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Senate Democratic leaders are proposing a 5% surtax on those earning $1 million a year as a new way pay for President Obama's jobs plan, turning to an issue with populist appeal as they line up support for a vote, possibly next week.

A last-minute deal reached by Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate diminished the chances of a government shutdown by week's end.

Republicans in the House of Representatives regrouped on Friday to approve a must-pass spending bill, but the prospect of a government shutdown loomed as Democrats said it would go nowhere in the Senate.

Sen. Lamar Alexander says he'll resign from his GOP leadership post to spend more time making the Senate "a more effective institution."

Ex-wrestling executive Linda McMahon plans to jump into the political ring again and will formally launch her second bid for the U.S. Senate ...

Elizabeth Warren, a Harvard law professor and former Obama administration official, announced Wednesday morning via Web video that she will challenge Republican Sen. Scott Brown for his seat in Massachusetts. Warren began her first day of campaigning at a subway stop in South Boston — an area filled with the kind of conservative Democrats that Warren, a 62-year-old Oklahoma native,must win over.

Consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren is jumping into the Massachusetts race against Republican Sen. Scott Brown....

A week after launching a listening tour of Massachusetts, former White House official Elizabeth Warren has filed an exploratory committee with the Federal Election Commission as she prepares to challenge Sen. Scott Brown in 2012.

Republicans held onto control of the Wisconsin Senate on Tuesday night, beating four Democratic challengers in a recall election viewed as a referendum on Republican policies in that state and beyond. The Associated Press declared Republican Sens. Alberta Darling of River Hills, Robert Cowles of Allouez, Sheila Harsdorf of River Falls and Luther Olsen of Ripon winners. The AP also declared Democratic challengers Jennifer Shilling of LaCrosse and Jessica King of Oshkosh victors.

The secretary's decision not to leave means President Obama can avoid a Senate confirmation fight to fill the post during a time of financial turmoil. Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner will not be stepping down, ending speculation that the key Obama administration advisor was preparing to resign.