Archive: Senate
Clinton Returns to Senate, Doesn't Vote
It's "Hillary Clinton Returns to the Senate Day" here in the Capitol, and the press corps and accompanying cameras responded accordingly by eagerly tracking her into the Senate Democrats' weekly luncheon. Then everyone waited for her to come out. Did she speak? Did she eat? Where did she sit? So...
By Ben Pershing | June 24, 2008; 03:05 PM ET | Comments (16)
The Senate: Root of All Evil?
The U.S. Senate has long been known as the "cooling saucer," where legislation can get a nice, slow round of consideration after the hot-tempered House has sped through a bill. That dynamic has long frustrated House members, but perhaps never so much as it did Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) today....
By Ben Pershing | June 19, 2008; 03:52 PM ET | Comments (12)
E-Mails to Congress on the Rise
Have you ever e-mailed a member of Congress? The odds are increasingly good that you have, according to a new study by the Congressional Management Foundation that found "almost half of adult Americans" -- roughly 100 million -- "contacted Congress in the last five years to support, oppose or learn...
By Ben Pershing | June 10, 2008; 10:55 AM ET | Comments (12)
Fla. Sen. Nelson Pushes for Electoral Overhaul
Fresh off seeing his state once again enmeshed in political controversy, Florida Sen. Bill Nelson (D) introduced a package of bills Friday designed to overhaul the entire electoral system. The centerpiece of Nelson's proposal (the full details are here) is a constitutional amendment to abolish the electoral college system and...
By Ben Pershing | June 9, 2008; 12:33 PM ET | Comments (43)
Sen. Kennedy Returns Home From Hospital
UPDATE 10:35 AM: Sen. Edward Kennedy's (D-Mass.) office just released this update: "Senator Kennedy is returning to his home in Hyannis Port today. His doctors are pleased with his progress since surgery a week ago, and he will continue to recuperate at home before starting the next phase of his...
By Ben Pershing | June 9, 2008; 09:35 AM ET | Comments (4)
Player of the Week: Joe Lieberman
Is Joe Lieberman a Democrat? That's been a tough question to answer since 2006, when he lost the Democratic primary as he sought a fourth term. How do you solve a problem like Lieberman? The Independent Democrat's embrace of GOP nominee John McCain has angered some of his Senate colleagues....
By Ben Pershing | June 6, 2008; 04:05 PM ET | Comments (9)
On Climate Bill, Wait 'Till Next Year
A sweeping climate change bill that has roiled the Senate for three days died on the chamber floor this morning, after Republicans refused to cut off debate and proceed to final passage on the measure. The bill, which would have mandated reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, was felled on a...
By Ben Pershing | June 6, 2008; 10:50 AM ET | Comments (6)
With Budget Votes, Democrats Clear Key Hurdle
When Democrats took control of the House and Senate in January 2007, there was one major question they faced after 12 years in the minority: Could they govern? The jury is still out on that one, but Democrats did clear a key hurdle today with the House's passage of a...
By Ben Pershing | June 5, 2008; 04:22 PM ET | Comments (1)
Byrd Released From Hospital
Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) has been released from Inova Fairfax hospital, three days after being admitted with a fever. He is now resting at home, though it remains unclear when he will be able to return to the Senate. "Senator Byrd will complete the course of his antibiotic treatment as...
By Ben Pershing | June 5, 2008; 11:21 AM ET | Comments (1)
Eight Senators Back Obama, Call for Unity
Eight previously undecided Democratic senators -- Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Tom Harkin (Iowa), Tom Carper (Del.), Ken Salazar (Colo.), Ron Wyden (Ore.), Mary Landrieu (La.), Frank Lautenberg (N.J.) and Ben Cardin (Md.) -- today issued a collective statement pledging their support for Barack Obama's presidential bid and calling for party unity...
By Ben Pershing | June 4, 2008; 04:24 PM ET | Comments (7)
Clinton, McCain No-Shows as Obama Returns to Senate
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) returned to the Senate floor today and got a hearty welcome from his colleagues before casting a "yea" vote for the fiscal 2009 budget resolution conference report. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) didn't show up for the vote, nor did Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), even though...
By Ben Pershing | June 4, 2008; 03:18 PM ET | Comments (6)
Byrd to Remain in Hospital
Sen. Robert Byrd's (D) office just announced that the West Virginian will remain at Inova Fairfax hospital for "several more days" for "monitoring and antibiotic treatment for a mild infection." Sen. Robert Byrd, Sept., 2007 (Photo -- The Associated Press) "Byrd is alert, talking with staff and in good spirits...
By Ben Pershing | June 3, 2008; 02:03 PM ET | Comments (10)
The 'Age Issue' in the Senate
Capitol Briefing alumnus Paul Kane writes in this morning's Post that just as Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) age has already become an issue in the presidential campaign, so too has age become a key topic in today's New Jersey Democratic Senate primary, where 84-year-old Sen. Frank Lautenberg is trying to...
