MetaFilter posts tagged with Senate

Apple's Web of Tax Shelters

Elementary Penguin — Tue, 21 May 2013 05:25:02 -0800

How Apple Used Shell Companies to Save $44 Billion in Taxes

Congressional investigators found that some of Apple’s subsidiaries had no employees and were largely run by top officials from the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. But by officially locating them in places like Ireland, Apple was able to, in effect, make them stateless — exempt from taxes, record-keeping laws and the need for the subsidiaries to even file tax returns anywhere in the world…In prepared testimony expected to be delivered to the Senate committee by Mr. Cook and other Apple executives on Tuesday, the company said it “welcomes an objective examination of the U.S. corporate tax system, which has not kept pace with the advent of the digital age and the rapidly changing global economy.”

Slate's Dave Weigel has a link to the complete Senate report.

Gun control amendments defeated

Blazecock Pileon — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:53:45 -0800

Despite widespread popular support, on April 17th, 2013, the US Senate voted to defeat four legislative amendments that would strengthen background checks for gun purchases and place a ban on assault rifles and high-capacity ammunition magazines. Victims and survivors of victims of recent shootings who were in the Senate audience were heard to yell "Shame on you" at legislators as the final votes were tallied.

Elizabeth Warren grills banking regulators on trials for big banks

shivohum — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 17:39:33 -0800

Elizabeth Warren, in her new role as a member of the Senate banking committee, asks banking regulators: when did you last take a big Wall St bank to trial? (SLYT)

Firing on Air Force Kind of a Drag on Navy Career

kjars — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 09:36:19 -0800

The U.S. Senate has declined to promote Captain Timothy W. Dorsey to the rank of rear admiral (lower half). Dorsey, currently serving as Navy Reserve inspector general, was involved in one of the more bizarre friendly fire incidents in U.S. Military History, intentionally shooting down a U.S. Air Force jet during military exercises some 25 years ago. On September 22, 1987, then Lieutenant Dorsey intentionally fired on and destroyed a U.S. Air Force RF-4C reconnaissance aircraft, forcing the two Air Force pilots to eject. While a subsequent investigation found Doresy guilty of committing an "illogical act" and the Navy banned him from flying, he continued to enjoy a long career in military intelligence. He was nominated for promotion on Febuary 9, 2012. The Department of Defense claims the Navy did not provide full information about Dorsey's past. Despite this recent hang-up in his career path, Dorsey looks forward to being confirmed by the Senate when his nomination is resubmitted.

Robert Bork's America

Horace Rumpole — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:49:38 -0800

Robert Bork, the conservative jurist at the heart of two political firestorms--in 1973 he carried out the "Saturday Night Massacre" by firing Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox, and in 1987 had his nomination for the Supreme Court rejected by the Senate after a combative confirmation hearing--died yesterday. A perennially divisive figure, Bork's passing drew encomiums from the right and condemnation from the left.

Sen. Daniel Inouye, 1924-2012

Rangeboy — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 15:54:56 -0800

Senator Daniel Inouye, Democrat and senior senator from Hawaii, has died at the age of 88 from respiratory problems. Inouye was born in Honolulu, the son and grandson of Japanese immigrants. He served as a medical volunteer during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Later, when the U.S. Army began to allow Japanese-Americans to serve, he joined the fabled 442nd Regimental Combat Team (previously). In 1945, Inouye was grievously wounded while leading an assault on the Gothic Line. For his actions, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, which was later upgraded to the Medal of Honor by President Clinton. After the war, Inouye returned to college at the University of Hawaii. He later earned a law degree from George Washington University and shortly thereafter was elected to the Hawaii Territorial Legislature (PDF). He was then elected to the U.S. House of Representatives on August 21, 1959, the same date Hawaii officially entered the union. He was elected to the Senate in 1962, and at the time of his death was the longest-serving U.S. senator (also making him president pro tempore). Inouye delivered the keynote address at the turbulent 1968 Democratic National Convention. He later went on to serve on the Senate Watergate Committee, where H.R. Haldeman's lawyer John Wilson called him "that little Jap" during a recess. He also chaired another investigative committee on Iran-Contra. His wife of 58 years, Maggie, died in 2006. He is survived by his second wife, Irene, and his son, Ken. According to his staff, his last words were, "Aloha."

Fiscal-Cliff-Diving

the man of twists and turns — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 07:19:08 -0800

There's been a lot of talk in the US media about the "Fiscal Cliff" and the "Grand Bargain" What are they?

The "fiscal cliff" is a confluence of three legal changes taking effect Jan. 1: the expiration of a payroll-tax cut, the expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts, and the advent of mandatory spending cuts known as "sequestration."

