Senate

Senate Democratic leadership announced the upper chamber will take two test votes on rival payroll tax cut extension bills on Thursday afternoon instead of Friday, as was initially scheduled.

The first cloture vote will be on Democrat's Middle Class Tax Cut Act of 2011, S. 1944. That legislation would extend the payroll tax holiday by levying a surtax on wealthy Americans, at about $85 billion less than what was included in a similar extender bill defeated in the Senate last week. That reduction in the surtax on the rich has led Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), to refer to this week's bill as “a compromise.” 

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Republicans aren’t going to let the president “put another unelected czar in place.”

The Senate unanimously cleared a six-month extension of funding for national flood insurance before adjourning Wednesday night. 

S. 1958, which cleared by a voice vote, was penned by Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) and ensures stability for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through May 31, 2012 by inuring it from  the tumultuous political atmosphere expected for the remainder of the month. The bill now goes to the House for approval. 

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) suggested on Wednesday that the Russian people could follow the example set by Arabs this spring in casting off oppression and human rights violations imposed by their government.

“I have said that the demand for dignity, and justice, and democracy that is shaking the Arab world to its foundations will not be confined to that one region alone," said McCain speaking of the Middle East. "[I]t will demonstrate to others that the frustrations, and indignities, and lack of hope that they may feel today need not be the realities that they endure tomorrow.”

Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Wednesday called for the resignation of Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division of the Justice Department Lanny Breuer, suggesting he helped to cover up the botched “Fast and Furious” gun-walking operation.

“It is past time for accountability at the senior levels of the Justice Department,” Grassley said on the Senate floor. “That accountability needs to start with the head of the Criminal Division, Lanny Breuer. I believe it is time for him to go.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Wednesday said President Obama decided to delay a decision on whether or not to permit construction of the Keystone XL pipeline in order to maintain the support of environmentalists for his 2012 campaign.

“Presidential politics got in the way," said McConnell, telling a version of how the White House decided to delay its decision on whether or not to allow the proposed pipeline that would bisect the country from North to South. 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Wednesday filed cloture on Democrats’ latest version of President Obama's payroll tax cut extension.

The bill, presented by Democrats on Monday, would extend the payroll tax holiday by levying a surtax on wealthy Americans, at about $85 billion less than what was included in a similar extender bill defeated in the Senate last week. That reduction in the surtax on the rich has led Democrats, including Reid, to refer to this week's bill as “a compromise.” 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday morning blamed internal divisions among House Republicans for an impasse over extending the payroll-tax holiday.

Ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) hit back at President Obama on Tuesday, following the presidents' speech, accusing the White House of abdicating leadership on the threat of the national deficit. 

"We are on an unsustainable path, and I do not see in this speech today any commitment, any leadership from the president on this fundamental issue," said Sessions from the Senate floor. "The most fundamental failure of his leadership is not to look the American people in the eye and tell them honestly and truthfully that we are spending too much."

The Senate voted to sustain a filibuster of President Obama's controversial nominee for the Washington, D.C., District Court, Caitlin Halligan, after a sustained attack from Republicans from the chamber floor on Tuesday.