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A second Republican senator signaled Wednesday she's open to voting for sweeping health care legislation this year, putting President Barack Obama closer to a historic achievement that has eluded generations of Democratic leaders.

A majority of Republicans in the U.S. Senate on Friday called on the Obama administration to let the authority to tap a $700 billion financial bailout fund expire at the end of the year as scheduled.

Florida Sen. Mel Martinez said Friday he is resigning to return to Florida and his family. The first-term U.S. senator made a formal announcement at a 3 p.m.news conference in Orlando, saying he promised he wouldn't "simply warm a seat."

A seventh Republican broke ranks on Wednesday and backed Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, who appeared virtually certain of winning Senate approval as the first Hispanic on the highest U.S. court.

Senate Republicans on Tuesday slowed down the anticipated confirmation of U.S. President Barack Obama's Supreme Court nominee, federal appeals judge Sonia Sotomayor.

As his committee has taken center stage in the battle over health-care reform, Sen. Max Baucus has emerged as a leading recipient of campaign contributions from the industry.

Senate hopefuls post strong totals, putting them in position to try to halt party's losing streak.

Senate Republicans received a temporary restraining order to prevent the lieutenant governor nominee from taking office, but the move was disputed by Democrats.

Nevada Sen. John Ensign's ex-lover says she did "everything possible" to keep their affair private, but a spokesman for the Republican lawmaker refuted the claim Thursday, saying the woman's husband approached a major television news channel before Ensign's public confession.

An e-mail featuring a picture of two cartoon eyeballs set against a black background and meant to depict President Obama landed a Republican Tennessee state Senate aide in hot water, but not on the unemployment line.