Fiscal Cliff 101: 5 Basic Questions Answered. What's Happening: Fiscal Cliff Explained Not all are convinced of the necessity of Congress' self-created problem: 6 Reasons why this Fiscal Cliff Is A Scam. Large numbers get thrown around, making it hard to see what exactly is at stake. How did we get here? Fiscal Cliff Reality Check: Are US Taxes Low Or High? "It’s simply a fact that the fiscal cliff was created in response to GOP threats to force the U.S. government to default on its obligations." Or did we already go over the cliff years ago? Who is involved? President Obama; Speaker of the House John Boehner and House Republicans; Minority Leader Nancy Peolsi and House Democrats include the Gang of Six and the Progressive Caucus. Even the CEO of Goldman Sachs has weighed in. The "Fix the Debt" group of is concerned about the growth of deficit spending, while 'the Left is divided' on the Grand Bargain - or the Great Betrayal. What are the sides? The White House's Fiscal Cliff Proposal, delivered by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner which Speaker Boehner calls "not a serious proposal." Obama's opening bid and the Republican response is all part of the negotiations. The White House plan "is a start, not an end." Obama's proposal appears to be a break from the negotiating in the middle path that he has taken before, though Robert Reich ( who recommended aiming high) thinks not much has changed. And Republicans have yet to make any proposals of their own, preferring to follow the President's lead. The Economist has a brief summary. Paul Krugman characterizes most of those calling for deficit reduction "hawks and hypocrites". And its always good to remember that elections have consequences.

The Long Treacherous Climb Up The Fiscal Cliff. The so-called fiscal cliff is one of those rare issues where everyone has an incentive to predict the worst. Barack Obama thinks it will force Republicans to accept higher taxes on the rich, Republicans think they can back him into a corner and force him to cave to their demands as they did two years ago, and businesses and consumers are wary that the still-fragile economy may take a nosedive. Figuring out how this will play out is Washington’s favorite parlor game right now, so let’s play.

What will happen now? Obama pushes for stimulus in fiscal cliff deal. 10 easy way to avoid the fiscal cliff. Three Votes Could Make Or Break Fiscal Cliff Deal. Lobbys, like the AARP, the IFA, and various unions, are gearing up. One paper predicts 'lower GDP and higher unemployment' if no deal is struck. The Weekly Standard says Obama's Plan Will Raise Taxes On Small Businesses, Lower Them For Corporations. The White House is apparently worried there won't be a deal by 2013, since prominent politicians like Senator Alan Simpson and Senator Erskine Bowles say falling off fiscal cliff is 'likely.' But perhaps the President should reassure Americans they will survive the fall. But what does the public really want? To "cut military waste, not charitable deductions"? How Obamacare Came To The Fiscal Cliff and The Grand Cynicism Of The Grand Bargain. A failure to reach a bargain may spur 'bond vigilantes' to move, but that may not be a bad thing. Will the Romney-Ryan plan live on? Perhaps a Obamney plan? Of course, the military-industrial complex will be largely spared. What does this mean for you? The Congressional Budget Office outlines options and consequences. Could the 'Fiscal Cliff' Push The US Into A Recession?. But if entitlement programs are your top priority, the fiscal cliff is your friend. 12 Ways the "Grand Bargain" could screw the poor. The mortgage-interest deduction could be on the table. City Journal writes: Localities should worry less about Washington’s spending cuts than about how their own state governments handle them. Costco is paying a special dividend, part of 10 tax moves to make now. And maybe we'll get some tax simplification too. Disney's Bob Iger's position has spawned a hashtag: 15 Best Star Wars Fiscal Cliff Tweets

Harry Reid Endorses New Filibuster Reform Proposal

wintermind — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 17:53:11 -0800

As the least-productive Congress in a generation draws to a close, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has spoken in support of a new proposal to reform the filibuster. The proposed changes would not eliminate the filibuster, but would restore the talking filibuster, which requires that the opposition explain their objections and keep talking in order to delay a vote on the bill under consideration. Filibuster reform has been discussed frequently over the last few years. The Senate can vote at the start of a new Congress to change its rules, which requires only a simple majority vote. When the 112th Congress began in 2010, there was substantial support from the majority party for filibuster reform, but the bill ultimately failed to receive the votes needed for passage. At the start of the second session of the 112th Congress, Senator Reid and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) reached an informal agreement that would limit the number of filibusters and provide more opportunities for the minority party to offer amendments. The Democrats have been frustrated by the substantial increase in the number of cloture motions filed since they regained control of the Senate in 2007 ("Motions Filed"), while the Republicans have complained about abuse of the amendments process to limit minority input. When we hear about filibusters, many of us think of the rousing speech from "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington", Huey Long's infamous soliloquies, or Bernie Sanders's (I-VT) 2010 filibuster. Disclaimer: Senator Sanders signed my copy of his book "The Speech", a transcript of his December 2010 filibuster. Previously.

