# Senate

All time

US facing government shutdown over Obamacare

House Republicans attached an amendment to the government spending bill that would delay the healthcare legislation by a year.

6.0k

Sep 30th 2013, 7:42 AM

# Obamacare

After 21-hour Ted Cruz speech, US Senate votes on budget measures

Attempting to halt the removal of a provision that would see Obamacare defunded, a Texas senator held the floor for 21 hours, taking time to read his daughters a bed time story.

6.8k

Sep 25th 2013, 9:24 PM

# close shave

Close call for minister and senator as large branch misses them by inches at Dáil

Minister of State Joe Costello, Fine Gael Senator Paul Coghlan and his brother Michael Coghlan were standing under the tree when a large branch fell.

13.1k

Aug 30th 2013, 3:19 PM

# abolition

'Half of Labour's TDs and senators' are against abolition of the Seanad

The party has confirmed its intention to support government policy and a Yes vote on 4 October but its chief whip says that there is a 50-50 split in the parliamentary party over the future of the Seanad.

3.3k

Aug 16th 2013, 6:15 AM

# wikileaks party

Julian Assange launches political party from inside Ecuadorian embassy

The Wikileaks founder said a victory for his candidates would be like putting the country’s best investigative journalists in the Australian Senate.

5.9k

Jul 25th 2013, 8:15 AM

# Texas

Texas passes strict anti-abortion law despite protests

The bill includes a ban on terminations starting at 20 weeks after conception and mandates that a doctor must be with a woman when she takes a pill to induce abortion.

6.7k

Jul 13th 2013, 1:10 PM

# Irish in America

Tánaiste: US Senate vote brings immigration reform a step closer

Eamon Gilmore has welcomed the US Senate’s support for comprehensive immigration reform as the proposed law now goes to the House of Representatives.

2.5k

Jun 28th 2013, 7:32 AM

Voices

Column: What immigration reform will mean to undocumented Irish in the US

Limerick-born immigration lawyer Caro Kinsella explains what the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill, being discussed by US government now, will mean for undocumented Irish people living in America.

Jun 26th 2013, 7:30 PM

# Immigration

Immigration reform set to pass first hurdle in US Senate - so what's in it?

Here’s a quick guide to the proposals which will face their first vote among the 100-member Senate this evening.

7.7k

Jun 11th 2013, 8:08 PM

# Online Shopping

Why tax-free shopping on the internet could be facing end in US

The bill, which was being debated in the US Senate yesterday, could lead to the recouping of $11 billion in lost annual sales taxes.

7.3k

Apr 23rd 2013, 8:59 AM

# gun laws

'A pretty shameful day for Washington' - Obama angry at Senate gun vote

The father of a Sandy Hook victim also spoke about the rejected Senate measure on gun checks at the White House today.

21.4k

150

Apr 17th 2013, 11:25 PM

# gun laws

US Senate says 'No' to expanded gun checks

The vote is a major blow to the Obama administration.

7.7k

119

Apr 17th 2013, 9:45 PM

# gun control

Connecticut passes 'toughest gun law in the US' after Sandy Hook massacre

Connecticut is set to become the third state to vote in new gun control rules following the Newtown shooting.

8.2k

Apr 4th 2013, 8:11 AM

# Sequester

United States braced for swingeing sequester of €85bn budget cuts

Analysts say that the cuts, due to come into force overnight, will take a number of months to take effect and will see growth fall by as much as 0.7 per cent.

4.2k

Mar 1st 2013, 8:01 AM

# Australia

Julian Assange to run for Australian senate, his mum says he'll be 'awesome'

The Wikileaks founder intends to run in the September poll even though he is currently holed-up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London.

4.7k

Jan 30th 2013, 11:07 AM

# superstorm sandy

Superstorm Sandy: Congress to vote on aid after stinging rebuke from governor

New Jersey governor Chris Christie pulled no punches in condemning “toxic internal politics” within his own Republican party.

4.8k

Jan 3rd 2013, 9:00 AM

# let's get fiscal

Explainer: What is the 'fiscal cliff' and why does it matter?

The US is facing a potentially devastating financial crisis in less than a week but what is it all about, what impact will it have on Ireland and what’s got to happen if it is to be avoided? TheJournal.ie explains…

8.7k

Dec 27th 2012, 3:16 PM

# sandy hook

After Newtown massacre, Obama backs ban on assault weapons

The US president has thrown his support behind a Democratic senator’s attempts to reintroduce a ban on certain types of guns, a ban which expired eight years ago.

9.3k

Dec 18th 2012, 8:09 PM

# Australia

Julian Assange plans to run for Australian Senate

The 40-year-old founder of Wikileaks will have to overcome the obstacle of being under virtual house arrest in England and facing sex crime allegations in Sweden.

1.6k

Mar 17th 2012, 2:25 PM

# Gay Marriage

Eighth US State legalises same-sex marriage

Maryland Senate passed the gay and lesbian marriage bill yesterday.

1.9k

Feb 24th 2012, 11:31 AM

# Immigration

Tánaiste hopeful of 'early progress' on US visas for Irish

Meanwhile, Eamon Gilmore joins Enda Kenny, Richard Bruton and Bill Clinton for a forum urging “influential friends” to invest in Ireland.

3.1k

Feb 9th 2012, 1:10 PM

# Corruption

Former US governor Rod Blagojevich gets 14 years for corruption

Blagojevich famously tried to auction off Barack Obama’s former Senate seat to the highest bidder.

2.4k

Dec 7th 2011, 7:06 PM

# Building Bridges

Taoiseach backs plan to rename bridge after Mary McAleese

Senator Jim D’arcy has called for Boyne Bridge to be renamed after the former president and says he has the support of Enda Kenny.

6.3k

Nov 18th 2011, 4:02 PM

# US jobs

US senators vote down Obama's jobs bill

The demise of Obama’s jobs package was expected, despite his campaign-style efforts to swing the public behind it.

362

Oct 12th 2011, 3:25 PM

# US Debt

Senate clears the way for US to raise debt ceiling

The Senate voted by 74 votes to 26 to pass the hard fought bill. Obama has said that it’s the first step to ensuring America lives within its means.

173

Aug 2nd 2011, 6:43 PM

# Debt deal

Watch: Giffords returns to work as US congress passes debt deal

The vote passed comfortably and Giffords’ emotional return brought down the house.

678

Aug 2nd 2011, 7:05 AM

# US Debt

We got a deal: Obama announces agreement that will avoid default

But not everyone’s happy including the president.

492

Aug 1st 2011, 6:55 AM

Default looms as US politicians fail to reach deal

Obama calls for common ground as Republicans and Democrats again fail to reach an 11th hour deal on the US debt ceiling.

395

Jul 30th 2011, 10:29 AM

# Shutdown

Stalled US budget talks virtually stagnant

The standoff on US debt continues between Barrack Obama’s Democratic party, and the majority seat holders in Congress, the Republican party.

399

Jul 18th 2011, 5:39 PM

# Don't Ask Don't Tell

US lawmakers attempt to block openly gay military service

Amendments to a defence bill aim to maintain the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, which bans openly gay military service. The recognition of same-sex unions in the military is also under attack.

592

May 12th 2011, 10:05 AM