2011

Retired Iraq commander to seek Texas Senate seat

By Jim Forsyth

SAN ANTONIO (Reuters) - Ricardo Sanchez, who rose from a childhood of grinding poverty in South Texas to become a three-star Army ...

Tue, May 10, 2011

Blagojevich talks on tape about trading Senate seat

By Janan Hanna

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Facing an Illinois legislature hostile to his proposals, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich saw great opportunities in his power ...

Tue, May 10, 2011

Blagojevich talks on tape about trading Senate seat

By Janan Hanna

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Facing an Illinois legislature hostile to his proposals, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich salivated over the benefits he could ...

Tue, May 10, 2011

Senate bill squeezes Big Oil to ease deficit

By Timothy Gardner and Deborah Charles

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Senators introduced a bill on Tuesday that would repeal tax breaks enjoyed by the five ...

Tue, May 10, 2011

Senate bill squeezes Big Oil to ease deficit

By Timothy Gardner and Deborah Charles

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Senators introduced a bill on Tuesday that would repeal tax breaks enjoyed by the five ...

Tue, May 10, 2011

Senate's Reid: Big Oil tax repeal vote soon

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Leader Harry Reid said debate would begin on Tuesday on a bill that would ease the deficit by eliminating tax breaks ...

Tue, May 10, 2011

Senate banking panel chief defends Dodd-Frank

By Kevin Drawbaugh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rolling back the Dodd-Frank Wall Street law of 2010 "would be dangerous and irresponsible," said the Democratic chairman of ...

Mon, May 09, 2011

Texas Senate approves bill to allow guns on college campuses

By Corrie MacLaggan

AUSTIN, Tex. (Reuters) - The Texas Senate on Monday passed a measure that would make the Lone Star State the second after ...

Mon, May 09, 2011

Setti Warren announces bid for Massachusetts Senate seat

BOSTON (Reuters) - Democrat Setti Warren, mayor of Newton, Massachusetts, said on Monday he will seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Senator Scott Brown ...

Mon, May 09, 2011

Senate panel plans vote on Fed pick Peter Diamond: aide

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Banking Committee is likely to vote on Thursday on Federal Reserve nominee Peter Diamond, a committee aide said, marking a ...

Fri, May 06, 2011

Minnesota House Passes Photo I-D Bill

ST. PAUL, Min. (KDAL) - The Minnesota House on Thursday passed a bill that requires voters to show a photo I-D before casting a ballot ...

Thu, May 05, 2011

Senate Republicans draw line on consumer watchdog

By Kevin Drawbaugh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Forty-four Republican senators vowed on Thursday to vote against any White House nominee to head a new consumer watchdog ...

Wed, May 04, 2011

Texas Senate passes state budget that cuts spending

By Corrie MacLaggan

AUSTIN, Tex (Reuters) - The Texas Senate on Wednesday passed a budget that makes cuts to education and health care, but not ...

Wed, May 04, 2011

Senate "gang of six" won't meet until next week

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A closely watched group of six Republican and Democratic senators that is trying to forge a deficit-reduction deal has called off its ...

Tue, May 03, 2011

Justice department, SEC probing Senate findings on Goldman

(Reuters) - A Senate report, which had accused Goldman Sachs <GS.N> of misleading clients and manipulating markets, was formally referred to the Justice Department ...

Tue, May 03, 2011

Senate to act on energy legislation this month

By Tom Doggett and Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate may vote on bills this month to promote clean energy and small nuclear reactors ...

Tue, May 03, 2011

Senate Democrat's budget would reduce tax breaks

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate's top budget writer said on Tuesday he was drafting a plan that would raise tax revenue ...

Mon, May 02, 2011

Tennessee Senate vote due on teacher union bargaining ban

By Tim Ghianni

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Reuters) - The Republican majority Tennessee Senate is expected to approve on Monday a proposal that bans unions from negotiating ...

Mon, May 02, 2011

Taxpayers Given $27K Legal Bill Dealing with 14 Missing Senate Dems

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - As politicians point fingers, they’re handing Wisconsin taxpayers a $27,000 legal bill connected with the absences of 14 state ...

Fri, April 29, 2011

Judge Agrees on Extension to Verify State Senate Recalls

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - A judge in Madison agreed Friday to let recall elections for up to eight Wisconsin senators be held on July 12th ...

Fri, April 29, 2011

Several Constitutional Changes Could Make Minnesota Ballot

ST. PAUL, Min. (MNN) -  The number of constitutional amendments the Republican-controlled Minnesota Legislature could put on the ballot in 2012 is building.  So far ...

Thu, April 28, 2011

Voter I-D Issue Could Soon See Action

ST. PAUL, Min (MNN) -  There could soon be a vote in the Minnesota Senate on a bill that would require voters to present photo ...

Wed, April 27, 2011

Oklahoma Senate OKs bill targeting illegal immigrants

By Steve Olafson

OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - The Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would create criminal penalties for undocumented immigrants who work ...

Wed, April 27, 2011

Dean Heller named to fill Nevada Senate seat

By Timothy Pratt

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Nevada's governor on Wednesday named third-term Congressman Dean Heller to fill the nearly two years remaining in ...

Tue, April 26, 2011

Wisconsin Senate at stake in bids to recall lawmakers

By David Bailey

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Wisconsin may be poised to set a state campaign spending record with interest group money flowing even before officials ...

Tue, April 26, 2011

Khazei to seek Massachusetts Senate seat

BOSTON (Reuters) - Democrat Alan Khazei, co-founder of the national service program City Year, said on Tuesday he will seek the Democratic nomination to challenge ...

Fri, April 22, 2011

O'Donnell files amended Delaware Senate campaign report

By Dave Warner

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - Christine O'Donnell, the defeated Republican candidate for the Senate in Delaware in 2010 and a Tea Party favorite ...

Fri, April 15, 2011

Hoekstra Declines Senate Run; Land to Consider?

HOLLAND, MI (WHTC News) - Pete Hoekstra won’t toss his hat into the US Senatorial ring after all, but a fellow Hope College alum ...

Thu, April 14, 2011

Senate confirms two members of Obama economic team

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday confirmed two new members of President Barack Obama's economic team.

Carl Shapiro, an economist in the antitrust ...

Thu, April 14, 2011

Lawsuits vs banks win ammunition from Senate

By Tom Hals and Jonathan Stempel

WILMINGTON, Del./NEW YORK (Reuters) - Pigs. Unicorns. Money?

A scathing U.S. Senate panel report faulting Goldman Sachs ...

Thu, April 14, 2011

Senate can separate spending cuts, debt hike: Reid

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate can tackle efforts to narrow budget deficits and cut spending over the long term separately from a vote to raise ...

Wed, April 13, 2011

Senate panel slams Goldman in scathing crisis report

By Kevin Drawbaugh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In the most damning official U.S. report yet produced on Wall Street's role in the financial crisis ...

Tue, April 12, 2011

N.C. state senate pardons governor who stood up to Klan

By Ned Barnett

RALEIGH (Reuters) - The long-dead governor had said he didn't want a pardon but North Carolina's state Senate said justice ...

Tue, April 12, 2011

Georgia Senate passes Arizona-style anti-immigration bill

By David Beasley

ATLANTA (Reuters) - The Georgia Senate passed an Arizona-style immigration bill late Monday after removing one of the measure's toughest components ...

Fri, April 08, 2011

Senate passes stopgap spending bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate hurriedly passed a stopgap spending bill on Friday to fund the federal government for one week to avert a government ...

Fri, April 08, 2011

Republicans to block Senate stopgap without cuts

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Absent a permanent budget deal, Republicans will not allow the Senate to vote on a stopgap measure to keep the government operating ...

Fri, April 08, 2011

Senate Republican leader expects deal on budget

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said on Friday that he expected lawmakers to reach agreement on a spending plan and avert a ...

Fri, April 08, 2011

Democrats plan stopgap vote in Senate: Reid

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the Senate plan to vote on Friday on a bill that would postpone a government shutdown for a week, Senate ...

Thu, April 07, 2011

Missouri Senate passes bill restricting late-term abortion

KANSAS CITY (Reuters) - The Missouri Senate passed a bill on Thursday that would put further restrictions on when a woman may have a late-term ...

Thu, April 07, 2011

Missouri Senate seeks jobless benefits compromise

By Bruce Olson

ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - The Missouri Senate moved a step forward on Thursday toward a compromise that would restore unemployment benefits to ...

Wed, April 06, 2011

Senate rejects measure to stop EPA on climate

By Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate rejected a measure on Wednesday to kill the Environmental Protection Agency's regulation of greenhouse gas emissions ...

Wed, April 06, 2011

Bill limiting abortion after 20 weeks passed by Ohio Senate

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Reuters) - A bill that would require doctors to determine the viability of an unborn child if a woman seeks an abortion after ...

Tue, April 05, 2011

Senate blocks war powers vote amid Libya action

By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As leading U.S. senators discuss whether Congress should retroactively approve military operations in Libya, the Senate on Tuesday ...

Tue, April 05, 2011

Senate votes to repeal healthcare tax measure

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bowing to pressure from business groups worried about an avalanche of paperwork, the Senate voted on Tuesday to rescind a tax-reporting requirement ...

Tue, April 05, 2011

Wisconsin Senate approve bond restructuring bill

MADISON, Wisconsin (Reuters) - Democrats in the Wisconsin state Senate returned to the chamber for the first time in more than six weeks on Tuesday ...

Tue, April 05, 2011

Democratic Party chief quits to run for Senate

By Wendell Marsh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine resigned on Tuesday as chairman of the Democratic National Committee to run for a ...

Tue, April 05, 2011

Democrats face tough 2012 fight to keep Senate

By John Whitesides

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - While President Barack Obama's re-election bid hogs the political spotlight in 2012, his fellow Democrats face a tough ...

Tue, April 05, 2011

Senate to vote on dueling budget plans

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As Congress gears up for a fight on America's rising debt load, Republicans and Democrats are trying to ...

Sun, April 03, 2011

Fitzgerald: No Officer Would Arrest 14 Missing Senate Dems

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says no one knew exactly what to do, legally, when 14 senators left the state ...

Sat, April 02, 2011

Senate report on subprime mess due soon: report

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Senate subcommittee is nearing completion of a long-awaited report on the role Wall Street banks played in creating complex securities ...

Thu, March 31, 2011

K-12 Education Bill Passes Minnesota State Senate

ST. PAUL, Min. (MNN) -  There's a short lull at the State Capitol Friday after a hectic week when the House and Senate passed ...

Thu, March 31, 2011

Minnesota Senate Passes Health And Human Services Bill

ST. PAUL, Min (MNN) -  The GOP-controlled Minnesota Senate Wednesday night passed a major health and human services budget-balancing bill which Democrats warn will kick ...

Thu, March 31, 2011

Senate delays vote on EPA climate regulation

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Voting has been temporarily postponed in the Senate on proposals to stop, delay or pare back the Environmental Protection Agency's regulation ...

Fri, March 25, 2011

Florida congressman says he will not run for Senate

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla (Reuters) - Representative Connie Mack announced on Friday that he will not challenge Senator Bill Nelson for the Florida seat once held ...

Fri, March 25, 2011

Plenty of Cash Being Spent on Senate Recall Elections

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - We may never know the full amount of money being spent to try and recall 16 Wisconsin senators for their actions ...

Thu, March 24, 2011

Colorado Senate backs civil unions for same-sex couples

DENVER (Reuters) - A bill in the Colorado legislature that would grant same-sex couples civil unions with certain legal rights passed the Democrat-controlled Senate on ...

Thu, March 24, 2011

Senate to hold hearing on Muslim civil rights

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A Senate hearing on anti-Muslim bigotry set for next week drew praise from American Muslims who see it as a "counterweight" to ...

Thu, March 24, 2011

Group Seeks Sanctions Against Senate Majority Leader Fitzgerald

WASHINGTON D.C. (WTAQ) - A watchdog group in Washington has asked the state to sanction Senate GOP Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald.

The Citizens for ...

Wed, March 23, 2011

Idaho Senate approves ban on abortions after 20 weeks

By Laura Zuckerman

SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) - The Idaho Senate on Wednesday approved a measure that would ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy ...

Wed, March 23, 2011

Idaho Senate approves ban on abortions after 20 weeks

By Laura Zuckerman

SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) - The Idaho Senate on Wednesday approved a measure that would ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy ...

Thu, March 17, 2011

Arizona Senate votes down immigration bills

PHOENIX (Reuters) - The Arizona Senate on Thursday rejected five immigration bills, placing a major stumbling block in the way of state conservatives' hopes to ...

Thu, March 17, 2011

Former senate contender Joe Miller embarks on speaking career

By Yereth Rosen

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Joe Miller may have lost his bid to become Alaska's senator, but the Tea Party favorite has ...

Thu, March 17, 2011

Senate panel to step up TARP oversight: chairman

By Rachelle Younglai

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate committee will step up oversight of the government's unpopular TARP bank bailout program now it is ...

Thu, March 17, 2011

Sunday Liquor Bill Clears 1st Senate Committee

Legislation introduced by Duluth State Senator Roger Reinert that would allow alcohol sales on Sundays and major holidays cleared a senate committee Wednesday on ...

Wed, March 16, 2011

Oklahoma Senate passes Arizona-style immigration bill

By Steve Olafson

OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - The Oklahoma state Senate on Wednesday approved an Arizona-style immigration bill that gives police the authority to verify ...

Tue, March 15, 2011

Arizona senate majority leader removed from post

PHOENIX (Reuters) - An Arizona lawmaker who was detained by police last month after an alleged altercation with his girlfriend was removed as the state ...

Tue, March 15, 2011

Missouri "right-to-work" bill pushed in state Senate

By Bruce Olson

ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - The sponsor of a bill that would make Missouri a "right-to-work" state said on Tuesday she'll keep ...

Tue, March 15, 2011

UPDATE: Penalties Against 14 Senate Dems Rescinded

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - The minority Democrats in the state Senate will have their votes counted and other penalties against them rescinded following their return ...

Sun, March 13, 2011

Local officials plead to Senate not to cut grants

By Lisa Lambert

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Cities and counties are pressing the Congress to drop proposals that would slash funding for an almost $4 billion ...

Sun, March 13, 2011

Top Senate Democrat urges tapping oil reserve

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama should tap the country's strategic oil reserve to combat rising fuel prices, a top Senate Democrat said on ...

Fri, March 11, 2011

Iowa House passes union curbs, but Senate ok doubtful

By Kay Henderson

DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) - After three days of debate, Republicans in the Iowa House passed a bill that would limit collective ...

