As Dylan Matthews and Ezra Klein wrote on the Post’s Wonkblog, “Between 1940 and 2010, we have increased the debt limit more than 70 times, and from 1979 to 1995, a House rule proposed by Rep. Richard Gephardt made increases automatic by raising the ceiling whenever new spending is approved....
By AFP's Jo Biddle, "She may have disappeared off the radar for several weeks, ... but Clinton showed Wednesday that she's back, and in fighting form. ... [T]he 65-year-old Clinton gave a consummate performance displaying political skills honed over decades ... At a Senate hearing into the attack on the...
Sen. John Kerry, D-MA, President Obama’s nominee to replace current Secretary of State Clinton, testified at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Kerry, who had chaired that very committee the past four years, is not expected to face significant resistance in the confirmation process.
Politico is reporting that Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), who positioned himself as a bipartisan deal-maker on the budget, will not run for a third term next year, according to a source familiar with his plans. BIT OF GEORGIA TRIVIA Although Georgia should be a GOP-leaning state in a midterm election,...
The changes to the filibuster that were approved overwhelmingly by the Senate Thursday would seem, at first blush, to be relatively small. Yes, the minority party will still be able to block a bill unless the majority party musters 60 votes to proceed. And yes, many liberals wanted to see...
Relatively simple explanation from the Washington Post, “#1) A budget isn’t necessary. … Budget resolutions don’t have the force of law. Appropriations bills are where spending is allocated. While the budget provides a long-term framework for spending and revenue, lawmakers don’t actually have to pass one. While the Senate is...