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US Senate Tag

For once, something from anonymous sources came true! California Democrat Senator Kamala Harris has officially thrown her hat into the 2020 presidential race. She made the announcement on Good Morning America.

Attorney General William Barr said that he plans to tell the Senate during his confirmation hearings this week that he believes Special Counsel Robert Mueller should finish his Russia investigation. From NBC News:
"I believe it is vitally important that the Special Counsel be allowed to complete his investigation," Barr plans to tell the Senate Judiciary Committee, according to prepared remarks obtained by NBC News.

Yesterday, Kemberlee blogged about the partial government shutdown, and today, the Senate adjourned until December 27, 2018.  The partial government shutdown will not be resolved until they return. Meanwhile, recent polls show that 81% of Americans believe that border security is "an important issue," and Republican support for the wall, specifically, is on the increase.

Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) announced that President Donald Trump will not sign the short-term funding bill the Senate passed last night. From Politico:
“The president informed us he will not sign the bill that came from the Senate last evening because of his legitimate concerns for border security,” Ryan told reporters after meeting with Trump at the White House. “So what we're going to do is go back to the House and work with our members.”
Ryan confirmed that the House also has "very serious concerns" when it comes to border security.

The government has three days to come up with a plan to avoid a partial government shutdown on Friday. As of today, it looks like if it happens, the blame will fall on the Democrats instead of President Donald Trump. The Democrats rejected the latest offer from the GOP even though the White House said officials may "have other ways" to achieve raising $5 billion for a border wall.

Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) announced today that he will not seek re-election for a fourth term in 2020. From Politico:
"The people of Tennessee have been very generous, electing me to serve more combined years as governor and senator than anyone else from our state. I am deeply grateful, but now it is time for someone else to have that privilege," the 78-year old Alexander said in a closely-held statement on Monday. "I have gotten up every day thinking that I could help make our state and country a little better, and gone to bed most nights thinking that I have. I will continue to serve with that same spirit during the remaining two years of my term.”

Arizona Republican Sen. Jon Kyl told Arizona Governor Doug Ducey he plans to retire on December 31 after serving these last few months after John McCain passed away. From The Daily Caller:
“Thank you for appointing me to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy created by John McCain’s death,” Kyl wrote in a letter to Ducey. “It has been an honor and a privilege to again serve the people of Arizona.”

In December 2017, The Washington Post reported how the Office of Compliance for Congress paid over $17 million for 264 settlements and awards over various violations, including sexual harassment. Now Congress has agreed on a bill that members of Congress will be responsible for their own settlements instead of the tax payer. As of now, "settlements are paid through taxpayer-funded accounts members use to pay for office salaries and expenses."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) finally decided to pick up the criminal justice reform bill, the FIRST STEP Act, that has the approval of President Donald Trump. From The Washington Examiner:
“At the request of the president and following improvements to the legislation that have been secured by several members, the Senate will take up the recently-revised criminal justice bill this month,” McConnell said in a Senate floor speech. “I intend to turn to the new text as early as the end of this week.”

The government needs to come up with spending bills by Friday or the government will shut down. Border wall funding has halted the talks as disagreements between the Democrats and President Donald Trump continue. Trump wants $5 billion, but the Democrats will not budge from their demand of only $1.6 billion.

Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) has conceded to Florida Governor Rick Scott (R).  Scott will become Florida's junior senator, making this the first time in over a century that Florida has had two Republican senators.  This flipped Senate seat will also strengthen the Republican majority in the Senate to 52-48.  Prior to the midterms, the GOP held a slightly slimmer majority of 51-49. Scott announced that Nelson, who has held public office since 1972, conceded in a phone call Sunday after the second mandatory recount showed Scott leading by approximately 10,000 votes.