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
Sep 09 WATCH: Thune won’t commit to Senate vote on Epstein files in Senate leadership briefing By Associated Press Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., won’t commit to a Senate vote on legislation that would require the Justice Department to release files on the sex trafficking investigations into Jeffrey Epstein. But he said that he believes “transparency is always… Continue reading
Sep 08 Senate will change rules to push Trump’s nominees past Democratic delays, Thune says By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Senate Majority Leader John Thune says Republicans are ready to change the chamber’s rules to allow quick confirmations of dozens of President Donald Trump’s executive branch nominees and will move to speed up votes after months of Democratic delays. Continue reading
Aug 04 Congress is in August recess, but tensions lie ahead on spending and Trump nominations By Kevin Freking, Associated Press Lawmakers have left Washington for the annual August recess, but a few weeks of relative quiet at the U.S. Capitol can’t mask the partisan tensions that are brewing on government funding and President Donald Trump’s nominees. Continue reading
Jul 15 WATCH: Senate votes to advance Trump’s request for $9 billion in spending cuts By Kevin Freking, Associated Press A final vote in the Senate could occur as early as Wednesday. The bill would then return to the House for another vote before it would go to President Donald Trump's desk for his signature before a Friday deadline. Continue reading
Jul 01 Senate works a tense overnight session as Republicans seek support for Trump’s big bill By Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick, Matt Brown, Associated Press Thune wants to satisfy Republicans worried the bill's reductions to Medicaid will leave millions more people without care and those in his conservative flank seeking steeper cuts to hold down deficits ballooning with the tax cuts. Continue reading
Jun 26 WATCH: Trump hosts ‘big bill’ event as key provision found to violate Senate rules By Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press Trump hosted House Speaker Mike Johnson and other GOP lawmakers in the East Room at the White House joined by truck drivers, firefighters, tipped workers, ranchers and others that the administration says will benefit from the bill. Continue reading