Senate Adjourns Until Midterms After Democrats Block Republicans' Final Bills
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Oct 1
Senate Adjourns Until Midterms After Democrats Block Republicans' Final Bills
2 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Oct 1
Summary
Wednesday night's adjournment sent senators home until after the Nov. 3 midterms, ending Republicans' final push for election-season votes after Democrats blocked a string of bills.
Several endangered GOP incumbents had sought measures on electricity costs, stock trading, voter ID and Alaska oil development, arguing they needed cost-of-living wins to take home to voters.
Democrats said the bills were flawed or too partisan — opposing Jon Husted's power-cost plan, defeating Pete Ricketts's package on a procedural vote and blocking Dan Sullivan's Alaska measure.
The chamber's last action before recess was confirming Keith Sonderling as labor secretary, while other bipartisan items — including permitting reform and Susan Collins's $35 insulin cap bill — slipped to the lame-duck session.
Control of the Senate now hangs over the break: Democrats need 4 seats to retake the chamber, and are competing in states Trump carried by double digits in 2024.
After a late-night Senate vote, can Sonderling bring stability to the Labor Department while avoiding the missteps that triggered recent scrutiny?
What will Keith Sonderling tackle first as labor secretary: agency culture problems, worker classification disputes, or business-backed regulatory changes?
How could Sonderling’s confirmation reshape rules for independent contractors, trucking companies, and employers facing wage-and-hour enforcement?