The Senate late on Aug. 6 began holding a “vote-a-rama” on a spending bill that would authorize some $430 billion in new federal spending to fulfill key elements of President Joe Biden’s agenda on climate, energy, taxes, and health care. The legislation, dubbed the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022,” has been pushed by Senate Democrats…

Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) left Washington on Friday to his home state for a family funeral just as the Senate headed into an extended session during which Republicans could use his vote to amend the gargantuan $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill. “Due to the recent passing of his father-in-law, Senator Sullivan had to depart on…

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) backed a Republican amendment blocking the raising of the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour during the pandemic in Thursday’s late-night Senate “vote-a-rama” session, which involved consideration of multiple amendments to President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill. Following the nearly 15-hour long marathon session, the Senate approved a…