Senate Republicans news stories on Newser

Candidates Don't Know—But Don't Like—Minimum Wage

Neal Colgrass — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 15:18:55 CDT

None of the three Republicans running in Missouri's Senate primary know the state's minimum wage, but they definitely don't want it raised, CBS St. Louis reports. Appearing on KMOX radio, former state treasurer Sarah Steelman, Rep. Todd Akin, and businessman John Brunner appeared stumped when asked about the minimum wage....

GOP Senator Olympia Snowe to Retire

Matt Cantor — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:52:02 CST

Republican Olympia Snowe said today she will retire from the Senate rather than seek re-election, reports the Kennebec Journal . The Washington Post sees it as bad news for her party in the very blue state of Maine. Democrats will likely be favored to take the seat the moderate Snowe has...

Expect Senate Gridlock to Remain in 2013

Matt Cantor — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:00:00 CST

The 2012 election may generate plenty of headlines, but it's not going to get a gridlocked Washington moving again—in large part thanks to the outlook for the Senate. Neither party is poised to win the kind of majority that could exert any real authority, the Washington Post notes. Republicans...

Obama Will Appoint Cordray Watchdog

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:31:39 CST

President Obama is thumbing his nose at Republican opposition and will today name a new US chief consumer watchdog: Richard Cordray. Yep, the same Cordray who Senate Republicans blocked early last month. Obama's decision to make a recess appointment is certain to cause an uproar—he's essentially declaring the Senate's...

GOP Slams Obama Nominee ... Over Old Flame?

Neal Colgrass — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 13:40:00 CST

Senate Republicans have already gone too far in opposing President Obama's appointees, argues Gail Collins in the New York Times —but blocking someone over a boyfriend she had 20 years ago ? Yes, Senate Republicans want to stop Mari Carmen Aponte from becoming ambassador to El Salvador because of a...

Senate GOP Blocks Obama CFPB Nominee

Kate Schwartz — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:39:11 CST

As expected, Senate Republicans today blocked President Obama's choice to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau he created. Few questioned Richard Cordray's credentials for the job, notes the AP , which reports that the former Ohio attorney general fell victim to a "particularly nasty partisan fight." Only one of the Senate's...

Senate Rejects $35B Jobs Bill

Evann Gastaldo — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 07:14:38 CDT

President Obama’s first attempt to split his American Jobs Act into smaller bites did not go well: His $35 billion package, intended to protect the jobs of teachers and first responders, was blocked in the Senate last night. Democrats couldn’t get the 60 votes needed to move the bill forward;...

Obama Jobs Bill Heads to Senate to Die

Kevin Spak — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 11:13:05 CDT

The Senate will hold a vote to begin debate on President Obama's jobs bill today, but Republicans are likely to filibuster the measure, denying it the 60 votes it needs, the AP reports. Republicans have been signaling their opposition, likening the bill to 2009's stimulus, which Republicans regard as a...

Lamar Alexander to Drop Out of GOP Leadership

Kevin Spak — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 10:56:48 CDT

Lamar Alexander will give up his post as Republican Conference chairman—the party’s third-ranking Senate position—in January, and with it his hope of being the Senate GOP whip in the next Congress, he announced today, in what Politico calls a "stunning decision." Alexander says he’s taking the leap because...