Free Republic

The Senate advanced President Trump ’s attorney general nominee on Tuesday, paving the way for his confirmation later this week. Senators voted 55-44 to end debate on William Barr’s nomination, more than the simple majority needed for him to overcome the filibuster and ultimately be confirmed. The Senate is expected to take a final vote on Barr’s nomination as late as Thursday, with Trump’s pick on a glide path to confirmation. A vote could take place on Wednesday if senators agree to yield back time. Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) and Doug Jones (Ala.) voted with...

If some (i.e. Harry Reid) in the Senate seek unanimous consent to go straight to a vote on Cronybus, but Cruz (and others who may wish to join him) delay this move by forcing Reid to hold a cloture vote - and thus stall the vote in the Senate on Cronybus by 30 hours - would you support this if it led to a short-term funding measure? While this move may upset Boehner, who has now bent his will to Obama's desire, would you support Cruz (or whomever may wish to do this - Warren?) doing this?

Comprehensive immigration reform legislation passed a significant hurdle Tuesday when the Senate voted overwhelmingly to begin consideration of the lightning-rod bill. Thirty Republicans, including Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), voted to take up the measure in the 84-15 vote, revealing a deep well of potential support. -snip- The other GOP "yes" votes were McConnell and Sens. John Cornyn (Texas)

WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) issued the following statement after voting against raising the debt ceiling. “After five years of out-of-control White House spending, including a jobless, trillion-dollar stimulus, now is hardly the time to give the President carte blanche to continue his spending spree. I voted against raising the debt ceiling because we need sensible reforms to cut down on spending and restrain Washington going forward.”

Sen. Ted Cruz is about to make life a little more difficult for his Republican "friends." The Texas Republican plans to object to a simple-majority, up-or-down vote on the debt ceiling, his office confirms. The clean debt-ceiling bill will then need 60 votes to pass the Senate, meaning at least five Republicans will have to join the entire Democratic caucus for it to pass. Much of the saga over the debt ceiling has played out in the Republican controlled-House. But the Senate may not be without its own bit of drama. An aye vote on the debt-ceiling increase isn't exactly...

Americans for a Conservative Direction, an affiliate of the Silicon Valley-backed FWD.us advocacy group, on Friday launched a remarkable $750,000 ad campaign heaping praise on the House GOP for its new plan for immigration reform. President Barack Obama signaled Friday in a Google Hangout interview that he was open to the GOP terms, meaning reform is looking more likely than it did a week ago. The 10-day buy includes national broadcast TV and cable TV, plus talk radio. The ad, produced by FP1 Strategies, ends with type on the screen saying: “HOUSE REPUBLICANS WANT TO FIX IMMIGRATION – STRENGTHEN OUR...

Despite a crowded field of Republicans seeking to unseat U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, voters are well-served to support him for a third term. Within a decade of his first election, Cornyn emerged as a party leader in the Senate, quickly climbing to the position of minority whip — a role in which he wields tremendous influence in the 100-member body. While several of his primary opponents articulately express what they see as Cornyn’s complacency in supporting an all-too-powerful federal government, none can be considered a serious challenger. The seven candidates seeking to unseat Cornyn are hotel industry executive Curt Cleaver;...

Senate just came into session. Happily, Dingy Harry is sparing us any commentary early on this morning, as is McConnell. Debate goes until 12:10, at which time there is 30 minutes reserved for majority and minority leaders , then the vote. Will there be any more GOP intramural fireworks on the senate floor?

On Morning Joe Thursday morning, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) tepidly praised Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) for his symbolic filibuster, before severely criticizing his “intellectually dishonest” tactics to defund ObamaCare that Coburn said were misleading Republican voters. “I’m finishing up nine years in the Senate,” Coburn said. “Nobody has a higher conservative rating than I do. I’m now no longer a conservative according to the standards that have been set by the expectation of this process.” “I’m getting all sorts of e-mails from people that supported me, because they have been misled about what’s possible.” Coburn said. “Do people not think...