Fri, March 11, 2011

Maryland House vote expected on gay marriage bill OKed by Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Maryland lawmakers were expected to vote on Friday on a bill that could make Maryland the sixth state where gay marriage is ...

Thu, March 10, 2011

Senate bill would preserve anti-terror prison

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's already stalled bid to close the U.S. prison for suspected terrorists in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, would be ...

Thu, March 10, 2011

14 Senate Democrats Returning From Illinois

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - The 14 missing state Senate Democrats are coming home after they fled to Illinois three weeks ago. 

One media outlet reports ...

Thu, March 10, 2011

Wisconsin Senate Passes Bargaining Restrictions

The Wisconsin State Senate has approved Governor Scott Walker's plan to strip most state workers of nearly all collective bargaining rights.  Republicans passed ...

Thu, March 10, 2011

Senate kills competing spending cut bills

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate defeated a pair of spending-cut bills on Wednesday -- a Republican plan for nearly $60 billion in reductions ...

Wed, March 09, 2011

GBEA Prez Upset by Senate's Quick Budget Bill Vote

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WTAQ) - The head of the Green Bay Education Association says she was proven right when it comes to the state Senate ...

Wed, March 09, 2011

UPDATE: Senate Passes Collective Bargaining Bill

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - The state Senate makes some quick moves Wednesday, going into conference committee, then passing a collective bargaining bill, without discussion or ...

Wed, March 09, 2011

State Senate approves parts of budget repair bill despite Democrats' absence

MADISON (WRN-WSAU) The State Senate voted Wednesday night on key parts of Governor Walker's budget repair bill even though 14 Democrats remain in ...

Wed, March 09, 2011

Senate Approves $100 Fines for Missing Dems

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin’s GOP senators made good Wednesday on their promise to fine minority Democrats who’ve been gone for almost three ...

Wed, March 09, 2011

Michigan Senate approves breaking school labor deals

DETROIT (Reuters) - The Michigan Senate approved on Wednesday a proposal from Republican Gov. Rick Snyder to give state-appointed emergency managers broad authority to break ...

Tue, March 08, 2011

Senate approves patent reform to end backlog

By Thomas Ferraro and Diane Bartz

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to overhaul U.S. patent laws, approving a ...

Tue, March 08, 2011

Auto safety proposals to be revived in Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Safety legislation born out of the Toyota Motor Corp recall saga and opposed by automakers will be revived in the Senate this ...

Tue, March 08, 2011

14 Senate Dems to Stay in Illinois Tuesday Amid Rumor of Breaking Ranks

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Rumors about a break in the ranks, or an imminent return to Madison pop up.

But publically Wisconsin's "awol" Democratic ...

Tue, March 08, 2011

Former Judge Enters U.S. Senate Race Against Stabenow

(Grand Rapids, MI)  --  Former juvenile court judge Randy Hekman has become the first person to announce he is challenging incumbent U.S. Senator Debbie ...

Tue, March 08, 2011

Gov. Walker: Unions Influencing 14 Missing Senate Dems

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Governor Scott Walker says national union leaders appear to be influencing the 14 state Senate Democrats who left Madison to delay ...

Mon, March 07, 2011

Senate must act first on debit card fees: Bachus

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans in the House of Representatives will not try to stall or change a crackdown on debit card fees unless they believe ...

Mon, March 07, 2011

UPDATE: Gov. Walker Says No to Senate Dems Meeting

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Governor Scott Walker said no Monday morning to an in-person meeting with Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller to work out a ...

Fri, March 04, 2011

Senate Dem Gives Up Hope on GOP Not Supporting Budget

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - State Senate Democrat Bob Jauch says he’s given up hope that more Republicans will jump ship on the governor’s ...

Thu, March 03, 2011

Senate panel clears rail antitrust bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation on Thursday that would strip freight railroads of their antitrust exemptions.

The measure in the Democratic-led ...

Thu, March 03, 2011

Senate GOP'ers Threaten Dems With "Contempt of Senate"

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin’s Republican Senate majority has ordered the 14 absent Democrats to return by 4 p.m. Thursday – or else they ...

Thu, March 03, 2011

Gov. Walker Continues Call for Senate Dems to Return

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (WTAQ) - Governor Scott Walker said Wednesday that thousands of Wisconsinites would have no voice in the debate over the next state ...

Thu, March 03, 2011

Missing 14 Senate Dems Face $100 Fines

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin senators have approved fines of $100 a day for the 14 Senate Democrats who continue to stay away from the ...

Wed, March 02, 2011

Minnesota Senate May Vote On Dayton Tax Plan

Republicans are talking about putting Governor Dayton's tax increase proposal to a vote on the Senate floor this week.  Slayton Senator Doug Magnus ...

Wed, March 02, 2011

More Details Revealed on Private Senate Meeting

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - We’re learning a little more Wednesday about the private meeting State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald had with Democrats on ...

Tue, March 01, 2011

Senate votes to strip down patent reform bill

By Diane Bartz

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate voted on Tuesday to strip controversial provisions out of a bipartisan bill to revamp the U.S ...

Tue, March 01, 2011

Senate panel sets hearing on Fed nominee Diamond

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Banking Committee said on Tuesday it would hold a hearing on the nomination of Nobel laureate Peter Diamond to be ...

Tue, March 01, 2011

Missing Senate Dems Announce Alternative Budget Plan

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - State Senate Democrats have announced an alternative plan to balance the current budget and avoid state employee layoffs without having to ...

Mon, February 28, 2011

Senate Republicans offer debt limit alternatives

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate could vote this week on Republican proposals that will ensure some government payments continue uninterrupted if Congress fails to approve ...

Mon, February 28, 2011

Senate Republican Hatch sees tax revamp taking years

By Kim Dixon

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A revamp of the tax code will take several years as the parties resolve fundamental disputes over how taxes ...

Fri, February 25, 2011

Still No Senate Dems, GOP Prepare Budget for Up or Down Vote

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin senators went back into session late Friday morning to take up the budget repair bill and its public union bargaining ...

Fri, February 25, 2011

Local, Nat'l Groups Start Recalls of 7 Missing Senate Dems

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Both local and national groups are starting recall campaigns against seven Democratic state senators who’ve stayed away from the Capitol ...

Thu, February 24, 2011

Maryland Senate approves same-sex marriage

By Dave Warner

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - The Maryland State Senate passed legislation on Thursday night to allow same-sex marriage.

The Civil Marriage Protection Act, approved ...

Thu, February 24, 2011

Idaho Senate votes to curtail teacher's union

By Laura Zuckerman

SALMON, Idaho (Reuters) - By a 20-15 vote, the Idaho Senate on Thursday approved legislation that curtails collective bargaining by public school ...

Thu, February 24, 2011

Ending housing aid not answer: Senate panel aide

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican moves to kill several Obama administration programs aimed at keeping struggling borrowers in their homes will not make the foreclosure problem ...

Thu, February 24, 2011

Senate Majority Leader's Wife Getting Layoff Notice

HUSTISFORD, Wis. (WTAQ) - The wife of state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald is getting a layoff notice from the school district where she works ...

Thu, February 24, 2011

Senate Dem: Walker "Diminished Image" of Gov's Office

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - The nation’s longest-serving legislator says Scott Walker has “diminished the image” of the Wisconsin governor’s office.

State Senate Democrat ...

Wed, February 23, 2011

Senate Committee OK's No More Direct Deposits for Missing Dems

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin Senate Republicans turned up the heat Tuesday to get minority Democrats back from Illinois, where they fled six days ago ...

Wed, February 23, 2011

Senate Committee Endorses Voter ID Mandate

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - A state Senate committee endorsed a bill Tuesday to make Wisconsin voters show photo ID’s at the polls.

That sets ...

Tue, February 22, 2011

Indiana state Senate passes law to curb teachers unions

By Susan Guyett

INDIANAPOLIS (Reuters) - The Indiana state Senate on Tuesday approved a proposed law that would limit the power of teacher's unions ...

Tue, February 22, 2011

Security Tight as Senate, Assembly Back in Session

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Only two entrances are open at the State Capitol Tuesday, as lawmakers get ready to debate the budget repair bill.

The ...

Tue, February 22, 2011

State Senate Recesses After Acting on Several Measures

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin senators went into recess late Tuesday morning, after all 19 Republicans acted on several measures without their 14 Democratic colleagues ...

Tue, February 22, 2011

Senate Dems on the Run Translates to Cash

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - The 14 Senate Democrats who fled to Illinois to block a vote on the state’s budget repair bill might have ...

Sun, February 20, 2011

State Senate to Convene Without Dems

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - The Wisconsin Senate will convene Tuesday to pass non-spending bills and act on appointments, even if the missing 14 Democrats haven ...

Fri, February 18, 2011

Assembly Could Vote Friday on Walker's Budget Bill as Senate Dems Still On the Run

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin Senate Democrats say they’ll stay away from the Capitol at least until Saturday to delay a vote on the ...

Thu, February 17, 2011

Senate approves two-year aviation bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday approved a two-year, $35 billion blueprint for funding air traffic control services and the next steps for modernizing ...

Thu, February 17, 2011

Texas Senate approves pre-abortion ultrasound law

By Corrie MacLaggan

AUSTIN, Tex. (Reuters) - The Texas Senate on Thursday approved a measure that would require women seeking an abortion to first get ...

Thu, February 17, 2011

Texas Senate passes bill requiring pre-abortion ultrasound

By Corrie MacLaggan

AUSTIN, Tex. (Reuters) - The Texas Senate on Thursday approved a measure that would require women seeking an abortion to first get ...

Thu, February 17, 2011

Gov. Walker Calls Senate Dems on the Run a "Stunt"

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Governor Scott Walker says the 14 Senate Democrats fleeing the Capitol ahead of voting on his budget repair bill a "stunt ...

Thu, February 17, 2011

UPDATE: Senate Dems Escape Capitol Ahead of Budget Vote

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - State Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller says fellow Democrats have spread out to other locations.

And Waunakee Democrat Jon Erpenbach says ...

Thu, February 17, 2011

Senate kills competing spending cut bills

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate defeated a pair of spending-cut bills on Wednesday -- a Republican plan for nearly $60 billion in reductions ...

Wed, February 16, 2011

Dodd-Frank tensions headline Senate hearing

By Sarah N. Lynch and Christopher Doering

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans escalated their push to delay and defund the Dodd-Frank Wall Street reforms on Thursday ...

Tue, February 15, 2011

Senate votes to renew anti-terrorism provisions

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate approved a bill on Tuesday to extend for 88 days three provisions of the anti-terrorism Patriot Act ...

Tue, February 15, 2011

Senate Prez: Enough Votes to Pass Gov's Union Cutbacks

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - State Senate President Mike Ellis said Tuesday his house has enough votes to approve the governor’s cutbacks for union employee ...

Wed, February 09, 2011

State Senate Approves 2/3 Vote to Hike Sales, Income Taxes

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - State senators voted Tuesday to make it harder to raise Wisconsin’s two major taxes.

The vote was 20 to 12 ...

Tue, February 08, 2011

Minnesota House And Senate Compromise Reached

After negotiators agreed on a compromise bill in record time Monday night, the Republican-controlled House and Senate now must try to convince Governor Dayton ...

Mon, February 07, 2011

Senate memo shows fight awaits Dodd-Frank foes

By Kevin Drawbaugh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The uphill push faced by Republicans in trying to roll back last year's Dodd-Frank law was made clear ...

Sun, February 06, 2011

Congressman Ryan Won't Rule Out U.S. Senate, VP Run

WASHINGTON D.C. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan refuses to rule out a possible U.S. Senate bid next year, or serving as the ...

Fri, February 04, 2011

Reinert Opposes Senate Budget Bill

State Senator Roger Reinert of Duluth was among Democrats expressing opposition to the partial budget bill passed in the Minnesota Senate on Thursday. Reinert ...

Thu, February 03, 2011

Senate panel backs patent overhaul bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bill to reduce the likelihood of massive damage awards in patent disputes took a step forward on Thursday with approval by ...

Mon, January 31, 2011

Budget Cutting Bill To Face Minnesota Senate

The Minnesota Senate is expected to vote on one-billion dollars in state budget cuts this week.  The GOP-controlled House narrowly passed its version of ...

Fri, January 28, 2011

Hoekstra Early Leader in Senate Race Polling

LANSING, MI (WHTC News) - There’s more fuel for a possible U.S. Senate run by Holland’s Pete Hoekstra, as a Strategic National ...

Thu, January 27, 2011

Senate keeps filibusters, makes other changes

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate leaders reached an agreement on Thursday to make their chamber more efficient and less contentious -- yet preserve the ...

Thu, January 27, 2011

UPDATE: State Senate Approves Job Creation Tax Break Bill

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - The Wisconsin Legislature gave its final approval Thursday to tax cuts for businesses that create jobs.

The Senate voted 25 to ...

Tue, January 25, 2011

Senate leaders open option of state bankruptcy

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republican leaders said on Tuesday they were considering allowing financially stressed U.S. states to declare bankruptcy.

"We're exploring that ...

Mon, January 24, 2011

Anuzis Reportedly Considering Senate Run Against Stabenow

(Lansing, MI)  --  Former Michigan Republican Party chairman Saul Anuzis, who failed to land the National Republican Party chairmanship earlier this month, is now reportedly ...

Sat, January 22, 2011

State Senate Passes Health Savings Acct. Tax Exemption

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - The Wisconsin Senate has passed a state income tax exemption for money people set aside in health savings accounts.

The proposal ...

Wed, January 19, 2011

State Senate Approves Tort Reform Measure

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin is one step closer to making it harder for people to win liability lawsuits against companies and doctors.

The State ...

Tue, January 18, 2011

Lieberman expected to retire from Senate: aides

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator Joe Lieberman is expected to follow the lead of a long-time Democratic colleague Kent Conrad and announce on Wednesday that he ...

Tue, January 18, 2011

Democrat Conrad to retire from Senate in 2012

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Senator Kent Conrad, who has led efforts to get the U.S. budget under control, said on Tuesday that he will ...

Wed, January 12, 2011

Report: Ron Johnson More TV Ads Than Other U.S. Senate Candidates

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson had more TV ads than any other U.S. Senate candidate in the nation last year.

And ...

Thu, January 06, 2011

Bernanke to face Senate skeptical of Fed policy

By Pedro Nicolaci da Costa

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ben Bernanke will not get an easy pass from U.S. lawmakers on Friday as the Federal ...

Thu, January 06, 2011

Illinois House passes death penalty ban, Senate next

CHICAGO (Reuters) - The Illinois House on Thursday voted to ban the death penalty, moving the measure on to the Senate a decade after a ...

