Senate

Democratic lawmakers introduced a bill Thursday that would prohibit credit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) said their bill was necessary because currently there is no federal law that consistently protects LGBT individuals from credit discrimination.

“Obtaining credit is a critical step for many looking to buy a home, go to college, or start a small business,” Murray said. “And since equal protection under the law is a fundamental right in our country, no one should suffer discrimination when trying to secure a roof over their head or a high quality education.”

The Senate passed a resolution Thursday calling for “fair and free” elections in Iran.

The Senate agreed to the resolution through a unanimous consent agreement, the day before Iran is scheduled to hold its elections.

The senators want Obama to establish a no-fly zone and “take out” Assad’s air capabilities by “cratering” runways with missiles.

Connecticut Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D) and Chris Murphy (D) marked the six months since the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

Both senators called for Congress to take action and pass gun control legislation.

“Our challenge, right here on this floor, is to make sure that we learn from it and act on it,” Blumenthal said Thursday. “Out of that grief and pain, we can make American stronger. We can make America better. That is the potential legacy of these lost lives … and if we achieve it, they will not have died in vain.”

Senate Democrats objected on Thursday to considering President Obama’s proposal to address the rising student loan interest rates.

Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) proposed that the Senate consider a plan from Obama that would set student loan interest rates based on U.S. Treasury notes, something similar to what Republicans have introduced. But Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) objected.

Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) announced Thursday that he would file a budget point of order against the comprehensive immigration bill at some point next week.

“It would spend $8.3 billion and it calls all of that spending emergency spending,” Vitter said on the Senate floor. “That is just a slight of hand to try to avoid the caps we put in place to try to address spending and the debt.”

The Senate confirmed two of President Obama’s judicial nominees Thursday.

Jeffrey Schmehl was confirmed on a 100-0 vote to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

“Next weekend we will be working on this bill," Reid told senators on the floor.

Sen. Chuck Grassley blasted Democrats for burying his proposal and said the vote proves the amendment process “is a farce.”

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) said Wednesday that he was “throwing down the gauntlet” by demanding that his four amendments to the immigration reform bill be included in order for him to vote for final passage.

“I want to support this legislation, but I’m not going to unless we have common-sense measures like these,” Hatch said on the Senate floor. “I’m throwing down the gauntlet.”