The Plum Line: Senate


Posted at 12:29 PM ET, 04/23/2013

Max Baucus's mixed legacy
By Jamelle Bouie
The retiring Senator from Montana helped build one of the most important progressive reforms in generations -- Obamacare -- but he also helped empower the forces that would dismantle it.

By Jamelle Bouie  |  12:29 PM ET, 04/23/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Senate

Posted at 01:52 PM ET, 04/19/2013

It's not easy being a United States Senator
By Greg Sargent
Why can't Senators get more credit for all the political courage they've already shown?

By Greg Sargent  |  01:52 PM ET, 04/19/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Senate

Posted at 03:29 PM ET, 04/08/2013

Same-sex marriage, yes, but what about ENDA?
By Jonathan Bernstein
Could the Employment Non-Discrimination Act actually pass during the current divided Congress?

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  03:29 PM ET, 04/08/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  gay rights, United States Senate

Posted at 03:13 PM ET, 03/06/2013

Dems reaping what they sowed with weak filibuster reform
By Greg Sargent
If Dems hadn't punted on filibuster reform, the GOP filibuster of Obama's latest judicial nominee would have failed.

By Greg Sargent  |  03:13 PM ET, 03/06/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Senate

Posted at 05:41 PM ET, 02/13/2013

Massachusetts Republicans have finally found their man
By Jamelle Bouie
Gabriel Gomez fits perfectly with the GOP’s effort to reinvent itself.

By Jamelle Bouie  |  05:41 PM ET, 02/13/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Massachusetts, Senate

Posted at 05:32 PM ET, 02/12/2013

Harry Reid finally gets tough on GOP obstruction. Will it last?
By Jonathan Bernstein
With Chuck Hagel's nomination still in limbo, Dems must be prepared to revisit filibuster reform if necessary.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  05:32 PM ET, 02/12/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Senate

Posted at 11:27 AM ET, 01/30/2013

Deval Patrick chooses a replacement for John Kerry
By Jamelle Bouie
African Americans continue to be a rare presence in the Senate -- and things are unlikely to change anytime soon.

By Jamelle Bouie  |  11:27 AM ET, 01/30/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  United States Senate

Posted at 01:22 PM ET, 01/08/2013

Senator Elizabeth Warren gears up
By Greg Sargent
Her castigation of AIG is noteworthy for its populist tone and suggests her crusade for Wall Street accountability will continue in the Senate.

By Greg Sargent  |  01:22 PM ET, 01/08/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Elizabeth Warren, Senate, Wall Street

Posted at 01:03 PM ET, 01/02/2013

Filibuster reform is in serious trouble
By Greg Sargent
The current bipartisan package of reforms being considered is so weak as to be meaningless.

By Greg Sargent  |  01:03 PM ET, 01/02/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Filibuster, Senate

Posted at 10:45 AM ET, 12/31/2012

Have Democrats lost their leverage on the fiscal cliff?
By Jamelle Bouie
Democrats seem to be settling for a smaller deal.

By Jamelle Bouie  |  10:45 AM ET, 12/31/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bush tax cuts, fiscal cliff, Harry Reid, House of Representatives, john boehner, Mitch McConnell, Republicans, Senate

Posted at 07:50 PM ET, 12/28/2012

Happy Hour Roundup
By Jonathan Bernstein
Our nightly wrap-up of news and opinion.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  07:50 PM ET, 12/28/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Happy Hour Roundup, Senate

Posted at 02:45 PM ET, 12/28/2012

A filibuster reform compromise could work -- but probably won't
By Jonathan Bernstein
There's a good deal to be had on Senate reform, but it doesn't appear to be the likely outcome.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  02:45 PM ET, 12/28/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Filibuster, Senate

Posted at 04:55 PM ET, 12/26/2012

The brave new world of Cabinet nominations
By Jonathan Bernstein
The rules have changed, and even Senate reform won't change them back.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  04:55 PM ET, 12/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, chuck hagel, Senate, Susan Rice

Posted at 03:22 PM ET, 12/24/2012

The filibuster and the judicial crisis
By Jonathan Bernstein
Every empty seat on a federal bench is another reason why Senate reform is essential.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  03:22 PM ET, 12/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Filibuster, Mitch McConnell, Senate

Posted at 02:19 PM ET, 12/18/2012

Dems showing real movement on gun control
By Greg Sargent
A top lawmaker says Democrats will introduce a whole package of reforms early in the new year.

