“Claire McCaskill” on The Daily Caller

Missouri Republican Sarah Steelman is set to launch her bid to challenge Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.). The former state treasurer and gubernatorial candidate made the announcement in a post on her website Tuesday evening. (more)

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is vowing to bring the immigration-related “DREAM Act” to the Senate floor and some Senate Republicans are sounding the alarm bells, highlighting that it would offer amnesty to an estimated 2.1 million illegal aliens. (more)

For the rest of his life, Army Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta will be on the receiving end of salutes from every member of the uniformed military regardless of rank.  Rendering a salute to a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient is one of the coolest military traditions in an organization known for traditions.  And being a great soldier, SSG Giunta will probably never get used to returning the salute of a superior officer. (more)

Transportation Safety Administration chief John Pistole and several senators from both parties defended the new, enhanced airport security screening procedures as necessary in the face of a persistent and evolving terrorist threat in a hearing Wednesday on Capitol Hill. (more)

Just this week, Senators McConnell, Hutchison, and Shelby — the latter two of which have long histories as serial appropriators — agreed to support a ban on earmarks. This was exciting news and a key insight into the power of the grassroots. It is true that earmarks comprise a small, even miniscule, percentage of government spending, but they are a flashpoint in the debate about spending and a top issue for the Tea Party and other grassroots activists. (more)

Even as Senate Republicans approved a “moratorium” on congressional earmarks, a small but significant contingent of the caucus is openly vowing to flout the new rules. (more)

Republicans may be in control of the U.S. House of Representatives when the 112th Congress comes to Washington, D.C. in January, but the 111th Congress isn’t dead yet.  When the disastrous Pelosi-Reid-led Congress comes back for its lame-duck session on November 15th, it should have one thing in mind: do no more harm to country or party.  But clearly, doing what the American people want has not been the modus operandi thus far.  We should all be uneasy, because six weeks is enough time to do a lot more damage if we let our guard down. (more)

The Democrats are in trouble in the United States Senate come November. (more)

The results of this year’s Senate elections are not even in the books, but senators and political analysts are already looking ahead to 2012, when the Senate math adds up to a daunting prospect for Democrats. (more)

In March, House Republicans unanimously supported a one-year moratorium on earmarks. I voted for the moratorium, and for years now I’ve been calling on my colleagues to stop a practice that is subject to corruption and encourages free spending. (more)

Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill said she was “optimistic” that any election outcome would be a welcome change for the Senate, an institution that has faced near unprecedented gridlock that has left members of both parties frustrated. (more)

Senate Democrats who blocked an immigration bill in 2007 say they are undecided on how to vote on the measure this week. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Those who hold the Senate in low esteem can get a sympathetic ear from some of the chamber’s newer members. These lawmakers also are fed up with the Senate’s ways and would like to change them. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) – A Senate Democrat says that as many as 6,600 graves at Arlington National Cemetery could be misidentified because managers there didn’t do their job properly. (more)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) has planted herself in the middle of a civil war between Republican and Democratic appropriators over spending levels. (more)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said Saturday she’s secured the votes to force a rules change ending the Senate’s practice of secret holds. (more)

In terms of old geezers, this Congress is setting all kinds of records. (more)

First Senate Move on Financial Reform Defeated – Despite control of the White House, the House and the Senate, and almost 70% of the country supporting financial reform, the Democrats could not prevail on a crucial financial services vote Monday.  The first vote to move along the financial reform bill was defeated 57 to 41, with 60 votes needed.  While the press today is full of attacks for Republicans voting (as did the Democrats) along party lines, a major cause for the loss was the fact that Democrat Ben Nelson (D-Neb) voted with the Republicans against the financial reform bill. (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defending his company under blistering criticism, the CEO of Goldman Sachs testily told skeptical senators Tuesday that customers who bought securities from the Wall Street giant in the run-up to a national financial crisis came looking for risk “and that’s what they got.” (more)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Can you trust Washington? (more)