By Ben Pershing | June 3, 2008; 12:05 PM ET | Comments (7)
The Next Tell-All Author: Larry Craig
Forget the Scott McClellan book. That's old news. Capitol Briefing is looking forward to next year, when we can expect to see a new tell-all tome by none other than Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho). Craig talked at length about his book plans in an interview this week with KTVB in...
By Ben Pershing | May 29, 2008; 05:45 PM ET | Comments (11)
McCain Leads! (In Missed Votes)
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) didn't find time in his busy campaign schedule Thursday to make it back to the Capitol for votes on money for Iraq and Afghanistan as well as new educational benefits for veterans that he opposes. After all, even though he has been quite outspoken on the...
By Ben Pershing | May 23, 2008; 10:20 AM ET | Comments (23)
Colleagues React to Kennedy's Diagnosis
UPDATE 2:55 PM: Reaction to the news of Kennedy's diagnosis began to pour in as Senators emerged a few minutes ago from their weekly policy lunches. They were grim-faced at the plight of their colleague. "It's times like this that you realize the Senate really is a family," said Senate...
By Ben Pershing | May 20, 2008; 02:54 PM ET | Comments (113)
For Obama, Byrd in Hand
Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) for the Democratic presidential nomination today, calling Obama "a shining young statesman, who possesses the personal temperament and courage necessary to extricate our country from this costly misadventure in Iraq." In addition to fueling Obama's momentum, this is primarily interesting for...
By Ben Pershing | May 19, 2008; 02:22 PM ET | Comments (138)
Reid on Iraq, Energy and the Economy
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) talked about opposing the Iraq war, responding to the economic downturn and addressing energy issues in an interview Friday with the online video site BigThink. Reid on Iraq: Note: Please upgrade your Flash plug-in to view our enhanced content. var thisObj = "flashobj050208X12v"; var...
By washingtonpost.com Editors | May 3, 2008; 12:00 PM ET | Comments (3)
Specter: Mukasey Is 'Still Wearing His Robe'
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) today accused the Bush administration of being overly obstinate on a range of controversial issues, expressing particular frustration at Attorney General Michael Mukasey's unwillingness to compromise. "Mukasey is non-negotiable," Specter said at a meeting with the Washington Post editorial board. "Mukasey is still wearing his robe."...
By Ben Pershing | April 17, 2008; 06:40 PM ET | Comments (35)
Citizen McCain Measure on the Move
The Senate Judiciary Committee announced today that it will take up a resolution next Thursday expressing the sense of the Senate that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is "a natural-born citizen." The issue has surfaced because McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone, where his father was stationed in the...
By Ben Pershing | April 17, 2008; 05:30 PM ET | Comments (4)
Byrd Watching
Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) chaired an important Appropriations Committee hearing yesterday on the Iraq supplemental bill, with onlookers paying as much or more attention to the ailing 90-year-old's performance in the chair as to the underlying issue of war funding. Byrd's failing health and ability to continue to hold the...
By Ben Pershing | April 17, 2008; 11:37 AM ET | Comments (1)
A Papal Audience for Members
It sounds like layfolk still hoping to score tickets to tomorrow's papal Mass at Nationals Park are out of luck. But, as is often the case, members of Congress appear to have been blessed with better fortune. The Catholic ones, anyway. More than 100 members of the House and Senate...
By Ben Pershing | April 16, 2008; 04:44 PM ET | Comments (2)
Player of the Week: Robert Byrd
Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., presides over a committee hearing on Sept. 26, 2007 (AP) Robert Byrd is the longest-serving senator in history. The West Virginia Democrat is Senate President Pro Tempore, third in the line of presidential succession. He is an accomplished historian who carries a copy of the constitution...
By Ben Pershing | April 11, 2008; 03:54 PM ET | Comments (7)
Citizen McCain, Cont'd
A few Senators really, really believe that Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) can serve as president (not "should" serve, necessarily, but "can"). Back in late February, a New York Times story revisited the question of whether McCain, who was born in the Panama Canal Zone (where his father was serving in...
By Ben Pershing | April 11, 2008; 10:58 AM ET | Comments (17)
Iraq: This Is No Longer a Test
The Senate is currently debating a measure to cut off funds for the Iraq war, after the chamber voted Tuesday by a wide margin to proceed with debate on a troop withdrawal bill sponsored by Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.). On Monday, Capitol Briefing incorrectly predicted that Feingold's bill would not...
By Ben Pershing | February 27, 2008; 12:37 PM ET | Comments (11)
Iraq: This Is Only a Test
If you tune in to C-SPAN2 on Tuesday, you might think you've stumbled upon an important turning point in the nation's Iraq war policy. But as the emergency broadcast system likes to say, this is only a test. The Senate is expected to vote Tuesday on two Iraq-related measures sponsored...
By Ben Pershing | February 25, 2008; 04:17 PM ET | Comments (7)
Will McCain Quit the Senate?
