Roll Call reports that Rahm Emanuel has been removed from the Chicago mayoral ballot. The decision was first reported in the Chicago Sun Times which indicated that the appellate panel came to a 2-1 decision to reverse the Chicago election board. The Chicago Sun Times also reported that Rahm Emanuel will appeal the decision to the Illinois Supreme Court.
To read the Roll Call article, please click here:
http://www.rollcall.com/news/-202699-1.html
James Sutliff
Democratic Congressman Christopher Murphy has announced that he will run for the Senate seat held by Joe Lieberman. Murphy stated that the race could require upwards of $10 million in fundraising. Democrat Susan Bysiewicz has also declared for the Senate seat. On the Republican side, Linda McMahon is considering another run for the Senate in 2012. McMahon spent over $50 million in the 2010 race and will be a self-funded candidate if she chooses to run again in 2012.
To read a related Roll Call article, please click here:
http://www.rollcall.com/news/Chris-Murphy-Ten-Million-202623-1.html
Jim Sutliff
The House voted 245-189 to repeal the Obama health care bill. Three Democrats voted with Republicans and the bill will now move to the Senate. The repeal bill still needs to pass the Democratic controlled Senate and will likely face a Presidential veto.
To read a related Yahoo! News article, please click here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110119/ap_on_re_us/health_care_repeal
James Sutliff
Senator Joseph Lieberman announced that he will not run for a fifth term in 2012. Lieberman is the second member of the Democratic caucus to retire and there are expected to be more in the near future. Republicans are expected to make a run at the open seat in Connecticut but the Democratic candidate will have a slight advantage in a presidential election year.
To read a related Wall Street Journal article, please click here:
Jim Sutliff
Democratic Senator Kent Conrad has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2012. The North Dakota Senator was not expected to win in 2012 and the seat is most likely to move into the Republican column. Kent Conrad is the first Democratic Senator to announce retirement but more Democrats are expected to retire in the coming months.
To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:
Jim Sutliff
George H.W. Bush endorsed former Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams in the race for the Senate seat held by Hutchinson. Recently, Kay Bailey Hutchinson announced that she would not seek re-election and there is expected to be a crowded GOP field in the primary. Potential candidates include Lt. Governor David Dewhurst, Elizabeth Ames Jones, and Tom Leppert.
To read a related Houston Chronicle article, please click here:
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7385369.html
James Sutliff
Republican National Committee members have elected Reince Priebus as their new Chairman. The Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman received 97 votes and secured the position after seven rounds. Saul Anuzis finished second with 43 votes and Maria Cino finished third with 28 votes.
To read a related Roll Call article, please click here:
http://www.rollcall.com/news/-202493-1.html
Jim Sutliff
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele pulled out of the race for Chairman after four rounds of voting. Steele endorsed Maria Cino for the position but Cino trails Reince Priebus who has 67 votes after five rounds. There are 168 members who vote and 85 votes are required to win election to the GOP Chairman position. Currently, Cino has 40 votes, former Michigan Republican Party Chairman Saul Anuzis has 32 votes, and former Missouri Republican Chairman Ann Wagner has 28 votes.
To read a related Yahoo! Politics article, please click here:
To read a related Roll Call article, please click here:
http://www.rollcall.com/news/Steele-Drops-Out-Backs-Cino-202489-1.html
James Sutliff
Kay Bailey Hutchinson announced that she will not seek re-election to the United States Senate in 2012. The March 2012 Republican primary is expected to be heavily contested with the winner being a strong favorite in November. Hutchinson is the first Senator to announce retirement but there are expected to be several more in the coming months.
To read a related Roll Call article, please click here:
http://www.rollcall.com/news/-202450-1.html
Jim Sutliff
Illinois is on the verge of a massive tax increase that would raise the individual income tax rate to 5%. The Illinois Policy Institute reported that it would increase taxes on a family of three making $60,000 by almost $1,100 per year. All 48 Republican members of the House opposed the bill. The corporate tax rate would also increase by over 2% from 4.8% to 7%.
To read a related Wall Street Journal article, please click here:
James Sutliff
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot on Saturday afternoon. It has been reported that at least 10 people were wounded in the shooting. A U.S. Marshal has stated that a Federal Judge was fatally shot in the attack.
To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:
To read a related Yahoo! News article, please click here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_congresswoman_shot
Jim Sutliff
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has announced a plan to fund $8 billion dollars of transportation projects over the next five years. The plan includes an estimated $2.6 billion of new borrowing and almost $3 billion of funds that were once directed to the commuter rail tunnel project.
To read a related Bloomberg article, please click here:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-07/nj-governor-announces-transportation-fund-fix.html
James Sutliff
Ohio representative John Boehner was elected speaker of the House of Representatives with 241 votes. The election is the highlight of his 20 year career in Washington D.C. as a Congressman. Boehner is expected to move the agenda towards spending cuts in the session. One reported goal is to cut the federal government by 20% excluding the military and homeland security.
To read a related Wall Street Journal article, please click here:
Jim Sutliff
The Republican Governors Association has selected Phil Cox to be the next executive director. Phil Cox was an advisor to Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell who took office in 2009. Cox also assisted in Republican races for Governor in 2010 in Pennsylvania and Florida.
To read a related Roll Call article, please click here:
http://www.rollcall.com/news/-202012-1.html
James Sutliff
2011 Payroll Tax Cut
The payroll tax cut will lower the tax by 2% from 6.2% to 4.2% for the first $106,800 in 2011. That could add up to as much as $2,136 dollars. The tax cut was signed into law on December 17th and employers have to implement the changes as soon as possible but not later than January 31st.
To read a related Kiplinger article, please click here:
http://www.kiplinger.com/tools/2011_Social_Security_payroll_tax_cut_calculator/
Jim Sutliff
