15. May 2012 by Jim Sutliff.

Reuters provides the latest election news and polling data for races across the country.  Current polling data on Reuters Election 2012 indicate that Obama has a 227 to 180 advantage over Romney in the electoral college.  However, most of the ten states listed as toss-ups lean towards the Republican.  A few of the toss-up states are Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia.  The four states account for 68 electoral votes.

To visit the Reuters Election 2012 site, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/politics/elections-2012

Jim Sutliff

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25. April 2012 by Jim Sutliff.

On Tuesday, Mitt Romney swept the primaries in five states.  Romney won primaries in Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Delaware.  There were 209 delegates at stake in the five primaries.  Romney has approximately 739 delegates and needs 1,144 to secure the nomination.

To read a related Fox News article, please click here:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/04/24/romney-sweeps-five-primaries/

Jim Sutliff

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30. March 2012 by Jim Sutliff.

Congress passed a stopgap 90 day bill that will provide funds for Federal highway projects.  The measure passed the House on Thursday with 266 votes supporting the bill.  The U.S. Senate passed the bill with a voice vote.  The President is expected to sign the stopgap bill on Saturday.

To read a related Fox News article, please click here:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/03/29/jobs-construction-projects-on-line-as-congress-tries-to-break-impasse-by/

James Sutliff

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19. February 2012 by Jim Sutliff.

Congress passed a measure to extend the payroll tax cut for the remainder of 2012.  The measure passed the House 293-132 and the Senate 60 -36.  In the Senate, 14 Republicans voted for the measure and 5 Democrats and 1 Independent were opposed.  The bill will lower payroll taxes for 160 million workers.

To read a related Roll Call article, please click here:

http://www.rollcall.com/news/congress_seals_the_deal_sends_payroll_tax_bill_to_obama-212521-1.html?pos=hbtxt

Jim Sutliff

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16. February 2012 by Jim Sutliff.

The House and Senate could vote on the payroll tax deal as early as Friday.  Four Democratic Senators and all 13 House Representatives at the payroll tax conference signed the agreement.  Republic Senators did not sign the agreement but that should not prevent passage of the tax cut measure.  The payroll tax cut agreement resolves an issue early in the election year.

To read a related Roll Call article, please click here:

http://www.rollcall.com/news/conferees_sign_payroll_tax_deal-212503-1.html?pos=hftxt

James Sutliff

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13. February 2012 by Jim Sutliff.

Republican leaders in the House are supporting the extension of the payroll tax cut without reductions in spending.  This clears a major hurdle in negotiations to extend the payroll tax cut which applies to 160 million workers.  The payroll tax cut is set to expire at the end of February.  The payroll tax cut extension may reach the House floor by the end of the week.

To read a related Reuters article, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/13/usa-taxes-payroll-idUSL2E8DDC0D20120213

Jim Sutliff

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7. February 2012 by Jim Sutliff.

Mitt Romney added to his lead in delegates with a win in the Nevada Caucus.  Romney finished first with almost 50% of the vote and Newt Gingrich came in second with 22%.  The next three states to hold elections are Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri.  The candidates need 1,144 delegates to secure the Republican nomination for President.

To read a related Roll Call article, please click here:

http://www.rollcall.com/news/Romney-Wins-Big-in-Nevada-212125-1.html

James Sutliff

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4. February 2012 by Jim Sutliff.

Mitt Romney won the Florida primary with 46% of the vote and gained all 50 delegates.  Newt Gingrich finished second with 32% and Rick Santorum came in third with 13%.  Romney leads the race for the Republican nomination with 87 delegates.  Gingrich has 26 delegates and Santorum has 14 delegates.  The number of delegates required to secure the Republican nomination is 1,144.  The next contest will be Nevada on February 4th.

To read a related Fox News article, please click here:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/01/31/romney-leading-among-seniors-hispanics-in-florida-exit-polls/

Jim Sutliff

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26. January 2012 by Jim Sutliff.

The CNN Republican Presidential Debate is being held tonight in Jacksonville Florida.  Fireworks are expected between Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich.  Recent polling indicates that Gingrich and Romney are neck and neck in Florida.  The Florida Republican primary is winner take all and there are 50 delegates at stake.

