Senate

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on Thursday that if Congress fails to lift the debt ceiling before the Aug. 2 deadline and the country defaults on its financial obligations, Republicans will be to blame. 

"I want to say to my Republican colleagues, because so many of you have trifled with the idea of not paying off debts, if, God forbid, it happens — and I hope it doesn't ... but if it does, you will bear the blame."

"Not a single Democrat that I'm aware of has said 'we want to default,'" Schumer said. "Many, many Republicans have said they want to default."

Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio.) followed Schumer's remarks and denied that any Republicans are wishing for default. 

"There is no Republican interested in defaulting on the debt," Portman said. "No on wants to default on the debt."

The Senate voted Thursday to allow Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) millionaire tax resolution to come to the floor for debate.

The Senate has slated another vote for Monday on whether to end debate and move the measure for a final vote on passage.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Thursday defended the Senate's light work schedule and his decision to keep the upper chamber in session during a week usually reserved for the Independence Day recess.

"There was a lot of work this week that took place as a result of us being here that would not have taken place but for the fact that we were in session," said Reid. "There has been a lot of working going on behind the scenes." 

Sen. McCain took to the floor Thursday to mock the Senate's sparse achievements during the week.

Republicans allowed a resolution on millionaires to proceed in hopes of putting Democrats on the spot about raising taxes. 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Thursday morning said Republicans’ claim that they are "looking out for the people" in the debate over raising the debt ceiling is both “ridiculous” and “preposterous.”

“Democrats believe all Americans, including those who can afford private jets and yachts, should contribute to the collective effort to reduce the deficit,” said Reid. 

“The question is, why aren't Republicans willing to do the same?” he asked. "They say it's because they're looking out for the people. That claim ... is ridiculous. This claim is without foundation. It's really preposterous.”

The Senate on Thursday is debating a non-binding “sense of the Senate" resolution that would recommend that those who earn $1 million or more each year pay a greater share of taxes.

The Senate is expected to vote Thursday on whether it will consider Sen. Reid's millionaire tax resolution.

Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) on Wednesday decried floor tactics from Senate Republicans that he says are unlike anything he has seen in his 27 years in the upper chamber.

"Everything we try to do, the folks on that side of the aisle make us take longer and longer and longer than we've ever taken before because they push every single procedural objection possible," said Kerry. Read more...

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) on Wednesday criticized President Obama and the Senate's Democratic leadership for failing to propose a plan that would solve the nation’s fiscal crisis.

“I wish I could report that Washington is serious about addressing this spending problem, but in the last week we seem to have hit a new low,” Hatch said.

“President Obama’s contribution last week was a press conference slash temper tantrum where he offered up policy proposals that might appeal to his left-wing base but will do nothing to avoid the bankruptcy."

In that press conference at the White House last week, President Obama shifted much of the blame for lack of progress in budget and debt-ceiling negotiations to Congress and exhorted the House and Senate to get back to work. 

Hatch went on to roast the Democratic leadership in the Senate for a bill currently being considered that would express a nonbinding “sense of the Senate” resolution that Americans earning more than $1 million a year ought to pay higher taxes. 

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday that Republicans would rather "tank the economy" than end a single tax break.