Barack Obama

Centrists Continue To Parse The President's Tax Plan

Susan Crabtree | September 21, 2011, 2:42PM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

Several centrist Democratic Senators have spent the last week wringing their hands a bit over President Obama's deficit reduction plan and its dependence on increasing taxes on the wealthy and closing corporate loopholes.

Some approve of shutting down the corporate subsidies, while others support hiking taxes for the rich, but none reached by TPM embraced the entire package.

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Balanced Budget Amendment

It's A Trap! The Hidden Pitfalls Of GOP's 'Cut, Cap, And Balance' Plan

Brian Beutler | July 18, 2011, 1:24PM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Tuesday, the House of Representatives will vote on, and likely pass, a conservative Republican plan called "Cut, Cap, and Balance." The package will include some immediate, as-yet unspecified spending cuts, a statutory cap to keep spending below 18 percent of GDP, and a promised separate vote on a Constitutional amendment that requires Congress to maintain a balanced budget, but essentially forbids any future tax increases.

It would also raise the debt ceiling through 2012 -- an ancillary benefit for Republicans who are looking for any way to pin the consequences of a debt default, should one happen, on Democrats. Indeed, the GOP feigned shock and anger Monday when the White House, as expected, issued an official veto threat -- turns out President Obama's the one threatening to wreak havoc on the country.

Of course, later in the week, the Senate will follow suit, and there Cut, Cap, and Balance is expected to fail.

For Republicans, it's the perfect alignment of popular sounding policies -- "spending cuts" a "balanced budget" and, finally, an end to this debt limit brinksmanship -- minus the a scintilla of accountability or transparency. And for Republicans trying to make nice with conservative activists, it will give them cover to later vote for a much more modest plan to cut some spending, raise the debt limit, avoid default. But the details have been intentionally obscured by most conservatives, and they reveal the plan to be the most radical fiscal policy the GOP has aligned behind in years -- one that makes the Republican's current budget proposal to phase out Medicare appear moderate by comparison.

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FL-SEN

GOPer Haridopolos Suddenly Drops Out Of Florida Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | July 18, 2011, 11:16AM

Florida State Senate President Mike Haridopolos (R)

The Republican field in Florida to take on Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson just got shaken up, with state Senate President Mike Haridopolos, a frontrunner in the race, suddenly dropping out after previously strong (but diminishing) fundraising.

The St. Petersburg Times reports: "In an increasingly crowded race to unseat Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson, Haridopolos' campaign showed signs of stalling. Just last week came news that political adviser Pat Bainter was leaving the campaign along with de facto campaign manager and spokesman, Tim Baker."

Haridopolos previously led in the money race, taking in $2.5 million in the first quarter. However, his fundraising in the second quarter dropped sharply to $900,000, followed by former Sen. George LeMieux (who was appointed by then-Republican Gov. Charlie Crist in 2009, and did not seek a full term, before Crist became an independent) at $900,000, followed by former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner at $560,000.

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Labor

Top Union Presses Senators To Ditch Union-Busting Push By House GOP

Brian Beutler | April 20, 2011, 12:43PM

A powerful union is lobbying Democratic and Republican congressional negotiators to make sure they don't curtail worker rights when they finalize new FAA legislation.

A conference committee composed of a bipartisan group of senators and congressmen will soon sort out differences between two different versions of the bill. But the House bill contains a provision that would make it much more difficult for airline and rail workers to form unions. More on that provision here -- it would reinstate old rules that count abstentions as "no" votes in union elections, thus stacking the deck against pro-union workers.

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Connie Mack

Connie Mack Not Running For Senate After All

Jillian Rayfield | March 25, 2011, 10:13AM

Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL)

Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL) announced today that he is not making a bid for Bill Nelson's (D) senate seat, despite being widely expected to run.

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FL-SEN

Rep. Connie Mack Making 'Major Announcement' Tomorrow About Possible Bill Nelson Challenge

Jillian Rayfield | March 24, 2011, 5:33PM

Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL)

Rep. Connie Mack (R-FL) is scheduled to make a "major announcement regarding the U.S. Senate race" tomorrow morning in Florida, and is expected to announce that he will make a bid for Sen. Bill Nelson's (D) seat.

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Senate '12

Poll: Bill Nelson Looking Vulnerable in 2012 Reelection Bid

Jon Terbush | February 15, 2011, 11:58AM

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R)

Former governor Jeb Bush (R) may have no intention of running for president, but if he decides to hop in the Senate race in Florida, he looks poised to knock off incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson (D), according to a new Mason-Dixon poll.

In the poll, the former Florida governor led Nelson by an eight-points margin, 49% to 41%. That lead is up slightly from the five-point gap shown in a survey of the race conducted in late December.

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Health Care

Obama Administration Opposes Expedited SCOTUS Ruling On Health Law

Brian Beutler | February 3, 2011, 11:22AM

The Obama Administration wants to bide its time on its legal defense of health care reform. In a statement to reporters Thursday morning, spokeswoman Tracy Schmaler says the Department of Justice is opposed to calls -- by Republicans and some Democrats -- for an expedited Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of the health care law's individual mandate.