Thu, January 06, 2011

Tax code ripe for reform: Senate leader

By Kim Dixon

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. tax code is "ripe" for reform and fixing it will be a top priority for Democrats ...

Mon, December 27, 2010

Alaska certifies Murkowski's write-in Senate victory

By Yereth Rosen

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - The state of Alaska certified Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski's victory over Tea Party favorite Joe Miller on ...

Thu, December 23, 2010

Senate panel to look into tanker data mixup

By Jim Wolf

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold hearings next month into an Air Force document bungle roiling a transAtlantic ...

Wed, December 22, 2010

Senate fails to confirm Fannie and Freddie regulator

By Corbett B. Daly

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The nomination of North Carolina bank commissioner Joseph Smith to head the agency that oversees Fannie Mae and ...

Wed, December 22, 2010

Alaska candidate loses bid to overturn Senate race

By Yereth Rosen

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (Reuters) - Tea Party candidate Joe Miller on Tuesday lost his final legal bid to block the state of Alaska ...

Mon, December 20, 2010

Republicans regain majority in New York state senate

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Republicans will regain control of the New York State Senate in January after a Democrat on Monday lost a recount bid ...

Sat, December 18, 2010

"Dream Act" immigration bill blocked in Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A controversial measure providing a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children was dealt a ...

Thu, December 16, 2010

No Senate vote seen this year on EPA carbon rules

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Legislation imposing a two-year pause on Environmental Protection Agency regulation of carbon dioxide pollution from smokestacks appeared to be dead for this ...

Thu, December 16, 2010

State Worker Contracts Fail in Senate After Wild Wednesday

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - In a bitter and emotional lame-duck session, Wisconsin lawmakers failed Wednesday to approve overdue union contracts for state employees.

The Assembly ...

Wed, December 15, 2010

Senate votes to begin consideration of START treaty

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate voted on Wednesday to begin consideration of the long-stalled New START strategic nuclear arms treaty between Russia and the United ...

Wed, December 15, 2010

Tax Deal Passes Senate, Now It's Off to The House

WASHINGTON D.C. (WTAQ) - The U.S. Senate has approved the tax deal that President Obama negotiated with Republicans, on an 81-19 vote. The ...

Wed, December 15, 2010

State Senate OK's Labor Contract Session

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin Senate leaders agreed Wednesday morning to hold an extraordinary session to approve union contracts for thousands of state employees.

The ...

Tue, December 14, 2010

Senate spending bill funds second F-35 engine

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A 2,000-page Senate spending bill included $450 million to continue work on a second engine for the Lockheed Martin Corp fighter ...

Tue, December 14, 2010

CFTC, SEC would get boost in Senate spending bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. financial regulators would get big budget increases to enforce the Dodd-Frank overhaul of Wall Street regulations under a Senate spending ...

Tue, December 14, 2010

Senate girds for last-minute showdown on spending

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate headed for a last-minute showdown over spending as Republicans vowed on Wednesday to block a bill laden ...

Tue, December 14, 2010

Enough support in Senate on START treaty: Biden

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top Democrats, including Vice President Joe Biden, said on Sunday they believe they have enough support in the Senate to ratify a ...

Tue, December 14, 2010

Senate could debate START on Wednesday: aide

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate could begin consideration of the START nuclear arms treaty with Russia on Wednesday, a senior Democratic aide said on Tuesday ...

Fri, December 10, 2010

Senate ethanol amendment on tax bill in limbo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate leaders have not decided whether to allow a vote on an amendment to cut the U.S. ethanol tax credit by ...

Thu, December 09, 2010

Senate Republicans block 9/11 health bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republicans on Thursday blocked a bill that would provide medical care for firefighters and other responders to the September 11, 2001 ...

Thu, December 09, 2010

Holder urges Senate reject ban on Guantanamo moves

By Jeremy Pelofsky

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Attorney General Eric Holder on Thursday made a last-ditch plea urging lawmakers to allow foreign terrorism suspects held at ...

Wed, December 08, 2010

Senate acts to stop Medicare doctors pay cut

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Wednesday agreed to avert a 25 percent pay cut for doctors treating patients covered by the Medicare health program ...

Wed, December 08, 2010

Senate removes Louisiana judge from office

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to convict Federal District Court Judge G. Thomas Porteous of impeachment charges and remove him from ...

Sat, December 04, 2010

Senate bid to renew "middle-class" tax cuts fails

By Kim Dixon and Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic measures to extend tax cuts for most Americans failed in the Senate on Saturday as ...

Thu, December 02, 2010

Reid "confident" Senate to consider START soon

By David Alexander and Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Majority Leader Harry Reid expressed confidence on Thursday the U.S. Senate would debate the New ...

Wed, December 01, 2010

Senate Democrats criticize mini-med plans

By Emily Stephenson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic senators criticized low-cost, bare-bones health insurance plans on Wednesday, saying the plans designed for low-wage workers can be ...

Tue, November 30, 2010

Jobless aid to expire; effort fails in Senate

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Jobless benefits were due to lapse yet again for hundreds of thousands of Americans after an effort to extend ...

Tue, November 30, 2010

Senate passes overhaul of food safety system

By Charles Abbott

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate passed the largest overhaul of the U.S. food safety system in decades on Tuesday, a response ...

Tue, November 30, 2010

Obama urges Senate approval of START nuclear pact

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Tuesday reiterated his call for the Senate to ratify a new nuclear arms control treaty with Russia, calling ...

Tue, November 30, 2010

US Senate Passes Klobuchar Food Safety Bill

The U.S. Senate passed a food safety bill Tuesday morning co-authored by Senator Amy Klobuchar. She says it will strengthen the Food and ...

Tue, November 30, 2010

Obama urges Senate approval of START nuclear pact

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Tuesday reiterated his call for the Senate to ratify a new nuclear arms control treaty with Russia, calling ...

Tue, November 30, 2010

Senate rejects proposal to ban earmarks

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Tuesday rejected a proposed ban on the pet spending projects known as earmarks that have become ...

Mon, November 22, 2010

Alaska candidate Miller sues over Senate election results

By Yereth Rosen

ANCHORAGE (Reuters) - Republican Senate candidate Joe Miller filed suit in Alaska state court on Monday challenging the election victory of incumbent ...

Mon, November 22, 2010

Stabenow To Chair Senate Agriculture Committee

LANSING, Mich (WQTX)  Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow will be taking over as Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee.  That’s because the current chair ...

Mon, November 22, 2010

Counterpoint: Senate Bill 3804

The line in the sand over the widespread practice of internet piracy and copyright violation has long since been drawn. This isn't yet ...

Sat, November 20, 2010

Obama, Medvedev urge Senate to ratify START

By Ross Colvin

LISBON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama used the international stage Saturday to press his Republican opponents in Congress to ratify a new ...

Fri, November 19, 2010

Senate approves compensation for black farmers

By Emily Stephenson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate unanimously approved a bill on Friday funding $1.15 billion in compensation to black farmers in a ...

Thu, November 18, 2010

Senate confirms Lew as White House budget chief

By JoAnne Allen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Senate on Thursday confirmed Jacob Lew as the new White House budget chief after a Democratic senator dropped ...

Thu, November 18, 2010

Senate panel passes bill against piracy websites

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. agencies and officials would get new powers to go after foreign websites that sell counterfeit goods and ...

Wed, November 17, 2010

Reid plans Senate vote to end military gay ban

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid plans to schedule a vote to end the Pentagon's ban on gays serving openly in the ...

Wed, November 17, 2010

Clinton tries to rally Senate to back START treaty

By David Alexander

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, vowing to do "whatever it takes," tried to rally Senate support on Wednesday for ...

Wed, November 17, 2010

Hillary Clinton tries to rally Senate to back START treaty

By David Alexander

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, vowing to do "whatever it takes," tried to rally Senate support on Wednesday for ...

Wed, November 17, 2010

Food safety bill clears key hurdle in Senate

By Christopher Doering

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. food supply, battered by a series of recalls after millions were sickened, moved a step closer ...

Tue, November 16, 2010

Senate panel backs Fed nominee Diamond

By Emily Kaiser

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate committee approved the nomination of Nobel laureate Peter Diamond to the Federal Reserve Board on Tuesday over ...

Mon, November 15, 2010

Senate Republicans adopt voluntary earmark ban

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republicans adopted on Tuesday a voluntary ban on congressional spending projects known as "earmarks," which many of them view as wasteful ...

Fri, November 05, 2010

Senate Republicans To Choose New Majority Leader

(St. Paul, MN)  --  Minnesota Senate Republicans meet this afternoon to name a new majority leader after gaining control of the state Senate in Tuesday ...

Fri, November 05, 2010

Whitmer Chosen Senate Minority Leader

LANSING, Mich (WQTX)  Senator Gretchen Whitmer of East Lansing will be the Democratic leader in the Michigan Senate headed into next year.  Whitmer was ...

Wed, November 03, 2010

Johnson Takes Out Long-Time Dem Feingold in U.S. Senate Race

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Ron Johnson says he’ll work to restore “fiscal sanity” to the nation.

The Republican from Oshkosh got 52-percent of the ...

Wed, November 03, 2010

Senate Democratic leader Reid wins re-election bid: Fox

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid won re-election in Nevada against Republican Sharron Angle in a tight race, Fox News projected on ...

Tue, November 02, 2010

ELECTION 2010: Johnson wins U.S. Senate race

UNDATED (WSAU) Ron Johnson has won U.S. Senate race in Wisconsin over incumbent Russ Feingold:

21179 Rob Taylor

1117601 Ron Johnson (WINNER)

1014639 ...

Tue, November 02, 2010

WATCH: Tonya Schuitmaker Declares Victory in 20th District State Senate Race

KALAMAZOO -- Following the passing of Democratic candidate Robert Jones and his subsequent replacement on the ballot of Bobby Hopewell, Republican candidate for state Senate ...

Tue, November 02, 2010

ELECTION 2010: Decker defeated in 29th State Senate race; GOP controls state assembly and state senate

UNDATED (WSAU) Republicans have taken control of the state assembly and the state senate. It's the first time the GOP has control of ...

Tue, November 02, 2010

Democrat Manchin wins West Virginia Senate seat, NBC projects

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Joe Manchin won the Senate race in West Virginia on Tuesday, beating back a late surge by Republican rival John Raese ...

Tue, November 02, 2010

Republican Rand Paul wins Kentucky Senate seat

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Rand Paul, a favorite among the conservative Tea Party movement, won a Senate seat in Kentucky on Tuesday over Democrat Jack ...

Tue, November 02, 2010

Republican Coats wins Indiana Senate seat, networks project

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Dan Coats won the Senate race in Indiana on Tuesday over Democrat Brad Ellsworth, the MSNBC and Fox TV networks projected ...

Mon, November 01, 2010

Republicans set to win House, gain in Senate: Reuters/Ipsos poll

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Americans unhappy with the economy are poised to hand control of the House of Representatives to Republicans in Tuesday ...

Fri, October 29, 2010

Boxer widens lead in tough California Senate race

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer of California has opened up an 8 percentage point lead over Republican challenger Carly Fiorina ...

Thu, October 28, 2010

Florida Senate candidate denies he was asked to quit

MIAMI (Reuters) - A Florida Democrat running a distant third in the state's three-way U.S. Senate race vowed on Thursday to stay in ...

Thu, October 28, 2010

Senate leader Harry Reid faces possible historic loss

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Harry Reid, a key ally to President Barack Obama, is in danger in Tuesday's election of becoming the ...

Tue, October 26, 2010

Senate candidate Carly Fiorina hospitalized

By Dan Whitcomb

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Carly Fiorina, the California Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, was hospitalized on Tuesday for treatment of ...

Tue, October 26, 2010

Republicans poised to win House and gain in Senate

By John Whitesides

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans enter the final week of a bitter U.S. election campaign as heavy favorites to win control of ...

Tue, October 26, 2010

Key Pennsylvania Senate race in dead heat: Reuters/Ipsos

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate race in Pennsylvania that could determine whether President Barack Obama's Democrats retain control of the chamber ...

Tue, October 26, 2010

WI's U.S. Senate Race Has Cost Over $20M

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Over 20-million-dollars has been spent on Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate race.

Federal reports say Republican Ron Johnson has spent about ...

Mon, October 25, 2010

Senate Hopefuls Get Final Debate Before Election Day

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WIBQ) - Candidates for the U.S. Senate get one last chance to make their case before voters tonight during the final ...

Sun, October 24, 2010

Senate unlikely to follow House on yuan

By Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate is unlikely to take up pending China currency legislation following a weekend promise by the Group of ...

Sat, October 23, 2010

U.S. Senate Candidates Contentious in Final Debate

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - The two candidates for Wisconsin's U.S. Senate seat debated for the third and final time Friday night.

Democratic incumbent ...

Fri, October 22, 2010

Money flows into Nevada's tight Senate race

By Mark Hosenball

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate race in Nevada, which late polling suggests is a dead heat, has become a central battlefield in ...

Thu, October 21, 2010

Hispanic voters may decide tight Nevada Senate race

By Tim Gaynor

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Hispanic labor leader Geoconda Arguello-Kline's members work in low-key jobs like cooking, making beds and fetching drinks ...

Tue, October 19, 2010

Obama and Democrats count on Senate wins out West

By John Whitesides

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - With Republicans headed to big election gains on November 2, Democrats are counting on the liberal-leaning West Coast to ...

Mon, October 18, 2010

Ex-Kalamazoo Mayor, MI Senate Hopeful Jones Dies

LANSING, Mich  (WQTX)  Michigan House member and state Senate candidate Robert B. Jones has died at age 66. The cause of his death yesterday ...

Mon, October 18, 2010

Senate Candidate Robert Jones Is Dead

(Kalamazoo, MI)  --  State representative and Senate candidate Robert Jones died early Sunday morning at age 66 after a year-long battle with esophageal cancer.  Jones ...

Sat, October 16, 2010

Obama backs governor where key Senate seat fell

By Patricia Zengerle

BOSTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama urged voters in Massachusetts to back the state's governor, Deval Patrick, at a raucous campaign ...

Wed, October 13, 2010

Senate poised to follow House on China yuan: Baucus

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate is poised to follow the House of Representatives in passing legislation aimed at pressuring China to raise the value of ...

Tue, October 12, 2010

U.S. Senate Candidates Face Off In First Debate

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WIBQ) - The first of three U.S. Senate debates in Indiana was held in Indianapolis Monday night. Republican Dan Coats, Democrat Brad ...

