Government Shutdown

Government Shutdown Looms As Boehner Balks

Susan Crabtree | April 5, 2011, 1:24AM

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH)

House Speaker Boehner (R-OH) said lawmakers have yet to reach a budget deal after he and other congressional leaders met with President Obama this morning, upping the ante in the spending standoff and increasing the likelihood of a government shutdown by the end of the week.

"While there was good discussion, no agreement was reached," said a readout on the meeting from Boehner's office.

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Earmarks

Senate Approprations Committee Gives Into Obama On Earmarks

Evan McMorris-Santoro | February 2, 2011, 8:55AM

Sen. Dan Inouye (D-HI)

Senate Appropriations chair Daniel Inouye (D-HI) says that the days of earmarking in spending bills are over, thanks to the Republican ban on the practice in the House and President Obama's unwillingness to support earmarks in the future.

In what could amount to be a big political victory for the White House, Inouye told his colleagues in the Senate Tuesday not to bother sending him their requests for earmarks. A notorious earmarker himself, Inouye said that there just wasn't any point in trying to continue earmarking after Obama so vehemently turned on the practice in his State of the Union address earlier this month.

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Harry Reid

After Spending Bill Implodes, Reid Schedules Vote on DADT Repeal

Brian Beutler | December 16, 2010, 8:49PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV)

On Thursday night, Senate Republicans killed must-pass legislation to fund the government, and forced Democrats to accept GOP spending demands to avert a federal shutdown. The development infuriated Democratic members and led to unusually angry, churlish exchanges on the Senate floor. But as a consolation prize for defeated Democrats, they'll have a real shot at finally repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell on Sunday evening.

After long deliberations with Republican principals Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced on the Senate floor that nine GOP members had reneged on their pledges to vote for the omnibus spending bill, which reflected months of bipartisan negotiations, and included earmarks benefiting both parties.

That left Reid several votes shy of the 60 he'd need to overcome a filibuster and essentially vaporized a year's worth of work by the Appropriations Committee.

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Health Care

Sen. Inouye Becomes 23rd Senator To Sign Public Option Letter

Rachel Slajda | February 23, 2010, 10:25AM

Sen. Dan Inouye (D-HI)

Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI) has signed the letter calling for passing a public option via reconciliation, his office confirms to TPMDC. He is the 23rd senator to do so.

The letter, written by Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) has been collecting signatures over the past week.

For the full list of signatories, see here.