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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.

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Why Sarah Palin's pick could triumph in Nebraska's US Senate race in fall

Tuesday's victory by Deb Fischer, who had the endorsement of Sarah Palin in the Nebraska GOP Senate primary, is an upset. But Fischer may in fact be the strongest Republican to run against Democrat Bob Kerrey, analysts say.
Nebraska's GOP Senate primary: another tea party surprise?

A late surge for Sarah Palin's pick for the Nebraska primary could topple yet another GOP establishment candidate, in a race that could help determine control of the US Senate.
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.
Obama: Taxpayers shouldn't subsidize oil industry's record profits (+video)

Moments after Obama made his election-year appeal in the White House Rose Garden, the Senate failed to reach the threshold of votes needed to proceed to a measure that would have ended the subsidies.
Will Blunt amendment backfire on Republicans?

Republicans cast the Blunt amendment as a fight for religious freedoms, but it put at least one of their own, Sen. Scott Brown, in a tough spot – and he could be crucial to GOP efforts to retake the Senate.
A Congress with no room for Olympia Snowe and other centrists?

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R) of Maine is the latest centrist to depart Congress. For several years now, the partisans have been staying and the moderates have been either losing or leaving.
If Bob Kerrey runs for Senate, can he save the majority for Democrats?

Former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D) of Nebraska has until Thursday to decide whether to try for his old seat, being vacated by Sen. Ben Nelson. Even if he does, Nebraska has shifted to the right since he last served.
Catholic furor over birth control rule turns Democrats on one another

The Catholic Church's anger over a proposed federal rule to force church-affiliated organizations to offer health plans covering birth control has provided Republicans with an opportunity – and Democrats with a problem.
Without Ben Nelson, can Democrats keep control of Senate in 2012?

The decision by Sen. Ben Nelson (D) of Nebraska not to run for reelection in 2012 is a 'blow' to Democrats' efforts to retain their Senate majority, analysts say.
'Stimulus 2.0'? Senate rejects bid to revive parts of Obama jobs bill.

Senate Republicans and moderate Democrats blocked the first attempt by to pass a scaled-down version of the $447 billion Obama jobs bill, calling it a 'bailout.'
New Obama jobs bill: Do too many Democrats view it as 'bailout lite'?

The White House is pushing a new $35 billion jobs bill to stave off layoffs for teachers, firefighters, and police. But moderate Democrats are balking at parts of the plan.
Plan B on Obama jobs bill is to take it up piecemeal. What will fly?

Parts that deal with tax cuts and transportation projects stand a better chance of getting enough GOP support to pass. Tax-the-rich elements and extra aid to local governments? Probably not.
President Obama jobs bill fails to pass Senate

President Obama and others expected Republicans to vote against the jobs bill but Obama says, 'we can't take 'no' for an answer.'
Why Democrats proposed a 5% surtax on millionaires that won't pass

With Republicans against higher taxes, there's virtually no chance that a surtax on millionaires will pass Congress. But there are strong political reasons for Senate Democrats to put it on the table.
Targeting the rich, Obama takes Democrats back to their roots

By saying the rich should pay their 'fair share' in taxes, President Obama is taking up an argument that Democrats have largely avoided for years. With a presidential election and 'supercommittee' budget cuts in the balance, the political stakes could hardly be higher.
Bill to chop Big Oil's tax breaks falls short – but makes its point

Senate Republicans halt a bill that would take away multibillion-dollar tax breaks for oil companies. Wednesday, Democrats are expected stop a bill that would force Obama's hand on Gulf drilling permits. 'It’s summertime symbolic politics' in Washington.
Tea Party Express chairman to Congress: 'Make the hard decisions'

Tea Party Express's Amy Kremer, at a Monitor breakfast on April 5, discussed the wisdom of endorsing candidates and whether to target House Speaker John Boehner for defeat in 2012.
House votes to strip EPA of power to curb carbon emissions

The House voted Thursday to bar the EPA from regulating carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases. The Senate on Wednesday rejected a similar proposal. Still, the fight is far from over.
Robert Reich
Government shutdown would be a blow to the public

Government shutdown can be avoided if Obama can end the budget stalemate and remind Americans that they have obligations to one another
Time to oust GOP's Boehner and Cantor? Full tea party not yet on board. (video)

The tea party movement is not yet on the same page over whether House Speaker John Boehner and majority leader Eric Cantor should be targeted in 2012 for not pushing harder on budget cuts.
Census data show Hispanic boom. How it could impact US politics.

The US Hispanic population grew 43 percent during the past decade to 50.5 million – more than half the country's population growth. The demographic trend could impact elections.
All eyes on GOP House freshmen in budget impasse. Will they budge?

The Senate on Wednesday rejected both the big budget cuts of the House bill and the much smaller cuts of a Senate alternative. The ball is once again in the court of the 87 GOP House freshmen elected on last year's tea party wave.
Next up for Senate: votes on two budget plans, more than $50 billion apart

The budget plans will give both Democrats and Republicans a sense of where the votes are and a road map for going forward.
Stefan Karlsson
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.
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.