Articles tagged under: Senate

Spending Cuts, Debt Ceiling Complicate Budget Talks

Published April 1, 2025

Senate leaders are advancing a budget resolution to initiate the reconciliation process for tax, immigration, and defense legislation. A significant challenge is whether to include an increase to the debt ceiling, as failing to do so could spark economic turmoil.…

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Budget Bill Passes in Senate All-Nighter

Published February 21, 2025

With a 52-48 vote, the Senate passed a budget resolution early Friday morning. This bill does not include an extension of the 2017 tax cuts, but Senate Republicans plan to put that into a separate bill. This debate lasted more…

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E15 Bill Introduced in the Upper Chamber

Published February 19, 2025

One week after the proposal was introduced in the House, a year-round E15 bill was introduced in the Senate. Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, South and South Dakota Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds are among the lawmakers…

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Uncertain Future for Farm Bill Amid Budget Talks

Published February 13, 2025

The fate of the farm bill remains uncertain as House and Senate Republicans struggle to agree on the budget negotiations. Pro-farmer Washington Policy Analyst Jim Wiesemeyer said the House is pushing for deep spending cuts, particularly in food assistance programs,…

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RFK Takes Over HHS Helm

Published February 13, 2025

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in Thursday as President Trump's new Secretary of Health and Human Services. RFK's won confirmation with a 52-48 vote. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer strongly opposed the nomination, urging his colleagues to reject it.…

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Farm Bill Future

Published December 30, 2024

The new Congress will convene on Friday and a new farm bill will be on the radar. "We've been kicking the can down the road for quite some time," said Sam Kieffer, vice president of public policy, American Farm Bureau.…

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Short-Term Debt Ceiling Fix Passed in Senate

Published October 8, 2021

On Thursday, the U.S. Senate passed a short-term fix to the debt ceiling. The House will return from recess the week of October 11 and are expected to take up the Senate’s fix on Tuesday. Congress will need to revisit…

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Senate Passes Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill

Published August 10, 2021

The Senate has approved a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill. The bill will now be considered in the House. This first phase of infrastructure allocates $110 billion for roads and bridges, $16 billion for ports and waterways, $65 billion for…

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Cattle Market Transparency Act Introduced

Published March 3, 2021

Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer and Oregon Senator Ron Wyden have introduced a bill to offer more market transparency for cattle producers. It calls for regional mandatory minimum thresholds for negotiated cash and negotiated grid trades and prohibit USDA from using…

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MN Continues to Have Only Split Legislature in U.S.

Published November 8, 2020

The Republicans will maintain control of the Minnesota Senate and the DFL has the majority in the Minnesota House. "In the House, the Democrats had control by a decent margin," said Bruce Kleven, ag lobbyist. "It appears six of the…

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