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Tuesday, July 15, 2008 8:56 AM By: Ronald Kessler A close look at Barack Obama's career reveals it has been even more mediocre than generally recognized. Before being elected to the Illinois state Senate, Obama worked as a community organizer and a lawyer in Chicago. In his memoir, Obama says being a community organizer taught him how to motivate the powerless and work the government to help them. His chief example is an effort to remove asbestos from Altgeld Gardens, an all-black public housing project on Chicago’s South Side. But those who were involved in the effort say Obama played...

Mass. Legislature poised to export our "gay marriage" across the country by repealing "1913 Law". National gay groups pouring in money to lobby. Pressure needed NOW to stop Senate vote Tuesday - (see our new fax feature!) The national homosexual movement is funding a huge lobbying effort over the next few days to persuade the Massachusetts Legislature to repeal the "1913 Law" which would allow out-of-state "gay" couples to legally "marry" in Massachusetts -- and then cause havoc in their home states. Currently, out-of-state couples can not marry in Massachusetts if that marriage would be illegal in their home state....

ALBANY, N.Y. _ Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, who has run the Republican chamber for more than a dozen years, confirmed Monday that he won't seek re-election in the fall.

Connecticut 22nd District State Senate Special Election Results Unofficial numbers: Russo (R) - 3639 Mulligan (D) - 2215

MCLEAN, Va., Nov. 7 /Standard Newswire/ -- Senator Fred Thompson announced his extensive Tennessee political leadership team today. Senator Howard Baker will serve as the honorary chairman of the Tennessee delegation, joined by 13 honorary co-chairs and 61 honorary state chairs, reflecting the depth of support for Senator Thompson in Tennessee. This leadership team includes two former United States Senate majority leaders, current and former members of Congress, former governors, and every Republican member of the Tennessee state legislature. "I am grateful for the wide support I'm receiving from my home state of Tennessee," said Senator Fred Thompson. "This group...

ATLANTA - It was vintage politics - the leader of the Democrats in the Georgia Senate standing in front of the chamber blasting the Republicans who control it for "strong-arm" tactics to pass a bill he didn't like. But this speech, on the Legislature's busiest day this year, was different. Senate Democratic Leader Robert Brown apologized before he started it and complimented the Republican lieutenant governor on how well he'd been doing at helping lawmakers avoid such fights. At a statehouse where bitter political slugfests have been the norm over the past few years, both Democrats and Republicans say this...

An unprecedented political race in the Bay Area pits two prominent gay politicians -- also both Democrats -- against one another for the same state Senate seat in California. The election isn't until next year, but Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, will need all that time if he wants to become known in the state Senate district which is split evenly between San Francisco, Marin, and Sonoma counties. But the real split is with his gay colleague, who he's trying to knock out of office: incumbent State Sen. Carole Migden. Leno will be termed-out in 2008, but Migden will not...

A ban on dual office-holding for newly elected officials is part of a bill aimed at cracking down on abusive practices that undermine the financial integrity of the State's benefits system for public employees. It passed the General Assembly yesterday. Sponsor Nellie Pou says, "This only effects and takes affect immediately for anyone running for the very first time in an elective office." Anyone currently holding two public jobs will be able to keep those positions for as long as they want or they continue to be re-elected. Under the measure anyone holding a current office and seeking to run...

Pataki appoints special prosecutor Albany — Gov. George Pataki appointed a special prosecutor yesterday to kick off an extraordinary process that could lead to embattled state Comptroller Alan Hevesi being forced from office for using a state worker as his wife's private driver. Pataki asked David Kelley, former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, to help him decide within a week whether to make the unprecedented request of the Republican-controlled state Senate to vote for Hevesi's removal. "It is an extraordinary act for officials to overturn an election of a statewide elected official after a vote by...

