Senate

The Senate voted 67-30 for an amendment from Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) that would withhold federal funds for states that disclose gun owners’ information.

More than 20 Democrats joined Republicans in voting for the privacy protection measure.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Thursday that Republicans “damaged” their brand by voting against expanding background checks for gun purchases.

“The brand of the Republicans is further damaged by going against 90 percent of Americans,” Reid said on the Senate floor Thursday morning. “Republicans are on the wrong side.”

Having gone 0-7 on amendments to gun control legislation on Wednesday, the Senate will try two more amendment votes today. After that, Democratic leaders will have to decide whether they want to try other amendments, vote on the bill, or take a break.

On Wednesday, the Senate showed just how far apart members are on gun control, and how little will there is to find a compromise — it was widely known that the amendments up for a vote would fail, yet the Senate proceeded anyway.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced Wednesday that the Senate would continue amendment work on the gun control bill on Thursday morning.

The Senate was scheduled to vote on nine amendments Wednesday, but after seven failed, Reid announced the final two would get votes on Thursday.

The Senate rejected a proposal limiting ammunition magazines to 10 rounds on a 46-54 vote Wednesday.

Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) introduced the high capacity clip ban as an amendment to the Senate gun control bill. All amendments Wednesday needed 60 votes to pass.

The Senate rejected a gun control amendment aimed to restore Second Amendment rights of veterans.

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) said he introduced his amendment to protect the Second Amendment rights of veterans and their families. His amendment failed on a 56-44 vote — 60 votes were required for passage.

The Senate rejected a ban on certain semi-automatic weapons with military-style feaures on Wednesday in a 40-60 vote.

The measure to reinstitute a ban on assault weapons was offered by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) but was not expected to be added to the main gun bill given opposition from Republicans and many Democrats. 

Sens. Mark Begich (Alaska), Michael Bennet (Colo.), Tim Johnson (S.D.), Joe Donnelley (Ind.), Kay Hagan (N.C.), Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.), Jon Tester (Mont.), Mary Landrieu (La.), Martin Heinrich (N.M.), Mark Udall (Colo.), Tom Udall (N.M.), Mark Pryor (Ark.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Mark Warner (Va.) and Max Baucus (Mont.) were the red-state and Western Democrats who votes against the amendment. GOP Sen. Mark Kirk (Ill.) supported Feinstein's amendment.

The Senate rejected an amendment addressing conceal and carry gun laws Wednesday.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced an amendment that would have reconciled state conceal and carry laws. His amendment failed on a 57-43 vote — 60 votes were needed for passage.

The Senate voted 58-42, rejecting a gun control amendment addressing straw gun purchases.

Sens. Pat Leahy (D-Vt.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) introduced the bipartisan amendment.

The Senate rejected a GOP substitute bill on gun control reforms Wednesday.

Sen. Chuck Grassley’s (R-Iowa) amendment failed on a 52-48 vote. It would have replaced S. 649, the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act, which would expand background checks on gun purchases, crack down on gun trafficking and beef up security in schools.