WASHINGTON–As Barack Obama prepares for the spotlight at the Democratic National Convention, other Illinois Democrats are scrambling behind the scenes to position  themselves as his possible successor in the U.S. Senate.

If Obama wins the presidential campaign, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich would get to pick a replacement to…

WASHINGTON — Closing the loop on the confirmation hearing of the two Scott Air Force generals — one arriving from the Pentagon and the other heading to the Pentagon — both were confirmed Friday by the Senate.

As noted Thursday, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., was the lone member of the Senate…

WASHINGTON–Senate Democrats were already giddy about their election prospects, even holding out the possibility of winning a filibuster-proof 60-seat majority in November. Then came yesterday’s indictment of Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, on charges that he failed to report more than $250,000 in gifts from…

WASHINGTON–Will Congress adjourn this week for their August break with bang or a whimper?

That’s the $64,000 question for this week as lawmakers try to wrap up business before a month-long recess, when the political heat of the presidential race will likely reach…

WASHINGTON–Lawmakers are easing back into the legislative groove after a week-long 4^th of July recess. On the agenda in the Senate are some pre-break leftovers—a housing rescue bill, terrorist surveillance legislation, and a Medicare payment fix for doctors, all items the Senate…

WASHINGTON–Forget the veep stakes. The latest buzz consuming those in the U.S. Capitol, well at least some Illinois lawmakers, is who might take Barack Obama’s seat in the U.S. Senate if he wins the presidency.

Okay, the general election is still five…

WASHINGTON–With the heat index in Washington hovering around 100 degrees, the political rhetoric promises to be just as hot this week in the Senate and maybe the House too.

After a weekend to recover from the collapse of a sweeping…

WASHINGTON – Thursday’s edition of The Hill, a publication that covers Congress, had a front page story claiming a major rift between Sens. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.V., and Christopher “Kit” Bond, R-Mo., respectively the chairman and vice-chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Most importantly, the story said…

WASHINGTON–Can’t make it to Washington to visit your U.S. senators? Well, you can at least check out their offices, which are mini-art galleries featuring Missouri works.

The artwork in Claire McCaskill’s Senate office is modern, loud, and splashy, featuring up-and-coming St.…

WASHINGTON—Joseph Shepard, husband of U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, enjoyed one of the perks of being a congressional spouse Monday: a White House luncheon with First Lady Laura Bush.

The menu was exquisite, if a bit dainty—including a salad of “young…