"The Department continues to believe this case should follow the ordinary course of allowing the court of appeals to hear it first so the issues and arguments concerning the Affordable Care Act can be fully developed before the Supreme Court decides whether to consider it," she says.

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2012 elections

Poll: Jeb Bush Leads Bill Nelson In Hypothetical FL-SEN Race

Jon Terbush | December 21, 2010, 4:47PM

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R)

Jeb Bush may not be considering a return to elective politics, but if he were, a Senate seat could well be within his reach.

In a PPP poll released today, Bush was the only Republican to lead Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) in theoretical 2012 matchups. The poll found that 49% of respondents said they would vote for Bush if he ran for the seat, while 44% said they would vote for Nelson.

Rep. Connie Mack was the only other candidate tested in the survey to come within single digits of Nelson, polling just eight points behind, 44% to 36%. Sen. George LeMieux -- who was appointed to fill the Senate seat vacated by Mel Martinez in 2009, but who did not seek reelection this year -- trailed Nelson 47% to 36%, while Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos polled 12 points behind Nelson, 44% to 32%. Against State Rep. Adam Hasner, Nelson led 46% to 30% in the poll.

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Sunday Shows

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | June 18, 2010, 4:43PM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT)

Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:

• ABC, This Week: White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

• CBS, Face The Nation: Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA).

• CNN, State Of The Union: Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN), Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT).

• Fox News Sunday: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

• NBC, Meet The Press: Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS), Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), former Shell Oil Company president John Hofmeister, Katty Kay of the BBC, TARP Executive Compensation Special Master Ken Feinberg.

Sunday Shows

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | June 4, 2010, 4:50PM

U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, National Incident Commander

Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:

• ABC, This Week: Adm. Thad Allen, Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).

• CBS, Face The Nation: Adm. Thad Allen, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL).

• CNN, State Of The Union: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen, Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), Sen. David Vitter (R-LA).

• Fox News Sunday: Adm. Thad Allen, Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS), Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren.

• NBC, Meet The Press: Will not air, due to coverage of the French Open.

Oil Spill

Nelson: It's Time For Obama--And The Military--To Step It Up On The Oil Spill

Brian Beutler | May 24, 2010, 6:58PM

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL)

Not all Democrats are going to bat for President Obama vis a vis his handling of the Gulf oil spill. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) called on Obama today to shake up the arrangement of the cleanup and rescue operation by putting the military in charge.

"The President ought to take charge, the military ought to take charge," Nelson told reporters this evening, near the Senate floor. "The military can organize it and be the head of the rescue operation, otherwise we have a situation that's going out of control, with BP doing the running of the show and they're not getting that done."

Nelson was unable to explain exactly why the military would be better positioned to handle the crisis, saying only that the need for military involvement is evidenced by BP's plain failure to stop the leak.

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Sunday Shows

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | May 7, 2010, 4:20PM

Attorney General Eric Holder

Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:

• ABC, This Week: Attorney General Eric Holder, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R).

• CBS, Face The Nation: Senior White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan, Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), Adm. Thad Allen.

• CNN, State Of The Union: Senior White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL).

• Fox News Sunday: Senior White House counterterrorism adviser John Brennan, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Rep. Peter King (R-NY).

• NBC, Meet The Press: Attorney General Eric Holder.

Climate Change

Kerry: Opponents Of New Drilling Have 'Very Legitimate' Concerns

Brian Beutler | May 6, 2010, 11:34AM

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), who has taken a firm stance against any legislation that creates or gives incentives for new oil drilling programs off of the Florida coast, thinks he'll get his way. Nelson has been in regular conversation with Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), the principal author of a soon-to-be-unveiled climate and energy bill, and he believes, based on those discussions, that Kerry is moving in his direction.

Today, Kerry, who has been tight-lipped in recent days about the fragile state of his flagship legislation, acknowledged to reporters this morning that he sympathizes with Nelson and other senators who oppose new drilling, calling their concerns "very legitimate."

"He knows my position," Nelson said of Kerry, standing outside the Senate chamber this morning. "There's just not going to be any oil drilling off of Florida."

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Oil Spill

Why A Catastrophic Oil Spill Makes Clean Energy Legislation Harder In The Senate

Brian Beutler | May 5, 2010, 8:23AM

Clockwise from top left: Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

You might think that an oil spill of historic proportions that's just 50 miles from U.S. shores might create a groundswell of support in Congress for legislation designed to reduce the country's reliance on fossil fuels. But you'd be wrong.

In the peculiar world of the United States Senate, the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe has actually intensified existing divisions, drawing offshore drilling foes into growing conflict with oil patch Democrats and industry friendly members, who continue to support exploration, and incentives, for new drilling.

With oil still gushing from the well at a calamitous pace, a mile below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, furious Senators threatened Tuesday to block any climate and energy bill that would lead to more drilling off the U.S. coast.

