Senate

A small group of senators late last week introduced legislation aimed at reducing more than $100 billion in "improper government payments," such as Social Security payments made out to the deceased.

The Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Improvement Act, introduced by Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), seeks to strengthen last year's Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act. "This bill brings the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act to the next level and makes it stronger, more robust and more effective at preventing and recovering improper payments," Carper said.

Senate Majority Leader Reid said his deficit-reduction package would meet the GOP’s criteria for approving a debt-ceiling increase.

The Senate Tea Party Caucus is pushing a bill that prioritizes federal payments if a debt-ceiling deal isn't reached.

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) on Friday objected to Senate Democrats’ attempt to extend funding for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and avert a partial shutdown slated for midnight.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), who offered the proposal, said it would afford time for the House and Senate to smooth out differences in funding plans separately passed by each chamber.

"The orderly operation of the FAA is at risk here," said Durbin. “I offer a clean extension.”

While lawmakers scramble to come up with a compromise in time to avert a federal default on Aug. 2, Senate committees will continue to plod forward with the people's business exploring a wide range of issues, including emergency preparedness in light of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, immigration reform and U.S. economic interests in the Arctic.

Among next week’s Senate committee hearings:

He said a weekend session was no longer necessary because of debt negotiations between Boehner and Obama.

The House GOP proposal is expected to fail in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

The Senate meets at 9 a.m., and at 10 a.m. is expected to hold a "motion to proceed" vote on the House Republican "cut, cap and balance" plan. After the vote fails, Congress will have less than two weeks to reach a debt-ceiling agreement or risk a federal government default on its debt, and/or the inability to fund federal programs at their current level.

Voting against the motion to proceed on the "cut, cap and balance" bill is all but assured this morning. On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) called the bill "about as weak and senseless as anything that has ever come on this Senate floor," a sentiment other Democrats are likely to share.

Senate leadership scheduled a Friday morning vote, as promised, on House Republicans’ “cut, cap and balance” proposal.

In order to call a vote at the last minute, Senate Democrats deployed a rare procedural tactic, moving to table the cloture “motion to proceed” on the legislation.

The move, hinted at by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) earlier in the day, represents a shift in the Democratic leader’s strategy on dealing with the Republican plan.

The Senate on Thursday afternoon voted unanimously to extend the term of FBI Director Robert Mueller by two years.

Mueller, however, still must still be confirmed by the full Senate to serve the extended term.

In a floor speech, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Mueller had executed his job admirably since taking over the directorship a decade ago. 

“He’s done a wonderful job for 10 years and the country feels that they need him for two more years,” Reid said. “He has agreed to take that, and I appreciate that very much.”