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.
Senate
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.
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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.
Posted inHealth, Politics
CT lawmakers seek more money as House, Senate split on Zika funds
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have split on how to fund federal efforts to fight the Zika virus, with Connecticut lawmakers playing key roles in trying to boost the amount of money that would go to states to battle the spread of the disease.
Posted inPolitics
Senate votes to protect lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook
Washington – The Senate on Tuesday voted to give National Park Service protection to the lower Farmington River and Salmon Brook, Connecticut waterways that would be given a “wild and scenic river” protective designation.
Posted inPolitics, Transportation
Blumenthal push for wider airline seats falters in Senate
Supporters said air travelers were packed into planes “like sardines.” The airlines said making seats wider and giving passengers more legroom would force them to raise fares.
Posted inPolitics
State Rep. Carter ‘seriously considering’ Blumenthal challenge
WASHINGTON — State Representative Dan Carter, a Republican from Bethel, is weighing a run against Sen. Richard Blumenthal. “I am seriously considering it,” Carter said. “So much so that I withdrew all my filings to run for re-election in the state assembly.”
Posted inHealth, Politics
Murphy mental health bill wins big bipartisan support – after some changes
WASHINGTON — A key committee on Wednesday voted unanimously to send a mental health bill sponsored by Sen. Chris Murphy to the Senate floor, but not until certain provisions were dropped.
