Political Wire

Sessions Was Top Talker in Senate

January 2, 2014 at 8:11 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL) earned the distinction of logging the most speaking time on the Senate floor in 2013, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Sessions spoke for more than 33 hours last year year, “just a few more hours than Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), who clocked in at roughly 30 hours in 2013.”

“That’s an impressive distinction considering that Reid opens and closes the Senate most days that it is in session, often making extended opening remarks, while Sessions is a member of the minority party without a formal leadership position.”

Renzi Seeks to Delay Prison Sentence

January 2, 2014 at 8:09 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Former Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) “has asked a judge to let him wait until Jan. 13 to report to prison to begin serving a sentence for his convictions on public corruption, money laundering and other charges,” the AP reports.

“The former Arizona congressman has been ordered to report to prison Monday, but his lawyers have asked for a one-week extension to give the judge a chance to rule on Renzi’s pending request to remain free on bail while he appeals his convictions.”

Hawaii Primary Divides Democrats

January 2, 2014 at 8:08 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI) “had a deathbed wish: that Gov. Neil Abercrombie (D) would appoint his protegee, Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D), to replace him in the Senate. But Abercrombie upended this island state’s political order by tapping the younger Brian Schatz, then the lieutenant governor,” the Washington Post reports.

“Now, a year after Inouye’s death, the former senator’s ghost lingers large over a bitter feud that is dividing Democrats along ethnic and generational lines here in President Obama’s birthplace. With the outspoken support of Inouye’s widow, Hanabusa is giving up her House seat to challenge Schatz in the 2014 primary.”

Marijuana Sales Now Legal in Colorado

January 1, 2014 at 11:17 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“In a historic swirl of commerce and cannabis, the world’s first licensed stores able to sell marijuana legally to anyone over 21 opened in Colorado on Wednesday,” the Denver Post reports.

“Thousands of people from Telluride to Denver cheerfully stood in lines that took hours to navigate for the chance to buy legal marijuana after presenting nothing more than an I.D. Marijuana activists hailed the day as a watershed in their effort to overturn anti-cannabis laws. Store owners — several of whom said the turnout exceeded even their own ambitious expectations — feared running out of supply.”

New York Times: “While about 20 states allow medical marijuana, voters in Colorado and Washington State decided last year to go one step further, becoming the first in the nation to legalize small amounts of the plant for recreational use and regulate it like alcohol.”

De Blasio Pledges to Tackle Inequality

January 1, 2014 at 11:14 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Bill de Blasio, whose fiery populism propelled his rise from obscure neighborhood official to the 109th mayor of New York, was sworn into office on Wednesday, pledging that his ambition for a more humane and equal metropolis would remain undimmed,” the New York Times reports.

“In his inaugural address, Mayor de Blasio described social inequality as a ‘quiet crisis’ on a par with the other urban cataclysms of the city’s last half-century, from fiscal collapse to crime waves to terrorist attacks, and said income disparity was a struggle no less urgent to confront.”

Happy New Year!

January 1, 2014 at 12:00 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Thanks to Political Wire readers for another great year!

We have some amazing things coming in 2014 — including a site redesign, new shows for the podcast and an expanded Prime newsletter. Stay tuned…

Quote of the Day

December 31, 2013 at 1:00 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“It’s going to be a rough one, but, you know, it’s like shooting crap. Either you win or you lose; you just can’t stay even with the first shot.”

— Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY), quoted by Politico, on his re-election bid in 2014.

Obama Approval Rises While on Vacation

December 31, 2013 at 11:43 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Obama “has picked up five points in public approval since he’s gone away to Hawaii for a year-end family vacation,” Bloomberg reports.

“The president’s public approval rating was hanging at 39% in the days before Christmas, by the Gallup Poll’s average of daily tracking surveys. Today… his approval has risen to 44%. His disapproval rating, 54% pre-Christmas, is down to 49%.”

The Red State Coverage Gap

December 31, 2013 at 11:38 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Wonk Wire notes that 5 million Americans will have no health care insurance next year simply because they live in a state that declined expanded Medicaid coverage.

