Senate

Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) introduced a bill Thursday that aims to eliminate racial profiling by law enforcement.

“As a matter of practice, racial profiling just doesn’t work,” Cardin said. “The more resources spent investigating individuals because of their race, religion, national origin or ethnicity, the fewer resources directed at suspects who are actually demonstrating illegal behavior.”

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) introduced a bill Thursday that would prohibit discrimination in adoption or foster care placements based on sexual orientation, gender identity or marital status.

“Every child deserves a loving home, and it is just wrong to keep children from a brighter future with a loving family by discriminating against adoptive parents based on their sexual orientation, marital status or gender identity,” Gillibrand said.

Paul argues the government has eroded protections for electronic communications over the past few decades.

Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said Thursday that they’d introduce a bill to offset sequestration cuts with revenue from closing tax loopholes.

Whitehouse said the Cut Unjustifiable Tax Loopholes Act gives lawmakers five different loophole options to cut. He said all five loopholes would add up to $127 billion, while only $80 billion is needed to replace sequestration cuts in fiscal year 2013.

“We should get rid of some of these things even if we had no deficit because they are an embarrassment,” Levin said on the Senate floor Thursday. “I’m talking about collecting taxes that should be paid.”

The Senate voted 59-33 for an amendment that would reduce crop insurance subsidies for the wealthiest farmers.

Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) introduced the amendment, which reduces the crop insurance subsidies by 15 percent for farmers with a gross annual income of more than $750,000.

The Senate rejected a farm bill amendment that would have ended all taxpayer subsidies for tobacco farmers.

Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) introduced the amendment, which failed on a 44 to 52 vote — the amendment was held to a 60-vote threshold.

“Should taxpayers continue to subsidize tobacco? I think the answer is no,” Feinstein said ahead of the vote on Thursday. “We have to say no to tobacco in America.”

The Senate voted 97-0 on Thursday to confirm the nomination of Srikanth Srinivasan to serve on the D.C. Circuit Court.

“He has the background and the skills, and perhaps more importantly, the temperament to serve as a judge on the D.C. Court,” Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said ahead of the vote. “Mr. Srinivasan has a razor sharp legal mind.”

The Texas senator challenged Sen. John McCain over warnings about the dangers to the GOP of blocking a budget conference. 

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) warned members of his own party that if they continue to block progress on a budget that Senate Democrats might vote to change the rules.

“If we continue to block things like this and block what is the regular order, then the majority will be tempted to change the rules of the Senate,” McCain said Thursday. “That would be the worst outcome.”

The Senate rejected a farm bill amendment that would have clarified that states have the right to label genetically engineered (GE) food.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced the amendment, which failed on a 27-71 vote — the amendment was held to a 60-vote threshold.