"The Senate is an unknowing world."

Hollywood Upstairs Medical College — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 19:03:02 -0800

Tired of the Presidential race? The battle for 33 Class I seats in the 100-member United States Senate, once commonly known as the "World's Greatest Deliberative Body", now known for stifling torpor with record-breaking numbers of filibusters and a total logjam of pending confirmations, is also taking place on the same day. With many key Senate races happening in states where the Presidential outcome will be lopsided, all eyes are on split-ticket voters. 53 Democrats (2 of them independents) and 47 Republicans make up the current chamber. Who will control the second Senate ivory gavel, the first of which was shattered in 1954? Of those 33 seats, Democrats are defending 22, many of them freshmen from the historic 2006 Democratic wave election and open seats. Earlier in the year, the Democrats faced down this numerical disadvantage with their backs against the wall, but are nearing Election Day with the wind to their backs. On the Democratic offense, hoping to knock out Republican seats, will progressive hero and MeFi favorite Elizabeth Warren (previously 1, 2, 3, 4) take back Ted Kennedy's seat in Massachusetts? Independent Angus King of Maine leads both the Democrat and Republican, and is believed to be more friendly to Democrats, putting the national party in the awkward position of hoping for his victory while abandoning their own candidate, State Senator Cynthia Dill. Democrats are also pouring funds into a late-breaking surge in Arizona, and are chasing down Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada. Pugnacious Tea Party Republican Richard Mourdock slayed incumbent Republican Sen. Richard Lugar in a primary, giving Democrat Rep. Joe Donnelly a fighting chance. For the Republican offense, trying to pick off Democratic seats, they start up 1 seat with a widely expected pickup in Kansas after Democratic Senator Ben Nelson retired (previously posted Steve Martin endorsement notwithstanding). In other Democratic open seats, Republicans are locked in a tight battle to prevent the first openly LGBT Senator, Tammy Baldwin, from winning in Wisconsin, are trying to bring back former Sen. George "Macaca" Allen in Virginia (previously: 1, 2, 3), and have brought wrestling magnate Linda McMahon back for another attempt in Connecticut. A previously easy open seat pickup in North Dakota has turned into a dogfight. Hopes of easy pickups in Missouri faded somewhat when Rep. Todd Akin imploded over controversial rape comments (previously), but other top targeted incumbents include flat-haired Sen. Jon Tester of Montana; and Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, who faces Rep. Cornelius Harvey McGillicuddy IV, the (lesser?) scion of former Sen. Connie Mack III and baseball legend Connie Mack. There are still weeks to go. In the last 40 years, every Senate election cycle has seen at least one shocking upset. Early voting is already underway. It's going to be a wild ride. Who will live and who will die?

I'm changing my name to No Taxes A1 for 2014

ghharr — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 12:19:36 -0800

Despite not raising any money or updating his campaign website (cache) since 2009, 35 year-old flooring installer Mark Clayton has won the Democratic Party primary in Tennessee and will be running for US Senate against Republican incumbent Bob Corker. Clayton's policy positions are unusual for a Democratic candidate. Clayton's victory is generally being attributed to his name being at the top of the ballot and the lack of a well-known alternative, or possibly another Alvin Greene-like incident (previously). Clayton is associated with Public Advocate of the United States, which has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. The Tennessee Democratic Part is disavowing Clayton and encouraging voters to write in a candidate of their choice in the general election.

"Several executives involved in the transaction have either abruptly decided to retire or been sacked."

the man of twists and turns — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 20:46:09 -0800

Last month, JP Morgan Chase announced it had lost $2 billion dollars in a 'hedging' maneuver. Today, Jamie Dimon, Morgan's chairman and CEO, testified before the Senate banking committee. There, he said that 'trading strategy that led to bank's $2bn loss was "poorly conceived and vetted". Meet the 'London Whale', the trader responsible for the position. Esquire's Politics blog: "Master of the Universe Jamie Dimon went before Congress this morning, tugging his well-compensated forelock and explaining how terribly, terribly sorry he was to have had J.P. Morgan Chase, the death star for which he is currently employed, soak the system for $2 billion in losses through the kind of exotic trading that every Master of the Universe pinky-swore would never, ever, happen again after similar shenanigans nearly ate the world." Naked Capitalism responds: "That is a bald faced admission that the CIO’s mandate had nothing to do with hedging." Dimon previously on Metafilter: The Big Lie goes viral Interchange reform is necessary and it is long overdue.

