Senate

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Congratulatory public cards for Rep. Tim Scott’s appointment to the Senate were a favorite of many well-wishers. This one is from the National Republican Congressional Committee. (National Republican Congressional Committee)

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During a press conference to discuss the fiscal cliff negotiations and other unfinished legislation, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., reminds his Senate colleagues to help him to get federal disaster assistance to help the people of New York recover from Hurricane Sandy, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012. From left to right are Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., second from left, accompanied by fellow Senate Democratic leaders, pauses during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012, to discuss the stalled fiscal cliff negotiations and other unfinished business in the Senate. From left are, Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin of Ill., Reid, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., listens at left as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., right, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012, to discuss the stalled fiscal cliff negotiations and other unfinished business in the Senate. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (center), Kentucky Republican, steps off the Senate floor at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012, before speaking with reporters following a GOP strategy luncheon. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, gestures as he takes a call in his office before the jobs bill cloture vote on Capitol Hill in Washington on Monday, Feb. 22, 2010. A bipartisan jobs bill cleared a GOP filibuster with critical momentum provided by the Senate's newest Republican, Sen. Scott P. Brown of Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg)

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Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., discusses the Senate's upcoming votes on judicial nominations during a news conference on Capitol Hill Tuesday, May 24, 2005. In the back ground are Rep. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., center, and Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook)

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Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner (left) enters the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, to meet with House and Senate leaders to discuss the looming "fiscal cliff." (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

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Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner enters the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012, on his way to a meeting with House and Senate leaders to discuss the looming "fiscal cliff." (Barbara L. Salisbury/The Washington Times)

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Sen.-elect Ted Cruz of Texas is one of several tea partyers elected to serve in the new Congress, which welcomes 12 rookie members of the Senate and at least 81 new House members. (Associated Press)

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Sen. Susan Collins, Maine Republican, meets Nov. 13, 2012, with Independent Senator-elect Angus King in her office on Capitol Hill in Washington to discuss committee assignments and how they'll work together to represent Maine in the Senate. (Associated Press)

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John Wallmeyer, of Ashland, Va., listens as Republican U.S. Senate candidate and former Virginia Governor George Allen concedes the senate race to former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine during his election night party event at the Omni Richmond Hotel in Richmond, Va., Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2012. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Sarah Baker of Richmond, Va., right, laughs as her five month old daughter Wila begins to cry in the arms of democratic candidate for Senate Tim Kaine, as they chat together outside the polling entrance at Linwood Holton Elementary School on election day morning, Richmond, Va., Tuesday, November 6, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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**FILE** D.C. resident Tobie Miser joins unemployed workers and their supporters Oct. 11, 2011, for a prayer vigil in support of the upcoming Senate vote on the American Jobs Act in the atrium of the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), left, cheers on Tim Kaine (D), right, as he delivers his victory speech after winning the Virginia election for U.S. Senate at his election night party at the Richmond Marriott, Richmond, Va., Tuesday, November 6, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

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Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), left, Tim Kaine (D), right, and his wife Anne Holton, center, as they get word that President Barack Obama wins reelection during Kaine's victory speech after winning the Virginia election for U.S. Senate at his election night party at the Richmond Marriott, Richmond, Va., Tuesday, November 6, 2012. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)