All articles tagged with #united states senate
Illinois voters head to the polls in a Tuesday primary that will usher in a new generation of Democratic leaders for both the U.S. House and Senate amid near-record retirements opening multiple seats and reshaping the state’s congressional map.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has expressed support for a bill that could lead to a ban of TikTok in the U.S., citing concerns about the platform being a tool of surveillance and propaganda for Beijing. The legislation aims to compel TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, to sell the platform within six months to maintain access to U.S. web-hosting services and app stores. However, the bill's path in the Senate is uncertain, with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer being noncommittal about bringing it up for a vote, and Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell considering potential changes or scrapping of the House bill. Critics have raised questions about the bill's constitutionality and its potential impact on Americans' free speech rights.
The Senate approved a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and the Indo-Pacific, but the bill's prospects in the House are uncertain due to opposition from House Speaker Mike Johnson. President Biden urged the House to move forward with the legislation, emphasizing the urgency of providing aid, especially to Ukraine. The bill faced opposition from some Republicans in the Senate, but ultimately passed with bipartisan support. However, the House's consideration of the bill remains unclear, with potential challenges from both conservative and progressive factions.
A bipartisan immigration agreement has been released by a trio of senators and the White House, granting the president extensive powers to crack down on illegal border crossings, including the ability to deny migrants the chance to request asylum. The deal, negotiated in exchange for more military aid to Ukraine, would toughen asylum access during spikes in illegal immigration, increase deportations, and not provide legalization for the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised the agreement as crucial for national security and plans to schedule the first vote on the measure for Wednesday, while Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed gratitude and urged careful consideration.
Arizona GOP Chairman Jeff DeWit resigned after a leaked recording revealed him offering a job to U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake and asking her to name a price to stay out of politics. DeWit's departure has shaken up the Republican Party in a battleground state crucial for the battle for control of the White House and the U.S. Senate in the November election. The recording, leaked days before a fundraiser for the Arizona GOP, has sparked controversy, with Lake's Senate campaign accusing DeWit of attempting to bribe her. DeWit defended his actions as candid advice to a friend, while Lake's penchant for recording confrontations has added to the drama.
The Senate has advanced a stopgap spending measure in a 68-13 vote to extend government funding deadlines to March 1 and March 8, aiming to avert a partial government shutdown. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed hope for bipartisan cooperation to pass the continuing resolution before Friday, while House Speaker Mike Johnson faces challenges in getting the bill through the House due to opposition from hardline conservatives and multiple absences among House Republicans. If passed, this would be the third short-term spending deal since September.
Senate negotiations on immigration policies to deter illegal border crossings have expanded to include discussions on Afghan evacuees, high-skilled visa holders' children, and work permits for asylum-seekers. The potential deal may also involve stricter asylum and deportation provisions, which have raised concerns among progressives and migrant advocates. The Biden administration and Senate negotiators have not reached a final agreement, with the main sticking point being the immigration parole authority. The administration has put revisions to the parole authority on the table, recognizing the need for compromise, while also considering harsher asylum laws and fast-track deportation programs.
James L. Buckley, a conservative candidate from Connecticut, defied the odds and won a United States Senate seat in New York on the Conservative Party line in 1970. He became the first third-party candidate to achieve this since 1940. Although he served only one term, Buckley was appointed to various positions by President Ronald Reagan, including a State Department post and president of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. He later became a federal judge. Buckley's victory was seen as a triumph for a pragmatic new conservatism, combining traditional conservative ideas with practical approaches to issues such as crime, taxes, welfare costs, and deteriorating schools. He passed away at the age of 100.