LBJ v. Coke Stevenson: Lawyering for Control of the Disputed Texas Democratic Party Senatorial Primary Election of 1948

smcg — Tue, 29 May 2012 07:34:35 -0800

This article explores the history, from the lawyers' perspective [PDF; 41 pages], of a high-profile litigation of sixty years ago, the whirlwind of state and federal litigation that attended the 1948 runoff election battle between Congressman Lyndon B. Johnson and former Texas governor Coke Stevenson for the Texas Democratic Party nomination for the office of United States Senator. Johnson famously won this election by 87 votes [...] Some sources from the article are available online: oral histories of Lyndon Johnson, the Handbook of Texas, and My Search for Coke Stevenson by Robert Caro. Previously on Robert Caro's biographies of Lyndon Johnson.

NEW ENGLAND BOILED DINNER

The Whelk — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 13:10:25 -0800

From the How To Be A Retronaut archives: U.S SENATE DINING MENU, Thursday August 27th, 1964

Mark Kirk & the Candy Desk

Bukvoed — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:48:33 -0800

What do John McCain, Rick Santorum, and George Voinovich have in common? They have all been seated at the Senate's candy desk throughout their careers. Located on the Republican side of the aisle, the candy desk has been stocked with sweets since 1965, when Sen. George Murphy (R-CA) started keeping candy in his desk to satisfy his sweet tooth, which he would offer to colleagues passing by. While Sen. Murphy lost his seat in 1970, other senators took up the mantle and kept the tradition going. The desk was the focus of a sticky ethics dilemma when Santorum lost re-election in 2006, but a solution was found in the end. Its current occupant is Mark Kirk (R-IL). The desks of the Senate Chambers have fascinating histories. For instance, at the beginning of every Congress, the two parties divide the desks so that the Democratic senators sit to the right of the Presiding Officer, and the Republicans to the left. If a party's majority is large enough, some of its senators may end up sitting on the minority side -- a so-called Cherokee Strip.

Spring Awakening

The Whelk — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:04:43 -0800

Mother Jones: The 10 'Occupy' candidates vying for seats in the US House Of Representatives and Senate and their prospects.

Playing for the other Team(sters): Project 59

infinite intimation — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:01:34 -0800

Today on Rewind a remarkable historical piece that features two American icons who clashed over issues of corruption and misappropriation of funds in the 1950s and 60s. They are Robert Kennedy- former Attorney General of the United States, but at the time Chief Investigator of the Rackets Committee for the United States Senate, and James Hoffa- head of the Teamsters Union. (MP3) Kennedy was convinced that Hoffa worked with mobsters, extorted money from employers, and raided Teamster pension funds. Listen as Kennedy lays down accusations, and Mr. Hoffa responds; in their own words. (Download MP3 version by right clicking here, and saving file as...)

Down But Not Out

reenum — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:07:44 -0800

With the recent news that unemployment applications are at their lowest levels since 2008, Congressional Republicans are attempting to curtail unemployment benefits. Democrats want to extend benefits for another year. This has led to an impasse. Still, there are many long term unemployed who will slip into poverty without an extension of these benefits. The uncertainty has left many of these people fearful and angry. Economists are also arguing that the current extensions of unemployment benefits helped prevent the economy from sinking into a depression. Additionally, only 22% of long term unemployed are currently receiving any unemployment benefit.

Mitch Feels Lucky, Makes Harry's Day

wintermind — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 19:22:15 -0800

Last night, the Unites States Senate voted successfully to invoke cloture (end debate) on S.1619, the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act of 2011. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) filed a series of motions to suspend the rules in an effort to force a vote on President Obama's American Jobs Act [PDF]. That's when Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) nuked the Senate. Senator Reid objected to the motion to proceed, but the Senate parliamentarian overruled his objection. To the surprise of everyone in the chamber, Reid used a procedural option known as the "nuclear option" to overturn the parliamentarian's ruling on a 51-48 vote. In addition to defeating the pending motions, the vote changed the rules of the Senate to stop the minority party from offering post-cloture amendments. This is the first use of the so-called nuclear option (previously), which came to public attention in 2005, when then-Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) threatened to use it to break a Democrat-led filibuster of some of President George W. Bush's judicial nominees. Following an unusually frank post-vote debate, the members agreed to use the extended Columbus Day weekend as a cooling-off period. Votes on the currency bill and President Obama's jobs bill are expected when the Senate returns to session next week. Article 1, Section 5 of the Constitution authorizes each chamber of the Congress to make its own rules, and the rules of the Senate are notoriously complex. The Bill Summary and Status for S.1619 includes a list of all Congressional actions which provides a play-by-play account of the maneuvering. The scope of the rules change is very narrow, and it's not yet clear just how this will affect the body. Many observers of the Senate were shocked to see the nuclear option used over a piece of legislation that was not controversial and which enjoyed bipartisan support, particularly when it's unlikely that a companion bill will be brought up for a vote in the House of Representatives.

