Tag Archives: U.S. Senate
Let’s be clear about this: The gun bill was filibustered, not defeated on a straight up-or-down vote
If you’re wondering why the bill on background checks for gun sales was defeated in the Senate yesterday when a majority of senators actually supported it, HERE‘s the answer:
Wednesday’s vote on expanding background checks for gun sales would have led to headlines in many other countries about a landslide victory. After all, 55-45 is not a particularly close vote.
That wide margin was achieved on background checks despite the unequal distribution of Senate votes, which are allocated two to a state regardless of population, thereby giving disproportionate power to rural areas that tend to oppose gun legislation.
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Tagged filibuster, U.S. Senate
Not even Bob Dole in a wheelchair can keep GOP extremists from rejecting disabilities treaty
To the wackier elements of the Republican coalition, anything bearing the label of the United Nations is part of a nefarious plot to undermine American sovereignty and sap us of our precious bodily fluids.
Consequently, we had THIS SORRY SPECTACLE today:
Former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole [above] made a rare Senate appearance this morning, sitting in a wheelchair just off the floor so that members would have to see him as they entered the chamber. Why? Because they were poised to vote on ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, and Dole hoped to send …
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Tagged Bob Dole, Republicans, U.S. Senate, United Nations
Who’s blocking a cost-of-living increase for disabled vets?
I don’t know the name of the CULPRIT in this case, but I know which political party he (or she) represents:
A Republican senator is using an anonymous hold to block the traditionally bipartisan cost of living adjustment that is given to America’s disabled veterans and their survivors…
The anonymous senator used an informal custom referred to as a hold, which allows any member of the Senate to stop legislation from coming to the floor for a vote by notifying and getting agreement from the party leadership for their intentions.
While it is one senator who requested the hold, Mitch …
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Tagged Republicans, U.S. Senate, veterans
Senate Republican leaders apparently want nothing to do with Mitt Romney’s 47-percent rhetoric
THESE GUYS aren’t heeding Tammy Wynette’s admonition to “Stand By Your Man.”
Senate Republicans insist that Mitt Romney’s “47 percent” comment won’t hurt them in their campaigns, but that didn’t stop them from running for the hills when the subject came up.
In the last week that Congress is in session before the November elections, none of the Senate Republican leaders took questions from reporters at their weekly press availability — something rarely, if ever, seen. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell [above] left after giving brief remarks, and the remaining four leaders spoke briefly about unrelated matters and then …
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Tagged Mitt Romney, Republicans, U.S. Senate
All five Republican women in Senate voted for Violence Against Women Act, but 31 GOP men voted no
I’m guessing that most of the men in this photo gallery either are not up for re-election this year or are facing far-right challenges in Republican primaries and therefore need to appease the knuckledraggers in their respective states.
But even though the VAWA won REAUTHORIZATION in the Senate, the fact remains that most Republican members voted against it. That should serve as campaign fodder against the GOP’s infamous War on Women.
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Tagged Republicans, U.S. Senate, women
