Senate

The Senate is still working toward an agreement to a vote on the motion to proceed to the gun control reform bill.

A Senate Democratic leadership aide said that a few Republicans were still holding up the bill.

In a 68-31 vote, the Senate approved a procedural motion that will allow debate on the Democratic measure to begin.

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) switched his position and voted to invoke cloture on the motion to debate the gun control bill Thursday.

Burr was among 14 GOP senators that vowed to filibuster the bipartisan gun bill.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Thursday that he would vote against a cloture motion to proceed to debate of the Senate gun control reform bill.

McConnell said that S. 649, the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act, disproportionately affects law-abiding gun owners.

“This bill is a clear overreach that will predominantly punish and harass our neighbors, friends, and family,” McConnell said just a few hours before the Senate will take a procedural vote to advance the bill.

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) on Wednesday introduced legislation that would let prosecutors and judges carry weapons in courtrooms and other federal buildings for self-protection. The bill is a reaction to the shooting death of a Texas district attorney and his wife, and an assistant district attorney.

"Public safety officers like prosecutors put their lives on the line every day, and they deserve the peace of mind to go about their work without fearing for their safety," Cornyn said Wednesday.

The Senate will hold a key procedural vote Thursday that may provide some clues as to the willingness of senators to pass gun control legislation.

The Senate will start work at 9:30 a.m., and by 11 a.m. it will hold a roll call vote on a motion to end debate on a motion to proceed to S. 649, the Safe Communities, Safe Schools Act.

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) said he still couldn’t support the compromise from Sens. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on background checks for gun sales.

“The reason Sen. Manchin couldn’t get me to sign on, is I don’t think it’s going to work,” Coburn said on the Senate floor Wednesday evening.

Jewell will head an agency at the center of intense political battles over energy throughout President Obama’s tenure.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) scheduled a vote on the nomination of Sally Jewell to lead the Interior Department for Wednesday evening.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) read details about the lives of gun violence victims on the Senate floor for hours Wednesday.

Murphy spoke about more than just the victims of the Newtown, Conn., massacre where a gunman killed 20 first-graders and six school employees in December. He had photos and descriptions of the lives of more than 20 victims of gun violence from around the country.

"These are not wrong place, wrong time, they were doing exactly what they were suppose to be doing and yet they were gunned down," Murphy said. "And yet we have no answer, we’re not able. … It’s like raindrops, it’s just become routine in this country."