By Greg Sargent  |  02:19 PM ET, 12/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Democrats, Dick Durbin, gun control, Newtown, Senate

Posted at 11:22 AM ET, 12/17/2012

GOP elevates reactionary Tim Scott to South Carolina Senate seat
By Jamelle Bouie
It's good that the GOP is elevating minority lawmakers, but Republicans won't win minority voters by elevating reactionaries like Tim Scott.

By Jamelle Bouie  |  11:22 AM ET, 12/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Republicans. Nikki Haley, Senate, Tim Scott

Posted at 11:36 AM ET, 12/13/2012

Is filibuster reform at risk?
By Greg Sargent
If labor and liberal groups don't mobilize right now, the filibuster rules changes may get watered down -- squandering a great opportunity for real reform.

By Greg Sargent  |  11:36 AM ET, 12/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Democrats, Filibuster, Senate

Posted at 01:22 PM ET, 12/12/2012

Liberals warn Obama: We will fight any hike in Medicare age
By Greg Sargent
Senator Jeff Merkley warns that any age hike will be a nonstarter for liberals, who will fight it to the end.

By Greg Sargent  |  01:22 PM ET, 12/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  fiscal cliff, Medicare, Senate

Posted at 11:26 AM ET, 12/12/2012

Looks like we're stuck with GOP game playing on debt limit
By Jamelle Bouie
Republicans are unlikely to relinquish whatever leverage the threat of default gives them, so it looks like we're headed for another showdown.

By Jamelle Bouie  |  11:26 AM ET, 12/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  debt ceiling, fiscal cliff, Republicans, Senate

Posted at 04:55 PM ET, 12/06/2012

Dem unity forces McConnell to filibuster his own proposal
By Greg Sargent
Dems pass the first test of whether they can remain united on the debt ceiling

By Greg Sargent  |  04:55 PM ET, 12/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Debt celing, fiscal cliff, Harry Reid, Mitch McConnell, Senate

Posted at 02:56 PM ET, 12/06/2012

Jim DeMint will be at least as damaging outside the Senate as he was inside it
By Greg Sargent
The South Carolina Senator may soon be in a better position to enforce ideological purity on his party than before.

By Greg Sargent  |  02:56 PM ET, 12/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Jim DeMint, Republicans, Senate, Tea Party

Posted at 04:53 PM ET, 12/05/2012

Hey liberals! Time to ratchet up pressure on filibuster reform
By Jonathan Bernstein
If liberals want real reform, they need to press hard -- now.

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  04:53 PM ET, 12/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Filibuster, Harry Reid, Senate

Posted at 05:49 PM ET, 12/04/2012

A deal on Senate rules that Mitch McConnell shouldn't refuse
By Jonathan Bernstein
Would Mitch McConnell be willing to back up his filibuster rhetoric which has now apparently become the standard GOP talking points against reform, if one looks at today's alarmingly weak National Review item about the Senate with a deal?

By Jonathan Bernstein  |  05:49 PM ET, 12/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Filibuster, Mitch McConnell, Senate

Posted at 01:44 PM ET, 12/03/2012

How involved will Obama get in fight for filibuster reform?
By Greg Sargent
The White House and Obama's political operation may need to get involved in the push for filibuster reform. Will they?

By Greg Sargent  |  01:44 PM ET, 12/03/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Democrats, Filibuster, Harry Reid, Senate

Posted at 04:06 PM ET, 11/30/2012

Mitch McConnell makes an offer
By Greg Sargent
The GOP leader still won't give ground on tax rates.

By Greg Sargent  |  04:06 PM ET, 11/30/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  congress, fiscal cliff, Senate

Posted at 01:47 PM ET, 11/30/2012

No, Dems don't need to compromise up front
By Greg Sargent
Dems benefit from a fundamentally unbalanced situation

By Greg Sargent  |  01:47 PM ET, 11/30/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, fiscal cliff, Senate

Posted at 09:05 AM ET, 11/30/2012

The Morning Plum: Skittish Democrats putting filibuster reform in peril
By Greg Sargent
Our daily roundup of news and opinion.

By Greg Sargent  |  09:05 AM ET, 11/30/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  barack obama, congress, fiscal cliff, Morning Plum, Senate