Elizabeth Warren to enter Senate race

schoolgirl report — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 13:30:25 -0800

Elizabeth Warren will announce her entry into the Massachusetts Senate race tomorrow morning. Warren, who created, but was not confirmed to head, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, is seeking to replace Scott Brown (R), who won Ted Kennedy's seat in 2010. Brown remains rather popular in Massachusetts, and Democrats weren't at all confident any of the current candidates had much chance to knock him off. The hope is that Warren and her pro-consumer bona fides can ride the expected wave of high Democractic voter turnout in the general. Warren's been a popular subject of Metafilter posts in the past, both for her message and her entertaining way of delivering it.

Send Congress To Boot Camp

reenum — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 09:44:08 -0800

Lt. Gen. Russell Honore has a solution to the increasing splintering and radicalization of Congress: send all the members of Congress to boot camp and keep them there until they recognize their duty to America.

I think Lulzsec is a pretty cool guy. eh hacks US Senate and doesn't afraid of anything.

jaduncan — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 15:32:49 -0800

LulzSec (twitter account) have hacked senate.gov. The group has previously hacked Bethesda, Pron.com, FBI affilliates amongst others. Although some argue that LulzSec represent the catalyst to improve IT security, this message to the Senate seems likely to provoke a more direct investigation: Greetings friends, We don't like the US government very much. Their boats are weak, their lulz are low, and their sites aren't very secure. In an attempt to help them fix their issues, we've decided to donate additional lulz in the form of owning them some more! This is a small, just-for-kicks release of some internal data from Senate.gov - is this an act of war, gentlemen? Problem? - Lulz Security

...Someone's Got To Do It

XQUZYPHYR — Fri, 13 May 2011 11:50:55 -0800

"A few years from now, an hour with a good plumber- if you can find one- is going to cost more than an hour with a good psychiatrist. At which point we'll all be in need of both." Mike Rowe addresses the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation about the rapid decline in the trade labor force.

It's not the spectacles and pagaentry.....

schmod — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:50:21 -0800

The mayor of Washington DC has been arrested, along with 6 of the 12 members of its city council, during a protest today near a US Senate office building, objecting to the city's use as a bargaining chip while negotiating the 7th Continuing Resolution to avoid a government shutdown last Friday. The bill prohibits the District of Columbia from locally funding abortion services, and imposes a locally-unpopular school voucher program. Had the government shutdown taken place, the DC government would have also had to suspend most of its operations including trash pickup. For those of you keeping track, Vince Gray is the 3rd (of 6) DC mayor to be arrested while in office. This is not the first time in recent memory that DC's local laws have been subject to federal intervention. Washington, DC's only directly-elected representative was stripped of her ceremonial voting rights in the wake of the November 2010 election. Preluding the current abortion restrictions, a month later, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted to prohibit DC from using local funds to operate needle-exchange programs (all while DC's HIV epidemic rages on). In 2008, the Supreme Court declared Washington DC's handgun ban to be unconstitutional, in a 5-4 decision. All previous efforts to bring elected federal representation to the residents of DC have been shot down, most recently in 2007, and again in 2009-10. The 2007 bill would have granted voting rights to DC's one representative, while also allocating an extra (almost certain to be Republican) representative from Utah. The 2009 bill would have stripped DC of what remained of its ability to regulate firearms within its borders. Both bills would have likely been unconstitutional. Congress maintains the right to overturn any piece of DC legislation within 30 days of it being passed, although incursions into DC's autonomy have most typically occurred as riders to appropriations (budget) bills, including the most current.

"What do I have to plant inside their heads?"

empath — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 07:06:45 -0800

Army Psy Ops Units Targeted American Senators

WTF, Senate?

carsonb — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:00:45 -0800

Filibustery, making the filibuster — and the proposals in the U.S. Senate to reform it — more understandable. Note The Lab, where subsequent episodes will be previewed and viewer feedback sought.