John Thune

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Trump May Not Like His Senate Visit This Week

Republicans plan to make clear the SAVE America Act doesn't have the votes to pass

(Newser) - President Trump is heading to the Senate this week, and he may not receive as warm a reception as he hopes. Trump, at the invitation of Florida Sen. Rick Scott, will attend the GOP's Wednesday lunch and press for his top priority, the SAVE America Act elections bill, reports...

Trump-Thune Rift Deepens as Senators Bristle Over Demands

Trump attacks leave GOP senators defending Thune and Senate traditions

(Newser) - Republican unease with President Trump isn't exactly a secret, but it now has a focal point: Senate GOP leader John Thune. Sources tell Punchbowl News that in a closed-door lunch meeting Wednesday, Sen. John Kennedy complained that Trump is "taking shots" at Thune—and no one rose to...

Susan Collins Is Only 2nd Senator to Hit This Milestone

She is closing in on record after casting 10,000th consecutive vote

(Newser) - On Jan. 22, 1997, Sen. Susan Collins voted to confirm Madeline Albright as secretary of State. That was her first Senate vote, and she hasn't missed one since. On Thursday night, the Maine Republican cast her 10,000th consecutive vote, backing a motion tied to a $70 billion budget...

Report: Feds Plan to Drop 'Anti-Weaponization Fund'

DOJ says it will abide by ruling blocking payouts from $1.8B fund

(Newser) - The White House is backing away from a nearly $1.8 billion pot of money critics feared could become a Trump-aligned payout machine. Sources tell Axios that the administration plans to abandon the "Anti-Weaponization Fund" after legal setbacks and mounting resistance from both Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill....

GOP Senators Aren't Hiding Their Frustration With Trump

Several appear exasperated by his endorsement of Texas AG Ken Paxton

(Newser) - President Trump has picked his side in a Texas GOP brawl, and Senate Republicans are not hiding their irritation. Trump endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in the state's Senate primary runoff, undercutting 23-year incumbent Sen. John Cornyn and prompting warnings that the move could put what was seen...

Senate Vote on Iran War Could Be Risky for GOP

John Thune appears unwilling to force his members to go on the record

(Newser) - Lisa Murkowski is pushing for something many of her GOP colleagues would rather avoid: a recorded vote on whether to keep the Iran war going. The Alaska senator wants the Senate to formally authorize continued military action now that the 60-day window under the War Powers Act has closed, saying...

Senate GOP Sidesteps Dems, Passes Funding for ICE

Late night 'vote-a-rama' sends funding bill to the House, would reopen DHS

(Newser) - The Senate took the first steps in a new effort to reopen the Department of Homeland Security early Thursday, voting to adopt a budget plan that would fund ICE and Border Patrol over Democratic objections and sending it to the House. The entire department has been shut down since mid-February...

Johnson, Thune Unveil 2-Step Plan to End Shutdown

The first stage involves passing partial funding measure that House rejected last week

(Newser) - Republican leaders say they've found an off-ramp from the Homeland Security shutdown — now they just have to get their own party to take it. In a joint statement on Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson rolled out a two-step strategy: first, pass a...

GOP Leaders Unite Behind Mullin Replacement

Trump, Thune, Scott back Rep. Kevin Hern for Senate seat in Oklahoma

(Newser) - Republican leaders are quickly lining up behind their pick to replace Sen. Markwayne Mullin in Oklahoma. On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Tim Scott backed Rep. Kevin Hern for the open seat, signaling a push to clear the GOP field in the reliably...

Thune Rejects Trump's Push to Nationalize Elections

Though he is in favor of requiring ID to vote

(Newser) - Not everyone is rushing to follow President Trump's call to put elections under federal control , NBC News reports. A day after Trump told a conservative podcast that the GOP should "nationalize the voting," Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he wants no part of that. "I'...

House Republicans Defy Party to Pass ACA Subsidy Extension

Senate GOP leaders oppose bill without a series of changes

(Newser) - The House approved a three-year extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies on Thursday, with 17 Republicans joining all Democrats in a rebuke to GOP leaders. The bill, passed 230-196, would restore higher federal subsidies that lapsed at the end of last year to help lower premiums for millions of...

Bid to Save ObamaCare Subsidies Fails in Senate

Vote means they are all but certain to expire at the end of the year

(Newser) - The Senate on Thursday rejected legislation to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, essentially guaranteeing that millions of Americans will see a steep rise in costs at the beginning of the year, per the AP . Senators rejected a Democratic bill to extend the subsidies for three years and a Republican...

A Rare Unanimous Vote in House Kills Big Senator Payouts

It's a 426-0 nay for $500K in damages sought over seized records in Trump probe

(Newser) - The House of Representatives cast a unanimous 426-0 vote on Wednesday to remove a Senate-added provision that could have allowed certain senators to claim at least $500,000 each in taxpayer-funded damages. The provision, which drew bipartisan criticism, was inserted into the legislation that ended the recent government shutdown and...

In New Spending Bill, a GOP Move Against Jack Smith

8 Republican senators may be able to sue thanks to new measure over seized phone records

(Newser) - A new provision in a government spending bill would let US senators sue the federal government for up to $500,000 for each violation if their phone records are searched without their knowledge. The measure, included in a funding bill for the legislative branch, could have immediate consequences for eight...

Thune Rejects Schumer's Plan to Extend Credits, End Shutdown

Democrats' proposal includes one-year deal on ACA subsidies

(Newser) - Senate Republicans have dismissed an offer from Democratic leaders to end the government shutdown, calling the proposal to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies for one year a "nonstarter." The plan, presented by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, included a short-term funding bill, a bundle of three appropriations bills, and...

GOP Has New Offer to End the Shutdown

But Democrats are expected to reject it in Friday vote

(Newser) - Senate Republicans are making another attempt to end the government shutdown, now the longest in history, but Democrats are apparently unswayed. Senate Majority Leader John Thune is preparing a new vote to reopen the government on Friday, the 38th day of the shutdown. His latest offer swaps the stopgap funding...

Thune: Scrapping Filibuster Is Not Going to Happen

But other GOP senators are wavering

(Newser) - President Trump urged Republican senators to scrap the filibuster at a White House breakfast Wednesday, but Senate Majority leader John Thune made it clear that there aren't enough votes. "We have to get the country open. And the way we're going to do it this afternoon is...

GOP, Thune Stand Up to Trump on Filibuster Rule

Senate Republicans insists it's a safeguard for minority power, shutdown or no

(Newser) - Republican senators brushed aside President Trump's latest demand to eliminate the Senate filibuster on Friday, even as their party tries to exert pressure on Democrats to end the government shutdown. Trump's call to remove the 60-vote threshold to pass most legislation, delivered on Truth Social, injected new uncertainty...

Shutdown Talks May Be Finally Starting to Thaw

Hopes emerge of a deal next week

(Newser) - Is a thaw underway in shutdown talks? The Hill reports that Senate Republicans and Democrats are quietly searching for a way out as early as next week. Semafor similarly reports on an "unmistakable shift" below the leadership level, and the outlet also sees next week as a distinct possibility....

13th Time Wasn't Lucky for Bill to End Shutdown

GOP-backed stopgap spending bill voted down yet again on day 28 of shutdown

(Newser) - The second-longest government shutdown in US history dragged into its 28th day Tuesday, with the Senate again unable to break a deadlock over funding. For the 13th time, Senate Democrats blocked a GOP spending bill, insisting on protections for health care funding, the Guardian reports. The latest defeat for the...

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