Fri, October 08, 2010

Senate banking panel sets foreclosure hearing

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Banking Committee will hold hearings after next month's elections to look into allegations that the nation's largest lenders ...

Fri, October 08, 2010

California Senate approves full budget package

SACRAMENTO (Reuters) - California's state Senate on Friday approved the full package of budget legislation to balance the state's books by closing a ...

Fri, October 08, 2010

Afghan security contractor oversight poor: Senate report

By David Alexander

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate inquiry into private security contracting in Afghanistan concluded on Thursday that funds had sometimes been funneled to ...

Thu, October 07, 2010

House vote raised odds of Senate action on yuan

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The odds for Senate action on a bill to get tough on China's currency practices improved after a ...

Fri, October 01, 2010

NRA Endorses Ellsworth In Senate Race

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WIBQ) - The National Rifle Association has throw it's support behind Rep. Brad Ellsworth in his race for Indiana's U.S ...

Thu, September 30, 2010

Obama wades into fight for his old Senate seat

By Matt Spetalnick

CHICAGO (Reuters) - President Barack Obama threw his weight behind a Democratic bid to save his old Senate seat on Thursday as ...

Wed, September 29, 2010

California Senate debate turns on environment

By Peter Henderson

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - California U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer and Republican challenger Carly Fiorina traded jabs over the environment, healthcare and ...

Wed, September 29, 2010

McCain gives $1 million to Senate Republican candidates

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Senator John McCain is donating $1 million left over from his 2008 presidential campaign to help Senate Republican candidates ahead of ...

Tue, September 28, 2010

Lawmakers eyes late-year Senate vote on China yuan

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate will wait until after the November 2 congressional elections to vote on legislation to pressure China to ...

Tue, September 28, 2010

Thompson to Stay in Senate Race Despite Cancer

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Ed Thompson says he’ll stay in the race for a Wisconsin Senate seat, even though he’s been diagnosed with ...

Tue, September 28, 2010

Lawmaker eyes late-year Senate vote on China yuan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate is unlikely to vote on legislation to pressure China to raise the value of its currency until after the November ...

Thu, September 23, 2010

Senate panel backs Obama budget nominee

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate panel overwhelmingly approved President Barack Obama's pick for budget chief on Thursday, but it was unclear when the full ...

Wed, September 22, 2010

Arkansas conservative Democrats hold Senate race key

By Matthew Bigg

ENGLAND, Arkansas (Reuters) - If Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas is to win re-election against the odds in November, she will ...

Wed, September 22, 2010

Democrat Lincoln far behind in Arkansas Senate race

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, a key player in U.S. financial regulation legislation, remains far behind in ...

Tue, September 21, 2010

Senate panel approves UK and Australia trade treaties

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense industry trade agreements with Britain and Australia that have languished in the Senate for three years were approved by the Senate ...

Tue, September 21, 2010

Senate bars debate on ending military gay ban

By Susan Cornwell and Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Tuesday blocked a measure that would let homosexuals serve openly in the military ...

Sat, September 18, 2010

Senate Agency Calls Michigan Film Credits A Money Loser

(Lansing, MI)  --  Tax credits for the film industry are costing Michigan taxpayers millions of dollars, according to a report released today.  The Senate Fiscal ...

Thu, September 16, 2010

Senate confirms Hagen as USDA food safety chief

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senators on Thursday approved Elizabeth Hagen as the top food-safety official at the U.S. Agriculture Department, a post that was vacant ...

Thu, September 16, 2010

Senate panel approves new arms treaty with Russia

By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate panel approved a new strategic nuclear arms control treaty with Russia on Thursday, advancing one of President ...

Thu, September 16, 2010

Senate passes long-stalled small business bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday passed a long-stalled measure that would boost lending to small businesses, giving President Barack Obama's Democrats one ...

Thu, September 16, 2010

U.S. Senate Candidates Debating Debates

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WTAQ) - The debate over the debates is on in Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate race.

Republican challenger Ron Johnson Wednesday he ...

Wed, September 15, 2010

Crist's race for center fizzling in Senate race

By Jane Sutton

MIAMI (Reuters) - Florida Governor Charlie Crist's strategy of taking the best ideas from Democrats and Republicans in his campaign as ...

Wed, September 15, 2010

Senate Candidate Debate Talk Heats Up, Johnson May Miss First

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WTAQ) - Now that the U.S. Senate race is set, Republican Ron Johnson’s campaign plans to talk Wednesday with incumbent ...

Tue, September 14, 2010

Tea Party win hurts Republicans' Senate chances

By John Whitesides

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A conservative "Tea Party" favorite knocked off the establishment choice in Delaware's Republican Senate primary election on Tuesday ...

Tue, September 14, 2010

Bill to aid small-business advances in Senate

By Andy Sullivan and Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the Senate advanced a measure to help small businesses on Tuesday, less than two ...

Mon, September 13, 2010

Obama sends pick for Medicare post back to Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama resubmitted his pick to run the Medicare and Medicaid programs to the Senate on Monday, two months after bypassing ...

Wed, September 08, 2010

Senate, House eye action on China currency

By Doug Palmer and Glenn Somerville

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A volatile political environment is boosting the possibility that U.S. lawmakers will pass legislation designed ...

Tue, September 07, 2010

Ron Johnson Expected to Be GOP U.S. Senate Candidate

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WTAQ) - With his big money campaign, Ron Johnson expects to become the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate a week from Tuesday ...

Fri, September 03, 2010

Report: Senate Candidate Johnson Has Half As Much Money As Feingold

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WTAQ) - Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ron Johnson has about half as much campaign money on hand as incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold ...

Thu, September 02, 2010

Food safety a "priority" for Senate: Reid aide

By Christopher Doering

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Passing food safety reform legislation this year is a "priority" for the Senate, said a spokesman for Senate Democratic ...

Thu, September 02, 2010

U.S. Senate Candidate Johnson Spent $4M on TV Ads

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WTAQ) - If you don’t know who Ron Johnson is, you’re not watching TV.

The Oshkosh Republican has spent $4 million ...

Tue, August 31, 2010

Republican leads Senate race in Pennsylvania

By John Whitesides

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Pat Toomey has opened a 10-point lead over Democrat Joe Sestak among likely voters in a Senate race ...

Tue, August 31, 2010

2 GOP'ers Looking to Challenge Senate Majority Leader Decker

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Two Republicans are trying to replace state Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker this fall.

Rusk County businessman Jimmy Boy Edming and ...

Fri, August 27, 2010

Dingell: Food Safety Bill Stalled In Senate

(Detroit, MI)  --  A Michigan congressman is saying that legislation stalled in the U.S. Senate would provide food safety oversight to prevent future problems ...

Thu, August 19, 2010

Obama makes four appointments, bypassing Senate

VINEYARD HAVEN, Massachusetts (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Thursday made four recess job appointments to his administration, including a new U.S. ambassador to ...

Thu, August 19, 2010

Obama urges Senate to pass small business bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Thursday urged the U.S. Senate to pass a stalled small business lending bill, saying recent weak economic ...

Tue, August 17, 2010

Republican Paul leads Senate race in Kentucky

By John Whitesides

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Rand Paul, a favorite of the conservative Tea Party movement, has a narrow lead among likely voters in ...

Sun, August 15, 2010

Crist leads 3-way Senate race in Florida

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Florida Governor Charlie Crist has a slight edge over Republican Marco Rubio and either possible Democratic candidate in a three-way U.S ...

Fri, August 13, 2010

Senate candidate Greene indicted for obscenity

By Harriet McCleod

CHARLESTON, South Carolina (Reuters) - Democratic Senate candidate Alvin Greene was indicted in South Carolina on Friday on charges stemming from his ...

Wed, August 11, 2010

Senate to pass border bill Thursday: spokesmen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate will hold a short special session on Thursday to pass a border security bill, breaking off its summer recess to ...

Wed, August 11, 2010

Hillary Clinton pleads with Senate to back Russia arms treaty

By Andrew Quinn

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pleaded with senators on Wednesday to back a new arms control treaty with Russia ...

Sun, August 08, 2010

Smackdown looms in Connecticut Senate race

By Ros Krasny

BOSTON (Reuters) - Connecticut's tough-on-crime attorney general looked set for an easy election to the Senate, retaining a vital Democratic seat ...

Fri, August 06, 2010

Doyle: State Avoided Major Cuts Thanks to U.S. Senate

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Governor Jim Doyle says Wisconsin would have faced major cuts in health care and education, had the U.S. Senate not ...

Thu, August 05, 2010

Senate Democrats seek to end Big Oil tax break

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats on Thursday proposed repealing a tax break for some major oil companies, including BP Plc, effective December 31.

The proposal ...

Thu, August 05, 2010

Senate votes to increase child nutrition funds

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday approved $4.5 billion in additional funds for child nutrition programs over the next 10 years, in a ...

Thu, August 05, 2010

Senate leaves without funding black farmers suit

By Jasmin Melvin

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican senator blocked a measure on Thursday that would have compensated black farmers in one of the largest ...

Thu, August 05, 2010

Senate rejects Fed nominee Diamond before voting

By Pedro da Costa and Rick Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Thursday scrapped the nomination of Peter Diamond to the Federal ...

Thu, August 05, 2010

Senate confirms new intelligence chief

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate confirmed President Barack Obama's nominee to be intelligence chief Thursday after Republicans dropped their objections.

Several Republican senators had ...

Thu, August 05, 2010

Senate Confirms Kagan For U.S. Supreme Court

WASHINGTON D.C. (WTAQ) - The Senate has confirmed Solicitor General Elena Kagan as the 112th justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. 

The 50-year-old ...

Thu, August 05, 2010

Senate approves $26 billion for state aid

By Lisa Lambert and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday approved a jobs bill that would send states $26.1 billion to ...

Tue, August 03, 2010

Senate debates high court nominee Elena Kagan

By James Vicini

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic and Republican senators clashed on Tuesday as debate opened on President Barack Obama's nomination of Elena Kagan ...

Mon, August 02, 2010

State funding plan stalls in Senate

By Lisa Lambert and Kim Dixon

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Monday killed a plan to send $26.1 billion dollars to states due ...

Mon, August 02, 2010

Top Senate Republican McConnell aims for "a good day"

By Richard Cowan and David Morgan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans are positioned to score solid victories in November's congressional elections which would force President ...

Thu, July 29, 2010

Senate plans Wed. test vote on oil spill bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate plans to hold a procedural vote next Wednesday to test whether there is enough support to pass legislation clamping down ...

Thu, July 29, 2010

Spy chief nominee clears Senate hurdle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday unanimously approved James Clapper to be President Barack Obama's intelligence chief, sending the nomination to ...

Thu, July 29, 2010

Republicans block small business plan in Senate

By Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republicans blocked a $30-billion plan to help community banks boost lending to small businesses, dealing a blow to ...

Wed, July 28, 2010

Senate energy bill draws widespread criticism

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans and some moderate Democrats in the Senate on Wednesday began picking apart a new energy bill that they ...

Mon, July 26, 2010

Obama asks Senate to pass bill on ad disclosure

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Monday urged the Senate to approve legislation that would reveal who is behind election campaign advertising, and chided ...

Mon, July 26, 2010

Senate unveils energy bill, doubts on passage

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats unveiled a slimmed down bill on Tuesday aimed at reforming offshore drilling, as doubts grew that Congress ...

Sat, July 24, 2010

Stimulus Spending Sparks Debate in U.S. Senate Race

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WTAQ) - Federal money to hire more police in Milwaukee is "stimulating" some debate in Wisconsin's U.S. Senate race.

A top ...

Fri, July 23, 2010

Senate Dems say energy bill out early as Monday

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will unveil the pared-down energy bill focusing on reforming offshore oil drilling as early as Monday, a ...

Fri, July 23, 2010

Obama asks Senate to pass small business jobs plan

By Patricia Zengerle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama urged the Senate on Friday to complete work on a small-business jobs plan that has been ...

Thu, July 22, 2010

Senate sends Afghan war funds bill back to House

By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday approved funds to pay for President Barack Obama's Afghanistan troop increase, but refused to ...

Thu, July 22, 2010

Senate climate bill in peril as Democrats delay action

By Timothy Gardner and Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Thursday dealt a potentially fatal blow to President Barack Obama's ...

Wed, July 21, 2010

Senate asking BP CEO to testify on Lockerbie

By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate panel is inviting BP Plc chief executive Tony Hayward to testify next week at a ...

Wed, July 21, 2010

U.S. Senate Approves Jobless Benefits Extension

WASHINGTON D.C. (WTAQ) - The Senate has approved a long-delayed extension of federal unemployment benefits. 

The legislation extends jobless aid to roughly 2 million ...

Tue, July 20, 2010

Senate Dems Crack GOP Filibuster on Jobless Aid

WASHINGTON D.C. (WTAQ) - Senate Democrats have broken a Republican filibuster on extending unemployment benefits. The 60-40 vote sets the stage for final approval ...

Tue, July 20, 2010

Panel Moves Kagan Nomination To Full Senate

WASHINGTON D.C. (WTAQ) - The Senate Judiciary Committee is recommending Elena Kagan for confirmation to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

On a vote of ...

Tue, July 20, 2010

Senate breaks deadlock on jobless benefits

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Tuesday cleared the way to extend long-term unemployment benefits, breaking a partisan stalemate that has caused ...

Fri, July 16, 2010

Feingold Fulfills Promise, Votes No on Senate Wall St. Reform Bill

WASHINGTON D.C. (WTAQ) - As he promised earlier, Wisconsin’s Russ Feingold was the only Democrat to vote against the banking reform and consumer ...

Thu, July 15, 2010

Senate panel sets hearing on BP-Lockerbie case

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee has scheduled a July 29 hearing into last year's release of a Libyan convicted ...

Thu, July 15, 2010

Senate plan puts off space shuttle retirement

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate oversight committee unanimously passed a plan on Thursday to postpone retirement of the space shuttle as part of ...

Thu, July 15, 2010

Senate Passes Historic Wall St. Reform Bill

WASHINGTON D.C. (WTAQ) - The Senate has passed a landmark Wall Street reform bill. The final vote was 60-39. 

President Obama is expected to ...

Tue, July 13, 2010

Report Shows How Tight Money is For U.S. Senate Candidate

WATERTOWN, Wis. (WTAQ) - A new report reveals how much of a shoestring U.S. Senate candidate Dave Westlake is running on, compared to his ...

Tue, July 13, 2010

Crist leads 3-way Senate race in Florida

By John Whitesides

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Florida Governor Charlie Crist holds a narrow edge over Republican Marco Rubio in a three-way Senate race dominated by ...

