There are 18 states, as columnist Mark Shields recently pointed out to me, that have gone Democratic in each of the last five presidential elections. Of the 36 senators who represent those states, only two are Republicans. Both are from Maine, one of the last, storm-lashed, surf-pounded footholds of the Yankee GOP. So it is hardly shocking that the lone Republican supporter of Democratic health reform on the Senate Finance Committee should be Maine's Olympia Snowe. ...more

October 21, 2009

In a springtime show of unity, congressional Democrats welcomed President Barack Obama to the Capitol Wednesday and unveiled budget blueprints that embrace his key priorities and point the way for major legislation this year on health care, energy and education. ...more

March 25, 2009

The White House sought today to stress the positive in a looming fight with Congress over a $3.6 trillion budget, saying blueprints put forth by Democratic allies in both chambers hew closely to President Barack Obama's priorities. ...more

March 25, 2009

Senate Republicans are drawing out a flap that has made the Obama administration squirm, applying the brakes to Democrats' attempts to quickly tax away most of the bonuses at troubled insurance giant AIG and other bailed-out companies. ...more

March 21, 2009

Senate Republicans are drawing out a flap that has made the Obama administration squirm, applying the brakes to Democratic attempts to quickly tax away most of the bonuses at troubled insurance giant AIG and other bailed-out companies. ...more

March 20, 2009

Disagreement among Senate Democrats over how many homeowners should qualify for court-ordered mortgage relief has stalled a key part of President Barack Obama's foreclosure prevention plan on Capitol Hill. ...more

March 14, 2009

Cash-strapped states like Florida could lose out on millions of dollars. ...more

February 11, 2009

Cash-strapped Florida could lose out on millions of dollars if Congress' final version of a massive economic stimulus bill ends up reflecting the $838 billion Senate bill passed Tuesday, rather than one the House approved last week. ...more

February 11, 2009

A comparison of the $827 billion economic recovery plan drafted by Senate Democrats and moderate Republicans with an $820 billion version passed by the House. Additional debt costs would add about $350 billion or more over 10 years. Many provisions expire in two years. ...more

February 7, 2009

With job losses soaring nationwide, Senate Democrats reached agreement with a small group of Republicans Friday night on an economic stimulus measure at the heart of President Barack Obama's plan for combating the worst recession in decades. ...more

February 7, 2009