On May 15, 1996, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole announced he was resigning from the chamber in order to focus on a presidential campaign that seemed to be slipping away from him. "My time to leave this office has come," he said, "and I will seek the presidency with nothing...
By Ben Pershing | February 19, 2008; 01:48 PM ET | Comments (65)
Candidates Sneak Back to Work in the Senate
With a crucial procedural vote on the economic stimulus package happening in the Senate this evening, the Capitol has been atwitter at the news that the chamber's three mostly absent presidential candidates -- Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) -- might actually, you know, show...
By Ben Pershing | February 6, 2008; 06:46 PM ET | Comments (16)
Senate Ethics Panel in Midst of Five Investigations
WILLIAMSBURG, Va -- While Capitol Briefing has been down here covering the House Democrats' annual retreat, the Senate Ethics Committee up at the Capitol has been putting in quite a bit of work, at least according to a new report. As part of last year's ethics and lobbying reforms, the...
By Ben Pershing | January 31, 2008; 07:52 PM ET | Comments (5)
Obama-Kennedy Move Will Reverberate in the Senate
The endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama's (D-Ill.) presidential bid by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) is the talk of the campaign trail today. But Kennedy's political blessing of Obama over Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) will also have intriguing implications in the Senate in the short term -- as the chamber...
By Ben Pershing | January 28, 2008; 11:53 AM ET | Comments (9)
And the Mouse Goes to...
If you've ever had to peruse an official congressional Web site for business or pleasure, you know they're a mixed bag. Some are cutting-edge, incorporating blogs, video, podcasts and all the bells and whistles savvy surfers have come to expect. Others are basically a jumble of text and links that...
By Ben Pershing | January 14, 2008; 09:17 AM ET | Comments (4)
Senators Slow to Endorse Colleagues in Presidential Race
Four Senate Democrats hoping to secure their party's presidential nomination jetted back into the nation's capital today to cast votes on the farm bill and a tax proposal on the energy bill. The quartet -- Joseph Biden (Del.), Hillary Clinton (N.Y.), Christopher Dodd (Conn.) and Barack Obama (Ill.) -- engaged...
By Paul Kane | December 13, 2007; 04:40 PM ET | Comments (11)
Alexander's Victory Not Necessarily a Win for Moderation
By a nearly 2-1 margin today, Senate Republicans cast their lot with a colleague preaching a message of reaching out to centrist/independent voters -- a person who openly bragged about his bipartisan relationships with Democrats and who presents an older, gentler face to the nation. The new minority whip, Sen....
By Paul Kane | December 6, 2007; 01:57 PM ET | Comments (9)
Alexander Is the New Senate GOP Conference Chair
Sen. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) won a resounding 31-16 victory over Sen. Richard Burr (N.C.) to become Republican Conference chairman, the No. 3 post on GOP leadership team. Sen. Lamar Alexander, right, talks with Democrat Barbara Boxer. (Getty Images) Running a more moderate campaign based on reaching out to centrist and...
By Paul Kane | December 6, 2007; 11:04 AM ET | Comments (5)
Senate Republicans Face Leadership Choice
In less than 48 hours the Senate Republicans will gather in an ornate room just off the chamber floor to hold their secretive internal caucus leadership elections. Though incredibly arcane to outsiders, these races are the congressional equivalent of papal elections -- intramural affairs that often define the future direction...
By Paul Kane | December 4, 2007; 01:20 PM ET | Comments (6)
Congressional Thanksgiving: So Much to Do, So Little Time
Casting a flurry of votes on both ends of the Capitol last night and this morning, the House and Senate have now adjourned for a two-week Thanksgiving recess that leaves them with an overwhelming amount of work left to finish. Lawmakers will return to Capitol Hill in early December for...
By Paul Kane | November 16, 2007; 03:06 PM ET | Comments (6)
AG Nomination Drama Wanes in Senate, Perks Up in House
All the suspense is gone as the Senate Judiciary Committee meets today to approve the nomination of Judge Michael B. Mukasey to succeed Alberto Gonzales as attorney general. Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) assured that President Bush would get his choice confirmed by announcing their support for...
By Paul Kane | November 6, 2007; 07:00 AM ET | Comments (1)
Is Feinstein the Democrats' Next Lieberman?
For the second time in recent months, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) on Friday confirmed that she will break ranks with a majority of her Democratic colleagues on the Judiciary Committee, in this case to confirm President Bush's nominee for attorney general. Sen. Feinstein's support for the Mukasey nomination is a...
By Paul Kane | November 4, 2007; 12:01 AM ET | Comments (112)
Mukasey's Prospects Uncertain as Reid Criticizes His Stand on Torture
Making confirmation prospects even more uncertain, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) today denounced Attorney General nominee Michael B. Mukasey's refusal to comment on the legality of harsh CIA interrogation techniques while Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) announced his opposition to the nomination. Reid said he was withholding his official...