Tue, July 13, 2010

Senate Panel Postpones Consideration of Kagan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday delayed for one week a vote on Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, but she remained on ...

Tue, July 13, 2010

Senate panel delays Kagan vote for one week

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday delayed for one week a vote on Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, but she remained on ...

Fri, July 09, 2010

Senate set for energy, environmental bill debate

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the U.S. Senate aim to debate in late July a bill clamping down on offshore oil ...

Fri, July 09, 2010

Senate Candidate Johnson Made Nearly $1.5M in 2009

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WTAQ) - U.S. Senate candidate Ron Johnson made about $1.5 million last year. That’s according to financial documents his campaign ...

Wed, July 07, 2010

New snag for Senate financial regulations bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin on Wednesday put off naming a successor to the late Senator Robert Byrd, which could further complicate ...

Tue, July 06, 2010

Obama bypasses Senate to fill Medicare post

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama appointed health expert Donald Berwick on Wednesday to run the Medicare and Medicaid programs that provide care to seniors ...

Fri, July 02, 2010

Massachusetts Senate OKs casinos, deadline looms

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Massachusetts Senate has approved a bill legalizing three casinos but the measure must be reconciled with a competing plan the ...

Thu, July 01, 2010

Senate gives rare honor to Robert Byrd

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senators on Thursday saluted their late colleague Robert Byrd, a former Ku Klux Klansman who reinvented himself as a ...

Wed, June 30, 2010

Senate panel will vet Fed nominees July 15

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate banking panel said on Wednesday it has scheduled hearings on the nominations of Janet Yellen to serve as Vice Chairman ...

Wed, June 30, 2010

U.S. groups urges Senate to reject China forex bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A broad coalition of U.S. business groups urged senators on Wednesday not to approve a bill that would allow the United ...

Wed, June 30, 2010

Senate panel votes to end oil spill liability cap

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congress on Wednesday took major steps to rein in Big Oil's offshore drilling practices, as one Senate panel ...

Wed, June 30, 2010

Business groups urges Senate to reject China forex bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A broad coalition of U.S. business groups urged senators on Wednesday not to approve a bill that would allow the United ...

Fri, June 25, 2010

Obama's pick for transport security wins Senate OK

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate approved President Barack Obama's pick to head the Transportation Security Administration on Friday after the first two candidates withdrew ...

Thu, June 24, 2010

Senate urges tougher Volcker rule, with exemption

By Kevin Drawbaugh and Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Banks would face stricter limits on risky trading and investing, but could make small investments in ...

Thu, June 24, 2010

Senate OKs new sanctions on Iran's energy, banks

By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday approved tough new unilateral sanctions aimed at squeezing Iran's energy and banking sectors, which ...

Wed, June 23, 2010

Senate Democrats push jobs tax compromise

By Donna Smith and Lisa Lambert

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In an effort to break a stalemate over a package of unemployment aid and business tax ...

Tue, June 22, 2010

GOP U.S. Senate Candidates Criticize Gov't Demands on BP

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WTAQ) - Two Republican candidates for U.S. Senate from Wisconsin have some harsh criticism for government demands on BP.

The Obama administration ...

Sat, June 19, 2010

China currency move not enough: Senate aide

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China's announcement that it will make its currency more flexible is a positive step but probably won't satisfy lawmakers pushing ...

Fri, June 18, 2010

Senate restores Medicare pay for doctors

By Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate agreed on Friday to rescind a 21 percent pay cut that went into effect earlier this month ...

Fri, June 18, 2010

GOP Senate Candidate Westlake Wants Patriot Act to End

WATERTOWN, Wis. (WTAQ) - Republican U.S. Senate candidate Dave Westlake has called for an end to the Patriot Act.

The Watertown businessman, who’s ...

Wed, June 16, 2010

Tax, jobs bill blocked in Senate

By Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Democratic bill to extend jobless benefits and raise taxes on investment fund managers failed a key vote in ...

Wed, June 16, 2010

Senate tax bill revised amid deficit concerns

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus on Wednesday offered a revised proposal to extend jobless benefits that he said would ...

Wed, June 16, 2010

Senate votes to extend home tax credit deadline

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate voted on Wednesday to give homebuyers another three months to settle on their contracts and take advantage of a popular ...

Wed, June 16, 2010

Senate Democrats seek to alter tax bill

By Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats on Wednesday worked to trim the cost of a bill to extend jobless benefits and popular business ...

Tue, June 15, 2010

Effort to repeal oil tax breaks fails in Senate

By Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday rejected a measure that would have repealed some $35 billion in oil and ...

Tue, June 15, 2010

EPA finds Senate climate bill affordable

By Timothy Gardner and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. environmental regulators said on Tuesday the climate and energy bill in the Senate would ...

Mon, June 14, 2010

House Dems target Senate's credit ratings panel

By Kevin Drawbaugh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Democrats on Monday moved to kill a Senate plan to shake up the credit rating agency business, a ...

Thu, June 10, 2010

Fed's Bullard: Senate bill politicizes Fed

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A senior Federal Reserve official warned on Thursday that a Senate proposal to make the New York Federal Reserve Bank president a ...

Thu, June 10, 2010

Senate defeats move to stop EPA CO2 regulation

By Timothy Gardner and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Thursday killed legislation that would have stripped the Environmental Protection Agency ...

Thu, June 10, 2010

Senate leader Reid seeks homebuyer tax extension

By Corbett B. Daly

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Thursday proposed giving extra time to homebuyers trying to get a popular ...

Wed, June 09, 2010

Senate seeks regular reports on debt risks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Wednesday voted to require regular White House reports on the financial and national security risks posed by debt held ...

Tue, June 08, 2010

Senate jobs bill would hike fund manager tax

By Kim Dixon and Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats on Tuesday proposed to raise taxes on profits made by investment fund managers as ...

Tue, June 08, 2010

Senate jobless bill has trimmed fund tax

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democratic leaders on Tuesday proposed an economic package that would extend benefits for the long-term unemployed, renew business tax breaks and ...

Thu, June 03, 2010

START negotiator sees early Senate ratification

By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA (Reuters) - The U.S. negotiator on the new START arms reduction treaty with Russia voiced optimism on Thursday that the ...

Thu, June 03, 2010

White House admits job talks with Senate candidate

By John Whitesides

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top aide to President Barack Obama discussed a possible administration job with a Colorado Democrat to try to ...

Fri, May 28, 2010

Democrat keeps lead in Connecticut Senate race: poll

BOSTON (Reuters) - The Democratic nominee for a Senate seat in Connecticut is holding on to a wide lead over his Republican opponent, despite having ...

Fri, May 28, 2010

Senate panel votes new Iran constraints

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Armed Services Committee voted to require Pentagon contractors to certify that they are not doing any banned business with Iran ...

Fri, May 28, 2010

White House admits pushing Sestak to drop Senate bid

By Thomas Ferraro and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House acknowledged on Friday that it tried to get Representative Joe Sestak to drop ...

Fri, May 28, 2010

Hoekstra Picks Up Key State Senate Endorsements

(Lansing, MI)  --  Congressman Pete Hoekstra of Holland has picked up the endorsements of a pair of key state senators in his bid for the ...

Thu, May 27, 2010

UPDATE: Terrence Wall Drops Out of U.S. Senate Race

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Republican Terrence Wall has dropped out of the race for U.S. Senate Thursday. Wall has been campaigning around the state ...

Thu, May 27, 2010

Senate approves funding for Afghan troop increase

By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate approved funds Thursday to pay for President Barack Obama's Afghanistan troop increase but rejected a demand ...

Thu, May 27, 2010

Senate Democrats try to soften fund manager tax

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the Senate concerned about the impact of a proposed tax hike on investment fund managers have drafted new options that ...

Wed, May 26, 2010

Reinert To Run For State Senate Seat

State Representative Roger Reinert of Duluth has filed as a candidate for the State Senate seat being vacated by Yvonne Prettner Solon.  The open ...

Tue, May 25, 2010

Obama and Senate Republicans discuss priorities

By Thomas Ferraro and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama and Senate Republicans had a "spirited" and at times "testy" meeting on Capitol ...

Sun, May 23, 2010

Senate committee to examine United/Continental merger

(Reuters) - A Senate subcommittee is set to examine the proposed airline deal between United Airlines and Continental Airlines on Thursday that will study the ...

Sun, May 23, 2010

Leinenkugel Drops Senate Bid, Supports Johnson

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WTAQ) - Former Wisconsin Department of Commerce Secretary Dick Leinenkugel has dropped out of the race for U.S. Senate. Leinenkugel has thrown ...

Sat, May 22, 2010

Blumenthal clears hurdle in Senate race

BOSTON (Reuters) - Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, reeling over allegations he misrepresented his military record, easily won the Democratic Party's nomination for a ...

Thu, May 20, 2010

Senate climate bill a jobs creator: study

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A climate change bill unveiled last week in the Senate would create hundreds of thousands of jobs as the ...

Wed, May 19, 2010

Senate to consider $23 billion for schools

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A leading Senator on education intends to attach $23 billion for public schools to a military spending bill that could come up ...

Wed, May 19, 2010

Senate to vote on state usury limits: Dodd

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Wednesday will vote on a measure that would allow states to limit credit-card interest rates, Democratic Senator Christopher Dodd ...

Tue, May 18, 2010

Specter loses Democratic Senate race in Pennsylvania

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Veteran Democratic Senator Arlen Specter lost a tough primary challenge on Tuesday, falling to U.S. Representative Joe Sestak in the latest ...

Tue, May 18, 2010

Conservative wins Republican Senate race in Kentucky

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Rand Paul, a favorite of conservative "Tea Party" groups, beat the establishment choice on Tuesday to win the Republican U.S. Senate ...

Tue, May 18, 2010

Senate details failures finding airline bomber

By Jeremy Pelofsky

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. intelligence and counterterrorism agencies missed chances to prevent the Christmas Day airline bomb plot because of human ...

Tue, May 18, 2010

Obama disappointed Senate oil spill measure stalled

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Tuesday he was disappointed that a measure to lift limits on oil firm liability for spills had ...

Tue, May 18, 2010

Senate climate bill stuck in limbo for now

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The compromise climate change proposal unveiled last week in the Senate is in legislative limbo, its fate apparently uncertain ...

Tue, May 18, 2010

Senate deal reached on state preemption: aides

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a move that could clear away a long-standing obstacle to passage of a landmark Wall Street reform bill in the U ...

Mon, May 17, 2010

Senate votes no on IMF aid to troubled nations

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States would oppose International Monetary Fund bailout packages to countries that are not likely to repay them under a measure ...

Mon, May 17, 2010

Senate votes on bill to preserve FTC powers

By Diane Bartz

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate approved an amendment on Monday to preserve power the Federal Trade Commission had been in jeopardy of ...

Mon, May 17, 2010

Senate panel asks govt criminal probe of oil spill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Environment and Public Works committee head Barbara Boxer on Monday asked the Justice Department to open a criminal investigation into the ...

Mon, May 17, 2010

John McCain shakes up Senate campaign staff

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Senator John McCain shook up the staff running his re-election campaign in Arizona as he attempts to hold off a conservative ...

Mon, May 17, 2010

Oshkosh Businessman Johnson Enters U.S. Senate Race

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WTAQ) - As expected, Oshkosh businessman Ron Johnson entered the Republican race for the U.S. Senate Monday. He began a two-day announcement ...

Mon, May 17, 2010

Senate approves sweeping Wall Street reform bill

By Kevin Drawbaugh and Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate approved a sweeping Wall Street reform bill on Thursday night, capping months of wrangling ...

Thu, May 13, 2010

Senate panel sets hearing on market plunge

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Securities, Insurance and Investment Subcommittee has scheduled a hearing for May 20 to examine the causes of last week's ...

Thu, May 13, 2010

Senate panel approves money for Afghan, Iraq wars

By Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate committee on Thursday approved another $33.5 billion for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq this year ...

Thu, May 13, 2010

Measure to boost capital levels passes Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Large financial firms would have to set aside more capital to boost their stability during times of crisis under a measure unanimously ...

Thu, May 13, 2010

Senate votes to curb credit, debit card fees

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate approved a measure on Thursday that would let the Federal Reserve regulate debit card fees and help merchants take steps ...

Thu, May 13, 2010

Oshkosh Businessman Johnson to Run for U.S. Senate

OSHKOSH, Wis. (WTAQ) - Oshkosh businessman Ron Johnson has decided to run for the U.S. Senate. His campaign says Johnson will announce his bid ...

Wed, May 12, 2010

Senate drops plan to take small banks from Fed

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved an amendment to a sweeping Wall Street reform bill that would preserve the Federal Reserve ...

Wed, May 12, 2010

Senate keeps 5 percent "skin in the game" requirement

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Wednesday rejected a Republican measure to kill a provision in a sweeping Wall Street reform bill requiring mortgage securitizers ...

Wed, May 12, 2010

Senate votes to bar mortgage kickbacks, liar loans

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Wednesday voted to end mortgage kickbacks and so-called "liar loans," two lending practices that played a role in the ...

Tue, May 11, 2010

Senate GOP moves to kill securitizers rule

By Kevin Drawbaugh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Republicans moved on Tuesday to kill part of a far-reaching Democratic Wall Street reform bill that seeks to ...

Tue, May 11, 2010

Senate votes to dedicate TARP funds to deficit

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a measure on Tuesday that would require the government to use money paid ...

Tue, May 11, 2010

Senate rejects GOP's Fannie, Freddie plan

By Kevin Drawbaugh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Tuesday voted to reject a Republican measure that would have moved housing finance giants Fannie Mae ...

Tue, May 11, 2010

Senate backs curbs on credit raters, card fees

By Kevin Drawbaugh and Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday voted to limit fees charged on credit and debit card transactions, and ...

Tue, May 11, 2010

Senate backs one-time audit of Fed bailout role

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Tuesday approved a proposal to examine the Federal Reserve's role in the Wall Street bailouts of 2008-2009 as ...

Tue, May 11, 2010

Budget Plan Passes Minnesota House And Senate

(St. Paul, MN)  --  A budget-balancing bill made it through the House and Senate Monday, setting up a showdown with the governor -- with less than ...

Mon, May 10, 2010

Senate's Wall Street reform bill churns ahead

By Kevin Drawbaugh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two key amendments to the Senate's far-reaching Wall Street reform bill are expected to be voted on Tuesday ...

Mon, May 10, 2010

Senate likely to bar banks' high-risk trades: Levin

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Banks would be barred from high-risk speculative trading under a measure that has an "extremely good" chance of becoming law, Democratic U ...

