Welcome to the Reuters.com BETA. Read our Editor's note on how we're helping professionals make smart decisions.The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington, U.S., December 17, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File PhotoA group of liberal Democratic lawmakers on Thursday proposed expanding the U.S. Supreme Court by four justices, aiming to end its conservative majority, but the plan drew an unenthusiastic response from the White House and top Democrats and was denounced by Republicans.Senator Ed Markey and House of Representatives members Jerrold Nadler, Hank Johnson and Mondaire Jones introduced...…Welcome to the Reuters.com BETA. Read our Editor's note on how we're helping professionals make smart decisions.The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington, U.S., December 17, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File PhotoA group of liberal Democratic lawmakers on Thursday proposed expanding the U.S. Supreme Court by four justices, aiming to end its conservative majority, but the plan drew an unenthusiastic response from the White House and top Democrats and was denounced by Republicans.Senator Ed Markey and House of Representatives members Jerrold Nadler, Hank Johnson and Mondaire Jones introduced...WW…

By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate will take up hate crime legislation on Wednesday intended to combat violence against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, in a potential first major test this Congress of the Senate procedural tool known as the filibuster.Slideshow The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, led by Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono and Congresswoman Grace Meng, also raises the question as to whether the two parties that evenly divide the Senate can agree on any legislative initiative in a time of intense partisanship.The bill, which comes after a spate of high-profile...…By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate will take up hate crime legislation on Wednesday intended to combat violence against Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, in a potential first major test this Congress of the Senate procedural tool known as the filibuster.Slideshow The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, led by Democratic Senator Mazie Hirono and Congresswoman Grace Meng, also raises the question as to whether the two parties that evenly divide the Senate can agree on any legislative initiative in a time of intense partisanship.The bill, which comes after a spate of high-profile...WW…

By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden on Tuesday backed reforming, rather than scrapping, the filibuster after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell warned Democrats that ending the long-standing Senate procedure that can block partisan legislation would bring the Democratic president’s agenda to a standstill.Top Democrats, including the two highest-ranking party members in the Senate, have stepped up rhetoric in recent days about the future of the filibuster, which requires support from 60 of the chamber’s 100 members to pass most legislation -- effectively giving power to the...…By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Joe Biden on Tuesday backed reforming, rather than scrapping, the filibuster after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell warned Democrats that ending the long-standing Senate procedure that can block partisan legislation would bring the Democratic president’s agenda to a standstill.Top Democrats, including the two highest-ranking party members in the Senate, have stepped up rhetoric in recent days about the future of the filibuster, which requires support from 60 of the chamber’s 100 members to pass most legislation -- effectively giving power to the...WW…

By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the U.S. Senate said Friday they had resolved their differences over unemployment aid in President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid bill, enabling them to move forward with the sweeping package after hours of delay.The deal would scale back the level of jobless benefits provided in the version of the bill that passed the House of Representatives last week and set up new tax breaks for people receiving them, according to Democratic aides.“We have reached a compromise that enables the economy to rebound quickly while also protecting those...…By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the U.S. Senate said Friday they had resolved their differences over unemployment aid in President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid bill, enabling them to move forward with the sweeping package after hours of delay.The deal would scale back the level of jobless benefits provided in the version of the bill that passed the House of Representatives last week and set up new tax breaks for people receiving them, according to Democratic aides.“We have reached a compromise that enables the economy to rebound quickly while also protecting those...WW…

By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the U.S. Senate forged ahead with President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan early on Saturday, turning back Republican attempts to modify the package in a marathon session that had begun the prior day.With Republicans united in opposition, Democrats who narrowly control the chamber must keep all 50 of their members on board in order to pass the package, as they hope to do this weekend.Progress ground to a halt for more than 11 hours as Democrats negotiated a compromise on unemployment benefits to satisfy centrists, chiefly Senator...…By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the U.S. Senate forged ahead with President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan early on Saturday, turning back Republican attempts to modify the package in a marathon session that had begun the prior day.With Republicans united in opposition, Democrats who narrowly control the chamber must keep all 50 of their members on board in order to pass the package, as they hope to do this weekend.Progress ground to a halt for more than 11 hours as Democrats negotiated a compromise on unemployment benefits to satisfy centrists, chiefly Senator...WW…