To read a related Reuters article, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/27/us-usa-campaign-debate-idUSTRE80P1UG20120127

James Sutliff

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22. January 2012 by Jim Sutliff.

Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina primary and has the lead in delegates for the Republican Presidential nomination.  Gingrich finished with 40% of the vote and gained momentum heading into Florida.  Romney came in second with 27% and Santorum finished in third with 17% of the vote.  The Gingrich win should help with fundraising as well as building a campaign infrastructure.  The Florida primary will be held on January 31st and is a winner take all contest.  Also, Florida is a closed primary and only Republicans are allowed to vote in the contest.  In addition, there is expected to be over 200,000 votes cast through early voting and absentee ballots.  The next Republican Presidential debate will be held in Tampa on January 23rd.  There are 50 delegates at stake in the Florida Republican primary.  After Florida, the next contests are the Nevada and Maine Republican caucuses scheduled for February 4th.

To read a related Roll Call article, please click here:

http://www.rollcall.com/news/Gingrich-Rolls-to-Victory-in-South-Carolina-211662-1.html?pos=hftxt

To read a related MSNBC article, please click here:

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/22/10210334-first-thoughts-the-race-is-on

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Economy, Infrastructure, Presidential, 2012, Primary, Debate, Tax, Republican, Election, Democrat, Fundraising, General, Politics, DC | No Comments »

21. January 2012 by Jim Sutliff.

The South Carolina Primary is being held today and recent polls indicate that Gingrich has pulled ahead of Romney.  A Clemson University poll has Newt Gingrich at 32% and Mitt Romney falling to 26%. The Clemson poll has a margin of error of 4.7%.

To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-20/debate-exposes-tensions-as-republican-primary-race-reshaped-by-surprises.html

James Sutliff

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28. December 2011 by Jim Sutliff.

Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson announced that he would not run for another term.  Democrats are trying to recruit former Senator Bob Kerrey as a candidate.  The retirement is likely to move another seat to the Republicans.  Republicans are also likely to pick up seats in North Dakota, Montana, Virginia, and Florida.

To read a related Roll Call article, please click here:

http://www.rollcall.com/news/ben_nelson_exit_shifts_nebraska_senate_seat_to_likely_gop-211281-1.html?pos=htmbtxt

Jim Sutliff

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22. December 2011 by Jim Sutliff.

House Republicans are set to approve a two month extension of the payroll tax cut.  House Republican John Boehner has come to an agreement with Democratic Senator Harry Reid.  The agreement would extend the tax cut for two months and begin negotiations to work out a deal for a full year extension. The payroll tax cut lowers the rate from 6.2% to 4.2%.

To read a related Roll Call article, please click here:

http://www.rollcall.com/news/john_boehner_harry_reid_reach_deal_payroll_tax_holiday-211247-1.html?pos=hftxt

Jim Sutliff

Posted in Congress, Tax, Economy, 2012, Budget, Republican, Politics, Business, Democrat, Election, General, Administrative | No Comments »

17. December 2011 by Jim Sutliff.

The Senate passed a two month extension of the payroll tax cut.  On Saturday, the measure passed the Senate with a vote of 89-10.  The payroll tax cut amounts to a two percent drop from 6.2% to 4.2%.   An increase in fees for new mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will cover the cost of the tax cut.

To read a related MSNBC article, please click here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45707185/ns/politics/

James Sutliff

Posted in Congress, Tax, Economy, 2012, Budget, Republican, Politics, Business, Democrat, Election, General, Administrative | No Comments »

12. December 2011 by Jim Sutliff.

Republican and Democratic officials have agreed on a spending bill through October 1st 2012.  Specific details of the agreement are expected to be released on Tuesday.  The measure still requires approval of the Senate and the House of Representatives.  The current spending bill is set to expire this Friday.

To read a related Reuters article, please click here:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/13/us-usa-budget-idUSTRE7B72MK20111213

James Sutliff

Posted in Infrastructure, Congress, Economy, 2012, Budget, Tax, Republican, Business, Democrat, General, Politics, Administrative | No Comments »