Prospects for border legislation in doubt
Washington (CNN) – Prospects for passage of a plan to address the southern border crisis before Congress leaves for its summer recess were in doubt Tuesday as Republican congressional leaders blasted President Barack Obama for not engaging them and the top Senate Democrat dismissed GOP proposals as “crazy.”
Against that contentious backdrop, Senate Democrats unveiled a slimmed down $2.7 billion emergency spending bill that lacks key changes to border policies that Republicans have demanded as a condition for approving new funds.
Senator: White House apologized for not notifying Congress of prisoner swap
Washington (CNN) - The chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee said a top White House national security official called her Monday night and apologized for not providing Congress with 30 days’ notice, as is required by law, before transferring five Guantanamo detainees in the recent swap for prisoner of war Bowe Bergdahl.
“It’s very disappointing that there was not a level of trust to justify alerting us to that,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, told reporters. “I had a call from the White House last night, from (Deputy National Security Adviser) Tony Blinken, apologizing for it.”
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Senate group making changes to authorization resolution
Washington (CNN) - A bipartisan group of eight senators is working on an alternative resolution on Syria that would set key benchmarks that must be met to avoid a military strike in the war-torn country.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week passed a resolution granting authorization to the president for U.S. military action in Syria, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Monday decided to delay holding a full Senate vote due to unfolding developments for a potential diplomatic solution.
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Senate negotiators seek new compromise on immigration
Washington (CNN) - A bipartisan group of senators is scrambling to reach a fresh compromise they hope can propel a proposal to overhaul U.S. immigration policy toward passage in that chamber and provide momentum heading into the Republican-controlled House.
A deal remained elusive, however, on Tuesday evening and it was uncertain whether the stark differences that have stalled immigration reform for years in Congress could be bridged with time running out on debate.
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Political fight over student loans heats up
Washington (CNN) – The political battle over legislation to reduce the costs of student loans ramped up Thursday.
Democrats accused Republicans of walking away from an issue critical to middle-class Americans just as Republicans proposed several specific options to offset the billions of dollars needed to extend lower interest rates for another year.
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Standoff in Congress threatens highway construction funding
Washington CNN) - With less than two weeks before federal money runs out for transportation projects across the country, a partisan showdown is developing between Senate Democrats and House Republicans over passing a new bill.
The standoff, based on sharply differing views about the overall expense of the bill and how to pay for it, jeopardizes thousands of road and bridge construction projects.
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Breaking: Congress signs off on payroll tax cut deal
(CNN) - Congressional negotiators on Thursday signed off on an agreement to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment benefits while avoiding a fee cut for Medicare doctors for the rest of the year.
The measure now goes to the House and Senate for final votes.
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