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Trying To Change The Senate Climate: Reid ‘Wants Bill Soon,’ But Carbon Regulation Plans Still Stalled

If healthcare reform is shaping up as the equivalent of political combat in the Senate, then consider the issue of climate change as its Cold War.
Legislation to limit greenhouse gas emissions through a new cap-and-trade system has languished in the Senate for the better part of a year. The bill has gone nowhere, despite the [...]

Inside A ‘Black Box’: Senator Coaxes Secrets From Toyota, As House Members Pose More Questions

Toyota executives last week backed down under the glare of congressional scrutiny, saying that they would allow data from one of their vehicle “black boxes” to be read in order to try to shed light on the fatal unintended acceleration plaguing the embattled automaker.
Toyota previously had denied a request by the parents of Chris Eves, [...]

Union Cheers Broad Push To Repeal NAFTA

One of the nation’s oldest and largest labor unions is praising new, bipartisan legislation that would withdraw the United States from NAFTA, and vanquish one of the biggest enemies of American organized labor for more than 15 years.
A remarkably broad coalition of lawmakers from across the political spectrum came together Thursday to sponsor a bill [...]

ANALYSIS: How Many Reasons Do You Need To Reform Unemployment Benefits?

When it comes looking at the reasons why U.S. unemployment benefit programs need reform, proponents of reform could simply add up the millions of Americans out of work for 26 weeks or longer. Now they can add one more: Sen. Jim Bunning.
The nation’s unemployment rate stands at a pernicious 9.7 percent, but even that doesn’t [...]

Sen. Jim Bunning Called Out For Hypocrisy As The Damage of His Obstruction Widens

Republicans continued to support Sen. Jim Bunning’s effort to block an extension of unemployment benefits and other federal funding programs this week, even as a Democratic spokesman called the Kentucky Republican a hypocrite for his stance.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) triedĀ again Tuesday to bring legislation to a vote that would extend unemployment insurance, healthcare [...]

Democratic Senator: Republican Obstruction Responsible For 27 Direct Layoffs

The Republican accomplishment last week to block extension of a variety of recession-related benefits will cause at least 27 Americans to lose their jobs, according to the chairwoman of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee.
The Senate GOP is supporting the effort of Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) to block a vote of a Democratic bill [...]

Unemployment Benefits For Millions of Americans To Expire, ‘But The Need To Buy Groceries Doesn’t’

Millions of out-of-work Americans are poised to lose critical benefits due to the opposition of one Republican senator who would only agree to an extension of those benefits if they come out of federal economic stimulus dollars, according to the Senate’s top Democrat.
The Senate adjourned for the week with Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) continuing to [...]

In The ‘Back Seat’ No More: New Legislation Would Protect Workers, Retirees When Their Employers Go Bankrupt

Democrats in both the House and Senate introduced legislation Wednesday designed to protect the earnings and retirement savings of workers and retirees when businesses collapse.
The Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act would make several changes to Chapter 11 bankruptcy law, putting workers interests near the top when companies file for bankruptcy, according to [...]

Antitrust Tsunami: Even Howls From Powerful Insurance Lobby Can’t Save Exemption

Turning their backs to the howls of protest from the powerful health insurance lobby, more than 400 Democrats and Republicans voted to do away with the antitrust exemption the insurance industry has enjoyed for 65 years.
In an almost-unheard-of bipartisan move on the issue of healthcare, House members overwhelmingly voted, 406 to 19, to approve H.R. [...]

Toyota Acceleration Recall Prompts Consumer Group To Offer Suggestions For Powerful House Committee Chairman Eager To Legislate

Sitting down to hear Rhonda Smith tell of the unintended acceleration of her Toyota-made Lexus vehicle that left her car out of control and certain she would die, the powerful chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee made clear that new legislation will be required.
Meanwhile, one of the nation’s best-known consumer groups provided some [...]