Sestak makes an early announcement
Washington (CNN) – Former Pennsylvania Congressman Joe Sestak announced an exploratory committee for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, with a campaign titled "Leadership for a Better America."
The Pennsylvania senatorial race is in 2016, making this an unusually early declaration, but Sestak said that the formation of the exploratory committee is not just for his Senate bid, but also to address problems that currently affect Pennsylvanians.
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Mayors Against Illegal Guns thanks Toomey
(CNN) - Mayors Against Illegal Guns advocacy group launched a new television ad on Thursday praising Republican Senator Pat Toomey for co-sponsoring an amendment to expand background checks in Pennsylvania
The organization is backed by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and is focused on supporting gun control. They say that the Toomey television spot is a two-week, six-figure ad buy.
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Toomey on gun laws: GOP didn't want to be seen helping Obama
(CNN) – Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania blamed political polarization for the failure of last month's background check compromise he reached with Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, saying some in his party simply voted against the measure to prevent the president from winning a legislative victory.
"In the end, it didn't pass because we're so politicized. There were some on my side who did not want to be seen helping the president do something he wanted to get done, just because the president wanted to do it," Toomey said.
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Co-author of gun compromise says Senate support an ‘open question’
(CNN) - A bipartisan deal to expand background checks on gun sales got a key conservative endorsement on Sunday, but one of its co-authors said Senate approval remained an "open question."
Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said he was "very favorably disposed" to the compromise measure that could come up for a vote as early as this week.
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Report: Republican Sen. Collins will support Manchin-Toomey gun compromise
(CNN) - Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, became the second Republican senator not directly involved in negotiating a bipartisan background check measure to say she will support it, according to a report Saturday by NBC News.
She described the bill as a responsible compromise between two senators – Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pennsylvania, and Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia – who have strong ratings from the National Rifle Association, according to NBC. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Illinois, is expected to support the deal.
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Explaining Schumer's curious absence
(CNN) – When a deal on expanding background checks was announced Wednesday, only two senators stood on stage – Republican Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia.
Absent was another lawmaker with a long history of advocating for gun control: Sen. Chuck Schumer, the New York Democrat.
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Senate Democratic leaders optimistic on gun legislation
Washington (CNN) - Senate Democratic leaders are increasingly optimistic they will get enough Republican votes Thursday to overcome a GOP-led filibuster against beginning debate on gun legislation.
With confidence the hurdle can be cleared, Democrats are planning for another two full weeks or longer of debate on the measure before completing action, a Democratic leadership aide told CNN.
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Toomey joins talks on background checks
(CNN) - As gun legislation talks between Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, and Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Oklahoma, stretch on with no compromise over a provision that would include background checks for all gun purchases, Manchin has begun talks with another conservative Republican, Sen. Pat Toomey (Pennsylvania), sources familiar with the talks confirm to CNN.
A Senate Democratic leadership aide says they "feel positive" about the prospects of brokering a deal that would include a background check provision, but "it's not done and could still fall apart."
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Pennsylvania senator endorses Romney
(CNN) - Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania threw his weight behind Mitt Romney on Tuesday, two weeks ahead of the state's presidential primary.
"I am proud to endorse Governor Mitt Romney as the Republican nominee for president. I am confident Gov. Romney will be a great president and will return our country to the conservative principles that make our nation great," Toomey said in a statement.
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Fearing earmark creep, senators propose new ban
Washington (CNN) - A year after Congress voluntarily agreed to give up earmarks - pork barrel spending projects critics say cost too much and may have an outsized influence on some lawmakers - the special-interest provisions have crept slowly back into legislation, two senators warned on Wednesday.
"There is an effort under way to go back to earmarking as usual, as it used to be," said Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pennsylvania. "I think that would be a disaster for our country and our congress and we intend to do our very best to prevent that."
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