By Paul Kane | November 1, 2007; 03:44 PM ET | Comments (24)
Kennedy, Back From Surgery, Hits Ground Running
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) is back in the chamber today after a 2 1/2-week recuperation from a blocked artery surgery, and boy does he want everyone to know he's back. In the span of a few hours, Kennedy joined with House Oversight Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) in...
By Paul Kane | October 30, 2007; 02:43 PM ET | Comments (18)
Senate Ethics Approves Multiple Airline Tickets
The Senate Ethics Committee has officially ruled that senators can book multiple flights for the same trip and just use one ticket without breaking the chamber's new zero-tolerance gift ban. As Capitol Briefing has previously reported, an airline industry legal opinion last month created havoc among Senate staff whose job...
By Paul Kane | October 29, 2007; 04:15 PM ET | Comments (7)
McCain Absent for Vote on Woodstock Earmark
John McCain wasn't at Woodstock, nor was he on hand in the Senate last week to help kill the $1 million earmark that Hillary Rodham Clinton wanted for a museum honoring the 1969 music festival. The Arizona senator's presidential campaign has been making political hay over earmark, hammering Clinton for...
By Paul Kane | October 26, 2007; 06:59 PM ET | Comments (8)
Facing Tough Polls, Reid Brings Back Key Aide
With his popularity at home taking a beating, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is bringing back one of his most trusted advisers, shoring up his internal political team three years before he faces re-election in the Silver State. Susan McCue, Reid's former chief of staff, is leaving as president...
By Paul Kane | October 24, 2007; 05:08 PM ET | Comments (10)
Obama: DOJ Official Must Be Fired
Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) today called on the Justice Department to fire a top official over controversial comments the official made about minorities. John K. Tanner, chief of the voting rights section in the Justice Department's civil rights division, recently told a Latino group in Los Angeles that "minorities don't...
By Paul Kane | October 19, 2007; 01:39 PM ET | Comments (28)
Mukasey Hearing Getting Good Karma
Maybe it's the karma in the air from the Dalai Lama's visit to the Capitol, but everything is so peaceful this time around in 216 Hart, the room where Michael B. Mukasey is undergoing his confirmation hearing for attorney general. In the same room, almost six months ago to the...
By Paul Kane | October 17, 2007; 03:19 PM ET | Comments (4)
Kennedy Surgery "Successful"
Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) will miss about a week of work as he recuperates in Boston from today's "routine" and "preventative" surgery to unblock an artery in his neck, doctors and aides said this afternoon. The surgery, performed at Massachusetts General Hospital, came after a routine checkup performed earlier...
By Paul Kane | October 12, 2007; 04:21 PM ET | Comments (12)
Democrats Begin SCHIP Veto Override Campaign
With a presidential veto of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) now official, Congressional Democrats have formally embarked on a campaign to find the 15 to 20 votes from House Republicans they will need to override President Bush's veto pen. Aides say because the $35 billion expansion of the...
By Paul Kane | October 3, 2007; 12:53 PM ET | Comments (165)
Craig: 'I Will Continue My Work'
EDINA, Minn. -- Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho) just made it official that he will remain in the Senate, presumably until Judge Charles A. Porter issues a ruling here on the Idaho Republican's effort to withdraw his guilty plea to disorderly conduct in an airport men's restroom. Here's Craig's statement from...
By Paul Kane | September 26, 2007; 05:52 PM ET | Comments (14)
Judge in Craig Case 'Doesn't Suffer Fools'
EDINA, Minn. -- The star of today's legal proceedings is not Sen. Larry Craig, the Idaho Republican who's trying desperately to rescue his political career. Instead, it's Judge Charles Porter, who effectively holds Craig's legal and political fate in his hands. While the two figures could not find themselves in...
By Paul Kane | September 26, 2007; 12:55 PM ET | Comments (31)
The Narrow Stall at the Heart of Craig's Widening Legal Fight
MINNEAPOLIS -- Let's say this much for the infamous restroom in the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport: It's got some pretty narrow stalls, barely 32 inches wide. Capitol Briefing -- on the scene for Wednesday's hearing on Sen. Larry Craig's (R-Idaho) bid to withdraw his guilty plea for disorderly conduct in...
By Paul Kane | September 26, 2007; 08:38 AM ET | Comments (85)
McConnell Works to Turn Critics' Attacks Into Strengths
The 2008 Kentucky Senate race is providing a political lesson on the ancient Chinese military text, "The Art of War." And in this 21st century senatorial showdown, both sides are trying to turn the other's strengths into weaknesses. A screenshot of the e-mail McConnell sent to supporters. Minority Leader Mitch...
By Paul Kane | September 25, 2007; 08:05 AM ET | Comments (6)
Ranking the Most Powerful in Congress
Who's got more power on Capitol Hill, Harry Reid or Nancy Pelosi? Are young guns with political capital like Rahm Emanuel running the show, or is it better to have subpoena power like Henry Waxman? While there really are no official answers to questions like these, two recent power rankings...