I have an intersting situation in my local State Senate race, adn I thought my fellow FReepers could be interested. We had a Democrat State Senator, but he was a fairly middle-of-the-road guy, certainly to the right of most Democrats, and he cooperates a lot of time with the Republican governor. (Our governor isn't as conservative as we'd like him to be by a good bit, but it's a blue state.) On September 12, there was a Democrat primary and our State Senator lost to the kind of Democrat who proclaims that he's "standing up for working families." (IOW, he's...

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A state senator said he is evaluating whether to continue his bid for a second term after a Charleston television station aired revealing pictures of him last week. "My family has urged me not to withdraw from the election and I will work with them to make a decision in the immediate future," State Sen. Randy White, a Webster County Democrat, said in a letter to newspapers in his district. An apologetic White also wrote that he was "shocked" and "horribly embarrassed" after WCHS-TV aired photos depicting him and at least two other men wearing only body...

I would just like to further introduce my blog to the scene. I welcome any advice or criticism, and thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I am a student at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. I am attracted to blogging about social conservative issues relating to DC and the Catholic Church, but I also write about St. Louis and Missouri politics when I'm feeling homesick--and anything else I think is worth my time and yours. Let me know what you think. Welcome to PP&P!

I got this as an e-mail today, even though I live in Illinois. Anybody know anything about this guy? Dear Friend, In the last national election, President George Bush beat his opponent in North Carolina by 13% points. And yet, the great state of North Carolina is still controlled by a liberal majority in the state legislature and the Governor’s mansion. I say the state of North Carolina and its people deserve better! My name is Nathan Tabor and I am running for the North Carolina State Senate from the 31st District. I am also the founder and CEO of...

Nominees For Special Election Get Ready For Short Race For 37th Seat (LOUISVILLE) -- The special election for the open 37th District seat now has its two candidates. On Sunday Republicans nominated former teacher Debbie Peden a day after Democrats nominated State Rep. Perry Clark. They replace Republican Dana-Seum Stephenson and Democrat Virginia Woodward who faced off in the last election. WAVE 3's Frances Kuo reports. Four Republican candidates had stepped up to the plate with three-minute pitches including Doug Hawkins, Betty Drexler, Debbie Peden, and Tommy Riddle. Forty ballots from the Republican party's executive committee revealed their choice: Debbie...

Stephenson resigns disputed seat in Senate Special election will fill seat in 37th FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- Dana Seum Stephenson officially resigned her 37th District Senate seat Tuesday. The Republican cannot serve in the state Senate. The state Supreme Court ruled December 22 she did not meet residency requirements and was properly challenged before the November 2004 election. Her opponent, Democrat Virginia Woodward, also cannot serve because she did not receive the most votes.

Texas is the only state that prohibits voters who participate in a political party's primary election or a local party convention from signing ballot access petitions for political parties or independent candidates for office. Since 1972, the six other states that had a similar provision have dropped it. Now, the Libertarian Party of Texas is working with state legislators to get a bill passed to eliminate this facet of election law, which is called "primary screenout." On Feb. 28, State Representative Todd Baxter, a Republican, filed the bill (HB 1721) for consideration by the state House's Elections Committee after Libertarians...

While many area politicos had their eyes and ears pinned on Sen. H. Russell Potts Jr. Friday, two political hopefuls announced interest in seeking his 27th District Senate seat. Jill Holtzman Vogel of Warrenton and Phillip S. Griffin II of Winchester announced the creation of exploratory committees to examine a run for the state Senate seat that Potts would vacate if elected governor. Potts’s Senate term expires in 2007. But if the Virginia Republican Party has its way, a race to fill his seat could come much sooner. After Potts announced his run for governor as a “independent Republican,” Virginia...

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) -- Senate Republicans asserted their power in a disputed election Friday and seated Dana Seum Stephenson as a senator, acting quickly to swear her in and attach a large bronze nameplate to her desk.

SACRAMENTO (AP) - Federal agents searched the home of state Senate leader Don Perata's son Wednesday as part of an investigation into whether the Oakland lawmaker was involved in influence peddling. A spokesman for the elder Perata, Jason Kinney, confirmed that agents searched the Oakland home of Nick Perata, a political consultant who has worked for his father. Don Perata's attorney, George O'Connell, issued a statement calling the search a "Ken Starr-like publicity stunt" and an example of a "Republican-appointed prosecutor abusing and misusing the legal system in order to inflict maximum partisan political damage." A spokesman for the U.S....

