Senate Passes Small Business Legislation

The Senate voted 61-38 today to pass a bill aimed at assisting small businesses throughout the nation. The bill will now go back to the House for final approval. The Hill has more on today’s vote…

Obama: Poverty Rate Would've Been Even Higher Without My Policies

The White House released a statement from President Barack Obama today in response to a new Census Bureau report showing that U.S. poverty levels increased remarkably in 2009.

In the statement, Obama said his administration should be credited for taking steps last year to ensure that the historically high poverty figures did not grow even larger.

“Because of the Recovery Act and many other programs providing tax relief and income support to a majority of working families – and especially those most in need – millions of Americans were kept out of poverty last year,” the president said. “The substantial expansion of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) helped inoculate our children from the economic distress experienced by their parents, as there was little change in the percentage of children without health insurance.”

“The Affordable Care Act will build on that success by expanding health insurance coverage to more families,” Obama added.

Whitman Spends $119 Million On Campaign, Makes History

Reports say former eBay executive Meg Whitman made history this week by spending more money on her campaign in California’s gubernatorial race than any other politician in American history.

Whitman’s campaign this week reported another $15 million contribution from the billionaire GOP candidate in her bid to defeat Democratic Attorney General Jerry Brown.

The most recent contribution totals $119 million she has flooded her campaign with, surpassing the likes of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg after he spent $104 million in the race for his third term last year.

Kerry Implores Senate Panel To Send START To The Floor

In prepared remarks this morning, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) nudged lawmakers on the panel to vote ‘yes’ on the New START Treaty.

“We have had five months of investigation, study, and consultation. Now, it is time for us to act. We must act to improve the nuclear security of the United States. We must report New START to the Senate,” Kerry said.

The panel is expected to vote on a resolution later in the day. Kerry and  Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), the committee’s ranking Republican, are confident the resolution will pass out of committee, but have hesitated to say whether ratification will be taken up by the full Senate before the midterm elections…

California Lawmakers Introduce Pipeline Legislation

California Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D) and Barbara Boxer (D) have unveiled a bill aimed at preventing gas pipeline accidents, like the one that killed four people in San Bruno last week.

The Strengthening Pipeline Safety and Enforcement Act of 2010 would increase fines on companies that violate safety regulations and would expand oversight of the industry.

“The tragic explosion in San Bruno shows why we must increase inspections of our nation’s pipelines. This legislation will put more inspectors on the job protecting our communities while increasing penalties for safety violations,” said Boxer.