By Paul Kane | September 12, 2007; 03:23 PM ET | Comments (25)
Ethics Vote Could Signal GOP Tensions
For the second time in five weeks, Senate Republican leaders split votes on critical legislation, possibly signaling leadership tensions as Democrats head into an August recess with several legislative victories under their belt. On today's overwhelming vote approving an ethics and lobbying reform plan, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and...
By Paul Kane | August 2, 2007; 04:30 PM ET | Comments (5)
Stevens Raid May Boost Ethics Reform
Supporters of an ethics and lobbying reform package hitting the House floor today received one more symbolic shot in the arm yesterday when federal agents raided the Alaska home of Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest serving Republican in chamber history, as part of a broadening corruption investigation in the Frontier...
By Paul Kane | July 31, 2007; 12:15 PM ET | Comments (10)
Schumer Regrets Not Leading an Alito Filibuster
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) declared that his decision not to lead a successful filibuster in January 2006 of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's nomination was one of his "greatest failings" as a senator. In an address to liberal legal scholars of the American Constitution Society, Schumer said that after watching...
By Paul Kane | July 27, 2007; 05:57 PM ET | Comments (49)
Byrd on Michael Vick: Going to Hell
In a floor speech Thursday, Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W. Va.) lashed out, indirectly, at Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who was recently charged with running a dog-fighting ring in Virginia. The speech might have seemed unusually apocalyptic to those who don't know how much the octogenarian senator loves dogs...
By Paul Kane | July 19, 2007; 07:40 PM ET | Comments (210)
After Midnight, Passions High - Energy Waning
As the debate rolled on deep into the early morning hours of the round-the-clock consideration of a Democratic amendment to halt the Iraq war, speeches were still impassioned as ever. Just past 1 a.m., Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) took the floor pleading for a simple majority vote on the Levin-Reed...
By Paul Kane | July 18, 2007; 01:38 AM ET | Comments (14)
Iraq Around the Clock
Shortly after 8:30 p.m., more than 5 hours into what Democrats hoped would be an historic debate on the future course of the Iraq debate, the Senate convened for its first procedural vote unofficially known as a live quorum call. The note at the clerk's desk on each side of...
By Paul Kane | July 17, 2007; 11:51 PM ET | Comments (2)
Senate Pulls an All-Nighter
It's been nearly 4 years since the last round-the-clock Senate debate, and plenty of things are the same. Just like last time, when the issue was the minority party's filibusters of judicial nominations, the cots are here for senatorial napping. The speeches are high minded and, despite an early shrug...
By Paul Kane | July 17, 2007; 07:21 PM ET | Comments (8)
Vitter Returns, With Coburn at His Side
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) finally returned to the Capitol this morning, eight days after fleeing his senatorial duties amid revelations that he had committed a "very serious sin" involving an escort service in Washington. With Vitter in attendance, photographers, television cameras and print reporters packed packing an otherwise not-very-newsworthy hearing...
By Paul Kane | July 17, 2007; 03:10 PM ET | Comments (18)
Vitter: 'I Will Work Every Day to Rebuild That Trust'
Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) emerged this evening from his week-long self-imposed isolation after admitting his involvement with an escort service facing federal prostitution charges, asking for forgiveness but vowing to continue his work as a senator. Sen. Vitter, standing with his wife Wendy, bows his head Monday at a news...
By Paul Kane | July 16, 2007; 07:13 PM ET | Comments (43)
Specter: Taylor Can't Come Out a 'Winner'
If half the battle in politics is just showing up, Sara M. Taylor did just that with her testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee. One of Taylor's goals today clearly was to protect President Bush -- whom she said she still admires for his "unflinching devotion" to doing what he...
By Paul Kane | July 11, 2007; 06:54 PM ET | Comments (18)
Top Byrd Adviser Leaving Hill, Joining ONE
Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W. Va.) has lost one of his most trusted advisers in Tom Gavin, the communications director for the Appropriations Committee. Gavin is leaving Byrd's staff to join the ONE Campaign, the non-profit group co-founded by U2 singer Bono designed to lobby Washington about fighting third world...
By Paul Kane | July 9, 2007; 06:55 PM ET | Comments (13)
Among GOP Lawmakers, All's Quiet on the Libby Front
It's 8 p.m. on Capitol Hill as I type, and all is silent ... on the Republican side of the aisle, at least. Late Monday afternoon, President Bush dropped a political bombshell, commuting the 30-month prison sentence given to I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby for lying to investigators and a grand...
By Paul Kane | July 3, 2007; 06:00 AM ET | Comments (26)
Forget the Lawmaker, Meet the Chief of Staff
Uncle Chuck Wants You! That's the message jumping out of the latest fundraising letter sent out from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, chaired by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.). [Click the image to the right to see the full text.] Don't let Uncle Chuck down! This invite first appeared (in print...
