WASHINGTON — Both the tax bill the Senate hopes to vote on this week and a House-passed tax overhaul would keep the popular charitable deduction, but Connecticut non-profits say the legislation still would shrink American help to those in need.
Senate
Posted inHealth, Politics
Senate fails to repeal Obamacare
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans failed early Friday to win approval of a “skinny” bill they hoped would grow into a full-fledged repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act, putting an end to efforts to eliminate Obamacare, at least for now. The dramatic vote in the middle of the night is a boost to Connecticut Democrats who fought the GOP campaign to repeal the ACA.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Senate clears first test on Obamacare repeal, but final victory not assured
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans and the White House had a win Tuesday on a procedural vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but a final victory is not guaranteed. It was just a first step in a series of dozens of votes that will determine whether Senate Republicans can pass a health care bill.
Posted inHealth, Politics
Dems — including CT’s senators — plan to disrupt Senate over health care plan
WASHINGTON — Democrats, with the help of Connecticut’s senators, plan to jam up the Senate this week to bring attention to Republican attempts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care act. Meanwhile Connecticut Republicans are crying foul over Democrats attempts to save Obamacare.
Posted inNews
Senate rejects Murphy attempt to block Saudi arms sale
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday rejected an effort by Sen. Chris Murphy to block a portion of a $110 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia. Murphy, however, says concern in the U.S. Senate is growing over the Saudi bombing campaign in Yemen.
Posted inPolitics
Up for re-election, Murphy says he’s focused on activism, not campaigning
WASHINGTON — Despite the advantage President Donald Trump’s political gaffes may give them, many Senate Democrats face tough re-elections next year, but Chris Murphy isn’t one of them. The senator, who is defending what is considered a safe seat, says he won’t begin running for re-election in earnest until next year and for now prefers to invest in grassroots activism instead.
Posted inPolitics
Blumenthal, Murphy face new Senate landscape after ‘nuclear’ deployment
WASHINGTON — While angered that the GOP “went nuclear,” changing Senate rules to win confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, Sen. Chris Murphy said he will still try to work with Republicans on common interests, while Sen. Richard Blumenthal warned of “repercussions.”
Posted inEducation, Politics
Senate kills school accountability rule
WASHINGTON – The Senate on Thursday voted to overturn a key regulation that places tougher accountability measures on schools — measures backed by civil rights groups and those who advocate for disabled children. Sen. Chris Murphy said the move to kill the regulation was a GOP rejection “of a bipartisan rule that assured that civil rights are protected.”
Posted inPolitics
Senate abolishes Obama gun rule prompted by Sandy Hook
Updated at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate approved legislation Wednesday that will roll back an Obama administration rule requiring the Social Security Administration to submit information about mentally impaired recipients so they can be added to a list of people barred from purchasing a gun.
Posted inPolitics
Senate gives McMahon valentine with vote to make her new SBA chief
WASHINGTON – Despite a lack of government experience, World Wrestling Entertainment co-founder Linda McMahon was easily confirmed by the Senate Tuesday to head the Small Business Administration. More than half of Senate Democrats joined Republicans in the 81-19 vote for McMahon’s confirmation.
Posted inPolitics
Blumenthal coasts to second term on bad night for Dems
Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal handily won re-election Tuesday night but his party failed to win enough seats in the Senate to wrest control from the GOP.
Posted inPolitics
Senate to vote on Murphy effort to block Saudi arms sale
WASHINGTON – The Senate plans to vote Wednesday on a resolution sponsored by Sen. Chris Murphy that would block a $1.5 billion sale to Saudi Arabia. It’s a long shot. But Murphy says he’ll win something even if he loses the vote.
Posted inPolitics
Murphy Q&A: Congress ‘is a place that’s fundamentally broken’
WASHINGTON — Freshmen senators, especially those belonging to the party out of power in the chamber, generally keep a low profile in deference to their elders. But Sen. Chris Murphy has clearly broken with tradition. The Connecticut Mirror interviewed the senator about his relatively short, but very busy, time in the Senate and his plans for the future.
Posted inPolitics
Senate moves to quash CT’s GMO food labeling law
WASHINGTON — In a key procedural vote, the U.S. Senate on Wednesday voted to pre-empt Connectcut’s genetically modified food labeling law, replacing it with a national food safety standard advocates say would be much weaker and not apply to many foods.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Senate rejects Murphy background-check provision and ‘terror gap’ bill
Updated at 9:28 p.m.
WASHINGTON — For the second time since the slaughter at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the U.S. Senate has rejected an effort to expand FBI background checks of gun purchasers. Lawmakers also killed an effort to bar those on the terrorist watch list from purchasing weapons, as well as two competing GOP proposals.