Barack Obama, Filibuster | featured news

The U.S. Senate voted on Thursday to overcome a Republican-led filibuster against tougher gun laws, clearing the way for a major congressional debate on a package of proposals sought by President Barack Obama in the aftermath of the Connecticut school massacre.

Chuck Hagel, President Obama's choice to lead the Pentagon, has enough Senate votes committed to him to overcome a filibuster and secure the nomination, according to Sen. Carl Levin and an administration source working on the issue.

Senate Republicans on Tuesday filibustered the nomination of Caitlin Halligan to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, blocking the nominee President Obama chose last year to serve on one of the nation's most powerful courts.

A vote on the package is set for Tuesday, minutes after the swearing-in of a new West Virginia senator gives Democrats the ability to overcome a filibuster.

On the eve of a vote to extend jobless benefits, President Obama urged Republican senators to set aside partisanship and vote for a package that would provide relief to 2.5-million out-of-work Americans.

In the first major step to revive his health care agenda after his party's loss of a filibuster-proof Senate majority, President ...