Sat, May 08, 2010

Obama hopes Senate will ratify START by November

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said he hoped the Senate would ratify a major arms reduction treaty with Russia by November, after the Senate ...

Thu, May 06, 2010

Senate rejects proposal to break up largest banks

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Thursday rejected a proposal that would split up the six largest banks in an effort to ensure that large financial ...

Thu, May 06, 2010

Former New York Senate leader sentenced to 2 years

ALBANY (Reuters) - Former New York state Senate Republican Majority Leader Joseph Bruno on Thursday was sentenced to two years in prison after being convicted ...

Mon, May 03, 2010

Senate thwarts GOP attack on consumer watchdog

By Kevin Drawbaugh and Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday rejected a Republican attempt to defang consumer protections in a sweeping Wall ...

Wed, April 28, 2010

Florida's Crist launches independent Senate bid

By Robert Green

ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Reuters) - Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced an independent bid for the U.S. Senate on Thursday, breaking ranks ...

Wed, April 28, 2010

Senate to vote again on bank reform: Reid

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For a third consecutive day, the Senate will hold a procedural vote to try to take up a sweeping reform of banking ...

Tue, April 27, 2010

Senate Republicans block bank reform bill again

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For a second time in as many days, Senate Republicans mustered enough votes on Tuesday to block debate of a Democratic bill ...

Tue, April 27, 2010

Senate to hold afternoon vote on bank reform

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate will try again to take up a sweeping reform of banking rules at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Senate Majority ...

Mon, April 26, 2010

Leinenkugel Announces Bid for U.S. Senate

JANESVILLE, Wis. (WTAQ) - Former state Commerce Secretary Richard Leinenkugel announced his Republican bid for the U.S. Senate Monday. And he tried to distance ...

Mon, April 26, 2010

Senate not ready yet for immigration debate

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate is still a long way from debating any immigration reform despite renewed calls from President Barack Obama ...

Sun, April 25, 2010

Top Senate Democrats near derivatives deal: sources

By Roberta Rampton and Rachelle Younglai

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The two Democratic Senators charged with writing rules for the $450 trillion private swaps market are ...

Sat, April 24, 2010

Senate Republican calls for strict swaps rules

By Roberta Rampton and Rachelle Younglai

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate Republican has called for the "strongest" derivatives rules, signaling that Democrats may get the ...

Fri, April 23, 2010

Regulators seize bank linked to Senate candidate

By Andrew Stern

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Regulators on Friday seized a Chicago bank owned by the family of the Democratic nominee running for the Senate ...

Fri, April 23, 2010

Senate panel called Goldman trader before SEC suit

By Dan Margolies

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate investigations panel looking into Goldman Sachs' role in the financial crisis subpoenaed the investment bank as early ...

Thu, April 22, 2010

Senate panel passes budget plan

By Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate panel on Thursday passed a budget that would cut near-term deficits more quickly than the plan proposed ...

Thu, April 22, 2010

"Badger Care Basic" Approved by Senate

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - About 34,000 Wisconsinites are about to become eligible for bare-bones health insurance, while they stay on a waiting list for ...

Thu, April 22, 2010

Senate Dems push on financial reforms

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said on Thursday he won't wait any longer for Republicans to support Wall Street reforms and ...

Thu, April 22, 2010

Dick Cheney endorses Rubio in Florida Senate race

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former Vice President Dick Cheney on Thursday endorsed Republican Marco Rubio in Florida's U.S. Senate race and coupled his announcement ...

Thu, April 22, 2010

Senate Passes Stem Cell Research Bills

(Lansing, MI)  --  The state Senate passes a bipartisan package of bills regulating embryonic stem cell research.  These bills prohibit the sale or purchase of ...

Wed, April 21, 2010

Senator Dodd: Financial reform to Senate in "hours"

By Kevin Drawbaugh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democratic leaders plan to seek a key procedural vote on Thursday on financial reform legislation and are targeting ...

Wed, April 21, 2010

Senate panel OKs bank swap ban in overhaul effort

By Andy Sullivan and Roberta Rampton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate panel on Wednesday voted to ban banks from the lucrative swaps market, one of ...

Tue, April 20, 2010

Senate budget plan seeks to lower deficits

By Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A budget plan proposed on Tuesday by a key Senate Democrat seeks to reduce U.S. deficits at a ...

Tue, April 20, 2010

Senate confirms Brainard as top financial diplomat

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lael Brainard won Senate confirmation on Tuesday as the Treasury Department's top financial diplomat, giving her a key ...

Tue, April 20, 2010

Senate tax-writer cautious on bank tax

By Kim Dixon

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's plan to tax financial institutions to recoup funds spent during the government's bailout of ...

Tue, April 20, 2010

NY Cuomo: state senate leader looted $14 million

By Joan Gralla

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York state Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada and his family looted more than $14 million from a ...

Tue, April 20, 2010

Senate panel sets hearing on China yuan policy

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate Banking subcommittee will hold a hearing on Thursday to examine the impact of China's exchange rate practices on U ...

Mon, April 19, 2010

Senate clears hurdle to vote on financial diplomat

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A long-delayed vote to appoint the United States' top financial diplomat came a step closer on Monday as the ...

Mon, April 19, 2010

Financial diplomat nominee clears Senate hurdle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama's long-stalled nominee to be the top U.S. financial diplomat at the Treasury Department cleared a ...

Mon, April 19, 2010

Climate report publicized in runup to Senate bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An environmental coalition publicized a new U.S. draft report on climate change Monday, one week before the expected unveiling of a ...

Mon, April 19, 2010

Senate launches debate on Wall Street bill

By Kevin Drawbaugh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate opened debate on Wall Street reform on Thursday with an amendment to bar use of taxpayer funds ...

Fri, April 16, 2010

Senate Dems may drop $50 billion resolution fund: sources

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats are considering dropping a controversial proposal to set up a $50 billion fund to pay for liquidating distressed ...

Fri, April 16, 2010

Senate Republicans oppose financial reform in letter

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - All 41 Republican members of the U.S. Senate have signed a letter, obtained by Reuters on Friday, opposing a Democratic financial ...

Thu, April 15, 2010

Senate Dems pave way for financial reform vote

By Kevin Drawbaugh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats pressed ahead with financial regulation reform in the Congress on Thursday, rejecting Republican complaints and preparing the way ...

Thu, April 15, 2010

U.S. won't share Ft Hood evidence with Senate: Gates

By Phil Stewart

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (Reuters) - The Obama administration, facing a subpoena threat from Congress, will not share information that could compromise its prosecution ...

Thu, April 15, 2010

Ex-Gov. Thompson Won't Seek Senate Seat

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson will not run against U.S. Senator Russ Feingold. Thompson, a Republican, made the decision during ...

Thu, April 15, 2010

Senate report challenges U.S. health insurer spending

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Some of the largest for-profit health insurers are shifting administrative and other expenses ahead of upcoming healthcare reforms to make it appear ...

Thu, April 15, 2010

Pakistan's Senate passes constitutional reforms

By Kamran Haider

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's upper house Senate passed on Thursday constitutional amendments stripping unpopular President Asif Ali Zardari of his main ...

Thu, April 15, 2010

Senate Republican expects deal on financial reform

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Senator Bob Corker said Thursday he believes a "solid bipartisan bill" on financial regulatory reform will emerge from Congress despite the ...

Wed, April 14, 2010

Senate draft: banks must spin off swaps desks

By Charles Abbott

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The derivatives reform bill being written by Senate Agriculture Chairman Blanche Lincoln would bar federal bailouts of swaps dealers ...

Wed, April 14, 2010

Senate Democrats prepare small-business bill

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Small businesses could get increased access to loans, overseas markets and government contracts under a bill being prepared in ...

Wed, April 14, 2010

U.S. Senate Candidate Wall Put $1.2M of Own Money Into Campaign

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Madison developer Terrence Wall has put $1.2 million of his own money into his Republican campaign for the U.S ...

Wed, April 14, 2010

Senate Approves Changes to Corporations Election Spending

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Wisconsin senators have voted to make corporations get approval from their stockholders to spend money to influence elections. The bill repeals ...

Wed, April 14, 2010

Bill to restore jobless aid clears Senate hurdle

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A measure that would restore lapsed jobless aid for hundreds of thousands of Americans cleared a hurdle in the ...

Tue, April 13, 2010

Senate may not approve START until early 2011

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - It may be early next year before the U.S. Senate approves a major arms reduction treaty that President Barack Obama signed ...

Tue, April 13, 2010

Senate again eyes carried interest tax: sources

By Kim Dixon

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers desperate for revenue are looking anew at changing the tax treatment of profits earned by hedge ...

Tue, April 13, 2010

Senate panel chief vows clamp-down on swaps

By Charles Abbott

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The unregulated $450 trillion market in over-the-counter derivatives should expect "vigorous reform" that includes reporting of all trades and ...

Tue, April 13, 2010

Senate GOP leader says "no" to bank reform bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate's Republican leader on Tuesday spoke strongly against a Democratic financial regulation reform bill that will soon be ...

Mon, April 12, 2010

Bill to restore jobless aid clears Senate hurdle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A measure to restore jobless benefits for hundreds of thousands of Americans cleared a procedural hurdle in the Senate on Monday as ...

Sun, April 11, 2010

Senate climate bill to be unveiled April 26

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A long-awaited compromise bill to reduce U.S. emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases blamed for global warming ...

Fri, April 09, 2010

Senate leader eyes action on China currency bill

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate could vote by the end of May on legislation to prod China to raise the value of ...

Wed, April 07, 2010

Report: Leinenkugel to Run for U.S. Senate as Republican

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WTAQ) - There’s a report that outgoing state Commerce Secretary Richard Leinenkugel will soon announce his Republican candidacy for the U.S ...

Thu, March 25, 2010

GOP Senate Candidates Say They'll Stay If Thompson Runs

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - The 2 Republicans currently running for the U.S. Senate say they’ll stay in the race, even if Tommy Thompson ...

Thu, March 25, 2010

Senate resumes votes on healthcare changes

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Thursday resumed consideration of proposed changes to the new healthcare law, with a vote on passage of ...

Wed, March 24, 2010

Former Bush adviser says no to NY Senate run

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Republican Dan Senor, a Bush administration foreign policy adviser, said on Wednesday he will not challenge Democratic incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand in ...

Wed, March 24, 2010

Poll: Most WI GOPer's Want Thompson To Run For Senate

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Republicans seem to like the idea of Tommy Thompson running against U.S. Senate Democrat Russ Feingold in November. The former ...

Tue, March 23, 2010

Senate climate bill details still unfinished

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senators negotiating a bill to address global warming fears and encourage the use of more alternative energy in the ...

Mon, March 22, 2010

Senate approves massive aviation blueprint

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate approved a sweeping aviation blueprint on Monday that accelerates the multibillion dollar overhaul of the air traffic control ...

Mon, March 22, 2010

Former Bush adviser eyeing Senate run in New York

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Dan Senor, a Republican former Bush administration foreign policy adviser, is preparing to challenge Democratic incumbent Kirsten Gillibrand in the Senate ...

Sun, March 21, 2010

Senate panel plans financial reform vote Monday

By Kevin Drawbaugh and Rachelle Younglai

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Banking Committee was on track on Monday to approve landmark financial regulatory ...

Fri, March 19, 2010

Senate to remove "backdoor bailouts" from bill

By Karey Wutkowski

ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Banking Committee will remove a provision from the financial reform bill that bank regulator ...

Thu, March 18, 2010

Senate Republicans oppose prefunding resolution

By Rachelle Younglai and Kevin Drawbaugh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top Senate Republican said on Thursday that setting up a fund to help unwind large ...

Thu, March 18, 2010

Senate panel backs financial reform bill

By Kevin Drawbaugh and Rachelle Younglai

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Banking Committee on Monday, approved landmark financial regulatory reform legislation, pushing the ...

Thu, March 18, 2010

Pelosi: House will have assurance on Senate vote

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday said that when the House of Representatives votes on the healthcare bill, lawmakers will ...

Wed, March 17, 2010

Deal nearing on Senate climate bill: lawmaker

By Richard Cowan and Timothy Gardner

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate is close to wrapping up talks ahead of introducing a compromise climate change bill ...

Wed, March 17, 2010

Cybersecurity bill introduced in Senate

By Diane Bartz

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new version of a cybersecurity bill was introduced in the Senate on Tuesday that may eliminate some opposition ...

Tue, March 16, 2010

Senate panel seen approving financial reform

By Kevin Drawbaugh and Karey Wutkowski

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The new financial reform bill introduced in the Senate will likely be approved at the committee ...

Tue, March 16, 2010

CORRECTED: "Idol" judge's father to make Senate run in NY

Corrects to add dropped word in last paragraph

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former Republican congressman and father of "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi tossed ...

Sat, March 13, 2010

Poll: Thompson Leads Feingold for US Senate

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - He's not officially running, but former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson leads at least one poll in the race for U ...

Fri, March 12, 2010

Att'y general failed to give legal briefs to Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Attorney General Eric Holder failed to tell the Senate about seven legal briefs he signed when lawmakers considered his nomination to his ...

Thu, March 11, 2010

Senate Approves Unemployment Extension

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WIBQ)-Unemployment payments would be extended to the end of the year under a measure approved Wednesday by the U.S ...

Wed, March 10, 2010

Senate passes $149 billion for jobless aid

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Wednesday passed a $149 billion package of jobless aid and tax breaks, as Democrats continued efforts ...

Wed, March 10, 2010

Wider "Volcker rule" bill unveiled in Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Legislation that would write into law and widen the proposed "Volcker rule" to limit proprietary trading was unveiled in the U.S ...

Tue, March 09, 2010

Jobless aid, tax breaks clear Senate hurdle

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic efforts to spur job creation advanced in Congress on Tuesday as a $149 billion package of tax breaks and unemployment aid ...

Fri, March 05, 2010

U.S. Senate Confirms New Fed Judge For Western WI

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - The U.S. Senate voted 99 to 0 Thursday to confirm Madison attorney William Conley as a new federal judge for ...

Thu, March 04, 2010

Holland Businessman Enters State Senate Race

(Park Twp. - WHTC News) - It seems as if 2010 will be known as the year of the outsider in politics.

From Ann Arbor businessman ...

Thu, March 04, 2010

Obama reasserts Volcker rule, Senate bill seen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration reasserted its commitment to banning proprietary trading by banks with draft legislative language on Wednesday, despite signs that Congress ...