NASHVILLE - State Senate Republicans are offering Democrat Lt. Gov. John Wilder an uncontested selection as speaker in return for a majority on all committees. The Republicans, at a Tuesday meeting to pick leaders, also promised to use their first-ever elected majority in the state Senate to push the House, controlled by Democrats, on such issues as abortion and gay marriage. Republicans won a 17-16 majority in the state Senate on Nov. 2, but Wilder appears to have the votes to retain his position as Senate speaker with at least two Republicans backing him for the job. The Republican majority...

Considering her many years in office, her solid liberal track record and her whopping $1.7 million war chest, one might have thought that Carole Migden's state Senate campaign in overwhelmingly Democratic Marin County would be a walk in the park. Instead, she's managed to turn it into Sherman's March to the Sea. Case in point: Migden's recent appearance at the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce candidates' debate, where she was booked for a joint appearance with her Republican rival, Andrew Felder. For many in the audience, it was their first glimpse at the woman who, in all likelihood, will represent...

SACRAMENTO - The wages of more than 1 million Californians would increase by a dollar an hour under legislation approved Thursday by the Democratic-controlled Senate. The bill by Assemblywoman Sally Lieber, D-Mountain View, would raise the state's minimum wage 50 cents to $7.25 an hour next summer, and then to $7.75 an hour in January 2006. The measure, approved on a 22-14 vote, now returns to the Assembly for final approval, which is considered a formality, before it lands on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk.

Assemblyman criticizes Panzer fund-raising letter By STEVEN WALTERS swalters@journalsentinel.com Posted: Aug. 13, 2004Madison - Another Assembly member who represents the same area as Senate Majority Leader Mary Panzer (R-West Bend) on Friday endorsed Republican Rep. Glenn Grothman, her Sept. 14 primary opponent. In a statement, Rep. Mark Gottlieb (R-Port Washington) said he was moved to back Grothman because of an Aug. 10 fund-raising letter Panzer wrote - a letter Gottlieb said was full of "innuendo, half-truth and false charges." In that letter, Panzer said "outside special interests" are funding and advising Grothman. She also took credit for trying to...

Madison - Republican lawmakers began planning Friday for a special session of the Legislature next week to vote on a constitutional amendment still being written that would limit spending by state and local governments. Reversing a decision made weeks ago, Senate Majority Leader Mary Panzer (R-West Bend) called for a quick vote on a possible constitutional amendment and a separate three-year plan to limit the property tax levies of local governments. The Legislature faces a deadline of next weekend to give initial approval to a constitutional amendment to meet an Aug. 3 deadline for its publication. The amendment - which...

SOMERSET, KY - Pulaski County broadcaster and Republican State Senate candidate David Carr said today there are clear differences between him and his opponent. He said a close examination of his opponent's voting record reveals these differences. In particular, David Carr points two votes in the 2000 session of the General Assembly. These votes to increase his opponent's Senate pensions are a clear need for a change in the State Senate says Carr. "Both bills would have financed the huge pension increase on the backs of Kentucky taxpayers, while many projects and programs went unfunded. I don't think votes like...

*MEDIA RELEASE* DAVID CARR FOR STATE SENATE SOMERSET, KY - Local broadcaster, small businessman and Senate candidate David Carr called on Frankfort today to take all steps necessary to repeal or suspend the automatic gas tax to be paid by Kentucky's drivers. With gas prices approaching nearly $2.00 per gallon, David Carr said now is not the time for a new hike in gas taxes. A law passed by the General Assembly in the 1980's triggers automatic tax increases when gas prices rise above $1.11 per gallon in a selected month. Its purpose is to force consumers to curb their...

