senate

Despite urging from states, cities, and Obama, the senate remains unable to agree on the conditions in the $900 billion stimulus package proposed by Obama, which passed the House last week.  Majority Leader Harry Reid said earlier today that the Democrats believed they had the votes to pass the bill as it stands, which raised some people's hope that the plan would pass tonigh--to no avail.

Roland Burris was appointed by Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich to fill Obama's senate seat.  Blagojevich, however, is accused of trying to sell the seat, which promped Senate democrats to turn away Burris when he came to take his oath of office.  But talks have started to seat Burris anyway, since--as one Democratic senator put it--Blagojevich "called their bluff."

Republican Saxby Chambliss beat Democrat Jim Martin in a runoff vote in Georgia on Tuesday.  It is no longer possible for the Democrats to reach the 60-seat filibuster-proof majority they had hoped for.  The one remaining senate race, between Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken in Minnesota, is still in a dead tie as the recounts wind down.  Without contested ballots, Coleman would win by 303 votes; but some 6000 votes are being contested.  If none of the challenges to those votes from either campaign suceeded, Franken would win by 22 votes.