Political Wire

More Cabinet Members Take Pay Cuts

April 5, 2013 at 6:07 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew has become the latest member of President Obama’s Cabinet to give back a portion of his salary, the AP reports.

“The Treasury Department said that Lew would contribute a portion of his salary to non-profit organizations that are supporting people and programs adversely affected by automatic government spending cuts. The amount of Lew’s contribution and the organizations receiving the money are still being worked out.”

The New York Times notes Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano also agreed to a pay cut.

Extra Bonus Quote of the Day

April 4, 2013 at 10:06 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“When you bring that up you get people who get crazy on us. And they’ll start saying, ‘Oh there you go comparing to the Nazis.’ And I understand the reaction, but it’s the truth.”

— Mike Huckabee, on his radio show, defending comparisons of the Obama administration to Nazi Germany.

Brown Won’t Rule Out Run from New Hampshire

April 4, 2013 at 10:02 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Declaring that he’s likely not done with politics,” former Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) refused to rule out a run for office in New Hampshire, while describing the Granite State as ”almost a second home,” the AP reports.

Asked if he might challenge Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) in 2014, Brown said: “I’m not going to rule out anything right now.”

ABC News: “A New Hampshire run would be feasible for him. The state’s
eligibility requirements to run for Senate are loose, and the Granite
State tends to be a friendlier territory for Republicans than
Massachusetts, offering greater political appeal for the former senator.”

French Budget Chief Admits He Lied

April 4, 2013 at 10:00 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Just as French President François Hollande is trying to impose budgetary discipline on his countrymen, his chief tax enforcer has admitted to hiding $770,000 in an offshore bank account, Businessweek reports.

“Budget Minister Jérôme Cahuzac, who resigned as budget minister two weeks ago, acknowledged this week that he lied to Hollande and others who questioned him after allegations about his secret overseas accounts surfaced several months ago.”

Majority of Senate Now Supports Gay Marriage

April 4, 2013 at 6:05 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) “has endorsed gay marriage, the latest in a string of lawmakers to change his position on the issue,” the Washington Post reports.

He becomes the 51st senator to announce his support for same-sex marriage.

Bonus Quote of the Day

April 4, 2013 at 5:57 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“She’s brilliant and she’s dedicated, she’s tough. She also happens to be, by far, the best looking attorney general.”

— President Obama, quoted by the Washington Post, praising the appearance of California attorney general Kamala Harris (D).

BuzzFeed compiles a list of the 12 hottest attorney generals.

Election 2012 Recap

April 4, 2013 at 5:52 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Just published: Political Power: Election 2012 Recap by Marc Shapiro and illustrated by Nick Justus and Luciano Kars.

A new graphic novel recaps last year’s presidential election.

The Culture Wars Now Favor Democrats

April 4, 2013 at 5:35 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Ron Brownstein: “For decades after the cultural upheavals of the 1960s, Republicans regularly provoked confrontations on a broad array of polarizing noneconomic ‘wedge issues,’ from crime and welfare to immigration and gay rights. Democrats, with a few exceptions, mostly tried through those years to neutralize the debates and quickly pivot back to economic terrain.”

“Now, that has flipped. In Washington and in blue-leaning states, Democrats are forcing the collisions on these issues. Democrats may not win all of these fights legislatively, in Congress or in the state capitals. And in most red states, Republicans are still pursuing their own culturally conservative agenda, particularly on abortion. But the Democrats’ willingness to take the offense on so many cultural issues represents a stark change–and a measure of their confidence that they now represent the national majority on these disputes.”

Lawmaker Who Implicated Colleague Resigns

April 4, 2013 at 3:12 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

New York Assemblyman Nelson Castro (D), “who wore a wire to help indict his colleague, Eric Stevenson, announced his resignation,” the New York Observer reports.

“Stepping down from office, in addition to cooperating with federal authorities, were steps he took in order to avoid prosecution himself.”

The Westchester Journal News notes Castro “has been working as an informant for investigators since July 2009.”