By Paul Kane | June 15, 2007; 03:02 PM ET | Comments (11)
Stevens Asks Ethics to Review Finances
Capitol Briefing can report more details on at least one of the extensions granted to lawmakers who did not file personal financial disclosure forms last month: Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) asked the Senate Ethics Committee to review his finances from last year before he officially files them. His office declined...
By Paul Kane | June 14, 2007; 07:59 PM ET | Comments (1)
Financial Disclosures: A Look at Who Got Extensions
Today is unofficially "Opposition Research Day" here on Capitol Hill, otherwise known as the day when annual financial disclosure forms are due from all 535 members of Congress. Occasionally providing a treasure trove of potential conflicts of interest to be exploited in the next election, financial disclosure forms (FDs in...
By Paul Kane | June 14, 2007; 05:05 PM ET | Comments (11)
Isakson Replaces Thomas on Senate Ethics Committee
The Senate tonight approved Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) as the replacement for the late Sen. Craig Thomas (R-Wyo.) on the Ethics Committee. Thomas died last week after a seven-month battle with cancer, and Isakson's appointment allows a high-profile probe to move forward. By unanimous consent, Isakson -- a low-key senator...
By Paul Kane | June 13, 2007; 08:34 PM ET | Comments (4)
Gore Raising Money for Senate Democrats
Following up on his "Assault on Reason" book tour, former vice president Al Gore has penned an e-mail for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee that went out today. Al Gore wants you ... to donate to Senate Democrats. (AP) The timing of Gore's pitch is designed to help drive up...
By Paul Kane | June 13, 2007; 05:25 PM ET | Comments (4)
Political, Legal Factors Surround AG Vote
The Senate fell seven votes short, Monday night, on a measure that would have opened debate on a no-confidence resolution aimed at Attorney General Alberto Gonzales over his handling of the firing of nine U.S. attorneys last year. The overall vote was 53-38-1, with a large number of absentee senators...
By Paul Kane | June 12, 2007; 06:54 AM ET | Comments (16)
Wyoming U.S. Attorney Quits, Plays Coy on Senate Appointment
In a move that could signal his hopes to replace the late Sen. Craig Thomas, the U.S. Attorney for Wyoming, Matthew Mead, has resigned, effective immediately. In an interview with The Washington Post's Dan Eggen, Mead said he submitted his resignation Wednesday and made it effective at the close of...
By Paul Kane | June 7, 2007; 07:08 PM ET | Comments (24)
In Today's Post: Stevens Told to Keep Records for Graft Probe
Capitol Briefing blogger Paul Kane had the following front-page story in today's Washington Post: Sen. Stevens Told to Keep Records for Graft Probe "Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate, disclosed in an interview that the FBI asked him to preserve records as part of a widening investigation...
By washingtonpost.com Editors | June 7, 2007; 11:52 AM ET | Comments (8)
McCain, Cornyn Engage in Heated Exchange
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) hasn't spent much time in the Capitol this year as he seeks the GOP presidential nomination. But one of his rare appearances this week provided a pretty salty exchange with a fellow Republican. During a meeting Thursday on immigration legislation, McCain and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas)...
By Paul Kane | May 18, 2007; 07:01 PM ET | Comments (537)
Senate GOP Opposition to AG Builds
In late April, Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) told reporters Attorney General Alberto Gonzales had a "huge credibility issue" regarding the mass firings of U.S. attorneys last year. But, telegraphing his own spin, Coleman then said he was "walking up to the line" without actually crossing it and calling for Gonzales...
By Paul Kane | May 18, 2007; 04:41 PM ET | Comments (21)
McCain Misses 42nd Straight Vote ... and Counting
Sen. John McCain (R-Campaign Trail) missed another vote today on a resolution related to the Iraq war, skipping a procedural move on a war funding measure in favor of hitting the campaign trail in New York. In fact, McCain's missed vote today marked his fifth straight week without casting a...
By Paul Kane | May 17, 2007; 02:15 PM ET | Comments (30)
Sen. Graham: Still Not Happy With Gonzales
washingtonpost.com's Ed O'Keefe sends the following dispatch from South Carolina: As former deputy attorney general James Comey testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee today, one member of the committee made it clear last night that he's still not happy with Comey's former boss, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Sen. Lindsey O....
By washingtonpost.com Editors | May 15, 2007; 11:39 AM ET | Comments (14)
Senate GOP: Light at the End of the Iraq Tunnel?
The political battle over positioning on the Iraq war has unquestionably been The Story so far in the 110th Congress. Domestic issues have taken a substantial backseat to, first, the symbolic fight to pass non-binding language opposing President Bush's troop surge into Baghdad, followed by the two-month-and-counting battle over the...
By Paul Kane | May 11, 2007; 06:12 PM ET | Comments (12)
All Aboard the Climate Change Express
For the latest sign of the political resonance of the global warming issue, check out the list of cosponsors that Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) have lined up for their bill to combat greenhouse gasses. All four Senate Democrats seeking the 2008 presidential nomination are signed on...
