Obama backs Senate Democrats’ changing of rules on presidential nominees
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama said on Thursday he supports Senate Democrats’ moves to change Senate rules to make it easier for them to confirm his presidential nominees over Republican opposition.
Senate Democrats stop filibusters on nominations
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Democratic-led Senate, in a historic rule change, stripped Republicans on Thursday of their ability to block President Barack Obama’s judicial and executive branch nominees.
Reid committed to moving ahead with Iran sanctions in Senate
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on Thursday he was committed to moving ahead with a tougher Iran sanctions bill when the Senate returns from a holiday recess early next month, adding to pressure on Tehran as negotiators me…
Senate to vote on Yellen for Fed chair in December: Senate aide
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Senate aims to hold a vote in December to confirm Janet Yellen as the next chair of the Federal Reserve, a Senate Democratic leadership aide said on Thursday.
Yellen clears first Senate hurdle to become next Fed chair
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Senate Banking Committee on Thursday approved Janet Yellen’s nomination to become the first woman to lead the Federal Reserve, sending it to the full Senate for a final vote.
San Diego mayoral race set for runoff as a Democrat steps aside
SAN DIEGO (Reuters) – Two San Diego city councilmen, a Republican backed by the downtown establishment and a Democrat seeking to become the city’s first Hispanic mayor, will compete in a runoff election early next year to replace disgraced former Mayor…
Florida congressman Radel to take ‘leave of absence’ after cocaine use
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Florida congressman Henry “Trey” Radel plans to take a leave of absence and donate his salary to charity, he said on Wednesday night after earlier pleading guilty in D.C. Superior Court to a misdemeanor charge of possession of co…
House panel passes bill targeting ‘patent trolls’
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. congressional panel on Wednesday approved a bill targeting patent “trolls,” companies that buy or license patents from others and then aggressively pursue licensing fees or file infringement lawsuits.
Key lawmakers meet ahead of deadline for new farm bill
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – With a deadline looming, the four top agricultural negotiators in Congress met for nearly two hours late on Wednesday without reaching agreement on a $500 billion U.S. farm bill, and they will try again on Thursday morning, the l…
Ohio House advances broad ‘stand your ground’ bill
CLEVELAND (Reuters) – Ohio’s state House approved a broad “stand your ground” measure on Wednesday that would grant gun owners wider latitude to use their weapons to defend themselves.
