Oct 09 WATCH: Senate convenes as federal government shutdown reaches day 9 By Stephen Groves, Mary Clare Jalonick, Matt Brown, Associated Press The consequences of a government shutdown setting in, senators labored Thursday to find a way forward but found themselves struggling to overcome a fundamental lack of trust between the two parties. Continue reading
Oct 03 WATCH: Johnson and Thune hold news conference ahead of failed Senate vote to end shutdown By Stephen Groves, Mary Clare Jalonick, Matt Brown, Associated Press On the third day of the shutdown, another Senate vote to advance a Republican bill that would reopen the government failed on a 54-44 tally — well short of the 60 needed to end a filibuster and pass the legislation. Continue reading
Oct 01 WATCH: Senate adjourns with no resolution on shutdown By Associated Press Plunged into a government shutdown, the U.S. is confronting a fresh cycle of uncertainty after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to strike an agreement to keep government programs and services running by Wednesday’s deadline. Continue reading
Sep 30 WATCH: Senate Democrats have sacrificed American public with failed funding vote, Thune says By Associated Press On the heels of a failed vote to fund the government, Senate Majority Leader John Thune laid the blame at the feet of Democrats and said he would continue to press them to vote for a temporary funding bill. Continue reading
Sep 29 Government shutdown draws closer as congressional leaders head to the White House By Stephen Groves, Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press If government funding legislation is not passed by Congress and signed by Trump on Tuesday night, many government offices will be temporarily shuttered and nonexempt federal employees will be furloughed. Continue reading
Sep 29 WATCH: Congressional leaders leave White House meeting without a deal to avoid a shutdown By Stephen Groves, Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press A government shutdown fast approaching, Democratic and Republican congressional leaders left a White House meeting with President Donald Trump Monday afternoon showing little willingness to compromise from their entrenched positions in order to avoid a lapse in funding. Continue reading
Sep 26 Thune says a shutdown can still be avoided if Democrats 'dial back' their demands By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Thune says Democrats are going to have to "dial back" their demands to immediately extend health insurance subsidies and reverse the health care policies Republicans passed over the summer. Continue reading
Sep 18 Senate confirms 48 Trump nominees at once after GOP changed the chamber's rules By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Frustrated by the stalling tactics, Senate Republicans moved last week to make it easier to confirm large groups of lower-level, non-judicial nominations. Democrats had forced multiple votes on almost every one of Trump’s picks, infuriating the president and tying up… Continue reading
Sep 11 WATCH: Senate GOP takes first steps to change rules to speed up Trump's nominee confirmations By Mary Clare Jalonick, Stephen Groves, Associated Press Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s move is the latest salvo after a dozen years of gradual changes by both parties to weaken the filibuster and make the nominations process more partisan. Continue reading
Sep 10 A Senate rules change flying under the radar By Lisa Desjardins Senate Majority Leader John Thune started the process this week to change a core Senate function — the way the chamber approves a president’s nominees. Continue reading