By Paul Kane | May 8, 2007; 07:15 PM ET | Comments (23)
Frist Opens Non-Federal PAC Account
Here's quick update to last week's post about former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn): He just opened a non-federal account for his Volunteer PAC. This means Frist will have two accounts for his political action committee, one raising money to support House, Senate and presidential candidates; the other will...
By Paul Kane | May 7, 2007; 03:14 PM ET | Email a Comment
McConnell's Pick: Any Given Saturday
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has made his big decision for the year: Any Given Saturday. Any Given Saturday is McConnell's pick to win tomorrow's 133rd Run for the Roses, better known as the Kentucky Derby. While it may just be a horse race to most of us, the...
By Paul Kane | May 4, 2007; 03:40 PM ET | Comments (2)
Clinton Joins Effort to 'Deauthorize' Iraq war
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) today signed on to legislation that would deauthorize the Iraq war, her strongest anti-war position in the four-and-a-half years since she joined an overwhelming majority of Democrats and Republicans in approving the war. Clinton, who has been dogged by anti-war liberals over her previous support...
By Paul Kane | May 3, 2007; 06:17 PM ET | Comments (18)
Byrd "Under the Weather"
The Senate's leading anti-war Democrat, Robert C. Byrd (W. Va.), is ill and did not run a meeting of lawmakers this afternoon that hammered out a compromise between the House and Senate versions of the more than $120 billion supplemental spending bill for the Iraq war and other key issues....
By Paul Kane | April 23, 2007; 05:45 PM ET | Comments (9)
Reid: "We Should Be Addressing ..."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) today delivered a stinging speech on the state of President Bush's Iraq policy, setting up the expected showdown later this week when the House and Senate are expected to pass a supplemental spending bill that includes a deadline for withdrawing American troops from Iraq....
By Paul Kane | April 23, 2007; 01:50 PM ET | Comments (25)
The AG Hearing: A Post Mortem
As we consider the events of the past week, Capitol Briefing is still reeling from the miracle that occurred at precisely 4:34 p.m. Thursday: Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) had run out of things to say. Yes, Schumer -- who's both respected and reviled for his stamina in front of a...
By Paul Kane | April 20, 2007; 11:37 PM ET | Comments (24)
With 'Friends' Like These, AG May Be in Trouble
If Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is in need of someone to pull him back from the edge of the political plank, he hasn't gotten any help today from Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee. In fact, the most conservative member of the panel -- Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) -- just...
By Paul Kane | April 19, 2007; 03:46 PM ET | Comments (123)
Specter vs. Gonzales -- Round 1
Less than a minute into his questioning, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) snapped at Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in an exchange that didn't bode well for Gonzales and his much ballyhooed make-or-break testimony in defending his role in the dismissal of eight U.S. attorneys. The unexpected attack from the committee's top...
By Paul Kane | April 19, 2007; 12:30 PM ET | Comments (182)
Ethics Switch Signals Long Domenici Probe
The Senate Ethics Committee sent its strongest signal yet that it is digging in for a long and serious examination of Sen. Pete Domenici's (R-N.M.) role in the firing of a U.S. attorney. Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) recused himself last night from the investigation into the dismissal of David C....
By Paul Kane | April 18, 2007; 02:04 PM ET | Comments (8)
Virginia Delegation Heading to Blacksburg
The entire Virginia congressional delegation is expected to trek to the campus of Virginia Tech University in Blacksburg, Va., tomorrow to show support and assess needs at the site of today's mass murder, aides said. Sens. John Warner (R-Va.) and James Webb (D-Va.) will lead the delegation to determine what...
By Paul Kane | April 16, 2007; 09:50 PM ET | Comments (16)
Stevens becomes longest serving Republican
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) today celebrated a milestone by becoming the longest serving Republican in chamber history, surpassing the late Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.). Stevens still trails the late Thurmond in total number of days in the Senate, as the South Carolinian spent his first 9 years or so in...
By Paul Kane | April 12, 2007; 02:35 PM ET | Comments (8)
Johnson Aides Remodeling Office for His Return
Aides to Sen. Tim Johnson (D-S.D.) have begun making structural changes to the space in his Hart Senate Office building suites in anticipation of his return to the Capitol following a serious illness. They are widening walkways so that the offices will be accessible by wheel chair. Julianne Fisher, Johnson's...
By Paul Kane | April 11, 2007; 04:54 PM ET | Comments (15)
Attorney General Hits the Murder Boards
Note to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales: Make sure your staff buys the good brand of cookies for this week's "murder boards." Gonzales is undergoing self-imposed grilling sessions as he prepares for next week's appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee. (AP) That's one of the lessons learned by Chief Justice John...
By Paul Kane | April 11, 2007; 03:05 PM ET | Comments (11)
On Iraq Issue, Nine Senators Hold the Key
When it comes to the Iraq war, the Senate is now being ruled by a group of nine senators who have moved back and forth this year on votes related to the four-year-old conflict. About 90 senators have remained static in their positions -- 47 Democrats consistently casting anti-war votes,...
