Senators
The Senate Foreign Affairs Committee conducted a hearing on the nominations of four diplomats to serve as ambassadors to Denmark, the United Kingdom, France, and Romania. At the hearing, nominees Laurie Fulton, Louis Susman, Charles Rivkin, and Mark Gitenstein each presented their qualifications and vision for their respective posts. The
Senators
The Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing on missile defense on June 16, 2009, to discuss the 2009 budget request for the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). The hearing focused on the funding and testing of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, with Deputy Secretary of Defense William Lynn, General
Senators
The U.S. military is preparing for a significant shift in its missile defense strategy, moving away from midcourse phased Multiple Kill Vehicle research and the Kinetic Interceptor program. Instead, the focus will be on developing an early intercept capability, utilizing near-term interceptors and leveraging sensors in command and control
Political parties
Iowa and Wisconsin have had no balance budget mandate since their inception, and Oregon voters required a balanced budget in the state constitution in 1930. Illinois is considered a low-performing state in terms of transparency. Republican state Senate candidate Suzanne Simpson criticized Democratic leaders for being secretive when crafting the
Political parties
Sen. Tom Harkin, a prominent Democrat, has returned to Washington state politics after a long absence. He recently visited Spokane to campaign for Sen. Maria Cantwell's re-election, highlighting the importance of agriculture and biofuels in the region's economy. Harkin's visit marks the beginning of
Political parties
U.S. Senator Robert Menendez denounced President Bush's proposed budget as a burden on the middle class, while providing greater benefits for the wealthy and oil companies. Menendez stated that the budget increases college costs, rises health insurance premiums, and adds $4 trillion to the nation's
Political parties
A skeptical Senate Judiciary Committee questioned the Bush administration's legal justification for its domestic eavesdropping program, with members from both parties calling for a special federal court ruling on whether the practice violates U.S. law. In testimony, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales defended the enhanced surveillance program as
Political parties
The Senate Republicans re-elected Bob Dole as their leader, but then undercut him by dumping his assistant leader, Senator Alan K. Simpson of Wyoming. Dole's new assistant leader, Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, gained the position after campaigning on his ties to Newt Gingrich, who is soon to
Political parties
Senator Richard C. Shelby's switch from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party has not gone unchallenged. The Senator, who received $2.8 million in contributions during his 1992 campaign, now invites Democratic contributors to write him letters requesting refunds. Shelby's office claims they will verify
Legislative bills
The bipartisan collaboration that had emerged when House Republicans joined Democrats to pass the crime bill on Sunday appears to have been short-lived, as Senate Republicans now threaten to block the bill in the upper chamber. Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole has collected signatures from 40 Republicans who have committed
Legislative bills
The fate of the anti-crime legislation hangs in the balance as the Senate reaches a stalemate over the crime bill, with Democrats calling for a vote and Republicans demanding more changes. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell says that agreeing to Republican demands would doom the legislation, while Senate Minority Leader
