Tag: US Senate

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New Jersey: Mayor Cory Booker easily wins Democratic primary for US Senate

With 98% of precincts reporting, Mayor Cory Booker easily won the Democratic primary in New Jersey in the special election to fill the US Senate seat of recently deceased Frank Lautenberg.

With 98 percent of the vote counted, Mr. Booker had won nearly 60 percent of the vote, far more than his nearest challenger, Representative Frank Pallone Jr., who had about 20 percent of the vote. Representative Rush D. Holt trailed with about 17 percent and the State Assembly speaker, Sheila Y. Oliver, had less than 5 percent.

Mr. Booker is a heavy favorite to win the October general election in an overwhelmingly Democratic state that has not elected a Republican senator in four decades. If he does he will become the country’s only elected black senator.

In the GOP primary, Steven Lonegan coasted to his own victory with 79% over his one challenger.

Of the over 300,000 votes cast, Booker received more than twice that of Lonegan.

(via NY Times)

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US Senate committee sets date for ENDA vote

A US Senate committee has set a date of July 10 for a vote on the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, according to the Advocate:

The date set for the vote by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee is exactly two weeks after the court ruled against both Proposition 8 and a key section of the Defense of Marriage Act.

ENDA, which would ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, is expected to easily obtain committee approval, as all 12 Democrats on the Senate panel are cosponsors of the legislation, and Republican senator Mark Kirk of Illinois is as well.

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Immigration reform passes in US Senate by vote of 68-32

On a vote of 68 to 32, the US Senate approved an immigration reform bill that would put 11 million undocumented immigrants on a path to citizenship. From NPR:

The bill also includes measures that would punish employers who take advantage of immigrant workers, as well as providing billions in spending to employ fences and high-tech tools to help secure the border between the U.S. and Mexico.

The legislation, , is widely seen as the product of the efforts of the “Gang of 8,” a group that includes Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Bob Menendez, D-N.J.

The bill has been seen as a main priority for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who insisted the chamber will act on it before the July 4 holiday. It is also a centerpiece of the Obama administration’s legislative agenda.

“It’s landmark legislation that will secure our borders and help 11 million people get right with the law,” Reid said Thursday.

The future looks more rough for the bill in the GOP-controlled House. Several House Republicans are believed to be working on their own versions of the legislation.

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Rep. Ed Markey wins special US Senate election in Massachusetts to replace John Kerry

Eighteen-term US House Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) has won the special election to replace John Kerry in the Senate.

Markey beat Republican businessman Gabriel E. Gomez today in a special election for US Senate in Massachusetts that was marked by its brevity and by low voter interest.

Markey had 55 percent of the votes, compared with 45 percent for Gomez, with 99 percent of precincts reporting.

(source)

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Sen. Patrick Leahy files his amendment to include LGBT binational couples in immigration reform

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D – VT), has filed an amendment to the ‘Gang of Eight’ immigration bill that would allow the spouses of gay and lesbian U.S. citizens to become permanent residents according to POLITICO.

Last month, Leahy withdrew the measure in committee, after an emotional debate during the committee markup, after several Democrats said they would vote against his amendment in order to preserve the overall bill.

Now, Sen. Leahy is determined to at least get a vote on his amendment

“Seeking equal protection under our laws for the LGBT community is the right thing to do,” Leahy said in a statement Tuesday. “I withheld my anti-discrimination amendment during the Senate Judiciary Committee markup. As the entire Senate turns to debate the immigration bill, the fight for equality must go on.”

Chances are slim to none that this will end up being a part of the “comprehensive immigration reform.” BUT thank you Sen. Leahy for stepping up and at least being heard.

I think Leahy rocks. And Vermont must be very proud to have him as their Senator.

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US Senate advances “Gang of 8” immigration legislation to full Senate debate

By a vote of 82-15, the US Senate voted to advance the current “Gang of 8” immigration bill to full Senate debate.

From USAToday:

A procedural vote to begin formal debate on the bill was approved 82-15 on a bipartisan vote.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., both voted to advance the bill despite lingering resistance from some elements of both parties.

“There are 11 million reasons to pass common-sense immigration reform that mends our broken system — 11 million stories of heartbreak and suffering that should motivate Congress to act,” Reid said. Previous attempts to pass an overhaul of immigration laws have not gotten this far.

The bill would allow most of the nation’s estimated eleven million undocumented immigrants to apply for citizenship within 13 years provided they

• learn English
• pass a criminal background check
• pay $2000 in fines.

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NJ Gov. Christie names state Attorney to interim US Senate seat

Gov. Chris Christie today named state attorney general Jeffrey Chiesa to fill the Senate seat left vacant by the death of U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

Christie’s announcement ended days of intense speculation over whom the Republican governor would appoint to serve nearly five months before voters elect a replacement for the 89-year-old Lautenberg, who died Monday.

New Jersey voters haven’t sent a Republican to the Senate in four decades.

(source)

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NJ: Sen. Frank Lautenberg dies at 89

Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), the Senate’s oldest member and longtime LGBT ally, has died at 89, North Jersey reports:

The oldest member of the Senate, Lautenberg had struggled with health problems since late last year, when he missed several weeks of votes because of what he said was flu and bronchitis.

The death of Lautenberg, a Democrat who was the longest-serving senator in New Jersey history, creates a vacancy that Governor Christie, a Republican, will fill.

Lautenberg returned to Washington in February and announced he would not seek re-election in 2014, but hoped to complete a series of accomplishments before his term ended.

Lautenberg was the the author of the Ryan White Care Act, which is the largest federally-funded program for people living with HIV/AIDS. He had a 100% rating from the Human Rights Campaign.

(from Towleroad)