Politics

After a partisan debate on ballot access, a divided state House of Representatives voted Wednesday for the second time in two years to place on the ballot a constitutional amendment potentially opening the door to early voting in Connecticut.

With the Senate set to endorse the same amendment, it will be up to voters to decide in November 2014 if the state constitution should be amended to give the General Assembly greater authority over election law.

Washington -- Few times in the Senate's recent history has the outcome of a bill been so up in the air as the proposed gun control legislation this week.

The number of senators who may vote for one measure or another is unknown. The shape of a final bill is unknown. And as of Monday, the schedule for debate and votes is also unknown.

"No one knows," said Debra Reed, spokeswoman for the Brady Campaign Against Gun Violence. "But we certainly hope we will have a piece of legislation we can support."

Washington --  In an emotional vote, the Senate on Thursday handily beat back an attempt by some Republicans to block consideration of the most comprehensive gun-control legislation Congress has considered in 20 years.

With family members of Newtown's victims watching from the gallery, the Senate voted 68-31 to move forward on a bill that would extend FBI background checks of prospective gun purchasers and toughen federal penalties for trafficking and other-gun related violations.  Only 60 votes were needed to end the GOP-led filibuster.