Senate

Senate Democrats on Monday are hoping to rebound from last week's failure to advance gun legislation, and take up a bill that can pass the upper chamber.

They may have found one in S. 743, the Marketplace Fairness Act. The legislation is aimed at allowing states to tax online sales made to residents or businesses in their state.

Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) said Friday that some senators are “trying to muscle” through a “disastrous” bill that would allow states to collect online sales taxes.

"Supporters of this online sales tax bill are trying to muscle it through before senators find out how disastrous it would be for businesses in their states," Ayotte said. "I will fight this power grab every step of the way to protect small online businesses in New Hampshire and across the nation."

The Senate Judiciary Committee will continue its consideration of comprehensive immigration reform on Monday.

The committee pushed back hearings on the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act so that the Gang of Eight could officially release the legislation.

The Senate passed a House bill Thursday that would allow the District of Columbia to install an acting Chief Financial Officer (CFO) if that position becomes vacant.

The House passed the District of Columbia Chief Financial Officer Vacancy Act earlier this week. 

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) defended the Gang of Eight immigration reform plan, saying doing nothing is a form of “amnesty.”

“America is a nation of immigrants, but both Republicans and Democrats have failed to enforce our immigration laws,” Rubio said on the Senate floor Thursday. “We all wish we didn’t have this problem, but we do — and leaving it the way it is, is amnesty.”

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) said he would object to reducing debate time on the Senate’s next legislative matter, the Marketplace Fairness Act.

On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) filed cloture on a motion to proceed to S. 743, a bill that would allow states to collect online sales taxes. The Senate is likely to begin votes on that bill next week, but Wyden said he’d oppose the measure.

“It’s only a matter of time before we bring this anti-gun-violence measure back to the floor ,” Sen. Reid said.

The Senate voted to confirm two of President Obama's judicial nominees on Thursday.

Analisa Torres will serve as a U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York. Her nomination was approved by voice-vote.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said President Obama took the “low road” Wednesday when he criticized GOP senators for not supporting gun control measures.

“When good and honest people have differences of opinion about what policies our country should pursue when it comes to the Second Amendment ... the president of United States should not accuse them of having no coherent arguments or caving to political pressure,” Cornyn said in a floor speech Thursday. “The president could have taken the high road ... but instead he chose to take the low road, and I agree with him, it was truly a shameful day.”

The Senate voted 95-2 for an amendment to the gun control bill that would address mental health issues.

The amendment, introduced by Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), expands federal mental health programs, including in education, suicide prevention, substance abuse and trauma centers.