The vote was 54-46 against the bill.
Gun background bill falls short in US Senate
US Senate: Common sense gun reforms will get a debate
Thanks to 68 US Senators – including 16 Republicans – common sense gun reforms will at least get a debate. Maybe even a vote on the issue.
From MSNBC:
A new gun control law cleared a major Senate hurdle Thursday, with 16 Republicans voting with most of the chamber’s Democrats to begin the process of moving one of President Barack Obama’s top domestic initiatives through a long, legislative slog.
Senators voted 68 to 31, with a handful of Republicans joining most Democrats, on a procedural measure to begin consideration of a proposed gun law that would expand background checks for gun sales, and strengthen mental health and school safety programs.
[snip]
“The senators who have vowed to filibuster this bill should be ashamed of their attempt to silence efforts to prevent the next American tragedy,” said 33 family members of Newtown victims in a joint statement. “Their staunch opposition to sensible gun reform is an affront to the 26 innocent children and educators who were murdered in Newtown.”
Here are the 16 Republican senators who voted for cloture:
Lamar Alexander (Tenn.)
Kelly Ayotte (N.H.)
Richard Burr (N.C.)
Saxby Chambliss (Ga.)
Tom Coburn (Okla.)
Susan Collins (Maine)
Bob Corker (Tenn.)
Jeff Flake (Ariz.)
Lindsey Graham (S.C.)
Dean Heller (Nev.
John Hoeven (N.D.)
Johnny Isakson (Ga.)
Mark Kirk (Ill.)
John McCain (Ariz.)
Patrick Toomey (Pa.)
Roger Wicker (Miss.)
Only two Democrats voted against cloture, both from solid GOP states: Sen. Mark Begich, D-Alaska, and Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark.
A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released Thursday found that 55 percent of Americans favor gun laws, versus 34 percent who prefer to keep the laws as they are now.
This vote merely allows the process of debate to take place, though. Another filibuster could occur before a vote on any actual bill occurs.
Stay tuned.
Jon Stewart on the “evolution” of marriage equality support
Jon Stewart chronicles the sudden outpouring of US Senators who support marriage equality, and how “evolving” on the issue works.
Graphic: Evolution of US Senators on marriage equality
(via wonkblog)
Breaking: US Senate votes to break filibuster of Hagel nomination
From ThinkProgress: The Senate on Tuesday voted to break the Republican-led filibuster of Chuck Hagel’s nomination to become the next Secretary of Defense, clearing the way for his confirmation.
Senate Republicans made history earlier this month by successfully filibustering a president’s Defense Secretary nominee for the first time in U.S. history.
But a number of Republicans who voted to uphold the filibuster joined Democrats in breaking the filibuster on Tuesday.
Overall, 18 Republicans voted for cloture, which ultimately passed by a vote of 71-27.
According to Senate rules, a final up-or-down vote on Hagel’s nomination will take place no later than 30 hours from today’s cloture vote. Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) said today that he hopes the vote will take place later on this afternoon.
Read more at ThinkProgress
NJ: Sen. Lautenberg will not seek reelection
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) announced today that he will not seek reelection in 2014. Lautenberg, 89, is the oldest member and the last World War II veteran in the Senate.
Upon the news of Lautenberg’s retirement, the senator won praise from both sides of the aisle. President Obama called Lautenberg a “steadfast champion” for New Jersey. “Throughout his time in the Senate, Frank has fought tirelessly for workers, veterans, members of our military and their families, and immigrants, and he continues to make extraordinary contributions to our nation’s safety,” he said.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, said he always respected the senator for “his tenacity, devotion to the people of New Jersey and his love and commitment to public service.” Booker called Lautenberg a “champion” for Garden State residents.
Lautenberg’s retirement makes an open path for Newark Mayor Cory Booker to run for the open seat, who announced his interest in the seat last month.
The Human Rights Campaign reacts.
“For well over a decade, Senator Lautenberg has received a 100% rating on the HRC Scorecard, which scores members of congress on their positions on LGBT-related legislation. Following the tragic death of Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi, Sen. Lautenberg introduced the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act to help combat harassment and cyberbullying on college campuses.”
(via JMG)
US Senate: Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act passes 78-22
The original 1994 act expired in 2011 and failed to be reauthorized last year.
The vote today in the Senate was 78-22; all of the “no” votes came from Republican men.
The bill is expected to face tough opposition in the House.
From the AP:
By a robust bipartisan majority, the Senate voted Tuesday to renew the Violence Against Women Act with new assurances that gays and lesbians, immigrants and Native American women will have equal access to the act’s anti-domestic violence programs.
Last year both the Republican-led House and the Democratic-controlled Senate passed renewal bills, but they were unable to reach a compromise.
This year House Republicans, sensitive to their lackluster showing among women voters in the November election, have vowed to move expeditiously on the issue.
Barney Frank – US Senator?
It appears Barney Frank might be interested in hanging around Washington, D.C. just a bit longer, Politico reports:
Barney Frank, one day out of Congress, said on Friday that he has asked Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to send him back as an interim senator when Sen. John Kerry becomes secretary of state.
“A month ago, or a few weeks ago, I said I wasn’t interested,” Frank said on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “It was kind of like you’re about to graduate, and they said: ‘You gotta go to summer school.’ But [the fiscal cliff deal] now means that February, March and April are going to be among the most important months in American financial history.”
He added, “I’ve told the governor I would now like, frankly, to do that [serve as interim senator].”
Franks says he would not run for Kerry’s seat in a summer special election.
Wisconsin Sen. Tammy Baldwin sworn in as 1st openly gay US Senator
Hawaii Governor names Lt. Gov to US Senate seat
From the AP: Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz of Hawaii was appointed Wednesday to succeed the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye.
Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced the appointment after receiving a list of three candidates from the state Democratic Party earlier in the day. The other candidates were U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa and Esther Kiaaina, a deputy director in the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Inouye died Dec. 17 of respiratory complications at the age of 88. He had sent Abercrombie a letter that day, saying he would like Hanabusa, 61, to succeed him.
“Sen. Inouye conveyed his final wish to Gov. Abercrombie. While we are very disappointed that it was not honored, it was the governor’s decision to make,” Jennifer Sabas, Inouye’s chief of staff, said in a statement. “We wish Brian Schatz the best of luck.”
Schatz, who is 40, will serve until an election is held in 2014. Had Hanabusa been appointed, a special election would have been needed to fill her seat.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had urged Abercrombie to name Inouye’s successor before the end of the year. Schatz could be sworn in as early as this week, which would make him Hawaii’s senior senator heading into the new Congress, which begins Jan. 3.