Coleman Files Another Lawsuit as Recount Nears Deadline

Dec. 31, 7:59 P.M.

In the final hours of the calendar year, Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) filed a lawsuit with the state Supreme Court to stop the sorting of improperly rejected absentee ballots and to centralize the process for counting those ballots.

Fight Over Blagojevich Nomination Takes Racial Turn

Dec. 30, 1:27 P.M.

Embattled Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s (D) surprising decision to name a successor to the open Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama took on racial tones Tuesday as Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) promised to take up the appointee’s case on the Hill as an issue of racial equality.

Douglas Graham/Roll Call
The tree is lit in the Main Hall of Union Station, and the Norwegian-themed celebration continues through Sunday. Click here for a photo timeline of the 110th Congress.

CBO Director Selected

Dec. 31, 10:42 A.M.

Congressional leaders have selected Douglas Elmendorf, director of the Hamilton Project at the Brookings Institution, to be the director of the Congressional Budget Office.

Senate Rules Committee Beefs Up Staff

Dec. 31, 12:30 P.M.

Incoming Senate Rules and Administration Chairman Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) plans to announce two major hires for the panel on Wednesday, just as the committee faces the daunting prospect of taking up a pair of controversial election-related cases in early days of the 111th Congress.