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.
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Second Senate Democrat Comes Out Against Iran Nuclear Deal
Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, a key Democrat in the upper chamber, announced his opposition to the nuclear deal with Iran today, becoming the second Senate Democrat to do so. “I have looked into my own soul, and my devotion to principle may once again lead me to an unpopular course, but if Iran…Melissa Quinn -
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11 Questions Lawmakers Want Answered in Probe of Planned Parenthood’s Federal Funding
Republicans on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform are investigating how Planned Parenthood is using the federal funds that the organization receives. Reps. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, sent letters to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell and Planned Parenthood President and CEO Cecile Richards inquiring about Planned Parenthood’s “potentially…Kate Scanlon -
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Local Voters Throw Water on Higher Taxes Sought by Firefighters Union, State Lawmakers
PROVIDENCE, R.I.—In a battle of political wills in Rhode Island, local voters so far have held their ground against efforts by union leaders and state officials to make them pay more for fire and rescue services. State lawmakers and local activists who side with the voters, however, see the situation as an ongoing threat to…Kevin Mooney -
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Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Asks Treasury Department to Return $29,500 Taken From Innocent Dairy Farmers
A bipartisan group of lawmakers on the House Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee is coming together to ask the Treasury Department to return nearly $30,000 it seized from Maryland dairy farmers in 2012. The letter, sent August 11 to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, calls on the agency to return $29,500 the Internal Revenue Service seized…Melissa Quinn -
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Democratic Senator Defends Planned Parenthood Funding, After Revealing She Has Not Seen Videos
Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said Tuesday the federal government should continue to fund Planned Parenthood, revealing she had not watched the covert videos showing top officials from the group discussing the sale of fetal tissue. Gillibrand told The Blaze she had no intention of watching the series of videos. “I think what Planned Parenthood does around…Natalie Johnson -
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Senate Republicans Allege Collusion Between EPA and Environmental Group Over Climate Regulations
A day after the Obama administration finalized a “historic” plan to regulate carbon dioxide emissions, Republicans on a prominent Senate committee are alleging that an outside group colluded with the Environmental Protection Agency to create the standards. The allegations are detailed in a report released by the majority staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on…Alex Anderson -
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How Lawmakers Can Beat Planned Parenthood’s Stalling Tactics
On Monday, federal district court Judge William Orrick ordered the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) not to publish undercover video taken at the National Abortion Federation’s (NAF) annual meetings in 2014 and 2015. CMP has released five undercover videos exposing Planned Parenthood’s program of selling aborted babies’ body parts—and they promise that more videos are…Hans von Spakovsky -
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How This GOP Senator Plans to Protect Religious Groups From Providing Health Insurance That Violates Beliefs
A Republican senator is rolling out a new bill that would protect religious organizations and other groups from having to provide health insurance coverage to employees that poses religious or moral objections, The Daily Signal has learned. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., introduced the Health Care Conscience Rights Act today. The legislation protects religious organizations, private…Melissa Quinn -
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Did Your Senator Vote to Defund Planned Parenthood? See Here
A Senate bill to strip Planned Parenthood of its $500 million in federal funding fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance, gaining the support of 53 senators. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., voted no, which allows him to bring it back for a vote at a later time. Sen. Lindsey Graham R-S.C.,…Kelsey Bolar -
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What’s Wrong With the Senate Energy Bill
The Senate is attempting to move forward with allegedly non-controversial legislation, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015, which, according to proponents, contains no “poison pills.” But for anyone who wants to swallow a strong dose of government intervention and anti-market energy policy, this bill is chock-full of poison pills. Like the last two major…Nicolas Loris -
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How Rich Corporate Elites Are Lobbying Lawmakers to Crush Marriage Advocates
What do you do when you can’t persuade the American people to embrace your values? You use government coercion to impose those values on people. And you get rich corporate elites to lobby government on your behalf. That’s what’s taking place right now in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s ruling on gay marriage. Last…Ryan T. Anderson -
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Democratic Lawmaker: ‘Black Lives Matter’ Protesters Should Be in Front of Planned Parenthoods
Democrat Bill Patmon, a state representative in Ohio, has introduced a bill to end Ohio state funding to Planned Parenthood. “Five thousand, four hundred and ninety-nine abortions are in Cuyahoga County, which I happen to represent,” Patmon said in a speech Tuesday. “And 63 percent of them are black women, 63 percent of them are of a certain hue…Daily Signal Staff -
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Senate Will Attempt to Defund Planned Parenthood Before Recess
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday the Senate will vote on a bill to defund Planned Parenthood before lawmakers leave Capitol Hill next week for August recess. Republican legislators have pushed heavily to strip federal funding from the group following the release of three undercover videos showing top Planned Parenthood officials discussing the sale…Natalie Johnson -
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What John Kerry Gets Wrong About the Senate, Treaties and the Iran Deal
At a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Secretary of State John Kerry was asked why the administration did not submit the Iran nuclear agreement to the Senate for its advice and consent as an Article II treaty. Kerry responded that the agreement wasn’t treated as a treaty “because you can’t pass a treaty…Steven Groves -
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House Rejects Senate Highway Plan, Vows to Pass Short-Term Bill Without Saving Export-Import Bank
In a blunt rejection of the Senate’s attempt to enact a longer-term fix for the nation’s roads, rails and bridges, the House of Representatives plans to pass a patch extending the Highway Trust Fund for three months. The House then plans to quickly leave town for the month-long August recess, signaling that it has no…Melissa Quinn -
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One Step Lawmakers Could Take to Boost Job Creation
For the last 30 years start-ups have been steadily declining as a share of total businesses in the U.S. This is especially worrisome given that start-ups account for most of the new job creation in the economy. Entrepreneurship is a key source of innovation in our economy, as well as an important factor driving productivity…David Allen -
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How Senate Conservatives Plan to Challenge GOP Leadership
Conservatives in the U.S. Senate are gearing up to challenge Republican leadership today, setting their sights on a plan to repeal Obamacare with 51 votes—a measure that will easily pass if the 54 GOP senators support it. The move comes after several contentious days of fighting over the GOP leadership’s priorities. Senate Majority Leader Mitch…Rob Bluey -
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Lawmakers Introduce Defund Planned Parenthood Legislation
Lawmakers in the House and Senate have introduced legislation to cut off federal funding for Planned Parenthood in the wake of two undercover videos sparking concern about the organization’s abortion practices. Rep. Diane Black, R-Tenn., introduced the Defund Planned Parenthood Act, and Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., offered corresponding legislation in the Senate. In a speech on the House…Kate Scanlon -
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15 Questions on Iran That Should Be Asked in Senate Hearing
On Thursday morning the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), chaired by Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., will meet to hold its first hearing on the Iran Nuclear Agreement. Appearing before the Committee will be three administration witnesses, including Secretary of State John Kerry, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. There is a significant level of concern…Joshua Meservey -
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Why the Senate Plan to Save the Highway Trust Fund Falls Short
Last week, the House passed an $8-billion bailout of the Highway Trust Fund using gimmicky offsets and tax increases to finance new highway and transit spending through mid-December. Not to be outdone, the Senate released its 1,030-page, six-year highway deal, including $48 billion in offsets that make even more extensive use of tax increases and…Michael Sargent