Denny Rehberg

23rd Richest Member Of Congress: I'm 'Struggling Like Everyone Else'

Ryan J. Reilly | April 29, 2011, 6:06PM

Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT)

Rep. Denny Rehberg (R-MT), the 23rd richest member of Congress who owns millions of dollars in farm and ranch land, told an audience member at a town hall in Missoula yesterday that he and his wife "are struggling like everyone else" and that he's "land rich and cash poor."

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Daniels To Sign Bill Stripping Federal Funds From Planned Parenthood in Indiana

Melissa Jeltsen | April 29, 2011, 5:15PM

Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-IN)

Republican Governor Mitch Daniels released a statement Friday afternoon saying he will sign legislation stripping federal funds from Planned Parenthood in Indiana, the first state to make such a move.

The statement reads:

"I will sign HEA 1210 when it reaches my desk a week or so from now. I supported this bill from the outset, and the recent addition of language guarding against the spending of tax dollars to support abortions creates no reason to alter my position. The principle involved commands the support of an overwhelming majority of Hoosiers, as reflected in greater than 2:1 bipartisan votes in both legislative chambers.

"I commissioned a careful review of access to services across the state and can confirm that all non-abortion services, whether family planning or basic women's health, will remain readily available in every one of our 92 counties. In addition, I have ordered the Family and Social Services Administration to see that Medicaid recipients receive prompt notice of nearby care options. We will take any actions necessary to ensure that vital medical care is, if anything, more widely available than before.

"Any organization affected by this provision can resume receiving taxpayer dollars immediately by ceasing or separating its operations that perform abortions."

Once he signs the bill, it will go into effect immediately, and would bar Planned Parenthood from receiving any public dollars -- including Medicaid payments, which are crucial to the group's patient population.

"We do around 500 pap tests a week," Indiana Planned Parenthood President Betty Cockrum told TPM in an interview earlier on Friday. "We will be making phone calls to Medicaid patients all over the state and telling them, either you have to pay for that pap test out of pocket, or you need to find someone else who can take you as a Medicaid patient. We can't do it anymore."

There are 28 Planned Parenthood centers in the state. Almost 60 percent of patients seen last year were living under the poverty line.

The announcement was met shock by Planned Parenthood in Indiana, who had earlier expressed confidence that Daniels would weigh the bill's consequences carefully before signing.

"The signing of HB 1210 into law is unconscionable and unspeakable. We will now suffer the consequences of lawmakers who have no regard for fact-based decision making and sound public health policy," said Cockrum in a statement.

"As many as 22,000 low-income Hoosiers will lose their medical home. Countless patients will find themselves without access to lifesaving tests to avoid the tragic outcomes of cervical and breast cancer and epidemic sexually transmitted disease here in Indiana."

She said Planned Parenthood would be filing an injunction immediately to try to halt "this alarming erosion of public health policy" in Indiana.

Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, also issued a statement in response to the news.

"Gov. Mitch Daniels has put his presidential ambitions above thousands of Hoosier women, who, as a result of his actions, will lose access to birth control, cancer screenings, and other basic health care. Daniels now will distinguish himself as a governor who defunded Planned Parenthood. He will also open the door to further political interference in women's personal, private decisions. With the stroke of a pen, Daniels will declare his truce on social issues to be over."

Missouri

Missouri U.S. Attorney: Feds Could Challenge Sharia Ban

Jillian Rayfield | April 29, 2011, 4:17PM

A U.S. Attorney in Missouri hinted that if the state passes a law banning Sharia law, the Department of Justice could challenge it in court.

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Project Gunrunner

Issa's Office: Obama Admin Wouldn't Answer Questions On 'Role In Arming Deadly Drug Cartels'

Ryan J. Reilly | April 29, 2011, 12:55PM

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and President Barack Obama

As congressional investigators ramp up their investigation into Project Gunrunner, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) is ramping up his rhetoric.

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Priorities USA

WH Alumni Launch Group To Get In On Anonymous Donor Action

Eric Lach | April 29, 2011, 10:30AM

As had been expected, some former Obama White House aides launched twin groups, Priorities USA and Priorities USA Action, on Friday, set up to accept the same kind of anonymous donations that Democrats criticized Republicans for accepting in the last election cycle.

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Tom Corbett

PA Gov Suggests Universities Tap Into Shale Deposits Under Campuses

Eric Lach | April 28, 2011, 5:32PM

Governor Tom Corbett (R-PA)

Ah, college. All-nighters. Ultimate frisbee. Fraternities. Fracking.

According to The Erie Times-News, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett (R) is telling state universities that an answer to their financial troubles lies literally under their feet. Speaking at Edinboro University in Northwestern Pennsylvania on Thursday, Corbett told the Pennsylvania Association of Councils of Trustees that six campuses in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education sit on the Marcellus Shale Formation, which could be tapped for natural gas.

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ATF

Amid Probe Of 'Project Gunrunner,' Obama Seeks Comments On ATF's Anti-Gun Trafficking Rule

Ryan J. Reilly | April 28, 2011, 3:55PM

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and President Barack Obama

As House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) probes Project Gunrunner -- the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) effort aimed at combating gun trafficking on the Mexican border that went awry -- the Obama administration is seeking another round of comments on a controversial proposal to make gun dealers in four border states report sales of multiple rifles.

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Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart