U.S. Senate News

This section focuses on the upper chamber of Congress, from major policy debates to confirmation hearings. The Daily Signal provides a conservative look at Senate priorities.
Filter articles by
  • opinion

    In 1 Chart, the Differences Between the House and Senate Tax Reform Bills

    The House and Senate have now each passed different versions of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Both bills are a big improvement to America’s out-of-date tax code and could boost the economy by almost 3 percent, leading to more jobs and higher wages for working Americans. Both bills cut taxes for individuals and businesses, largely…
    Read More
  • opinion

    This DC Mom Loves School Choice, and Senate Bill Would Greatly Expand It

    Two years ago, Christmas came early for Kofi Minor and her daughter, Elisa Thomas. “She was struggling in school,” says Minor, a resident of the District of Columbia. “When you have a child that is 5 or 6, it is imperative that a school be able to balance academics and nurturing.” She says she had…
    Read More
  • opinion

    Senate Should Repeal Regressive Tax on the Uninsured

    Senate Democrats who fret over the distributional effects of tax cuts should thank their GOP colleagues for giving them the chance this week to vote on repealing one of the most regressive taxes: the Obamacare tax on the uninsured. This tax disproportionately falls on those with incomes less than $50,000, while exempting many households earning…
    Read More
  • opinion

    4 Ways the Senate Could Ruin Good Tax Reform

    The Senate version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has successfully passed both the Finance and Budget committees and is now on the Senate floor. As it currently stands, the Senate bill is a big improvement to America’s out-of-date tax code and could boost the economy by almost 3 percent. There is a lot…
    Read More
  • news

    As Vote Nears, Where GOP Senators Are on Tax Reform

    With no Democrat senators signalling support for the tax reform bill and 51 votes needed to pass the measure, every Republican senator’s vote matters. With the tax vote expected this week, it’s still unclear how many Republican senators support the legislation. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has not taken an official position on the Senate tax…
    Read More
  • news

    The Secretive, Taxpayer-Financed Settlement Fund Used by Lawmakers Accused of Sexual Harassment

    Staffers who are the targets of unwanted sexual advances on Capitol Hill should not have to endure a lengthy mediation process and pay the legal bills as lawmakers secretly draw on a mysterious slush fund to settle the accusations against them, an advocate for taxpayers argues. In the event of a monetary settlement of sexual…
    Read More
  • opinion

    After Months of Inaction, Senate Republicans Must Seize Chance to Pass Tax Reform

    After nearly 11 months of careening from one disappointment to another, Congress is on the verge of a major breakthrough on tax reform. I won’t begrudge you if you’re pessimistic, but past performance does not always indicate future results. And when it comes to the aptly named Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, there is reason…
    Read More
  • opinion

    8 Senators Announce Support for Colonel Under Fire for Marriage Views

    Air Force Col. Leland Bohannon needed reinforcements—and thanks to eight senators, he got them. The Christian combat pilot has been grounded since spring, when his superiors decided that the colonel’s decision not to sign a “certificate of appreciation” for a same-sex spouse was enough to suspend him from duty. For Bohannon, a 20-year veteran with…
    Read More
  • news

    Mistrial: Democrat Senator Escapes Conviction After Jury Deadlocks

    The jury in the corruption trial of Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., said for a second time Thursday that it is deadlocked on the counts of the indictment, prompting U.S. District Judge William Walls to declare a mistrial. “We cannot reach a unanimous decision,” a note from the jurors read. “Nor are we willing to move…
    Read More
  • news

    It’s the Senate’s Turn After House OKs GOP Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

    Following the House’s 227-205 vote Thursday to pass its version of the Republicans’ tax reform bill, all eyes now move to the Senate, where a committee vote is expected Friday. “I commend [House] Speaker Paul Ryan, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady, and all the members of the House who have worked tirelessly to…
    Read More
  • opinion

    In 1 Chart, the Differences Between the House and Senate Tax Reform Bills

    The House has now passed its version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The Senate is still working on the final details of its reform package. The Senate plan improves on the House bill in many places and misses important opportunities elsewhere. Here are the differences you need to know about:
    Read More
  • opinion

    6 Ways the Senate Improves the House Tax Reform Bill

    The House version of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is a long-awaited step toward updating America’s tax code. If you’re a middle-class taxpayer, the bill has a lot to like. Tax rates are lowered, the standard deduction is doubled, the child tax credit is increased to $1,600, and a parent and non-child dependent credit…
    Read More
  • opinion

    Congress Could Soon Face a Budget Fight. Here’s How Lawmakers Can Rein in Spending.

    Two thousand seventy-five dollars. That’s every American’s personal share of the fiscal year 2017 budget deficit. The total deficit? Six hundred sixty-six billion dollars. It’s the American people who are on the hook for Congress’ incessant spending appetite. The good news, though, is that Congress has a chance to address deficits and overspending as we…
    Read More
  • opinion

    A Tale of 2 Tax Bills: Comparing the House, Senate Reform Plans

    Last week, the House GOP released the first concrete details on how Republicans plan to update the federal tax code. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provides tax relief to many Americans and has the potential to facilitate real economic growth through important business tax reforms. While the House proposal as a whole is certainly…
    Read More
  • news

    How the Senate Tax Plan Differs From the House Legislation

    Senate Republicans released a tax plan Thursday distinct from the House plan in that it delays the corporate tax cut until 2019, but would slightly cut the top individual rate and keeps the status quo in the number of brackets. The Senate Finance Committee proposal goes a step further than the House plan, released a…
    Read More
  • news

    Why This State Lawmaker Wants the State and Local Tax Deduction Repealed

    Repealing the state and local tax deduction on federal income taxes is critical to boosting the economy, a state lawmaker from Pennsylvania says. “I think if you look at the general principle of tax reform, it is not for more spending in government. It is actually to incentivize our economy and grow our economy,”  state…
    Read More
  • opinion

    The Senate Voted to Protect Banks, but It’s Actually a Win for You

    January marked the start of the first serious effort at federal deregulation in decades. Yet the massive pile of Dodd-Frank rules has remained largely untouched—until last week. On Tuesday night, the Senate exercised its power under the Congressional Review Act to repeal Dodd-Frank’s controversial arbitration rule, which would have banned many financial consumers from using…
    Read More
  • news

    McConnell Readies Senate Confirmation Votes for 4 Appeals Judges

    Senate Republicans are heading into four votes this week to confirm appeals court judges. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell served notice late last week that the Senate will consider four of President Donald Trump’s nominees to federal circuit courts, the powerful appeals panels that give the final word on the overwhelming majority of cases in U.S….
    Read More
  • news

    Citing Tax Reform, Nominations, Sen. David Perdue Explains His Push for 24/7 Senate Schedule

    This is a transcript of an interview Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., gave The Daily Signal on Tuesday.  Rachel Del Guidice: Hello, everyone, and welcome to The Daily Signal’s Facebook Live. I’m Rachel del Guidice and I am joined today by Sen. David Perdue from the great state of Georgia. Senator, thank you for joining us…
    Read More
  • news

    Conservative Lawmakers List Main Goals for Tax Reform

    Conservative lawmakers said any tax reform plan needs to benefit the middle class and begin to address the national debt. “Let’s just focus on designing a tax code that does those three things: allows families to keep more of their money, simplifies a totally cumbersome and ridiculous code, and one that will foster and promote…
    Read More