Health Care

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Donald Berwick in His Own Words

Last week President Obama bypassed the Senate and public hearings to appoint Dr. Donald Berwick as Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The recess appointment means that Dr. Berwick did not face any public scrutiny before assuming control of an agency that provide... Read More

Banking

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Dodd-Frank Financial Regulation Conference Report is Deeply Flawed

Using the Senate-passed financial services regulation bill as a starting point, the conference committee’s final agreement– one opposed by every House and Senate Republican conferee – adds troubling new requirements to the legislation and fails to correct harmful provisions in the ... Read More

Judiciary

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Vacuity, Farce, and the Kagan Hearings

The need for a searching inquiry into Ms. Kagan’s approach to the law is all the more important in her case, because she has no judicial experience to point to. Senators are left to judge Ms. Kagan’s fitness for the bench and approach to the law based on a thin record and her words over ... Read More

Health Care

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Rationing With Open Eyes

Donald Berwick, President Obama’s nominee to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), has a history of support for government rationing of health care resources on cost grounds. He has spoken favorably about Britain’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellen... Read More

Judiciary

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Elena Kagan and the Protection of Life

The Supreme Court, originally thought to be the “least dangerous” branch, has claimed vast powers for itself, far outreaching its proper place in our constitutional system. One of the most striking bits of overreach came in the case of Roe v. Wade, where the Court took it upon itself to... Read More
No VOTES on Friday. A VOTE can be expected circa 5:30-5:45 Monday.

Senate Floor Proceedings

The Senate stands in adjournment until 10:00 a.m. Friday, July 30.

*At 10:00 a.m., the Senate will be in Morning Business, with Senators permitted to speak up to 10 minutes each.

*Pending is the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 1586, the FAA Authorization bill, with Reid amendment #4567 (education and FMAP funding). Cloture has been filed on the motion to concur. The amendment tree has been filled.

*Also pending is H.R. 5297, the Small Business Lending bill. A motion to reconsider the failed cloture vote on Baucus/Landrieu substitute amendment #4519 has been entered. The amendment tree has been filled. Cloture has also been filed on H.R. 5297.

Senate Schedule

Jul 29 2010

9:30 a.m.
Resume consideration of H.R. 5297, the Small Business Lending bill, for up to 1 hour of debate, equally divided, with the final 10 minutes under the control of the Leaders

Circa 10:40 a.m.
VOTE on the motion to invoke cloture on Baucus/Landrieu substitute amendment #4519 to H.R. 5297

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Recent Press

  • Jul 27 2010
    Thune Introduces Common Sense Budget Reform Bill
    WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Senator John Thune, Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, today introduced legislation that will begin to tackle the nation's ballooning $13 trillion debt by reforming the budget process and cutting federal spending and borrowing.
  • Jul 14 2010
    Thune Announces Opposition to Kagan Supreme Court Nomination
    WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Senator John Thune today made the following statement regarding Elena Kagan's nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court: “After meeting with Solicitor General Kagan and after careful deliberation, I cannot support her confirmation to the Supreme Court. While Ms. Kagan's ...
  • Jul 7 2010
    Thune Comments on Berwick Recess Appointment
    Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John Thune, Chairman of the Republican Policy Committee, made the following statement today regarding the White House recess appointment of Donald Berwick to be Director of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS): "President Obama's decision to put a...
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