The Senate took its first step towards passing its version of the health insurance reform bill. A 60-40 procedural vote held very early this morning cut off a Republican filibuster, with both Arkansas senators voting in favor of it. There are several more votes scheduled this week, with the [...]
Come, let us dispense with tiresome talk of the 2010 Senate race (“Will Jim Holt get in? When will Jim Holt get in? Is Jim Holt in yet? Has anyone talked to Jim Holt?” “Jim Holt…call me!” “Jim! Holt!”) and the dreary back and forth [...]
The Senate passed the first procedural vote on the health bill early this morning, 60-40. Looks like it will pass. The party of No will continued its unanimous opposition to the expansion and improvement of American health care.
Krugman calls it a "seriously flawed" bill, but still a "huge step forward."
That's' [...]
The Senate passed the health care reform bill overnight. The bill, which has been the source of much heated debate over the last several months, will continue to change, though, as the House and Senate versions are revised and eventually joined together [...]
Now that she and other moderate Democrats have essentially watered down the Senate's version of the health care bill to practically a joke, Sen. Blanche Lincoln is saying she will vote in favor of the bill, according to our friend Roby [...]
Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln, once considered to be a pivotal - if not the pivotal - vote on health insurance reform confirmed today that she will be voting for the Senate bill. In a conference call with reporters and bloggers Ms. Lincoln stated,
After months of intense work and a full [...]
Health care reform enters a critical week if there’s going to be a final Senate vote before Christmas. With 60 votes allegedly in hand, Senate majority leader Harry Reid has set six votes over six days that will culminate on 12.24 with a final up or down vote.
• 1 a.m. MONDAY [...]
Since I am leaning in a somewhat contrary direction, as you will find in my column in tomorrow’s Democrat-Gazette, here is another viewpoint from Vice-President Biden.
Op-Ed Contributor – Why the Senate Should Vote Yes on Health Care – NYTimes.com.
Posted in Health Insurance Reform, National politics [...] 
Payola and an abortion amendment for Sen. Ben Nelson apparently have provided the crucial vote for passsage of a Senate health bill. Everybody thinks the abortion change sucks.
Sen. Blanche Lincoln is making approving noises and directing people to a webpage with details on the legislation. Says Lincoln:
[...]Sen. Blanche Lincoln sent out a news alert last week about problems with Senate phone lines that seemed to be interfering with call reception. I didn't report it. Stuff happens, for one thing. For another, my guess was that orchestrated astrotruf campaigns on the health bill were to blame for overloads.
But' [...]
Tony Perkins, FRC Washington Update:: The Senate's "centrists" should savor their holiday on the Hill. For some of them, it may be their last. With the health care bill plowing through Congress faster than the Polar Express, angry Americans may decide for some "change" of their own [...] Former Arkansas Farm Bureau President Stanley Reed announced today that he is dropping out of the US Senate race after only 8 days as a candidate. His decision to drop out of the race is due to health reasons.
Now what [...]
Campaign Manager for Conrad Reynolds Senate Campaign K. Ryan James departs ways “to pursue other interests.” James was under contract to manage Reynolds’ campaign through December 31 and he notified Reynolds today he will not be serving past that date. No word yet what James will [...]
Here’s some big and politically interesting news. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has agreed to help Lt. Gov. Bill Halter retire his campaign debt. Jed Lewison at DailyKos writes,
As you may know, Halter has been considering challenging Blanche Lincoln for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. Although SEIU’s [...]
Remember how last week we all went into a feeding frenzy over the entry of former Arkansas Farm Bureau chief Stanley Reed into the GOP primary for U.S. Senate? Remember? That was a real time, wasn’t it? Yeah, well, about that…never mind.
Post from: The Arkansas Project
Due to issues related to his health, Marianna farmer Stanley Reed has withdrawn from the US Senate race in Arkansas. Roby Brock, Arkansas Business, Jason Tolbert, Max Brantley, and John Lyon have more details.
I’ve know the Reed family for a long time. Mr. Reed and [...]
Stanley Reed, who announced his candidacy just eight days ago, has announced he is withdrawing from the U.S. Senate race against Blanche Lincoln. Health reasons, a press release says.
His departure narrows the Republican field down to about 19 (well, OK, seven have announced and an eighth, [...]
In what could be the shortest Senate campaign in Arkansas history, Stanley Reed announced he is dropping out of the U.S. Senate just 8 days after announcing he is running. This is developing fast but here is his press statement…
Today, Republican Stanley Reed announced he is withdrawing [...]
From The Tolbert Report: Gov. Mike Beebe’s spokesman Matt DeCample tells the Tolbert Report this morning that their office still has concerns over the cost of the health care reform proposal. In November, Gov. Beebe expressed “big concerns” over the impact of the house version of [...] The Senate is oh-so-close to securing 60 votes to overcome the procedural hurdles that face the health care reform bill. 57 Democrats and 2 Independents are on board. Only Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson, a Democrat, remains unsatisfied. Conventional wisdom suggests that his issue is with abortion and the amount [...]
