The Latest on the Kentucky legislature's final day of session : 8:20 p.m. Kentucky lawmakers have wrapped up this year's legislative session. The final day of work Saturday included two bills with last-minute changes to spending and tax policies.
Republican leaders are mulling what to do for the rest of the year after passing a $1.3 trillion omnibus spending package. Legislative activity will slow down dramatically after the Easter recess as vulnerable incumbents seek to spend more time campaigning ahead of the fall midterm elections.
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer leaves a closed-door meeting with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell at the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 6 as they work on a plan to keep the government open for six more weeks. Eight months after Democrats began to release their "Better Deal" agenda, they're on the cusp of passing some of it into law - by tucking it into this week's must-pass spending bill.
Senate leaders, disregarding President Trump's threats to shut down the government, neared a far-reaching agreement on Wednesday to set spending levels on military and domestic spending for the next two years, breaking the cycle of fiscal crises that have bedeviled the Capitol since last summer. Nevertheless, it sparked immediate opposition from the leader of House Democrats, Representative Nancy Pelosi, who said she could not agree to any budget deal that was not accompanied by a promised debate over legislation to protect the fate of young immigrants brought to the country illegally as children, known as Dreamers.
The Senate narrowly voted Thursday to overturn tough new privacy rules for internet service providers, employing a rarely used procedure to invalidate restrictions that cable and wireless companies strongly opposed. The Republican-backed measure, approved 50-48, repeals regulations approved on a 3-2 party line vote in October by the Federal Communications Commission when it was controlled by Democrats.
Democrat Jim Gray used Labor Day to unveil his jobs plan as he tries to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Rand Paul.