Marathon grill and ale house

WASHINGTON — The Senate steered on Friday toward a voting marathon on Democrats’ $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill after enduring an extraordinary half-day holdup forced by a Republican foe of President Joe Biden’s top legislative priority. The chamber planned to begin voting around midday on a mountain of amendments, mostly by GOP opponents and virtually all of which were destined to be rejected. That would set the Senate on course toward approving its reworked version of the massive measure, probably over the weekend, and shipping it back to the House so it could whisk the final package to Biden for his signature. Moments after the Senate took up the legislation Thursday, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., forced the chamber’s clerks to read aloud the entire 628-page measure. The exhausting task took the staffers 10 hours and 44 minutes and ended shortly after 2 a.m. EST, with Johnson alternately sitting at his desk and pacing around the mostly empty chamber. Democratic leaders made … [Read more...] about Senate nears $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill votes after half-day GOP delay

Senate Democrats reached a deal on unemployment payments on Friday evening after an hours-long delay snagged the nearly $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill. Democrats will offer a proposal to provide a $300 per week unemployment payment through Sept. 6, according to a Democratic aide. The deal would also make the first $10,200 of benefits non-taxable for households with an income less than $150,000. The deal comes as the Senate has been stuck in limbo for hours as Democrats tried to craft an agreement that could get 50 votes within the caucus. The deal could let the Senate quickly resume its marathon voting session, known as a vote-a-rama, after it was paused following just one vote on whether to include a minimum wage hike. ADVERTISEMENT Sen. Joe Manchin Joseph (Joe) Manchin Overnight Defense: Capitol Police may ask National Guard to stay | Biden's Pentagon policy nominee faces criticism | Naval Academy midshipmen moved to hotels Progressives won't oppose … [Read more...] about Democrats break COVID-19 impasse with deal on jobless benefits

Senate Republicans are taking on a risky strategy to use all the procedural tactics at their disposal to delay President Biden Joe Biden Trump State Department appointee arrested in connection with Capitol riot FireEye finds evidence Chinese hackers exploited Microsoft email app flaw since January Biden officials to travel to border amid influx of young migrants MORE ’s popular $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package as long as possible in hopes that they can turn public opinion against the legislation. Sen. Ron Johnson Ronald (Ron) Harold Johnson Ron Johnson grinds Senate to halt, irritating many On The Money: Senate votes to take up COVID-19 relief bill | Stocks sink after Powell fails to appease jittery traders | February jobs report to provide first measure of Biden economy Senate relief package earmarks B for global coronavirus response MORE (R-Wis.), a staunch ally of former President Trump Donald Trump Trump State … [Read more...] about GOP pulling out all the stops to delay COVID-19 package

Republican senators tore into President Biden Joe Biden Trump State Department appointee arrested in connection with Capitol riot FireEye finds evidence Chinese hackers exploited Microsoft email app flaw since January Biden officials to travel to border amid influx of young migrants MORE ’s nominee to lead the Pentagon’s policy shop Thursday, with several coming out in opposition to Colin Kahl over fiery tweets in recent years critical of the Trump administration. Republicans on the Senate Armed Services Committee also grilled Kahl, Biden’s nominee to be under secretary of Defense for policy, over his support for the Iran nuclear deal, from which former President Trump Donald Trump Trump State Department appointee arrested in connection with Capitol riot Intelligence community investigating links between lawmakers, Capitol rioters Michelle Obama slams 'partisan actions' to 'curtail access to ballot box' MORE withdrew and which Biden is … [Read more...] about Republicans blast Pentagon policy nominee over tweets, Iran nuclear deal

close Video FBI director grilled by Senate over bureau's response to Jan. 6 intel Retired Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Lt. Randy Sutton and former DOJ official John Yoo weigh in on 'Fox News @ Night' The FBI ’s Norfolk report sent out Jan. 5, a day before the Capitol riot , included "raw reporting" on "calls for violence" but did not mention any potential breach of the building, Fox News has confirmed. Fox News obtained a physical copy of the "situational information report," which is unclassified and was issued by the FBI’s Norfolk, Va., Division on Jan. 5. U.S. Capitol Police received this information ahead of the riot. FBI Director Christopher Wray testified to joint Senate committees Tuesday that he was not made aware of the report until after the riot. Although Wray was not personally aware of the memo at the time, he testified that the FBI sent the information out "within an hour" of receiving it on Jan. 5 in three ways: by email … [Read more...] about FBI Norfolk report before Capitol riot had ‘raw reporting’ on ‘calls for violence,’ no mention of breach