[TPM SLIDESHOW: Fire In The Gulf: New Pictures Of The Deepwater Horizon]

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Sunday Shows

The Sunday Show Line-Ups

Eric Kleefeld | April 30, 2010, 5:45PM

Gov. Charlie Crist (I-FL)

Here are the line-ups for the Sunday talk shows this weekend:

• ABC, This Week: Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.

• CBS, Face The Nation: Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-LA), Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), former Rep. J.D. Hayworth (R-AZ).

• CNN, State Of The Union: Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Gov. Charlie Crist (I-FL), Senate candidate Marco Rubio (R-FL).

• Fox News Sunday: Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Senate candidate Marco Rubio (R-FL).

• NBC, Meet The Press: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Gov. Charlie Crist (I-FL), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D-MI), Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM).

Barack Obama

Democrats Push Reluctant Obama To End Antitrust Exemption For Insurance Companies

Brian Beutler | January 14, 2010, 8:24PM

President Barack Obama

With the public option now a distant memory, a group of House Democrats are now insisting that President Obama and Congressional leaders adopt separate measures to ensure competition in the health insurance market. Thirty four Democrats, lead by Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) have signed their names to a letter, obtained by TPMDC, demanding that health care legislation include a provision repealing the industries antitrust exemptions.

"Since we all agree that containing the rising cost of health care is one of the overriding goals of health reform, we insist that the House demand an alternative cost cutting tool," the letter reads. "One tool that stands out for attracting strong bipartisan support is removing the current antitrust exemptions enjoyed by the health insurance industry."

The House must insist on the House language that repeals the health and medical malpractice insurance industries' exemptions from all federal antitrust laws. Subjecting the health and medical malpractice insurance industries to the antitrust laws is a vital step toward reforming health care, lowering prices for consumers and doctors, and leveling the playing field for American businesses. The Consumer Federation of American has said that consumers would save over $40 billion in insurance premiums if the antiquated law was repealed for all lines of insurance. It is estimated that subjecting the health insurance industry to federal antitrust laws would lower premiums by 10%.

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Ben Nelson

Dems To GOP: Obstruct Health Care Debate, And We'll Be Here 'Til Christmas

Brian Beutler | December 2, 2009, 12:47PM

Sen. McConnell (R-KY) Sen. Reid (D-NV)

A fragile gentleman's agreement between Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is breaking down, and now, three days into the health care debate, having held not a single vote on a single amendment, Democrats are saying enough is enough. And if they have to stay in session through Christmas to pass the bill, that's what they'll do.

After an impromptu caucus meeting on health care, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) told reporters, "the Republican leadership is stalling us and we have decided that we are going right through Christmas." If it comes to that. "We go through as long as it takes, including Christmas day, if it takes it to pass it."

In response to a question from TPMDC, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin told reporters, "unless the Republican leadership comes forward with a reasonable approach to these amendments, I think our patience is wearing thin."

"We're just not going to sit here forever and watch this bill go down," he said.

"There was a lot of talk about, if we have to be here Christmas, we'll be here Christmas," said Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

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Blanche Lincoln

Democrats Demanding Entitlement Reforms Voted To Blow Hole In Budget With Estate Tax Cut

Brian Beutler | December 1, 2009, 9:46AM

Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)

Yesterday, I posted this letter, signed by a dozen moderate and conservative Democrats, which raises concerns about the national debt. Many in the party are now demanding that the government get serious about entitlement cuts, and they say they're dead serious.

But at least two of the signatories to the letter--Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Evan Bayh (D-IN)--haven't been shining examples of fiscal probity this Congress. This spring, when Congress was hashing out its budget, both senators voted for an amendment, sponsored by Sens. Jon Kyl (R-AZ) and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), that would have slashed the estate tax for multimillionaires.

According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, the measure would've blown a $250 billion hole in the budget. Keep that number in mind for one moment. Because the letter warned, "Deficits and debt matter for everyone. In 2008, the American taxpayer paid more than $250 billion to our creditors in interest payments alone." [Emphasis in the original.] Oh cruel irony.

To be fair, the Lincoln-Kyl amendment's price tag would've been spread out over 10 years. But still: How does one square a vote to diminish the estate tax with fiscal discipline? I'll ask today.

Barack Obama

Report: 17 Senate Dem. Caucus Members Called to White House to Discuss Health Care

Brian Beutler | September 10, 2009, 12:29PM

President Barack Obama

ABC News is reporting that President Obama has summoned 17 members of the Senate Democratic caucus--most of whom have expressed some degree of skepticism over President Obama's health care plan--to the White House for a meeting late this afternoon.

The members are: Sens. Mark Pryor (D-AR), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Evan Bayh (D-IN), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Tom Carper (D-DE), Arlen Specter (D-PA), Mark Begich (D-AK), Mark Udall (D-CO), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Bill Nelson (D-FL), Kay Hagan (D-NC), Herb Kohl (D-WI), Joe Lieberman (I-CT).

We'll be on the lookout for developments.