Congress approves Puerto Rico debt rescue package

Congress approved a rescue package Wednesday to help Puerto Rico escape a sea of debt, tossing a lifeline to the island territory just two days before it faces default on a $2 billion bond payment. Senators approved the rescue package, 68-30, turning back vociferous objections from liberal lawmakers who said the bill imposes colonial rule on average Puerto Ricans, and from conservatives who said the legislation will end up stiffing the bondholders who bought the territorial government's debt.

McConnell bids to shelter GOP senators from Trump upheaval

In this Nov. 13, 2014 file photo, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., right, followed by Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, center, and Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., leave after McConnell was chosen to be the new majority leader, on Capitol Hill in Washington. McConnell faces a nearly impossible task this election year: protecting Senate Republicans from the political upheaval of Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

In Senate split, $1 billion for Zika falls by wayside

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , joined by Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo.; Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.; and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, faces reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on Tuesday about the Zika virus proposal. WASHINGTON -- The Senate split along party lines Tuesday and left a $1.1 billion proposal to fight the Zika virus in limbo.

Lawmakers promise to complete rescue package for Puerto Rico

" Senate Republican and Democratic leaders on Tuesday promised to complete a rescue package for debt-stricken Puerto Rico before a $2 billion debt payment comes due on Friday. "Failure is really not an option," Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told reporters after meeting with his GOP caucus.

Senate set to begin voting on Puerto Rico rescue package

The Senate is set to begin voting on a rescue package for debt-stricken Puerto Rico, just two days before the island is expected to default on a $2 billion debt payment. The White House-backed measure faced some opposition from both Republicans and Democrats, but party leaders endorsed it and promised to complete it before the July 1 deadline.

Mitch McConnell Refuses To Say That Trump Is Qualified To Be President

It seems the Senate Majority Leader is running away from the Trumpster Fire as fast as he possibly can. During an interview on ABC's This Week, Sen. Mitch McConnell was asked by host George Stephanopoulos about Donald Trump's fiasco of a press conference in Scotland and his tanking poll numbers.

McConnell won’t say whether Trump is qualified to be president

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wouldn't say in a Sunday interview whether he believes Donald Trump is qualified to be president. "I'll leave that to the American people to decide," McConnell said on ABC's "This Week With George Stephanopoulos."

Kirsten Gillibrand decries Congress’ inaction on gun control

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand greets people before addressing the Long Island Association at their office in Melville, Friday, June 24, 2016. Photo Credit: Steve Pfost Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand greets people before addressing the Long Island Association at their office in Melville, Friday, June 24, 2016.

McConnell: Dems skipped FBI s briefon Orlando to join filibuster

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Thursday that many Senate Democrats skipped the FBIA s classified briefing on Wednesday about the Orlando shooting attack that killed dozens, and instead chose to participate in a "filibuster" over gun control. "Senate Republicans attended and asked serious questions," McConnell said on the Senate floor.

Save benefits promised to coal miners

When President Harry S. Truman was personally negotiating with labor leader John L. Lewis to avert an economically crippling coal strike in 1946, the miners' top priority was not higher wages or more vacation but to improve the deplorable state of health care in the coalfields. They succeeded when Truman signed an agreement promising lifelong health and retirement benefits, paid for by a royalty on coal production.

With benefits at risk, coal miner union rallies –

Thousands of retired coal miners rallied Tuesday in Kentucky to call on Congress to protect their benefits as the industry struggles and operators seek bankruptcy protection from debts. United Mine Workers president Cecil Roberts told the gathering in Lexington of about 4,000 members from seven states that miners spent their lives working in dangerous places to provide the nation's electricity and steel.

Elizabeth Warren on attack against Donald Trump as she gets behind Hillary Clinton

Sen. Elizabeth Warren threw her support behind Democrat Hillary Clinton for president Thursday, following President Barack Obama in sending a signal to progressive voters now backing Bernie Sanders that it's time to unite around the presumptive Democratic nominee. Sen. Elizabeth Warren threw her support behind Democrat Hillary Clinton for president Thursday, following President Barack Obama in sending a signal to progressive voters now backing Bernie Sanders that it's time to unite around the presumptive Democratic nominee.

Warren slams Trump, Republicans over judges

Sen. Elizabeth Warren is using Donald Trump's criticism of a federal judge to launch a broadside against congressional Republican leaders and Trump himself, in her latest stinging attack on the presumptive GOP presidential nominee. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., have condemned Trump's claims that U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel can't preside fairly over a case involving Trump University because the U.S.-born Curiel is of Mexican descent and Trump wants to build a wall with Mexico.

Congressman calls Trump a racist

Donald Trump's criticism of a Latino judge overseeing a lawsuit involving Trump University shows that the presumptive Republican nominee for president is a racist, a Democratic congressman said Monday, and he told Trump to take his proposed border wall and "shove it up your ass." Rep. Filemon Vela of Texas said in an open letter that Trump's "ignorant anti-immigrant opinions," border wall rhetoric and continued attacks on the judge "are just plain despicable."

Senate Majority Leader Sanctions Racism as Strategy

In a stunning bit of punditry television, McConnell was confronted on Sunday by Chuck Todd of Meet the Press about Trump's declaration that Gonzalo Curiel, the federal judge presiding over a case against the now-defunct Trump University, should be disqualified because of the judge's Mexican heritage, seeing as how the Republican standard-bearer has called for the building of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Todd read McConnell words recently penned by the right-wing blogger and Red State website founder Erick Erickson, who on June 4 at The Resurgent wrote the following about Trump's repeated claims regarding Judge Curiel: The attacks are racist.

The Latest: Reid hits McConnell for backing Trump

The Latest on the presidential campaign a day before voters choose their candidates in six states : Top Senate Democrat Harry Reid is going after Majority Leader Mitch McConnell after the Kentucky Republican declined to label Donald Trump's criticism of U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel as racist. The feisty Nevada Democrat Reid called McConnell, "the poster boy for Republicans' spinelessness that allowed Donald Trump to be the Republican nominee."

Pelosi Not Yet Saying if She’s Endorsing Clinton or Sanders

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi isn't saying yet whether she endorses Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders for the Democratic presidential nominee, and has hinted she won't say who she supports before her home state's primary on Tuesday. "I will make an endorsement, and I'll decide when that is," the California Democrat told reporters in San Francisco in May, reports The Hill.