PAC Launches to Support Bearded Candidates

April 4, 2013 at 1:44 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new political action committee launched this week to support bearded candidates from across the political spectrum, The Hill reports.

Said spokesman Andy Shapero: “It’s been 125 years since our last bearded President, Benjamin Harrison, was elected. We’re hoping that with our support, bearded individuals will shrug off over a century of political irrelevance and start running for office again.”

Would Reagan Have Supported Gay Marriage?

April 4, 2013 at 1:37 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Patti Davis, daughter of former President Ronald Reagan, told the New York Times that she believes her father would back same-sex marriage if he were alive today.

Said Davis: “All I know is the heart of the man who raised me as my father.”

But Michael Reagan, the late president’s son by a different marriage, told the Washington Post that people shouldn’t be making assumptions about where this father would stand on the issue today.

Said Reagan: “You’d have to ask him… t’s easy to say he would do or not do something when he’s not here to answer.”

Santorum May Run Again

April 4, 2013 at 1:28 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Rick Santorum tells Newsmax he’s not ruling out another presidential bid.

Said Santorum: “I’m certainly leaving the door open for that. I’m making no commitments at this point, but we’re not doing anything inconsistent with running in 2016.”

Cabinet Members Join Obama in Taking Pay Cut

April 4, 2013 at 12:57 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Attorney General Eric Holder will join Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and President Obama in taking a pay cut this year as a result of sequestration, Time reports.

The Week: A meaningful gesture?

Has Obama Finally Given Up on Republicans?

April 4, 2013 at 12:51 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Obama “seems resigned to the reality that big chunks of his second-term agenda will die without Nancy Pelosi holding the speaker’s gavel,” Roll Call reports.

“In remarks at two fundraisers for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on Wednesday night, Obama said he still hopes to achieve bipartisan action on an immigration overhaul, guns and the budget… But he balanced that with an acknowledgement that much of his agenda isn’t going anywhere as long as Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) runs the House.”

Majority Favor Legalizing Pot

April 4, 2013 at 12:15 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new Pew Research poll finds for the first time that a majority of Americans favor legalizing the use of marijuana, 52% to 45%.

“Support for legalizing marijuana has risen 11 points since 2010. The change is even more dramatic since the late 1960s. A 1969 Gallup survey found that just 12% favored legalizing marijuana use, while 84% were opposed.”

Is Rand Paul a Viable Presidential Candidate?

April 4, 2013 at 11:49 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Time looks at the differences between Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and his father, former Rep. Ron Paul, who was never seen as a viable GOP standard bearer.

“Whereas his dad played the outside scold castigating the GOP, Rand assuages fears that his positions clash with party doctrine. To explain his stand on foreign aid, he asks why the U.S. builds bridges in Egypt or Pakistan when our own infrastructure is crumbling. Unlike his father, he backs Iran sanctions and says a robust defense requires some military bases abroad. He’s certainly marking the stations of the GOP cross: he recently toured Israel with evangelical leaders and party bosses from South Carolina and Iowa. He boasts a new super PAC, an entrenched network in key primary states and an e-mail list more than 2 million strong. And his publicity burst has caught the eye of GOP fundraisers.”

The AP reports Paul is already headed to New Hampshire.

More Trust Obama on the Federal Budget

April 4, 2013 at 11:46 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

When it comes to the federal budget deficit, a new Marist Poll finds 50% of voters nationally have more faith in President Obama than in the Republicans in Congress to handle the issue.

This compares with 41% who have more faith in the Republicans in
Congress to make the correct choices and 8% who trust neither the
president nor the Congressional GOP.

New York City Corruption Scandal Widens

April 4, 2013 at 11:26 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara’s office “announced yet another New York State elected official, Bronx Assemblyman Eric Stevenson, has been arrested and accused of taking bribes,” the New York Observer reports.

“Earlier this week, New York’s political world was rocked when corruption charges were leveled against State Senator Malcolm Smith and Councilman Dan Halloran. Mr. Stevenson’s charges will be formally unsealed at noon today.”

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