senate

Sequestration Imminent, Senate Rejects Stopgap Efforts

The Senate swatted aside last-ditch plans to block $85 billion in broad-based federal spending reductions Thursday as President Barack Obama and Republicans blamed each other for the latest outbreak of gridlock and the administration readied plans to put the cuts into effect.

Elizabeth Warren Likely Headed to Senate Banking Panel

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid wants Massachusetts Sen.-elect Elizabeth Warren to join the Banking Committee. A Senate Democratic official confirmed Tuesday that Warren's appointment was likely, but cautioned nothing was final until the Democratic caucus approves the move.

Senate Set for Symbolic Showdown on Tax Cuts

The Senate is bracing for a tax-cut showdown that is all about Democrats and Republicans showing voters their differences over taxing the well-off while accusing each other of threatening to shove the government over a fiscal cliff.

Consumer Advocate Elizabeth Warren Entering Massachusetts Senate Race

Consumer advocate and Democrat Elizabeth Warren will enter the Massachusetts Senate primary for a shot at challenging incumbent Republican Scott Brown for his seat. Warren will formally declare she's running on Wednesday, Kyle Sullivan, a Warren spokesman, said. She plans to greet commuters in Boston and make other stops during the day across the state.

What's Going On With Next Year's Federal Budget?

It has been a long, confusing summer for the federal budget: The FAA shutdown, the debt ceiling crisis, the Deficit "Supercommittee." But all of that was just prelude to the battles ahead over the 12 major appropriations bills to fund the government's "discretionary" spending.

Who Wins and Who Loses If the Government Shuts Down

Unless lawmakers can agree on budget legislation to keep the federal government running, a shutdown at midnight Friday looms. If it happens, there will be a few clear winners, some who break even and a whole lot of losers.

How an Oil Baron's Heir Cleaned Up a Slimy Internet Scam

For the past decade, a few clever companies have been running an online scheme that tricked consumers into joining so-called membership clubs and charged their credit cards without their consent. But thanks to Sen. John Rockefeller, the era of this $1.4 billion con is coming to an end.

The Millionaire Class: Most New U.S. Senators are Rich

Approximately 60% of first-year U.S. senators and 40% of House of Representatives freshmen are worth at least $1 million, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. That makes them far richer than most of the Americans they represent: Just 1% of the country's population has reached the $1 million mark.

Senators Propose a New Law to Address Drug Shortages

Health care providers have been reporting unprecedented shortages of prescription drugs, including vital medications such as chemotherapies and antibiotics. Under current law, the FDA has no power to act, so two senators have introduced a bill to help government get a handle on the problem.