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Nine Senate Democrats this week proposed that states be given another chance to ratify an amendment to the Constitution affirming the equal treatment of men and women, 30 years after the amendment fell just short of being added to the country's founding document.

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and eight other Democrats proposed a joint resolution that would remove the 1982 deadline for getting 38 states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). By 1982, the ERA had been ratified by 35 states, three short of the 38 needed to become an amendment.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Tuesday announced the retirement of House Parliamentarian John Sullivan next month, and said Sullivan would be succeeded by Tom Wickham.

Sullivan served in the Office of the Parliamentarian for more than 25 years, and will resign March 31. Wickham has served as deputy parliamentarian since 2005.

"John Sullivan's retirement is a loss for the people's House, which he has served with grace and distinction," Boehner said. 

"Tom Wickham, in addition to being a master of the House's rules and traditions, has the sound judgment and steady temperament required to serve as parliamentarian. Tom has earned the respect of lawmakers and staff on both sides of the aisle, and I have every confidence in him."

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Ten House Democrats have lent their faces to a campaign against California's Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriage, and had their photographs released this week in support of that campaign.

Proposition 8 was struck down by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals earlier in February, but supporters of the ban are expected to ask the 9th Circuit to reconsider that ruling.

The resolution recognizes Houston as a "world icon and a once-in-a-lifetime talent."

Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) introduced legislation on Tuesday that would make it easier for local courthouses across the country to install metal detectors and other security devices, a response to what he said are signs of increasing violence at courthouses.

"A rash of incidents in late 2011 raised concerns about security at local courthouses, especially in rural and suburban communities," he said.

The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, which failed last year to reach an agreement to reduce the deficit by $1.5 trillion over 10 years, has had its website shut down.

The so-called "supercommittee" is still listed on the House and Senate websites, which list congressional committees, but clicking on the supercommittee website leads to a message that says the site "www.deficitreduction.gov" cannot be found.

The page was up as of late last year, even though the last hearing of the supercommittee took place in November.

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) on Monday afternoon accused Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich for making racist comments toward President Obama by calling him a "food stamp" president.

"Unfortunately, there's still people in this country who think that the President can't be their president because of his race," Cohen said. "Some even refer to him as a food stamp president."

Republican Sen. Scott Brown (Mass.) — who is running for reelection in a traditionally Democratic state — told state officials in Massachusetts over the weekend that he is the person most able to work with both parties in the Senate.

"I'm the most bipartisan person in the entire United States Senate," he said, according to a report posted by the Boston Herald.

Rep. John Yarmuth (D-Ky.) and 17 other House Democrats this week proposed the creation of a Muhammad Ali legacy grant program that would allow the State Department to offer grant money to groups that work for human rights and other causes.

"Muhammad Ali is a champion in every sense of the word," Yarmuth said of the famous boxer, who this week celebrated his 70th birthday.

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) said late last week that the United States should lower the voting age by two years, to 16.

"Why shouldn't 16-year-old vote?" Ellison tweeted last week, according to Minnesota's Fridley Patch. "They can drive. Some have jobs. Let's empower our youth."