WSJ: Firefighter Justice

The Supreme Court closed an otherwise unremarkable term on a high note yesterday, rejecting the notion that one kind of racial bias can be remedied by another. On the last day of opinions before the Court is potentially joined by Judge Sonia Sotomayor, the Justices overturned one of her most closely scrutinized cases on workplace [...]

Suite Talk: June 30, 2009

The communications firm Merritt Group has promoted Jared Adams to director of its government practice group and Michelle Schafer to director of the security group.
“Both Jared and Michelle possess an unparalleled knowledge and depth of experience that has translated into high-impact results for their clients over the years,” said Merritt CEO Ben Merritt.
Adams, [...]

Politico: Supreme Court reconsiders McCain-Feingold

In a sign that the Supreme Court is seriously considering overturning one of the underpinnings of modern campaign finance rules, Chief Justice John Roberts on Monday announced that justices would rehear a case challenging restrictions on corporate-funded campaign ads.
The result of the argument, which is scheduled for September 9, could reshape the way American [...]

Politico: Chaos and arm-twisting gives Nancy Pelosi a major win

After lawmakers had devoured the last of the Kalua Pig at last Thursday night’s White House Luau, Nancy Pelosi summoned her team back to the Capitol — to ensure the climate change bill wasn’t the next thing roasted on the spit.
Pelosi and her top lieutenants would spend the next four hours whipping, cajoling, begging [...]

Politico: Vulnerable House Democrats in GOP sights after energy vote

Republicans believe a handful of junior House Democrats may have taken a career-ending vote by supporting the controversial energy bill last week and are planning to launch an ad campaign in targeted districts to try to seal their fate.
The National Republican Congressional Committee is planning to air TV and radio commercials and unleash robocalls [...]

Politico: GOP senators target public option plan

While Democrats plow through a mammoth health reform bill in committee, Senate GOP leaders are using the congressional break to build the case against a government option for health care.
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) have set up a public discussion at the University of Texas [...]

Politico: Energizing the Senate cap-and-trade bill

As the fight over climate and energy legislation moves to the Senate, the political climate is heating up for New Mexico Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman.
The serious and soft-spoken chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has already emerged as a key player in negotiations over how the Senate will handle its version [...]

Orlando Sentinel: McCollum leads Sink in another poll

TALLAHASSEE — Republican Bill McCollum holds a slight lead over Democrat Alex Sink in Florida’s 2010 governor’s race, according to the latest Mason-Dixon poll released Tuesday.
McCollum, Florida’s attorney general, held a 41 percent to 35 percent edge over Chief Financial Officer Sink in the poll commissioned for Ron Sachs Communications, a public relations firm [...]

WSJ: Cap and Trade Tax Fiction

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has put cap-and-trade legislation on a forced march through the House, and the bill may get a full vote as early as Friday. It looks as if the Democrats will have to destroy the discipline of economics to get it done.
Despite House Energy and Commerce Chairman Henry Waxman’s many payoffs to [...]

The Hill: Obama targets middle-class in healthcare broadcast

President Obama took to the airwaves to make his case for healthcare reform Wednesday night, seeking to assure middle-class voters that his plans would not disrupt what they already have.
The televised town-hall-style event, recorded at the White House and aired exclusively by ABC News, provided Obama with an opportunity to persuade middle-class voters, most [...]