It's not just the Republicans who see the need to cut spending. The House on Thursday voted to slash its own budget with a bipartisan 410-13 vote. The move will reduce spending on House operations by $35 million, not a huge amount but considered a gesture by Republicans to show voters that the lawmakers are serious about reducing federal spending. Read More

The Republican pledge to cut spending will start in their own offices. The House GOP will vote Thursday on a resolution to trim their expenses by 5 percent. The money will come from reducing salaries, and operating budgets for committee and member offices, including the leadership. The move doesn't save much money — $35.2 million, a tiny fraction of the nation's $1.3 trillion deficit. But the move aims to "demonstrate our commitment to ending the culture of spending here in Washington," Rep. Greg Walden, R-Oregon, said. Read More

RNC Chairman Michael Steele needs to brush up on the literary classics. Read More

The Senate has just voted to end debate on a bill that would lift the ban on gays serving openly in the military, essentially clearing the measure for passage and signature by the president.   Lawmakers voted 63 to 33 to end debate on the current policy, put in place by former president Bill Clinton, informally known as "don't ask don't tell." Read More

The Senate will vote Saturday on a bill that would repeal the "don't ask, don't tell" ban on gays serving openly in the military. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Reid, put in motion the procedural maneuver that will allow lawmakers to vote to end debate on the measure on Saturday, which will require 60 votes. Final passage could come on Sunday. Read More

Democrats had to suddenly pull from the floor a package of tax cuts and jobless benefits Thursday when they determined there remained too much opposition from their liberal wing, despite efforts to allow the progressives to vote for changes to the deal. The House was still expected to vote Thursday on the $858 billion measure, which would extend the Bush-era tax breaks to every income level for another two years and provide 13 months of additional jobless benefits. The delay was caused by liberal Democrats who are vehemently opposed to the wealthiest taxpayers receiving a tax break extension Read More

The Senate is expected to conduct a key test vote on President Obama's tax cut and jobless benefits package Monday. The measure is expected to pass, clearing the way for debate on the $858 billion package with a possible final vote on the package midweek. The bill then moves to the House, where passage is still in doubt despite assurances by Democratic leaders over the weekend that it would pass even though many liberals want tax cuts reduced for upper income earners. Read More