Wed, March 03, 2010

Senate rejects $250 checks for elderly

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A measure to give some 57 million elderly people, veterans and persons with disabilities a $250 check was rejected by the Senate ...

Tue, March 02, 2010

Senate breaks logjam to restore jobless aid

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Highway money and jobless funds were set to flow again after the Senate ended a standoff on Tuesday that ...

Tue, March 02, 2010

Senate works to restore jobless, highway aid

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional Republicans, nervous over the fallout from an impasse over jobs legislation, said on Tuesday they were nearing a ...

Mon, March 01, 2010

Harold Ford won't seek New York Senate seat: report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Harold Ford, a former representative from Tennessee, will not challenge Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in the New York Democratic primary, The New York ...

Mon, March 01, 2010

Report: Thompson Holds More Meetings On Possible Senate Run

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Tommy Thompson is reportedly stepping up his meetings with key backers about a possible run against U.S. Senate Democrat Russ ...

Mon, March 01, 2010

U.S. Senate Could Act Tuesday On Extending Jobless Benefits

WASHINGTON D.C. (WTAQ) - The U.S. Senate is expected to act as early as Tuesday on a 30 day extension of unemployment benefits ...

Mon, March 01, 2010

Hill Withdraws from Senate Race

Indianapolis, In (WIBQ)-After a week of speculation, Indiana Congressman Baron Hill announces he will not seek the U.S. senate seat being vacated ...

Mon, March 01, 2010

Mayor Will Not Run for Senate Seat

HAMMOND, In (WIBQ)-Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott pulled out of the race for Evan Bayh's soon-to-be-vacant U.S. Senate seat.

This leaves Brad ...

Sun, February 28, 2010

Senate financial reform talks snag on watchdog

By Kevin Drawbaugh and Rachelle Younglai

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bipartisan agreement in the Senate on financial reform hit a snag on how much power to ...

Sat, February 27, 2010

Financial reform compromise rebuffed in Senate

By Kevin Drawbaugh and Rachelle Younglai

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Marathon negotiations in the Senate on financial regulatory reform were set to continue on Sunday with ...

Fri, February 26, 2010

Minnesota Senate Votes To Override Veto

(St. Paul, MN)  --  Discussions continue between lawmakers and the governor's office on General Assistance Medical Care. The D-F-L-controlled Senate yesterday voted to override ...

Fri, February 26, 2010

Override In Senate Doesn't Mean Override In House

(St. Paul, MN)  --  Discussions continue between lawmakers and the governor's office on General Assistance Medical Care. The D-F-L-controlled Senate yesterday voted to override ...

Fri, February 26, 2010

Senate Approves Scaled Down Health Plan For 22K Adults

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - About 22,000 low-income adults are closer to getting health insurance, after the state Senate approved a bare-bones plan under BadgerCare ...

Thu, February 25, 2010

Deal on financial reform bill near in Senate

By Kevin Drawbaugh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bipartisan agreement on financial regulation reform was close at hand on Thursday in the Senate, with lawmakers working ...

Thu, February 25, 2010

DFL Leaders: Senate Plans To Override GAMC Veto

(St. Paul, MN)  --  Democratic leaders say the Minnesota Senate will override Governor Pawlenty's veto of a bill extending General Assistance Medical Care beyond ...

Wed, February 24, 2010

Senate panel seeks expanded auto review

By John Crawley

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate committee on Wednesday asked a government watchdog to expand its review of how regulators handled recent Toyota ...

Wed, February 24, 2010

Vermont Senate wants Entergy reactor shut in 2012

By Scott DiSavino

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Vermont Senate on Wednesday voted to close an Entergy Corp nuclear power plant in 2012, citing discovery ...

Wed, February 24, 2010

Massachusetts Senate eyes creating a state bank

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Massachusetts should consider creating a state-owned bank, which could help boost lending for small businesses the way North Dakota has done ...

Wed, February 24, 2010

Vermont Senate wants Entergy reactor shut in 2012

By Scott DiSavino

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Vermont Senate said on Wednesday it has voted to shut Entergy Corp's Vermont Yankee nuclear power ...

Wed, February 24, 2010

Senate seeks bank reform, Obama weighs in

By Glenn Somerville

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Key senators pushed for a bipartisan agreement on a package of reforms to tighten rules for financial industry behavior ...

Wed, February 24, 2010

Senate passes jobs package, eyes next round

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate passed a modest jobs-creation bill on Wednesday and laid the groundwork for a larger package that would ...

Wed, February 24, 2010

Jobs bill headed toward passage in Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A $15 billion bill that aims to create jobs appeared headed for passage in the Senate on Wednesday after it cleared a ...

Wed, February 24, 2010

Senate talks on financial reform move ahead

By Glenn Somerville

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate negotiations toward a bipartisan agreement on financial regulatory reform moved forward on several fronts on Wednesday and hopes ...

Tue, February 23, 2010

Three Senate Democrats named to deficit panel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic senators Dick Durbin, Max Baucus and Kent Conrad will serve on a presidential commission to tackle the country's stubborn budget ...

Tue, February 23, 2010

Senate panel mulls narrow, weak, Volcker rule

By Rachelle Younglai

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Banking Committee members are considering a narrow version of the so-called Volcker rule, which was proposed ...

Mon, February 22, 2010

Senate could pass a jobs bill this week

By Andy Sullivan and Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Congressional leaders said on Tuesday they could get a job-creating bill through both houses soon for ...

Sun, February 21, 2010

Senate weighs final push to move climate bill

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A last-ditch attempt at passing a climate change bill begins in the Senate this week with senators mindful that ...

Fri, February 19, 2010

Job-creation bill could fail in Senate

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A job-creation bill could be headed for defeat in the Senate next week, lawmakers and aides said on Friday ...

Thu, February 18, 2010

Financial reform bill seen next week in Senate

By Kevin Drawbaugh and Sean Mattson

WASHINGTON/PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Efforts to tighten U.S. financial regulation advanced on Thursday, with a new bipartisan ...

Thu, February 18, 2010

Senate panel mulls watered down "Volcker rule"

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Banking Committee members are considering a watered down version of the 'Volcker rule' unveiled last month by the Obama administration to ...

Thu, February 18, 2010

Financial rules reform gains momentum in Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Efforts to tighten financial regulation picked up speed in the Senate on Thursday as a key committee targeted the unveiling of revised ...

Thu, February 11, 2010

Senate banking chief hopeful for financial reform bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Banking Chairman Christopher Dodd voiced optimism on Thursday that his committee could craft a bipartisan financial reform bill.

Dodd said he ...

Wed, February 10, 2010

New York Senate expels senator over assault

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York State Senate has voted to expel a senator for the first time in almost a century, the New ...

Tue, February 09, 2010

Bonding Bill Debate In Minnesota Senate

(St. Paul, MN)  --  At the State Capitol today, the Minnesota Senate debates and is expected to pass a one-billion-dollar bonding bill for state construction ...

Fri, February 05, 2010

"Demon Sheep" haunts Senate race in California

By Dan Whitcomb

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A bizarre campaign ad by Senate candidate Carly Fiorina featuring what has been dubbed a "Demon Sheep" has ...

Fri, February 05, 2010

Financial reform talks break down in Senate

By Kevin Drawbaugh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Bipartisan efforts on Capitol Hill to tighten financial regulation ground to a halt in the Senate on Friday, casting ...

Thu, February 04, 2010

Brown takes Senate seat; urges tax cuts

By Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown was sworn in as a U.S. senator Thursday, ending a Democratic Party supermajority and ...

Wed, February 03, 2010

Senate will vote on job proposals next week: Reid

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democratic leaders unveiled a long-awaited "jobs agenda" on Thursday but said they would solicit Republican support before determining ...

Wed, February 03, 2010

Tax credits to be in Senate jobs bill: report

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Tax credits to spur hiring and equipment purchases will be included in Senate Democrats' jobs bill on Thursday along with incentives for ...

Wed, February 03, 2010

Poll: Ex-Gov Thompson Would Beat Feingold In U.S. Senate Race

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - A recent Rasmussen Poll said former Governor Tommy Thompson would beat U.S. Senate Democrat Russ Feingold 47 to 43 percent ...

Wed, February 03, 2010

Illinois sets race for Obama's old Senate seat

CHICAGO (Reuters) - An Illinois Democrat who won his party's nomination on Tuesday to campaign for Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat struck a ...

Tue, February 02, 2010

Obama: cap-and-trade may be separate in Senate bill

By Steve Holland

NASHUA, New Hampshire (Reuters) - President Barack Obama acknowledged on Tuesday that a controversial "cap-and-trade" mechanism to fight climate change could be ...

Sun, January 31, 2010

Could Illinois' Senate race copy Massachusetts?

By Andrew Stern

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Buoyed by their surprise Senate victory in Massachusetts, Republicans in President Barack Obama's home state of Illinois sense ...

Thu, January 28, 2010

Senate OKs sanctions on Iran's fuel suppliers

By Tom Doggett and Susan Cornwell

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday approved legislation that would let President Barack Obama impose sanctions on Iran ...

Thu, January 28, 2010

Senate backs increase in debt limit to $14.3 trillion

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate voted narrowly on Thursday to increase the government's borrowing authority to $14.3 trillion, which would ...

Thu, January 28, 2010

Reid says Senate Democrats to unveil jobs agenda

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats will unveil jobs-creation legislation next week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Thursday.

Reid told reporters the package would include ...

Thu, January 28, 2010

Senate backs increase in debt limit to $14.3 trillion

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate voted narrowly on Thursday to increase the government's borrowing authority to $14.3 trillion, which would ...

Thu, January 28, 2010

Senate backs "paygo" budget-control measure

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday approved a budget-control measure that would require new spending to be offset with cuts elsewhere, an approach that ...

Tue, January 26, 2010

Senate panel to hear from Volcker on bank plan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Paul Volcker, a member of the Obama administration's economic team and a former chairman of the Federal Reserve, will testify on ...

Tue, January 26, 2010

Senate backs Bernanke for second term at Fed

By Mark Felsenthal and Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday backed Ben Bernanke for a second four-year term running the Federal Reserve ...

Tue, January 26, 2010

Senate defeats proposed deficit panel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday rejected a proposed bipartisan task force to reduce record budget deficits, but the White House said ...

Tue, January 26, 2010

Senate defeats proposed deficit panel

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Tuesday rejected the creation of a bipartisan task force to try to bring down the record U.S. budget ...

Tue, January 26, 2010

Senate hopes to take up Iran sanctions soon

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Tuesday he hopes the chamber can take up legislation within the next few ...

Tue, January 26, 2010

Senate may vote on Fed's Bernanke by Friday: Reid

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate may be able to vote by Thursday or Friday on the nomination of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke ...

Tue, January 26, 2010

Ex-Gov Thompson Being Pushed To Run For Senate

MADISON, Wis. (Midwest Communications) - Former Governor Tommy Thompson has apparently gotten quite a few e-mails and phone calls urging him to run against U ...

Mon, January 25, 2010

Senate may vote on Fed's Bernanke by Friday: Reid

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate may be able to vote by Thursday or Friday on the nomination of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke ...

Mon, January 25, 2010

Joe Biden's son opts against Senate run

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Beau Biden, son of Vice President Joe Biden, said on Monday he will not run for a U.S. Senate seat ...

Sun, January 24, 2010

Advisory: Biden Senate story withdrawn

Please be advised that the story reporting that Vice President Joe Biden had told a newspaper that his son Beau does not want to ...

Fri, January 22, 2010

Senate panel to hold hearing on Obama bank limits

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Banking Committee intends to hold a hearing on President Barack Obama's proposals to limit banks' risk taking, a spokeswoman ...

Fri, January 22, 2010

Obama confident Senate to confirm Bernanke

CLEVELAND (Reuters) - President Barack Obama believes the Senate will confirm Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke for a second term to lead the U.S ...

Thu, January 21, 2010

Bid to kill bank bailout fund fails in Senate

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday defeated a Republican effort that would have prevented the Obama administration from using bank bailout funds to help ...

Thu, January 21, 2010

House unlikely to pass Senate health bill: Pelosi

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday she does not think the Senate's version of healthcare reform ...

Thu, January 21, 2010

Senate won't vote on Bernanke this week: aide

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate will not vote this week on whether to confirm Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke for ...

Wed, January 20, 2010

Senate loss will bolster Obama's resolve on jobs

By Caren Bohan and Glenn Somerville

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The loss of a key Democratic Senate seat will likely strengthen the resolve of President Barack ...

Wed, January 20, 2010

WI GOP Head: MA Senate Elex Should "Worry" State Dems

MADISON, Wis. (Midwest Communications) - The head of the Wisconsin GOP says Democrats should be worried in the wake of Tuesday’s U.S. Senate ...

Wed, January 20, 2010

Investors eye healthcare in wake of GOP Senate win

By Walden Siew

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors and distressed market advisers on Wednesday said the surprise Republican senate win in Massachusetts may present opportunities ...

Tue, January 19, 2010

Senate Approves Bill To Show Who's Behind "Issue Ads"

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - The Wisconsin Senate voted 26 to 7 Tuesday to make special interest groups tell us who’s paying for the ads ...

Tue, January 19, 2010

Senate not seen passing climate bill in 2010

By Tom Doggett

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate is unlikely to pass climate change legislation this year after going through the contentious health care debate ...

Tue, January 19, 2010

Republican wins Senate race in Massachusetts

By Ros Krasny

BOSTON (Reuters) - Republican Scott Brown won a bitter Senate race in Massachusetts on Tuesday, dealing a sharp blow to President Barack ...

Mon, January 18, 2010

GOP Senate Hopeful Wall On Statewide Tour

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - He announced his candidacy 3 months ago – but Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Terrence Wall is finally ready to let Wisconsin ...

Mon, January 18, 2010

Franken's Priorities As U-S Senate Gears Up

(Washington, DC)  --  With the U-S Senate set to resume work in Washington tomorrow, Minnesota's Al Franken says his first order of business is ...

Fri, January 15, 2010

Pelosi says Senate health bill cannot pass House

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday she did not think the Senate's version of healthcare reform had enough support to ...

Fri, January 15, 2010

Senate health bill better than nothing: Steny Hoyer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives Democratic leader Steny Hoyer said on Tuesday the U.S. Senate's version of healthcare reform was "clearly" better ...

Thu, January 14, 2010

New York Senate urged to expel Senator after probe

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York's state senate should vote on whether to expel Democratic Senator Hiram Monserrate, who was convicted of a domestic ...

Wed, January 13, 2010

Obama scrambles to save Democratic Senate seat

By Matt Spetalnick

BOSTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama went on a rescue mission on Sunday to try to save an endangered Massachusetts Democratic candidate ...