By Paul Kane | March 28, 2007; 03:03 PM ET | Comments (79)
GOP Raps Schumer Over Dual Role
Senate Republicans are voicing concerns about the role of Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) in the investigation into the reasons behind the dismissals of eight federal prosecutors, suggesting he's targeting a fellow senator in the probe for political gain. "I think Senator Schumer has a direct conflict of interest and is...
By Paul Kane | March 14, 2007; 12:40 PM ET | Comments (19)
Byrd to Take Center Stage in Iraq Debate
Senate committee hearings are generally dull, but this coming week brings one of those witness panels to Capitol Hill that should at least provide entertaining theatrics to those on both sides of the Iraq war debate. The Senate Appropriations Committee takes up the Bush administration's proposal for a $100 billion...
By Paul Kane | February 24, 2007; 07:35 AM ET | Comments (35)
'08 Watch: Obama Stays Perfect, For Now...
For anyone who's taking attendance on Capitol Hill, last week was a busy one, as a bipartisan collection of 2008 presidential candidates bypassed senatorial duties for the campaign trail. Sen. John McCain took the moral high ground of blasting as a "purely political stunt" Majority Leader Harry Reid's decision to...
By Paul Kane | February 21, 2007; 06:36 AM ET | Comments (21)
Obama, McCaskill Plan Military Hospitals Bill
Seizing on an investigative report by The Washington Post's Dana Priest and Anne Hull, Sens. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) will introduce legislation next week to require more frequent inspections of hospitals providing treatment to active-duty military personnel. The report by Priest and Hull documented dismal conditions that...
By Paul Kane | February 20, 2007; 02:50 PM ET | Comments (12)
Emotional Moments in the Debate on Iraq
With the Senate unable to get enough votes to formally debate the House's anti-surge resolution, the two chambers are at odds over their formal stances on President Bush's decision to send more than 20,000 new troops into Iraq. This is a trend that liberals will begin to hate more and...
By Paul Kane | February 18, 2007; 04:35 PM ET | Comments (8)
Thune Endorses McCain
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) has signed on to back Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign, providing another significant conservative endorsement for a candidate once estranged from the right wing of his party. As Capitol Briefing's colleague, The Fix, has noted on many occasions, the Arizona Republican has actively courted conservatives ahead...
By Paul Kane | February 18, 2007; 05:30 AM ET | Comments (5)
The Iraq Debate's Winners and Losers
With the Senate grinding to a halt over the "debate about debating" an anti-surge resolution, it's time for Capitol Briefing to examine who the winners and losers are in the fight over how the chamber should express its view of President Bush's plan to send at least 21,500 more troops...
By Paul Kane | February 8, 2007; 01:31 PM ET | Comments (18)
Clinton to Obama: "Mr. President"
Did Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) just endorse Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president? "Mr. President," Clinton said to Obama as she began a speech on what she called the "continuing failure" in Iraq. OK, OK. She didn't really endorse him in what is almost certain to be the clash...
By Paul Kane | February 7, 2007; 06:31 PM ET | Comments (25)
No Rest For the Weary... Senators
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) apparently likes carrots more than sticks. Turning the traditional threat about Congressional recesses on its head, Reid issued an entirely different kind of recess proffer yesterday on the floor. He offered to wrap things up lickety-split this week and send all 100 senators home...
By Paul Kane | February 7, 2007; 04:12 PM ET | Comments (5)
In the Senate, No Doesn't Always Mean No
To the uninformed outsider, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) appeared to turn his back on the anti-war movement Monday when he joined almost every Republican in short-circuiting the debate on a no-confidence vote regarding President Bush's proposal to send 21,500 new troops in to Iraq. The vote was no...
By Paul Kane | February 6, 2007; 01:45 PM ET | Comments (9)
Tortoise and Hare
One month into the 110th Congress, the hare has taken a huge lead over the tortoise. By the close of business yesterday, Jan. 31, the House had already recorded 73 roll call votes; the Senate, 39. The House has already passed 11 different pieces of major legislation -- from reforming...
By washingtonpost.com Editors | February 1, 2007; 01:24 PM ET | Comments (1)
Pelosi's "Will" to Govern
As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sees it, Democrats will get the job done in the 110th Congress. In her "prebuttal" to the president's State of the Union Address, Pelosi today use declarative language in an effort to display her confidence in Democrats' new majority. At least five different times in...
By Paul Kane | January 19, 2007; 03:43 PM ET | Comments (5)
Lott and McConnell: United They Stand?
It was a double-date rife with political and legislative implications for the 110th Congress. The Senate's top Republicans, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Minority Whip Trent Lott (Miss.), went to dinner with their wives early this month at a posh downtown D.C. restaurant. Can the two Senate GOP leaders...
By Paul Kane | January 19, 2007; 12:01 AM ET | Comments (20)
