Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), in defending lawmakers’ use of Twitter, called disgraced former New York Democrat Anthony Weiner a "twit" with “serious personal problems.”

"When used appropriately, the site is a great way for lawmakers to connect with their constituents," McCaskill said in article published on a Missouri News website, OzarksFirst.com, on Thursday.

Two Senate panels will probe the need for increased cybersecurity next week in the wake of a series of high-profile cyber-attacks, including one that breached the official website of the U.S. Senate. 

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) said Friday he would push an amendment to the Department of Defense spending bill that would cut off all funds for military operations in Libya. The House is expected to begin consideration of the DOD bill next week.

Kucinich said his amendment would be the "first test" of whether Congress wants to defend its constitutional right to declare war.

House committees return next week to take up two issues weighing on the minds of members: small business access to credit and the federal budget outlook.

On Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will testify before the House Small Business Committee on access to capital and credit. Geithner's testimony comes just as economic analysts are warning of a slowing economy again.

A House proposal to regulate and tax Internet gambling would require online gambling establishments to withhold taxes from net online winnings, and provide detailed information about gamblers to the government in an attempt to help ensure the collection of these taxes. It would also impose a two percent federal tax on Internet gambling providers, and give states the option of taxing these companies at a rate of six percent.

The Internet Gambling Regulation and Tax Enforcement Act, H.R. 2230, was introduced Thursday by Reps. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.), John Campbell (R-Calif.), and House Financial Services Committee ranking member Barney Frank (D-Mass.).

The House next week is expected to begin work on a Department of Defense spending bill that would increase spending in several key areas, despite the broad Republican call to cut spending.

The bill, H.R. 2219, would set a base DOD budget of $530 billion, $17 billion more than fiscal 2011 but still about $9 billion less than the Obama administration requested.

President Obama will have a very difficult time getting reelected next year because of the economy, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Thursday.

"I do think the president is in serious trouble — a 9.1 percent unemployment, high gas prices, a sluggish economy," he said in an interview with WBKO, a southern Kentucky ABC affiliate.

"I think the president is going to have a very, very difficult time getting a second term next year," he added.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), on Thursday night, scheduled a procedural vote that would allow the Senate to take up the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act in the case that a vote that would limit debate on the currently pending Economic Development Administration (EDA) funding bill fails.

Democratic leadership has grown increasingly frustrated, as the EDA bill has become bogged down by scores of non-germane amendments. Read more...

Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) said this week he would soon introduce legislation that would prevent San Francisco and other cities from banning the circumcision of males under 18.

Sherman said his pending bill is a reaction to plans by San Francisco to make the procedure a misdemeanor that is punishable by a prison term of up to one year and a fine of $1,000. This measure has qualified to be on the November 2011 ballot in San Francisco.