Oklahoma Republican Sen. Tom Coburn criticized Texas’ Sen. Ted Cruz for misleading the American people over Obamacare. “To create the impression that we can actually defund Obamacare, when the only thing we control, and barely, is the House of Representatives, is not intellectually honest,” Coburn said on Thursday’s Morning Joe.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz had a very clear target in his don’t-call-it-a-filibuster speech: The Republican Party. Yes, Cruz did bash Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) for not allowing any amendments to the legislation that will, eventually, keep the government funded beyond Sept. 30 while stripping the GOP-backed provision to defund Obamacare from the bill. But he devoted the bulk of his time to calling out his own side. He lambasted supporters of “fake” and “symbolic” votes — a not-so-subtle reference to the original plan pushed by House GOP leaders on defunding Obamacare. He repeatedly insisted that anyone who doesn’t...

A number of Sen. Ted Cruz's colleagues on Tuesday expressed frustration at the Texas Republican's tactics in the fight over ObamaCare and government funding. As Cruz prepared to speak for hours on the Senate floor to try to delay work on the government-funding measure, many fellow GOP senators exited a conference meeting said they thought his strategy would backfire on their party. -snip- Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine.) Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.)

John Cornyn about an hour ago I intend to support the House bill that defunds Obamacare and will vote against a bill that funds it.

After sending a subtantial volume of email in last few weeks to Sens. Chambliss and Isakson, I was unable to get through on any of their phone comment/contact lines this morning. And I will keep trying. I hope this means we are frying the phone lines in opposition to the cloture vote on S.B. 744 early this afternoon. Today is the day when your activism and loud(er) voice can make the difference. Please take a moment... Spend a dime.

The nomination of Craig Becker to the National Labor Relations Board was just defeated on a cloture vote 52-33. Sen. Ben Nelson (D., Neb.), Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D., Ark.), and Sen. Scott Brown (R., Mass.) all voted against cloture.

Guest post from Americans for Tax Reform If the Senate’s schedule remains unchanged, a cloture vote on Obama's nominee to the National Labor Relations Board, Craig Becker, is expected Thursday, February 4. Such a move will disenfranchise the Senate’s newest member, Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown. Democratic leadership reaffirmed numerous times that the Senate would not vote on any health care legislation until Senator Brown is seated. Harry Reid: “We’re not going to rush into anything. We’re going to wait until the new senator arrives to do more on health care.” Jim Webb: “It is vital that we restore the respect...

Word on the street is that these senators are looking for guidance as to how they should vote on cloture: Bond (R-Mo.), Bingaman (D-N.M.), Burr (R-N.C.), Boxer (D-Calif.), Cochran (R-Miss.), Conrad (D-N.D.), Ensign (R-Nev.), Levin (D-Mich.), Gregg (R-N.H.), Nelson (D-Neb.), Hatch (R-Utah), Webb (D-Va.) Please render some clear and unambiguous guidance to these wandering souls.

Senate Republicans turn back Democratic plan requiring start of U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq within 120 days

US Senate Floor Schedule Thursday, May 1, 2003 9:15 a.m. [EDT]: The Senate convenes and resumes consideration of the nomination of Priscilla Richman Owen to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit. 10:15 a.m. [EDT]: Roll Call Vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination of Priscilla Owen to be a U.S. Circuit Judge. Thereafter: The Senate will proceed to the consideration of the nomination of Edward Prado to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit. ================================ Being shown now on Cspan2.

ESTRADA NOMINATION ACTIVISM ALERT -- CALL NOW!TOLL FREE NUMBER1-877-762-8762The following DemocRAT Senators need to be contacted TODAY to ask them to support the Motion to Invoke Cloture to end debate on Miguel Estrada's nomination to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Republicans already have the votes to confirm Mr. Estrada -- what they need now are votes to Invoke Cloture and shut off debate that has been going on for three weeks. Please call TODAY and tell them to VOTE "YES" on the Motion to Invoke Cloture! Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) D.C. Office: (202) 224-5623 State Office: (317) 554-0750bayh.senate.gov/WebMail.htmlSen. Jeff...