SOMERSET, KY – Pulaski County businessman David Carr today said his first act as State Senator would be to introduce legislation to end the penalty against active duty military personnel on the premium rates they pay to reinsure their vehicles. “I want to defend the soldiers who defend our freedom and this is one way of looking out for them while they’re protecting us in the War on Terror,” said David Carr. Carr said his campaign had had discussions with local insurance agents that say America’s fighting men and women are being penalized. His campaign has been told that they...

INVESTIGATION: Federal authorities on Wednesday began searching records of a crime scene supply company whose president is a state senator.Sen. John Carrington, R-Wake, is president and CEO of Sirchie Fingerprint Laboratories Inc., which sells crime evidence collection materials to law enforcement agencies and security firms worldwide.James W. Gocke, Sirchie's vice president, said in a statement that federal authorities "came to our company today to review our records.Sirchie has a long history and tradition of being in full compliance with the law, and we are fully cooperating with the investigation." Carrington did not return phone calls seeking comment. A spokeswoman for...

Yesterday I received a call from Katherine with some great news - she is running for the SC State Senate Seat. The following is taken from the Myrtle Beach Newspaper - the whole article can be found at http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/sunnews/8318274.htm "Brown's Horry County staff member Katherine Jenerette filed to run on the Republican ticket against state Sen. Dick Elliott, D-North Myrtle Beach. Her husband, Van Jenerette, ran against Brown four years ago. Katherine Jenerette is treading in the steps of state Rep. Thad Viers, R-Myrtle Beach, who also was an Horry County staffer for Brown."

Leading the way Sen. Duncan tops list of influential people in city BY DOUG HENSLEY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL One thing is clear when it comes to identifying influential people in Lubbock: A majority view state Sen. Robert Duncan as a person who is effective at getting things done, regardless of the size and scope of the task. "Bob has delivered," said Texas Tech Chancellor David Smith. "Not only does he have the personality to do what he does in state and local forums, he has led by example and delivered. "He has a great understanding of human anatomy. We have two ears...

Panel kills tougher DUI penalties By Allison Fashek rep8@wyomingnews.com Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle CHEYENNE - Senators killed a bill Monday that would have strengthened penalties for driving under the influence. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Becket Hinckley, R-Cheyenne, was frustrated after the Senate committee charged with considering the bill failed to debate its merits. "I think if it made it to the floor, it would have passed," he said. House Bill 183 proposed changing current law so that after a second DUI conviction, rather than a third, a person would go to jail for a minimum of 30 days and...

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Senate leaders proposed Monday that the state help bridge a coverage gap in a new federal prescription drug benefit for people 65 and older. The legislation was filed by the chamber's top leaders from both parties - Senate President Pro Tem Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, and Minority Leader Ken Jacob, D-Columbia. Kinder and Jacob propose to revamp SenioRx - the state's existing prescription plan for certain older Missourians - to help such citizens meet costs not covered under the federal government's new Medicare prescription plan. "This is a logical and essential next step in helping seniors...

Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) May 17, 1998 Section: Obituaries Edition: Final Page: B2 MAN HIT BY CAR ON U.S. 23, DIES Herald-Leader Staff Report A 26-year-old Prestonsburg man was killed Friday when he was hit by a car while walking across the street. Kentucky State Police said Linzey Reece Young was walking across U.S. 23 at Harold about 11:15 p.m. Friday when he entered the path of a vehicle driven by Ray Jones. Mr. Young was pronounced dead at Pikeville Methodist Hospital. No other information about Jones was available yesterday. The accident remains under investigation, police said. Services for Mr. Young,...

Opponents in the State Senate decided to play politics with the healthcare of Kentucky's citizens by voting against medical malpractice reform. In opposing Senate Bill One (SB-1), opponents, like State Senators Ray Jones and Ernesto Scorsone, danced the old Frankfort two-step to the tune sung by the Amen corner at the Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys. It is clear that Senator Jones, Senator Scorsone and other liberals in the State Senate refuse to represent the best interests of their constituents and support this piece of reasonable legislation that will reduce liability insurance rates and preserve the high level of medical...

