Sep 20 Senate parliamentarian deals blow to Democrats’ immigration push By Alan Fram, Associated Press The decision by Elizabeth MacDonough, the Senate's nonpartisan interpreter of its often enigmatic rules, is a damaging and disheartening setback for President Joe Biden, congressional Democrats and their allies in the pro-immigration and progressive communities. Continue reading
Sep 16 Budget bill reopens moderate vs. progressive divide for Democrats By Will Weissert, Associated Press Opposition from some leading moderate Democrats over a $3.5 trillion budget proposal championed by the party's most-liberal, progressive wing has left the party grappling with deeper ideological questions. Continue reading
Sep 04 It’s a girl, and a boy: Buttigieg celebrates 2 babies By Associated Press Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his husband, Chasten, are celebrating the arrival of not one — but two — bundles of joy. The first openly gay person to be confirmed by the Senate for a Cabinet position had shared last month… Continue reading
Aug 24 WATCH: House passes bill bolstering landmark voting law By Lolita C. Baldor, Associated Press Its passage was praised by President Joe Biden, who said it would protect a “sacred right” and called on the Senate to “send this important bill to my desk.”… Continue reading
Aug 20 Democrats face new hurdles in legal fight over redistricting By Nicholas Riccardi, Associated Press The fight over redrawing political maps is just ramping up in state legislatures and nonpartisan commissions around the country. But both Republicans and Democrats already are planning for major showdowns in the courts. Continue reading
Aug 19 Texas Democrats return, end 38-day holdout over voting bill By Paul J. Weber, Associated Press, Acacia Coronado, Associated Press/Report for America Some Democrats who left Texas to block a GOP voting bill have ended a 38-day holdout. Enough Democrats returned to the state Capitol on Thursday to allow the Texas House to resume work for the first time since mid-July. Continue reading
Aug 10 Nursing home overhaul bill would boost staffing, oversight By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, Associated Press Nursing homes and long-term care facilities house a tiny proportion of the U.S. population but they're estimated to account for about 3 in 10 coronavirus deaths. Continue reading
Aug 09 Senate Democrats unveil $3.5 trillion budget for social, climate efforts By Alan Fram, Associated Press The measure lays the groundwork for legislation later this year that over a decade would pour mountains of federal resources into health care, education, family services and environmental programs, as well as tax breaks for families. Continue reading
Aug 07 Senate votes to advance Biden’s $1T infrastructure bill By Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press The Senate moved closer to passing a $1 trillion infrastructure package Saturday after lawmakers from both parties came together and voted to clear a key procedural hurdle, but the action soon stalled out as opponents tried to slow the rush… Continue reading
Jul 13 WATCH: Texas Democrats dig in after exodus, GOP threatens arrest By Paul J. Weber, Will Weissert, Associated Press Texas Democrats who hurriedly fled to Washington to block sweeping new election laws back home acknowledged Tuesday they can't stay away forever and urged Congress to act on voting rights, while Republican Gov. Greg Abbott threatened them with arrest the… Continue reading