By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate will start debating President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill this week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Monday after Democrats backed down from an effort to raise the minimum wage to $15 as part of it.The backpedaling did not end hopes of addressing the minimum wage issue in Congress. Democrats and some Republicans have voiced support for the idea of raising the federal minimum wage, now at $7.25 an hour, for the first time since 2009, although they disagree on how much.Republican Senators Mitt Romney and Tom Cotton...…By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate will start debating President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill this week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Monday after Democrats backed down from an effort to raise the minimum wage to $15 as part of it.The backpedaling did not end hopes of addressing the minimum wage issue in Congress. Democrats and some Republicans have voiced support for the idea of raising the federal minimum wage, now at $7.25 an hour, for the first time since 2009, although they disagree on how much.Republican Senators Mitt Romney and Tom Cotton...WW…

By WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The next few days will give Republicans opportunities to stand together or fight among themselves, first when the House of Representatives votes on a $1.9 trillion coronavirus package on Friday and again when Donald Trump retakes the global spotlight in a speech to the party’s most conservative members.The Republican leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives - Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy - have focused on rallying their caucuses against Democratic President Joe Biden’s massive bill and away from internal hostilities over the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and...…By WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The next few days will give Republicans opportunities to stand together or fight among themselves, first when the House of Representatives votes on a $1.9 trillion coronavirus package on Friday and again when Donald Trump retakes the global spotlight in a speech to the party’s most conservative members.The Republican leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives - Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy - have focused on rallying their caucuses against Democratic President Joe Biden’s massive bill and away from internal hostilities over the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and...WW…

By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former President Donald Trump told a top congressional Republican during the deadly assault by his supporters on the Capitol last month that the mob was “more upset” about his election defeat than lawmakers, a fellow Republican said.News of the phone call came hours before Trump’s impeachment trial was due to reconvene in the Senate on Saturday, leaving the divided chamber to decide whether to convict him on a charge he incited insurrection. At least three Democratic senators urged the House of Representatives Democrats serving as prosecutors to call witnesses...…By , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former President Donald Trump told a top congressional Republican during the deadly assault by his supporters on the Capitol last month that the mob was “more upset” about his election defeat than lawmakers, a fellow Republican said.News of the phone call came hours before Trump’s impeachment trial was due to reconvene in the Senate on Saturday, leaving the divided chamber to decide whether to convict him on a charge he incited insurrection. At least three Democratic senators urged the House of Representatives Democrats serving as prosecutors to call witnesses...WW…

By , , , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group of former Republican officials considering a new center-right political party to counter former President Donald Trump’s influence would face steep challenges in shaking up a U.S. political system that has favored two-party rule throughout its history.Reuters exclusively reported on Wednesday that more than 120 Republicans - including former elected officials, along with former administrators under Trump and former presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush - met virtually on Feb. 5 to discuss forming a third party or a new...…By , , , WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A group of former Republican officials considering a new center-right political party to counter former President Donald Trump’s influence would face steep challenges in shaking up a U.S. political system that has favored two-party rule throughout its history.Reuters exclusively reported on Wednesday that more than 120 Republicans - including former elected officials, along with former administrators under Trump and former presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush - met virtually on Feb. 5 to discuss forming a third party or a new...WW…

Welcome to the Reuters.com BETA. Read our Editor's note on how we're helping professionals make smart decisions.Conservative House of Representatives Republicans plan to form an "America First" caucus to promote the policies of ex-President Donald Trump and said on Friday the group would soon release a policy platform.The platform promotes "a common respect for uniquely Anglo-Saxon political traditions" and advocates for infrastructure with aesthetic value that "befits the progeny of European architecture," Punchbowl News reported on Friday.Republican lawmakers Marjorie Taylor Greene and...…Welcome to the Reuters.com BETA. Read our Editor's note on how we're helping professionals make smart decisions.Conservative House of Representatives Republicans plan to form an "America First" caucus to promote the policies of ex-President Donald Trump and said on Friday the group would soon release a policy platform.The platform promotes "a common respect for uniquely Anglo-Saxon political traditions" and advocates for infrastructure with aesthetic value that "befits the progeny of European architecture," Punchbowl News reported on Friday.Republican lawmakers Marjorie Taylor Greene and...WW…