Republicans see chance for big inroad By Bill Estep HERALD-LEADER STAFF WRITER FRANKFORT - Buoyed by winning the governor's race, Republicans have recruited candidates from across the state to try to make gains in the Kentucky House of Representatives this year. Democrats, however, vowed they would hold their wide edge in the House and try to pick up seats in the Senate, where Republicans now lead 22 to 16. Yesterday was the deadline to file for House and Senate seats, bringing the usual last-minute flurry of candidate entries and setting up some races that could be hotly contested. Republicans hope...

Perry sets election to fill Bivins' seat AUSTIN (AP) — A special election to fill the seat of resigning state Sen. Teel Bivins will be Jan. 20, Gov. Rick Perry announced Monday. Bivins, an Amarillo Republican nominated by President Bush to be ambassador to Sweden, is leaving the office Jan. 12. His Senate district covers 26 counties in West Texas. The person elected to fill the post will serve the rest of Bivins' term, which runs until January 2005. Perry also has set Jan. 20 as the date for a special election to fill the seat of Sen. Bill Ratliff,...

CANDIDATE STATUS REPORT - MARCH 2, 2004 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY12/08/2003 9:52 AM D/I - Declaration of Intention D/C - Declaration of Candidacy SIL - Signatures in Lieu of Filing Fee NOM - Nomination Signatures *-Incumbent PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES CANDIDATE PARTY CONTEST Peroutka, Michael A. AI Clark, Wesley DEM Dean, Howard DEM Edwards, John DEM Gephardt, Dick DEM Kerry, John F. DEM Kucinich, Dennis J. DEM LaRouche, Lyndon DEM Lieberman, Joe DEM Moseley Braun, Carol DEM Sharpton, Al DEM Cobb, David GRN Mesplay, Kent GRN Salzman, Lorna GRN Badnarik, Michael LIB Nolan, Gary LIB Abu-Jamal, Mumia PF Brown, Walter F....

<p>BATON ROUGE - With Louisiana Gov.-elect Kathleen Blanco on vacation, senators are battling behind the scenes to see who will emerge as president of the state Senate.</p> <p>The short list of candidates includes senators from throughout the state - some of whom actively are campaigning, such as Francis Heitmeier, D-New Orleans, Don Hines, D-Bunkie, and Joe McPherson, D-Alexandria. Hines, who supported Blanco and gave her information about health care, is emerging as the most likely winner.</p>

Florida Governor Jeb Bush is finally pursuing a course to save the life of Terri Schiavo. Governor Bush is calling a special session of the Florida legislatureon Monday to pass legislation that he worked on with Florida Speaker of the House Johnnie Byrd. ``Terri's Bill'' would immediately suspend all dehydration and starvation deaths in the state. LifeNews.com, however is reporting that one man is the greatest obstacle to this happening, Florida Senate President Jim King, the man who controls the state Senate's agenda. It's obviously important that we contact all state representatives, Senators, and other parties, but it is absolutely...

<p>RUSTON - For the first time in more than 60 years, the senator from District 35 will come from somewhere other than Jackson, Lincoln or Union parishes.</p> <p>Official returns confirmed that former 2nd Circuit Court Judge Robert Kostelka defeated incumbent Sen. Bill Jones. Kostelka, R-Monroe, tallied 17,321 votes, while Jones, D-Ruston, totaled 16,122 votes.</p>

Senate gives nod to redistricting plan By SEBASTIAN KITCHEN AVALANCHE-JOURNAL AUSTIN — The Texas Sen ate, by an 18-13 vote largely along party lines, tentatively passed a redistricting bill Tues day night that keeps three West Texas congressional districts largely intact. Sen. Teel Bivins of Amarillo was the lone Republican to vote against the bill. The action by the Senate sets the stage for negotiations with the House, which has passed a far different plan — one that gives House Speaker Tom Craddick the district he's seeking for Midland. The Senate plan keeps Lubbock and Midland in Congres sional District...

