US Senate timeline
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Edward "Ted" Kennedy Dies at Age 77
(CNN) -- Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy, the patriarch of the first family of Democratic politics, died late Tuesday at his home in Hyannis... Read more
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Alexi Giannoulias announces support for Gay Marriage, repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Illinois State Treasurer and U.S. Senate hopeful Alexi Giannoulias surprised voters last week when he announced an extensive LGBT rights platform... Read more
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Massachusetts House Authorizes Governor Patrick to Appoint Interim Replacement for Late Senator Kennedy
If Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick wants the power to quickly name a temporary replacement for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, it's going to be up... Read more
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SEIU formally announces endorsement Alexi Giannoulias for US Senate seat
Illinois' largest union, the Service Employees International Union, will announce Thursday it is backing Democratic front-runner Alexi Giannoulias... Read more
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Paul G. Kirk, a Longtime Kennedy Ally, Chosen as Kennedy's Interim Successor
Paul Kirk is expected to get the immediate attention of top Democrats in Washington looking for all the troops they can find for the upcoming... Read more
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Paul G. Kirk is Appointed Interim Senator to Fill Late Edward Kennedy's Seat
A Massachusetts judge on Friday rejected a Republican request to delay the swearing in of Edward M. Kennedy's temporary replacement in the... Read more
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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Announces Support for Government-Run Health-Care Option
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid will announce his support for establishing a government-run health-insurance program that would allow... Read more
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Students Stage Sit-in at Senator Joe Lieberman's Office to Protest his Accepting Campaign Contributions from Health Care Industry
At roughly 10:15am, nine students, along with other protesters, including some seniors, were arrested for staging a sit-in at Senator Lieberman’s... Read more
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Senator Robert Byrd Becomes Longest Serving Member in Congress in History
In West Virginia, the late Sen. Robert Byrd is already memorialized in more than 1,000 miles of highways and in the projects and jobs, worth... Read more
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Senate Ethics Panel Admonishes Senator Burris for Conduct During Contentious Appointment, but Does Not Seek Further Punishment
In a letter of "qualified admonition" to Burris, the panel said it found he had provided "incorrect, inconsistent, misleading or incomplete... Read more
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Roland Burris admonished by US Senate Select Committee on Ethics
While the [Senate Ethics] Committee did not find that the evidence before it supported any actionable violations of law, Senators must meet a much... Read more
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US Senate Votes to Move Ahead with Health-Care Reform Bill
Senate Democrats managed to push health care reform legislation past a key hurdle on Saturday night, with a cloture vote that will lead to a debate... Read more
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Senate Vote Supports Amendment to Support Access to Preventative Healthcare for Women
The U.S. Senate backed a plan on Thursday to make it easier for women to get preventive health services such as mammograms as it cast its first... Read more
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US Senate Votes Down Anti-Abortion Amendment to Health Care Proposal
By a vote of 54-45, Senators dismissed the abortion amendment offered by Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. Seven... Read more
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Senate Democrats Drop Public Option from Health Care Proposal
The compromise scraps the bill's current version of a government-run health-insurance plan in favor of a more limited proposal that would empower... Read more
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President Obama Invites 60 Senate Democrats to White House to Discuss Passage of Health Care Reform Bill
President Obama invited 60 Senate Democratic caucus members to the White House today, but most of his health care pitch is aimed at two particular... Read more
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Senator Ben Nelson Rejects Abortion Compromise in Health Care Bill
Another potential obstacle for Reid is moderate Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska, who on Thursday rejected compromise abortion language in the... Read more
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Senator Franken Shuts Down Senator Lieberman as Tensions Rise Amidst Health Care Debate
I must say that I don't know what's happening here in this body but I think it's wrong Read more
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Roland Burris recites reworked "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" on Senate floor
Sen. Roland Burris has had quite a 2009 – going from one time Illinois Attorney General to Rod Blagojevich-appointed U.S. Senator. How do you... Read more
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Senator John Kerry Proposes Visit to Tehran Amidst Iranian Mass Protests
Sen. John Kerry has suggested becoming the first high-level U.S. emissary to make a public visit to Tehran since the 1979 Islamic revolution, a... Read more
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Democrats Announce Final Health-Care Bill will Resemble Senate Version More Than House Version
Any health-care legislation that reaches President Barack Obama’s desk will be close to the version the Senate passed last week, top Democrats said... Read more
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Senate Leader Harry Reid Apologizes for Racial Remarks
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid apologized to President Barack Obama on Saturday for comments he made during the 2008 presidential campaign that... Read more
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Poll Shows Republican Candidate Lead in Massachussetts Senate Race in Vote that Could Threaten Health Care Reform
Democrats envisioned a smooth passing of the baton in the January 19 special election to fill the seat of the late Edward Kennedy, a political... Read more
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Scott Brown Wins Ted Kennedy's Senate Seat to Become First Republican Senator from Massachusetts Since 1972
Senior presidential adviser David Axelrod said there would be a rethink on tactics but the substance of policy would not change. Earlier... Read more
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Democrats Vow to Continue with Health Care Overhaul
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday she thought Democrats in Congress would still produce healthcare legislation despite recent... Read more