Topic: Ben Nelson
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Briefing
Six 2012 races where the tea party counts
After playing kingmaker in the 2010 election cycle, the tea party movement is having a less prominent role in 2012. But its support or opposition could swing some key races and even determine whether Republicans win control of the Senate. Here are six US Senate contests where the tea party could make a difference.
All Content
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Tax deal: Obama blinked first, but everybody got something
In the political game of chicken that the tax cuts debate became, Obama may have blinked first, but he secured unemployment benefits extensions and other Democratic priorities.
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If Senate takeover eludes GOP on Election Day 2010, look to 2012
The 2012 election is shaping up to be a big opportunity for Republicans. If they don't win a Senate majority on Election Day 2010, they'll have plenty of vulnerable seats to contest in 2012.
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How mail-in ballots might confuse polls - and Election Day results
Increasing numbers of Americans can vote by mail or absentee ballots. This makes it harder for polls to gauge who the winner might be and means some close races might not be called for days.
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Senate enters total gridlock as Election 2010 nears
Democrats failed to move forward on a bill that would have ended a tax break critics say rewards companies who send jobs abroad. Legislation is going nowhere ahead of Election 2010.
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Who should get the tax cut? The rich, or everyone else?
Smart politics and good economics both suggest that the Democrats make this the central issue of the midterm elections.
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Bush tax cuts get all the attention as US lawmakers reconvene
Congress has a vast to-do list before midterm elections, including spending bills and a $30 billion package to help small businesses. But for now, the Bush tax cuts are the top issue.
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Did John Boehner blink on tax cuts for the rich?
House Republican leader John Boehner said he’d vote to extend tax cuts for middle-class Americans even if the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy were allowed to expire. Did he mean it, or was it a calculated move to get President Obama off his back?
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Election 2010: How bad is it for Democrats?
As the November midterm election approaches, it seems to be dire straits for Democrats. Obama and other party leaders will have to energize their base in order to turn it around.
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Senate races 101: Is the Democratic majority in jeopardy?
Republicans are almost sure to pick up seats after the 2010 Senate races are over. But they also have an outside shot at retaking the majority in the upper chamber.
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Is the Senate becoming riper for a Republican takeover?
Surging challenges to two Democratic incumbents – Patty Murray in Washington and Russ Feingold in Wisconsin – are a reason that chances for Republican takeover of the US Senate may be rising in Election 2010.
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Elena Kagan confirmed to Supreme Court
Elena Kagan was confirmed to a seat on the Supreme Court Thursday. The Senate voted 63-37, mostly along party lines, to make Kagan America's 112th Supreme Court justice.
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Unemployment insurance: Why extending it this time has been so hard
Both parties in Congress are citing the US deficit as reasons not to approve new spending unless it's offset. For Republicans, that issue has been unemployment insurance. For Democrats, it's extending the Bush tax cuts.
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Unemployment insurance benefits extension clears hurdle
Unemployment insurance to millions who have been out of work for more than six months would restore jobless checks for 2.5 million people whose benefits started running out seven weeks ago.
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Scott Brown mastering backroom deals he campaigned against
Scott Brown, Republican from Massachusetts, has quickly learned the art of the backroom deal in the US Senate, almost six months since capturing the late Ted Kennedy's seat.
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Senate bogs down on tax extenders and unemployment benefits
The bill would have extended tax credits and unemployment benefits, but it failed on a procedural vote. Many Republicans say they support the aims of the legislation, but they want to see more effort to cut spending.
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BP Oil Spill: Is it time for the Pentagon to take over?
The BP oil spill relief effort lacks a clear command-and-control structure, senators said at a hearing Friday. Some suggest that greater Pentagon involvement would help.
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Congress could vote on 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Thursday
The US Congress could vote as early as Thursday on repealing the government's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' ban on gays serving in the military.
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Gulf oil spill: Is MMS so corrupt it must be abolished?
Lawmakers are looking at how to reform the Minerals Management Service (MMS), which oversees offshore drilling. Reports before and after the Gulf oil spill show it is deeply intertwined with Big Oil.
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Counting the votes: Enough to repeal 'don't ask, don't tell'?
It appears as if Democrats will rally enough votes in the House to pass a repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell.' The situation in the Senate is less clear, though the bill seems set to get through committee.
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Obama to sever ties between drilling cops and Big Oil
As oil continues to spew into the Gulf of Mexico, the Obama administration moves to break up the agency tasked with both collecting royalties and policing Big Oil.
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Arbor Day quiz: What is America's national tree?
Hint: Sequoias, dogwood, and maple were runners-up for America's national tree, according to an Arbor Day Foundation poll. But rest assured, Congress made the final decision.
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Republicans relent, clear financial reform bill for debate
After three days of blocking tactics, Republicans allowed the financial reform bill to proceed. What's next? Weeks of amendments as Republicans – and some on the left – try to change the bill.
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Why financial reform bill is stalled - and why it isn't dead yet
The financial reform bill did not get enough votes to open debate in the Senate Monday. But there appears to be progress behind the scenes, and the bill could resurface this week.
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Healthcare reform 'fixes' pass, but is bipartisanship lost?
Other large social programs like Medicare and Social Security passed with strong bipartisan majorities, but healthcare reform and its package of 'fixes' lacked a single Republican vote. Republican leaders call the process used to pass healthcare reform a 'game-changer.'
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Senate Democrats beat back GOP alterations to healthcare 'fixes'
Senate Democrats prevail, so far, in keeping the package of healthcare 'fixes' intact. But the House will need to vote on it again to address small adjustments in the part dealing with student loans.
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