Temporary funding in place for unemployment and road programmes after Republican senator ends stalling campaign The US Senate passed a $10bn measure to maintain unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless and provide stopgap funding for road programmes after a holdout Republican dropped stalling tactics that had generated a political storm in Washington . Kentucky Republican Jim Bunning had been holding up action for days, resulting in Monday’s cut-off of road funding and extended unemployment benefits and health insurance subsidies for the jobless

Seven-page plan includes sweeteners to win back voters and offers chance of reviving US healthcare reform Barack Obama today moved to end the month-long paralysis in Washington over healthcare reform by finally publishing his own proposals, including a populist measure to curb excessive rises in insurance premiums. Obama is to present the seven-page plan, posted on the White House website , to a joint meeting with Democrat and Republican members of Congress in Washington on Thursday. The plan offers a chance of reviving healthcare reform, the flagship legislation of the Obama administration, when it looked as if it might be killed off after the Republicans stunning Massachusetts Senate victory last month

The climate debate in the US – and so the world – is mired in political weakness and infighting In Delhi last week, ­Professor Jeffrey Sachs , the guru of ­sustainable development from Columbia University, delivered a sobering message about US climate ­politics. There was very little chance, he said, that the US would pass climate legislation this year, and almost no chance the Senate would ever adopt cap and trade, the system by which enterprises trade permits to emit within ever tighter limits

The US president’s first state of the union speech Madam Speaker, Vice President Biden, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans: Our Constitution declares that from time to time, the President shall give to Congress information about the state of our union.

In his state of the union address, Obama seemed willing to trade nuclear power and offshore drilling for climate bill votes A guest blog by Suzanne Goldenberg , the Guardian’s US environment correspondent Greens probably didn’t reckon the “change you can believe in” would mean building more nuclear power plants when Barack Obama was first elected. But that is what they are going to get – in return for getting a climate change bill through Congress

Barack Obama can still keep his legislative programme on track - remember Bill Clinton Is it all finished? The great new golden age of American ­liberalism, ushered in by the most inspiring politician millions of Americans had seen since who knew when – kaput, just like that, snuffed out after a mere single year?

Scott Brown becomes 41st Republican in Senate after defeating Democrat Martha Coakley in historically liberal state Republican Scott Brown today captured the US Senate seat long held by liberal icon Ted Kennedy, leaving Barack Obama’s health care overhaul in doubt and marring the end of his first year in office. Brown’s defeat of Martha Coakley for the Massachusetts seat signalled big political problems for the Democrats in November, when House of Representative, Senate and gubernatorial candidates are on the ballot. More immediately, Brown will become the 41st Republican in the 100-member Senate, which could allow the Republicans to block the president’s health care legislation and the rest of Obama’s agenda

In January 2007, the Republicans in Congress reassembled in Washington as something they hadn’t been in a number of years: the minority. The Democrats had famously taken control of the House of Representatives and the Senate the previous November—the Senate just barely, but they had it. How did the President Bush and the Republicans react?

Outcome of race between Martha Coakley and Scott Brown could determine the fate of Obama’s healthcare reform plan Voters went to the polls in Massachusetts today in the tightly fought race for the late Edward Kennedy’s Senate seat that has turned into a referendum on Barack Obama’s presidency. A combination of snow and rain could depress voter turnout, which would probably suit the Republicans. But visits to polling booths early in the day showed queues of cars, suggesting the national prominence the contest has achieved may have motivated voters.

Democratic senator and governor say they will not seek re-election, and two more set to follow, amid fears of backlash The potential election blow facing Barack Obama and the Democratic party was brought into focus today by a sudden string of announcements from senators and governors that they will not be seeking new terms in November. The decisions reflect Democratic fears that political fortunes are changing and the party faces a public backlash, encouraging a Republican revival. Democratic senator Byron Dorgan disclosed last night that he would not be standing in November, and his colleague Chris Dodd is expected to make a similar announcement today