Senate

Sen. Reid’s proposal would add $6.9 billion in disaster funds to a bill extending import sanctions against Burma.

The Senate on Thursday rejected two Republican amendments to a disaster-relief bill that would have offset its $6.9 billion in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding by cutting duplicative federal programs and unspent FY 2011 State Department funds plus some foreign aid.

The first amendment, sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), failed 54-45. The second, sponsored by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), failed 20-78. Both amendments needed 60 votes for passage under an agreement reached earlier in the day.

Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) outlined on Thursday a seven-point plan that would raise taxes on the nation's wealthiest earners while eliminating subsidies for companies and individuals, reducing the deficit by at least $1 trillion over 10 years. 

Levin, whose proposal builds on his investigative work as chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, sent a letter to the congressional debt supercommittee detailing his recommendations to tamp down on offshore tax abuse, eliminate carried interest and restore Clinton-era tax rates for annual incomes of $250,000 or more. 

“Real deficit reduction means revenues plus spending cuts," he said during a Senate floor speech. "Those resisting additional revenues need to do the math.”

Levin identifies specific tax reforms he is urging the committee to adopt, including: eliminate the derivatives blended rate, replace the system of paper tax lien filings used by the IRS with an electronic system, restore Reagan-era tax rates on capital gains and eliminate special tax treatment to corporations that pay their executives with stock options.

Sens. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Thursday asked Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson to support their bill prohibiting the agency from regulating farm dust.

On the Senate floor, Johanns called it an opportunity for Jackson to clarify the agency's position on the issue, which Republicans have criticized all year as one of many regulatory overreaches.

A behind-the-scenes battle over highway funding spilled out onto the floor Thursday afternoon when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) shot down each other’s requests to move forward on a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and highway funding bill.

Democratic leadership has granted conservative firebrands Sens. Tom Coburn (R-Oka.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) debate and votes on separate proposals to offset the costs of a disaster funding bill on Thursday in exchange for cooperation in allowing the bill to go forward ahead of schedule.

More Democrats lined up Thursday morning to take swings at Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) for his sustained filibuster of a bill that would provide $6.9 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) warned on Thursday that if Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) refuses to drop his filibuster of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding bill, the Senate will take votes on Friday to move the legislation.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) dismissed President Obama’s jobs bill on Thursday morning, arguing that even Democrats aren't taking the plan seriously.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) blasted Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) Wednesday night for his continued filibuster of funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and for indirectly endangering the jobs of 80,000 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees.