564 Amendments Await Baucus Bill Next Week

Kerry falls behind with mere $193M

(NEWSER) - It’s been a tough year for most of us, but the richest in Congress, it seems, have only gotten richer: This year’s 50 wealthiest members are worth a collective $200 million more than last year’s, the Hill notes. Among them:

• With a minimum net worth of $287 million, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, knocked John Kerry out of the top spot this year, leading the rest of Congress by tens of millions. McCaul’s wealth comes largely from his family; his father-in-law founded Clear Channel Communications.

Harry Reid's other picks for panel are John Kerry and Max Baucus

(NEWSER) - Three down, nine to go. Harry Reid made his three picks for the bipartisan "super committee" that will try to come up with $1.2 trillion of cuts in about 3 months. Reid picked Patty Murray, who will serve as co-chair with a yet-to-be-named Republican, along with John Kerry and Max Baucus. Politico sees the choices as a sign that the Senate majority leader is serious about getting a deal struck. Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, and Nancy Pelosi will each add three picks of their own. More»

Senators fight back against growing opposition

(NEWSER) - With congressional opposition to US involvement in Libya mounting, Johns Kerry and McCain are offering their support to the mission. They've introduced a resolution backing American engagement in the NATO effort for a year. But the senators don’t support the use of US ground troops in the country, CNN reports. “I believe the president did the right thing by intervening to stop a looming humanitarian disaster,” said McCain. More»

Emotions ran high during health reform debate

(NEWSER) - As the health reform debate reached a fever pitch last year, so too did the threats against lawmakers. The FBI investigated at least 26 threats last year, according to documents obtained by the Hill, a significant upswing from the previous year, and more than any other year on record. Nearly half of those cases came in the weeks surrounding the health care vote in March, with many threats seemingly intent on influencing lawmakers' votes on the bill. More»

Time for 'great respect' on Hill: Sen. Alexander

(NEWSER) - The tragedy in Arizona won’t stop the health care debate, but it has pushed back a repeal vote and prompted calls to cool the rhetoric, Politico reports. The House majority leader postponed the week’s lawmaking agenda—including a vote on repeal set for Wednesday—following the attack. Meanwhile, Republican Sen. Lamar Alexander told CNN that “We ought to cool it, tone it down, treat each other with great respect.” More»