U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has won a third term as the chamber's Republican leader.McConnell's unanimous re-election Tuesday by the GOP conference put to rest speculation that a Tea Party caucus led by South Carolina Sen. Jim Demint would mount a challenge to McConnell.At a Capitol press conference after the leadership election, McConnell said lawmakers need to respond to Americans' demand for a reduction in spending and debt and to find ways to spur job creation."It is our hope that we will be able to work with the administration on all of those issues. I and others have had numerous conversations with the president over the last week or so and we look forward to exploring ways that we can go forward together for the american people," he said. McConnell will serve a two-year term as GOP leader.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.