December 20, 2015 Legal expert says Senate Dems' nuclear option could lead to 'mass destruction' Sekulow said on “The Kelly File” the Senate decision to approve a rule change that strips the minority party of its primary power to block nominations could be a slippery slope.
December 20, 2015 Obama applauds Reid for filibuster overhaul, critics warn move will 'damage' Senate President Obama, openly expressing his frustration with Senate Republicans, applauded Majority Leader Harry Reid's success Thursday at invoking the so-called "nuclear option" as Democrats voted to strip the minority party of its primary power to block nominations -- the filibuster.
December 20, 2015 US appoints new ambassador to the Philippines The United States has sworn in a veteran diplomat as its new ambassador to the Philippines as the Southeast Asian nation grapples with the aftermath of a devastating typhoon.
December 20, 2015 Sen. Reid considers change to nominations rules amid GOP blocks Reid said he was considering changing the rules that apply to nominees for top agency jobs, but not for Supreme Court justices.
December 20, 2015 Yellen stands by Fed's low interest rate policies Janet Yellen said Thursday that the U.S. economy has regained ground lost to Great Recession but still needs the Federal Reserve's support because unemployment remains too high at 7.3 percent.
December 20, 2015 GOP ready to block another key Obama court nominee Republicans seemed ready to block another of President Barack Obama's picks for one of the nation's top courts on Tuesday, the latest skirmish in a nominations battle that has intensified partisan tensions in the Senate.
December 20, 2015 Graham says he'll continue to block Obama nominees unless he gets Benghazi info South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham reiterated his pledge to block all of Obama’s nominees for executive branch positions until Congress is allowed to hear testimony from those on the ground during the Benghazi terrorist attacks in 2012.
December 20, 2015 Senate committee OKs Homeland Security nominee President Barack Obama's choice to lead the Department of Homeland Security Department is one step closer to joining the Cabinet after winning support from a Senate committee.
December 20, 2015 Coburn: DHS nominee Johnson used cribbed answers for confirmation hearing The Obama administration was accused Wednesday of providing cribbed answers to 23 questions in the form the Senate received for the hearing of its nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security -- as the nominee also ran into criticism from one senator who said he won't vote for him unless he makes a major border security pledge.
December 20, 2015 Senate GOP blocks Obama pick for housing agency Senate Republicans have blocked President Obama's nominee to head the federal agency that oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Senate voted Thursday 56-42 for Congressman Melvin Watt's nomination. But that was 4 short of the 60 votes needed to end GOP delaying tactics.
