Growing difficulties in gaining government consent has led the two companies to withdraw their application with the Federal Communications Comission for a proposed $39 billion merger.

The legislation is meant to help homeowners refinance their mortgages to keep their homes and save money. Sen. Al Franken says "the federal government should be making it easier to refinance, not creating additional hurdles." The Minnesota Democrat plans to introduce the legislation on Monday.

The Minnesota Democrat says it will save 80,000 jobs and keep the country from importing more foreign oil. Franken says a consulting firm found construction of wind turbines would drop by 75 percent next year if the tax credit expires.

Sen. Al Franken expressed new concerns Thursday about how closely mobile phone companies track smart phone usage. He believes that companies may be tracking things such as the number of text messages a user receives and what phone numbers they dial.

Minnesota-native Shane Bauer and Joshua Fattal traveled to Capitol Hil to meet with Sens. Al Franken and Bob Casey of Pennsylvania to express their gratitude. Franken was a vocal advocate for the hikers since their arrest in 2009.

Current cell phone contracts often prohibit users from filing lawsuits. That means anyone with a complaint can only settle it through arbitration. Democratic Sens. Al Franken and Richard Blumenthal say that doesn't always give cell phone users enough protection.

Since he arrived in the Senate three years ago, the former “Saturday Night Live” star has tried to project an ultra-serious public image of a studious and hard-working senator who shuns the media spotlight and whose past career as a comedian and satirist is just that — a thing of the past. But in private settings, he's still getting laughs. Politico profiles the Minnesota lawmaker who seldom gives interviews on Capitol Hill.