Schweitzer Ignored Inspector General’s Report

December 31, 2013 at 11:17 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

As Montana governor, Brian Schweitzer (D) said “he threw away the 2010 U.S. Army inspector general’s report concluding that Adj. Gen. and now Lt. Gov. John Walsh had improperly used his position in the Montana National Guard for personal gain,” the Helena Independent Record reports.

Said Schweitzer: “I treated it with the respect it deserved. I put it in the round file.”

Walsh is one of three Democrats running for the U.S. Senate in 2014 and the disclosure of the investigative report is being used by his opponents.

Fewer Recalls in 2013

December 31, 2013 at 11:11 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Joshua Spivak notes a steep drop off in elected officials who were recalled by voters this year.

“In 2011, we had 151. In 2012, we had 168, with 509 attempts. In 2013, we have 107, with 478 attempts. Of those 107 recalls, 73 were ousted; 51 officials lost a race, and another 22 resigned — a 68% removal rate. As in the past, these number probably understate the amount of recalls that took place.”

Illinois Tax Refunds Come with Spending Info

December 31, 2013 at 10:24 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Chicago Tribune: “Illinois taxpayers will get a little something extra with their tax refunds in 2014: a one-page sheet from Republican Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka that offers a broad overview of how state government spends money.”

“The flier will be sent to those who receive their refunds via a check in the mail. It features a chart showing how the state’s $35.2 billion budget is divided among various programs including education, health care and retirement funds for state workers. It will also detail the state’s backlog of unpaid bills, currently estimated at $7.6 billion.”

GOP Retaliation Could Jam Senate in 2014

December 31, 2013 at 10:03 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Senate Republicans still smarting from a Democratic rules change that diminished their power to block President Obama’s appointees are vowing retribution against the majority when lawmakers return to work in January,” the Washington Examiner reports.

“The GOP in the final weeks of the 2013 session provided a glimpse into what that might mean in 2014. Unable to block most presidential nominees because of the Democratic rule change, Republicans are using their remaining authority to slow the Senate to a crawl, delaying action on routine matters that typically pass uncontested.”

Baucus Oversaw Diminished Power of Finance Chair

December 31, 2013 at 9:48 am EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The imminent departure of Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), from both the Senate and the Senate Finance Committee, “has put a new focus on the panel and the chairmanship, which has declined in stature and influence compared with the vital role it played in the Senate almost from the beginning,” the New York Times reports.

“Without a shift in the power structure of the Senate, it appears likely the next committee leader will have only a fraction of the clout of those in the past.”

Why It Isn’t Going to Get Much Better

December 30, 2013 at 10:08 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The Week: 4 reasons our political dysfunction isn’t going to end soon.

Fewer Republicans Believe in Evolution

December 30, 2013 at 3:10 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new Pew Research survey finds that 60% of Americans say that “humans and other living things have evolved over time,” while 33% reject the idea of evolution, saying that “humans and other living things have existed in their present form since the beginning of time.”

Most interesting: “In 2009, 54% of Republicans and 64% of Democrats said humans have evolved over time, a difference of 10 percentage points. Today, 43% of Republicans and 67% of Democrats say humans have evolved, a 24-point gap.”

Israel Will Publicly Fund Abortions

December 30, 2013 at 3:06 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Haaretz: “Israel will pay for abortions for women aged 20 to 33 regardless of circumstance starting next year, health officials said Monday, adding that they hope to make eligibilty for state funding universal in the future.”

Another Democrat Jumps Into Race for Ohio Governor

December 30, 2013 at 2:59 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Todd Portune (D) told WCPO that he will challenge Ed Fitzgerald (D) in a Democratic party primary for governor of Ohio in May.

“Fitzgerald’s campaign to challenge Republican incumbent John Kasich hit a rough spot late in 2013 when his running mate for lieutenant governor, State Senator Eric Kearney withdrew from the race under pressure surrounding poor vetting. Even with that bump in Fitzgerald’s road, he has somewhat of a head start against Portune. Fitzgerald officially kicked off his campaign for the state office on Aug. 24.”

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