Tax Breaks

Dems See Opening To Push GOP On Taxes After Ethanol Subsidies Vote

Benjy Sarlin | June 15, 2011, 3:01PM

Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Tom Coburn (R-OK)

Looking to exploit a rare rift between Republicans and anti-tax groups, Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) renewed calls on Tuesday to include revenue increases in any deficit deal.

Some 34 Senate Republicans voted for an amendment ending ethanol subsidies on Tuesday, despite warnings from anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist that dropping tax credits counted as a tax hike. The divide over the issue is complicated and hinges on regional factors in both parties, but Democrats largely voted against the unsuccessful amendment due to stated objections to the procedure by which it was brought up.

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Gas Prices

Senate Dems and Oil Execs Face Off Over Tax Breaks

Susan Crabtree | May 12, 2011, 12:15PM

Oil executives testify at a Senate Finance Committee hearing.

Executives of the five largest U.S. oil companies received a harsh public flogging for near-record gas prices coupled with high profits for the first quarter of the year at a Senate Finance Committee hearing Thursday.

Democrats excoriated the executives for rejecting calls to end tax breaks for the industry when they stand to make record profits and gas prices are reaching an all-time high at the pump.

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Health Care

Dems Plan Last-Ditch Effort To Protect Health Law From Latest GOP Attack

Brian Beutler | March 29, 2011, 11:24AM

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

Republicans are poised to undermine one portion of the health care reform law without much of a fight -- and with the help of some Democrats -- unless Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) gets his way.

Menendez is undertaking a last-ditch effort to prevent the GOP from clawing back billions of dollars in subsidies to middle class insurance consumers, provided under the health care reform law.

Several weeks ago, it looked like the GOP would get its way. The official purpose was to use that money to repeal a tax-reporting requirement for businesses, also in the law. That so-called "1099 provision" raises money but also the ire of the business community.

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2010 elections

Operation Fix The Campaign: How National Parties Help Unlikely Winners

Christina Bellantoni | June 14, 2010, 3:24PM

Clockwise, from top left: Rep. Joe Sestak (D-PA), Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), Sen. candidate Sharron Angle (R-NV)

Does your brother manage your campaign? Did your dad's team help you capture the nomination? Does your husband answer your house phone and speak to reporters? If you're the unlikely winner of your Senate primary, and you answered yes to any of the above questions, the national party needs to talk to you.

In the year of the insurgent, the tea party and electoral surprises, smart national politics can sometimes fall to the wayside. Senate nominee Rand Paul (R-KY) learned that the hard way, and the D.C. Republican establishment quickly stepped in to shut him up and tamp down his national profile. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is helping coach Rep. Joe Sestak after his surprise shellacking of Sen. Arlen Specter last month, helping him choose a new campaign team since his brother has been one of his closest advisers.

In such a critical election cycle where the Republicans are attempting to win back control of Congress, there's no way either party would leave a campaign up to chance. The under-the-radar changes to each insurgent campaign aren't likely to surface until the fall. But they are in the works.

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Gulf Coast Oil Spill

Congressional Dems to Jindal: Oh, Now You Want Federal Help?

Christina Bellantoni | May 6, 2010, 10:59AM

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R)

The financial costs of the massive Gulf Coast oil spill are just beginning to become a political issue, with Democrats in Washington reluctant to divvy out any more taxpayer funds in an election year, especially for states whose governors have been among the most vocal over the past year in blasting federal spending.

In Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) has been a vocal critic of federal spending under President Obama, but as the state closest to the undersea leak, he already has requested various forms of federal disaster assistance. He's also anticipating the possibility that British Petroleum either won't, or won't have to under the law, foot the the full cost of all the damages associated with the spill.

Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) took a swipe at Jindal when I asked during a brief interview this week if Congress was considering any funding to add to what BP will do. "Well you know, here we go. You know, the governor of Louisiana says the federal government should stay out of the state's business," Menendez told me Tuesday night. Jindal's office said they would respond but haven't yet gotten back to me. We'll update if they do.

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AR-SEN

DSCC Chair: 'I Believe Blanche Lincoln Would Be Our Best Candidate' (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | March 3, 2010, 10:50AM

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

The man responsible for electing Democrats to the Senate, DSCC chair Bob Menendez, told MSNBC this morning that he stands with Sen. Blanche Lincoln in the Arkansas Senate primary. Menendez wouldn't say whether the national party will spend money to defend Lincoln against Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, who's running against her for the Democratic nomination with the backing of national progressive and labor groups, saying only that the DSCC is supporting her as it does all incumbent Democrats.

Menendez said Lincoln remains the party's safest bet to keep the seat this fall. "I believe Blanche Lincoln would be our best candidate in the general election," he said. Yesterday, Christina reported that many in the national Democratic establishment feel the same way.

Check out the video after the jump.

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