John Thune

Up for grabs? Republicans say unused money from the economic recovery act could be put to better use. NevadaÕs allocation, which pays for transportation projects, teacher salaries and more, could evaporate if the GOP gets its way.. WASHINGTON ? A popular proposal among Republicans in Nevada and nationwide is to take unspent money from the $787 billion economic recovery act ? the stimulus bill ? and return it to Washington, where it can be used for tax cuts or to pay down the national debt.

Republican Party fundraising document casts Obama as "The Joker," makes pitch to exploit fear. Barack Obama is "The Joker." Nancy Pelosi is portrayed as Cruella De Vil, and Harry Reid as Scooby Doo ? all part of a Republican Party pitch to top fundraisers.

Senators: Airline pilots exhausted from long commutes undermine safety, FAA should act. Senators are demanding that federal regulators do something about airline pilots who regularly make exhausting commutes of hundreds ? and sometimes thousands ? of miles to work.

Republicans who may want Obama's job descend on Washington; early tryout of sorts. Republicans who may want President Barack Obama's job flocked to the town they love to hate this weekend and repeatedly ripped into the Democrat, an early tryout of sorts for the GOP nomination.

Guests for the Sunday TV news shows. Guest lineup for the Sunday TV news shows:

Senate Democrats reject GOP bid to end payments from Wall Street bailout program. The Senate Thursday killed a Republican attempt to shut down the Wall Street bailout program.

US Senate defeats Thune amendment to end TARP, require that paybacks retire national debt. The U.S. Senate has defeated an amendment by South Dakota Sen. John Thune to end the Troubled Asset Relief Program, which bailed out banks, automakers and other financial firms, and require that paid-back funds be used to retire debt.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate on Thursday defeated a Republican effort that would have prevented the Obama administration from using bank bailout funds to help fix roads or boost small businesses.

Senate Democrats reject GOP bid to end payments from Wall Street bailout program. The Senate has killed a Republican attempt to shut down the Wall Street bailout program.

Senate Democrats propose $1.9 trillion increase in federal debt limit. Senate Democrats on Wednesday proposed allowing the federal government to borrow an additional $1.9 trillion to pay its bills, a record increase that would permit the national debt to reach $14.3 trillion.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Senate Republican leader said on Wednesday he expects Ben Bernanke to win Senate confirmation to a second term as chairman of the Federal Reserve with bipartisan support.

So much for the civility.

Former House Speaker Gingrich considers himself among top 2012 presidential prospects for GOP. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Wednesday he considers himself among the top Republican prospects for the 2012 presidential election, adding that he believes there will be plenty of GOP options for voters to consider.

Former House Speaker Gingrich considers himself among top 2012 presidential prospects for GOP. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Wednesday he considers himself among the top Republican prospects for the 2012 presidential election, adding that he believes there will be plenty of GOP options for voters to consider.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on Monday decorated visiting US Senator and former presidential candidate John McCain with the country's highest state honour, declaring him a national hero.

Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on Monday decorated visiting US Senator and former presidential candidate John McCain with the Order of the National Hero of Georgia.

US senator John McCain warned Tuesday Al-Qaeda is increasingly using Yemen as a base to launch attacks around the world, and called on Washington to help the Arab country expel the terror network.

Four US senators voiced "regret" on Tuesday over a court's decision to drop charges against American private security guards accused of killing 14 Iraqi civilians in an unprovoked attack in 2007.

Guests for the Sunday TV news shows. Guest lineup for the Sunday TV news shows:

WASHINGTON - The battle over abortion is threatening to derail the health care overhaul package in the Senate, as liberals refuse to accept new abortion restrictions demanded by key moderates, who say that without the limits, they are inclined to vote against the overall bill. The Senate is expected to defeat, as early as today, a provision banning coverage for abortion under any insurance plans - public or private - that accept federal subsidies. Without moderate Democrats such as Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska, who introduced the abortion amendment yesterday, it will be very difficult for Democratic leaders to collect the 60-vote supermajority needed for passage. The current Senate bill would allow insurance plans in government-subsidized exchanges to offer abortion coverage, but only if no federal money were used to pay for it. Current law already bans federal funding of abortions except in cases of rape, incest, or risk to the mother's life. Nelson, joined by Senator Orrin Hatch, R