Perry signals firm stand on redistricting Associated Press AUSTIN (AP) — A day after Senate Republicans voted to impose fines on their Democratic colleagues who are boycotting the chamber over congressional redistricting, Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday indicated he would call another special session on redistricting and other issues. "If there is work to be done, I expect the Legislature to be here conducting" it, Perry said, when asked if he would call another special session. "You could surmise that if they want to stay in Albuquerque, that's their choice, but there is work to be done in this state."...

Lawmakers go to courts Both sides file actions over redistricting feud AUSTIN (AP) — The heated battle between Democrats and Republicans over congressional redistricting moved to the courts Thursday with both sides in the Senate stalemate pressing their cases. Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, both Republicans, made a filing in the Texas Supreme Court asking that the boycotting Democratic senators be ordered back to work. The 11 Democrats, who are holed up in an Albuquerque, N.M., hotel, filed a lawsuit in Travis County District Court asking that state officials or their deputies be prohibited from arresting them...

Letter will air area stand on redistricting By JOHN FUQUAY AVALANCHE-JOURNAL Representatives from seven area cities are expected to send a letter to Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst today expressing their desire for West Texas congressional districts to remain unchanged. The action comes a day after a stormy redistricting session in the Senate, where one member abruptly walked out of a committee meeting where members were drafting a map of congressional districts. The letter to Dewhurst reiterates the position that mayors and chamber representatives expressed to him during a private meeting Monday in Austin. Lubbock Chamber of Commerce President Eddie McBride...

Translation from hebrew to english by me: One of the injured at the terrorist attack in Jerusalem is the daughter of the American Senator Robert Singer. On Kol Israel (radio) it has been reported that her father goes to Israel today to visit her in the hospital.

<p>A proposed law that would allow many undocumented immigrants to apply for California driver's licenses was approved by the state Senate today.</p> <p>The bill now heads to the Assembly. Both houses last year approved similar legislation, but it was vetoed by Gov. Gray Davis because of security concerns.</p>

<p>SACRAMENTO (AP) - Legislation banning unsolicited e-mail advertisements commonly known as spam was approved Thursday by the California Senate without a vote to spare.</p> <p>The measure by Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Marina del Rey, was sent to the Assembly by a 21-12 vote, the bare majority needed for approval in the 40-seat Senate.</p>

March 26 - Hopeful of returning to power in Trenton, state Republicans think they have identified a potent weapon: Gov. James E. McGreevey. The Republican Senate Majority released results today from polling it commissioned in two key legislative districts showing voters responding strongly to an anti-McGreevey message. Sixty percent of respondents in the 3rd District and 59 percent in the 38th District agreed with the statement that they would "send Jim McGreevey a message by voting for legislative candidate's who oppose McGreevey's agenda" in this fall's legislative contests. The polls also showed Republican state Senate candidates beating Democratic incumbents in...

ATLANTA (AP) -- A redistricting plan approved Tuesday by a legislative committee could help Republicans cement their new majority in the Georgia Senate. But with the House still under Democratic control the measure's chances of passing the full Legislature are in doubt. The plan would overturn a redistricting scheme adopted in 2001 when Democrats were in control, and which was designed to put Republican candidates at a disadvantage. Power changed hands last November when Republican Sonny Perdue captured the governor's office and quickly swung the Senate into GOP control by persuading four Democrats to change parties. Redrawing the Senate map...

Former state House member charged 2003-02-22 By Chris Casteel The Oklahoman WASHINGTON -- Former Oklahoma House member Walt Roberts was charged in U.S. District Court in alleged schemes to funnel $175,000 in illegal contributions into his 1998 campaign for Congress. Two conspiracy charges were filed against Roberts -- a felony count of obstructing the Federal Election Commission's investigation into his campaign financing and a misdemeanor count of conspiring to violate federal election laws. The charges come after a federal investigation that also focused on the role of state Sen. Gene Stipe, D-McAlester, in Roberts' campaign. Stipe helped manage the campaign...