Tue, January 12, 2010

Senate panel moves to muzzle consumer watchdog

By Kevin Drawbaugh and Rachelle Younglai

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration's proposal to create a new U.S. agency to protect financial consumers ...

Tue, January 12, 2010

Wall Raises Over Half-Mil In Race For U.S. Senate

MADISON, Wis. (WTAQ) - Madison real estate developer Terrence Wall has raised over a half-million dollars in his Republican campaign for the U.S. Senate ...

Mon, January 11, 2010

Special bankruptcy court for banks mulled in Senate

By Rachelle Younglai

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Key U.S. senators are considering the creation of a special bankruptcy court for troubled financial services firms, a ...

Mon, January 11, 2010

Massachusetts Senate race unnerves Democrats

By Ros Krasny

BOSTON (Reuters) - Democrats in Massachusetts are scrambling to hold onto what has been among their safest U.S. Senate seats -- the ...

Sat, January 09, 2010

Senate's Reid tells Obama he regrets racial remarks

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid apologized to President Barack Obama on Saturday for comments he made during the 2008 ...

Fri, January 08, 2010

Senate Majority Leader To Face 4th GOP Challenger

WAUSAU, Wis. (WTAQ) - The Wisconsin Senate’s majority leader could have a well-known challenger in this fall’s elections. Kevin Hermening of Mosinee will ...

Thu, January 07, 2010

Gay marriage defeated in New Jersey Senate

TRENTON, New Jersey (Reuters) - New Jersey's state Senate on Thursday defeated a bill that would have legalized same-sex marriage, a move that likely ...

Wed, January 06, 2010

Johnson seen taking over as Senate banking panel chief

By Karey Wutkowski and Rachelle Younglai

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - South Dakota Democratic Senator Tim Johnson, a champion of community banks and credit card companies, is ...

Wed, January 06, 2010

Dorgan, Dodd Announcements Could Endanger Dems' Filibuster-Proof Senate Majority

(Washington, DC)  --  Democrats might have to say goodbye to an Al Franken-enabled filibuster-proof Senate.  When Minnesota's junior senator was finally declared a winner ...

Wed, January 06, 2010

Connecticut AG Blumenthal to seek Dodd's Senate seat

BOSTON (Reuters) - Connecticut's popular Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said on Wednesday that he intends to run for Christopher Dodd's seat in the ...

Wed, January 06, 2010

Johnson seen taking over as Senate banking panel chief

By Karey Wutkowski and Rachelle Younglai

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - South Dakota Democratic Senator Tim Johnson, a champion of community banks and credit card companies, is ...

Wed, January 06, 2010

Banking chief Dodd to leave Senate

By Thomas Ferraro and Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Veteran Democratic Senator Christopher Dodd said on Wednesday he will not seek re-election in November in ...

Tue, January 05, 2010

Democrat Sen. Dorgan to leave Senate

By Deborah Zabarenko

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator Byron Dorgan, a North Dakota Democrat, announced on Tuesday he will not run for another six-year term, a ...

Thu, December 24, 2009

Senate confirms Miriam Sapiro to be deputy USTR

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday approved Miriam Sapiro to be deputy U.S. trade representative for Europe and the Americas ...

Thu, December 24, 2009

House-Senate health talks: A difficult final act

By John Whitesides

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After months of political brawling in the Congress, the final act of the healthcare fight -- negotiations between the House ...

Thu, December 24, 2009

Senate Passes Historic Healthcare Reform Bill

WASHINGTON D.C. (WTAQ) - The U.S. Senate has passed a historic healthcare reform bill.  The vote, early on the morning of Christmas Eve ...

Wed, December 23, 2009

Senate panel OKs two top trade nominees

By Doug Palmer

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Finance Committee gave its support on Wednesday to President Barack Obama's nominees for two key trade ...

Wed, December 23, 2009

Senate moves up healthcare passage by hour

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate agreed on Wednesday to move up by one hour its vote on final passage of a sweeping healthcare ...

Wed, December 23, 2009

Senate panel OKs Lael Brainard for Treasury post

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday approved Lael Brainard to become the Treasury Department's top global diplomat, a job that would ...

Wed, December 23, 2009

Moderate Republican seeks Biden's old U.S. Senate seat

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Michael Castle is a member of an endangered species in the U.S. Congress: He's a moderate Republican ...

Wed, December 23, 2009

Senate healthcare bill creates new insurance program

By Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new government insurance program that would help the elderly and disabled stay in their homes is headed for ...

Tue, December 22, 2009

Senate sets Christmas eve vote on U.S. debt limit

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday set a Christmas Eve vote on final congressional approval of a bill to ...

Tue, December 22, 2009

Giuliani rules out runs for Senate, NY governor

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who won acclaim for his leadership following the September 11 attacks in 2001, said on ...

Mon, December 21, 2009

Senate health bill alters company taxes, profits

By Susan Heavey

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Proposed changes to the U.S. Senate's pending healthcare reform bill include measures targeting industry profits and taxes ...

Mon, December 21, 2009

Obama: Senate healthcare vote "big victory"

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Monday heralded a U.S. Senate vote that moved a bill on his signature healthcare reform closer to ...

Mon, December 21, 2009

Final Vote On U.S. Senate Health Bill To Go By Christmas

WASHINGTON D.C. (WRN) - The U.S. Senate decided just after midnight to put its version of health care reform up for a final ...

Sat, December 19, 2009

Revised Senate health bill cuts deficit: CBO

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The revised healthcare overhaul in the Senate would cut the federal deficit by $132 billion over 10 years, non-partisan budget analysts said ...

Sat, December 19, 2009

Senate health bill alters company taxes, profits

By Susan Heavey

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Proposed changes to the Senate's pending healthcare reform bill include measures targeting industry profits and taxes, and a ...

Sat, December 19, 2009

Nelson Gets Favors, Now Voting For U.S. Senate Health Bill

WASHINGTON D.C. (WTAQ) - Looks like you can make it 60 in the U.S. Senate to pass major health care reform. Nebraska Senator ...

Fri, December 18, 2009

Specter tied with Toomey in Senate race: poll

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Democratic Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania is running even with relatively unknown Republican challenger Pat Toomey for a 2010 race that ...

Fri, December 18, 2009

Senate approves $636 billion military spending bill

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate approved a $636 billion military spending bill on Saturday that funds the wars in Iraq ...

Thu, December 17, 2009

Senate panel approves two Obama nominees for FTC

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Senate panel on Thursday approved President Barack Obama's picks to fill out the Federal Trade Commission, Julie Brill and Edith ...

Thu, December 17, 2009

Senate healthcare vote "big victory": Obama

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Monday heralded a Senate vote that moved a bill on his signature healthcare reform closer to passage and ...

Wed, December 16, 2009

Senate panel "deeply concerned" by F-35 costs

By Jim Wolf

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee said it was "deeply concerned" about growing costs and apparent delays in ...

Wed, December 16, 2009

Senate vote on Bernanke expected in January: aide

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The full U.S. Senate seems certain to put off until next month a vote to reconfirm Ben Bernanke to a second ...

Tue, December 15, 2009

Senate panel backs Bernanke for second term

By Mark Felsenthal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's nomination to a second term cleared a Senate panel on Thursday despite some ...

Tue, December 15, 2009

Senate panel to vote on Bernanke Thursday morning

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate Banking Committee will vote on the nomination of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to a second four-year term ...

Mon, December 14, 2009

Drug data mining ban unlikely in Senate bill

By Susan Heavey

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Democratic proposal to ban the collection of doctors' prescription records for marketing purposes is unlikely to be included ...

Mon, December 14, 2009

Feingold, Kohl Split On Senate Spending Bill

WASHINGTON D.C. (WRN) - Wisconsin’s Russ Feingold was 1 of only 3 Democrats to vote no when the U.S. Senate approved a ...

Sun, December 13, 2009

CORRECTED: Senate backs move to boost farm trade with Cuba

(Corrects by deleting phrase "directly to the United States" from eighth paragraph)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate approved a provision on Sunday to ...

Fri, December 11, 2009

Senate Democrats seek compromise on drug imports

By Susan Heavey

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats scrambled on Friday to resolve a stalemate over whether to permit imports of cheaper prescription drugs from Canada ...

Thu, December 10, 2009

Pelosi backs expansion of Medicare in Senate plan

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's bid to overhaul the U.S. healthcare system appeared to get a boost on Thursday ...

Wed, December 09, 2009

Obama hails Senate progress on healthcare

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Wednesday expressed support for a healthcare deal reached by U.S. Senate Democratic negotiators and said it should ...

Tue, December 08, 2009

Coakley wins primary for Kennedy's Senate seat

By Scott Malone

BOSTON (Reuters) - Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley on Tuesday won the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate seat left vacant ...

Tue, December 08, 2009

Senate rejects abortion measure in health bill

By John Whitesides and Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate rejected on Tuesday an attempt to tighten restrictions on abortion coverage in a healthcare ...

Tue, December 08, 2009

Senate panel sets December 17 vote on Bernanke

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Banking Committee said on Tuesday it will vote December 17 on the confirmation of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke for ...

Thu, December 03, 2009

Senate boosts preventive care for women

By John Whitesides

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate backed a plan on Thursday to make it easier for women to get preventive health ...

Wed, December 02, 2009

Senate Democrats seek public option compromise

By John Whitesides

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats hunted for a compromise on a government-run insurance plan and battled Republicans on home care for the ...

Wed, December 02, 2009

Need stronger regulators for swaps: Senate chair

By Charles Abbott

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The two major U.S. financial market regulators need additional authority to oversee over-the-counter derivatives, the Senate Agriculture Committee ...

Tue, December 01, 2009

Senate battles over elderly health benefits

By John Whitesides and Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate made little progress on a broad healthcare overhaul on Tuesday, as members ...

Tue, December 01, 2009

Senate opens work on healthcare bill

By Donna Smith and John Whitesides

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate began work on a sweeping healthcare overhaul on Monday, with senators on ...

Mon, November 30, 2009

Senate health plan would raise some premiums: CBO

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate's healthcare bill would raise insurance premiums by at least 10 percent by 2016 for those independently buying ...

Mon, November 23, 2009

Senate Leaders Want To Bring Back MN Tax Reciprocity

MADISON (WRN) - State Senate leaders in Wisconsin are sending strong signals that they want to reinstate a tax reciprocity agreement that Minnesota’s governor ...

Sun, November 22, 2009

Health Care Bill Leaps 1st U.S. Senate Hurdle

WASHINGTON D.C. (WTAQ) - A sweeping healthcare overhaul narrowly passed its first test in the U.S. Senate Saturday, with Democrats casting 60 party-line ...

Fri, November 20, 2009

WI Group Claims Senate Health Reform Bill Covers All Abortions

MADISON (WRN) - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid claims his bill would permit abortions in a government run health plan if the Health ...

Fri, November 20, 2009

Ethics panel admonishes Obama Senate replacement

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate ethics committee on Friday admonished Roland Burris, saying he had been less than candid about his gubernatorial appointment ...

Fri, November 20, 2009

Senate leader at risk in healthcare battle

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Other than President Barack Obama, perhaps no one's political future is riding more on the Senate battle to ...

Fri, November 20, 2009

Senate sets hearing on Bernanke's renomination

By Mark Felsenthal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Banking Committee said on Friday it will hold a hearing on Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke's ...

Fri, November 20, 2009

Senate confirms long-stalled Obama judicial pick

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Democratic-led U.S. Senate, having smashed through a Republican wall of opposition, confirmed on Thursday U.S. President ...

Thu, November 19, 2009

Bank bill delayed in House, Senate divided

By Kevin Drawbaugh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Progress toward tighter U.S. financial regulation faltered in the U.S. Congress on Thursday as a House committee ...

Thu, November 19, 2009

Lou Dobbs mulls run for White House, Senate

By Tim Gaynor

PHOENIX (Reuters) - A week after abruptly quitting his longtime job as a CNN television news host and commentator, Lou Dobbs said ...

Wed, November 18, 2009

Senate to press ahead with probe into Fort Hood

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two U.S. senators vowed on Wednesday not to interfere with a criminal probe of the Fort Hood shootings ...

Wed, November 18, 2009

Senate boosts preventive care for women

By John Whitesides

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate backed a plan on Thursday to make it easier for women to get preventive health ...

Wed, November 18, 2009

Senate Democrats plan to unveil healthcare bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid prepared to unveil long-awaited healthcare overhaul legislation on Wednesday, with the first test vote on the package ...

Sun, November 15, 2009

Senate won't rush health bill: top Republican

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate will not rush consideration of healthcare reform legislation sought by President Barack Obama, and lawmakers can expect a ...

Fri, November 13, 2009

Obama administration faults Senate bank bill

By David Lawder and Corbett B. Daly

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Obama administration on Friday pushed back against a proposal in the U.S. Senate ...

Mon, November 09, 2009

Senate Dems Tout Jobs Package

MADISON (WRN) - Wisconsin Senate Democrats unveiled their prescription Monday for improving the state’s job climate. The majority lawmakers announced their package at Sologear ...

Mon, November 09, 2009

Health Care Reform May Not Pass Through Senate Quickly

WASHINGTON D.C. (WRN) - The U.S. Senate may not pass health care reform any time soon. Moderates and conservatives say they have the ...

Sat, November 07, 2009

Obama "absolutely confident" on Senate health bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama said on Saturday he was "absolutely confident" the Senate would follow the lead of the House of Representatives in ...

Sat, November 07, 2009

Abortion complicates Senate healthcare debate

By Donna Smith

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A fight over abortion could complicate Senate action on a sweeping U.S. healthcare reform bill as some moderate ...

Fri, November 06, 2009

Senate Approves Puppy Mill Bill

MADISON (WRN) - The Wisconsin Senate unanimously approved a bill Thursday that cracks down on puppy mills where dogs are sold after being raised in ...

Fri, November 06, 2009

NY senate sees revenues down this year

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York's Democratic-led senate on Friday said tax revenues will slip 1.5 percent in the current fiscal year to ...

Thu, November 05, 2009

Senate rejects bid to restrict Guantanamo trials

By Andy Sullivan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday rejected a measure that would have required prisoners charged with involvement in the September 11 ...

Thu, November 05, 2009

State Senate Passes OWI Regulation Bill

MADISON (WRN) - Like a bill passed in the Assembly last month, the Senate version makes 4th offense OWI a felony, expands treatment programs, and ...

Thu, November 05, 2009

Senate panel approves Democratic climate bill