Jul 06 William Armstrong, ex-U.S. senator for Colorado, dies at 79 By Dan Elliott, Associated Press DENVER — William L. Armstrong, a Colorado media executive who became a major conservative voice in the Senate, died Tuesday after a five-year battle with cancer. He was 79. Continue reading
Jun 28 Senate Democrats block GOP-drafted Zika bill By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press A dysfunctional Senate split along party lines on Tuesday and left a $1.1 billion proposal to fight the Zika virus in limbo, despite growing fears and a more than 800 cases of Zika infection in the continental U.S. Continue reading
Jun 28 Vets waiting for in vitro coverage from VA get no relief after Senate blocks bill By Quinn Bowman Senate Democrats on Tuesday filibustered a spending bill they say Republicans loaded with unacceptable provisions -- namely inadequate funding to fight the Zika virus and restrictions on funding for the Affordable Care Act and Planned Parenthood. The bill has already… Continue reading
Jun 27 Days before deadline, Senate to consider Puerto Rico rescue package By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew is warning of widespread consequences, from layoffs of police officers to a hospital closure, if the Senate fails to act before Friday on a rescue package for debt-stricken Puerto Rico. Continue reading
Jun 23 Compromise for GMO food labeling rules struck in Senate By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Senators have a bipartisan deal to require labeling of genetically modified ingredients nationally, a week before a labeling law in Vermont goes into effect. Continue reading
Jun 23 Amid guns sit-in, House passes $1.1 billion Zika defense bill By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press The House has passed a $1.1 billion House-Senate measure to combat the Zika virus, but the GOP-drafted measure is a nonstarter with Senate Democrats and the Obama White House. Continue reading
Jun 21 Polls show voters want increased gun restrictions, so why the political disconnect? By Lisa Desjardins For more than two years, polling has shown a consistent trend: American voters overwhelmingly want increased, moderate, gun restrictions like expanded background checks. Yet Congress has gone the opposite direction. Continue reading
Jun 20 Gun control bills fail despite momentum after Orlando shooting By Alan Fram, Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press The proposals' gloomy fates underscored the pressure on each party to give little ground on the emotional gun issue going into November's presidential and congressional elections. It also highlighted the potency of the National Rifle Association, which was urging its… Continue reading
Jun 20 Gun control votes move forward, but with little chance of changing laws By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press Polls show large numbers of Americans agree with the need for at least some limited gun measures such as background checks. But Democrats have been unable to translate that into legislation because the NRA is able to mobilize and energize… Continue reading
Jun 10 Senate presses ahead on defense bill despite divisions By Richard Lardner, Associated Press The Senate is heading toward passage of a defense policy bill that would authorize $602 billion in military spending, prohibit the closing of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and require young women to register for a potential draft. Continue reading