Category: Senate

Pelosi: Democrats ‘Will Persist’ With Increasing Federal Minimum Wage

WASHINGTON—House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on March 11 that Democrats would continue to fight for raising the national minimum wage to $15 per hour after a failed attempt to include it in President Joe Biden’s economic rescue plan. Senate Democrats removed the proposal to raise the minimum wage from the rescue plan, after the Senate…


Senate Confirms Ohio Rep. Fudge as Housing Secretary

WASHINGTON—The Senate has confirmed Marcia Fudge to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development, placing the longtime Ohio lawmaker in charge of the agency just as Congress passed new benefits for renters and homeowners who have suffered economic losses amid the coronavirus pandemic. Fudge, who has represented parts of Cleveland and Akron in the…


20 Senate Republicans Join Democrats to Confirm Merrick Garland as Attorney General

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Merrick Garland as attorney general in a 70-30 vote, with 20 Republicans joining all Democrats in approving President Joe Biden’s pick. The nomination came about five years after Garland’s failed nomination to the Supreme Court by then-President Barack Obama. At the time, the Senate, which was controlled by Republicans, denied…


Former Deputy PM John Anderson Seeks Senate Nomination

Former Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson is set to make a political comeback as a NSW state senator after retiring from politics 14 years ago. But while he does not intend to return to the National Party’s leadership, Anderson has said he wants to lead in a cultural change within the state politics, noting that…


Senate Holds Longest Vote in History Amid Relief Package Negotiations

The Senate on Friday held the longest vote in modern history, clocking nearly 12 hours. The vote was on an amendment to President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package. Senators initially voted on the minimum wage amendment at 11:03 a.m., with every lawmaker voting in about an hour. But the vote wasn’t closed, because…


Senate Agrees to $300 Weekly Jobless Aid Through End of August in COVID-19 Relief Bill

The Senate in the early hours of Saturday voted to reduce the weekly unemployment benefit from $400 to $300 per week for recipients through the end of August in the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. The amendment from Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) was agreed to by a vote of 50-49 after hours of negotiations among Democrats….


Senate Agrees to $300 Weekly Jobless Aid in COVID-19 Relief Bill

The Senate in the early hours of Saturday voted to reduce the weekly unemployment benefit from $400 to $300 per week for recipients through Sept. 6 in the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill. The amendment from Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) was agreed to by a vote of 50-49 after hours of negotiations among Democrats. Under the…


Senate Democrats Reach Deal on Jobless Benefits, Tax Breaks

Senate Democrats late Friday reached a compromise agreement among themselves on tax breaks and unemployment benefits in the $1.9 trillion bill, enabling them to move forward with the proposal. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced in a statement: “We have reached a compromise that enables the economy to rebound quickly while also protecting those receiving unemployment benefits…


Senate Advances Biden’s $1.9 Trillion Relief Package, as VP Harris Casts Tiebreaking Vote

The Senate on Thursday advanced President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan, with Vice President Kamala Harris needing to step in and provide the tiebreaking vote. All Republicans voted against beginning debate on the plan while all Democrats, including two nominal independents, voted for it. That left the decision up to Harris, the president…


Lewandowski: Not Sure Lara Trump Running for Senate Is a Good Thing Since Washington Is ‘Broken’

Former senior Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski believes it may not be a good idea for Lara Trump to run for the U.S. Senate because the system in Washington is broken. Lewandowski told The Epoch Times that although he’s sure Lara Trump would win if she ran for office, she could have more of an impact…