Prominent Republicans Fret Over GOP’s Decline

Peter Z. Scheer / Truthdig May 29, 2013 Reading Political Wire on Tuesday, one gets the sense that Republican retirement homes are even more raucous with discontent than usual. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Republican Snowe Drops Out of the Battle for the Senate

Staff / Truthdig Feb 29, 2012 One of the few moderate Republicans left in Congress, if not the universe, Sen. Olympia Snowe said she has decided not to run for re-election because of "an atmosphere of polarization and ‘my way or the highway’ ideologies" in politics and government. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Senate Clears the Way for Unemployment Extension

Staff / Truthdig Jul 21, 2010 Overcoming the objections of Democrat Ben Nelson and 39 of his Republican friends, 60 senators passed a key procedural vote Tuesday, making an extension of unemployment benefits a near certainty. Senators siding with the jobless included 56 Democrats, two independents and the Republican senators from Maine. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

New England Republicans Assure Financial Reform Passage

Staff / Truthdig Jul 13, 2010 Scott Brown of Massachusetts has decided to support the anemic financial reform bill because, as The Washington Post reports, "he got nearly everything he wanted." The bill is now expected to pass with the support of at least two other Republicans, including Maine's Olympia Snowe. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Senators Still in Health Care Huddle

Staff / Truthdig Dec 19, 2009 It could be a long and snowy weekend on Capitol Hill for our sparring US senators, who were busy antagonizing each other and making various accusations and threats Friday as they wrestled over the health care bill The Democrats' lone holdout, Sen Ben Nelson, was the subject of a woo-in conducted by his peers (continued). Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Lieberman Looms Large in Senate Health Debate

Staff / Truthdig Dec 14, 2009 If it didn't look like Senate Democrats were going to face some serious obstacles in passing health care reform legislation, Sen. Joe Lieberman is poised and ready to remind them, as he proved this past weekend with his ongoing rumblings to the press about joining the apparently inevitable Republican filibuster. Sen. Harry Reid and his cohort have their work cut out for them. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

Lieberman Twists the Knife

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Oct 28, 2009 Is there a more hypocritical figure in American politics than Joe Lieberman? The Connecticut senator declared Tuesday that he would support a filibuster of any health care reform bill that has a public option -- even the version with the “trigger” compromise accepted by Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe -- because it might cost money. Is there a more hypocritical figure in American politics than Joe Lieberman? Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

‘Left, Right & Center’: Health Care Reform Survives?; Wall Street Revives

Staff / Truthdig Oct 17, 2009 Wall Street got a boost, as if it needed one, from the Dow's rise past 10,000 this week -- but let's not confuse that with economic stability. Consider the unemployment rate and the ballooning federal budget deficit, as Arianna Huffington, Bob Scheer, Tony Blankley and Matt Miller do on this week's "Left, Right and Center." Just don't ask Arianna about "Balloon Boy." Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )

When Did Olympia Snowe Become Queen of America?

David Sirota / Truthdig Oct 16, 2009 Democrats are willing to do anything to win over this unaccomplished backbencher whose vote they don't even need. Dig deeper ( 3 Min. Read )

Public Health Before Wall Street Wealth

Robert Scheer / Truthdig Oct 14, 2009 There is an odd disconnect between the furious public debate over health care reform, with its emphasis on the cost of an increased government role, and the nonexistent discussion about the far more expensive and largely secretive government program to bail out Wall Street. The health care debate has become a convenient distraction from the far more pressing issues surrounding the banking meltdown. Dig deeper ( 4 Min. Read )

Snowe Helps Baucus Bill Pass Committee Hurdle

Staff / Truthdig Oct 13, 2009 Maine's Olympia Snowe explained her vote for health care reform by saying "when history calls, history calls." It called, she answered, and now the Senate Finance Committee's Baucus bill, which would force Americans to buy health insurance without offering a public option, is off to get married to the more progressive Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee bill.Max Baucus' health care bill has passed the Senate Finance Committee, with the help of lone wolf Sen. Olympia Snowe. Dig deeper ( 2 Min. Read )

Senate Panel Votes Down Abortion Amendment in Baucus Bill

Staff / Truthdig Sep 30, 2009 Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch tried, and ultimately failed, to add an amendment to the health care hydra that Max Baucus' reform bill has become. This one would have required women to buy separate policies for abortion-related services. Even the formerly reticent Sen. Olympia Snowe cast a "no" vote on this one. Dig deeper ( 1 Min. Read )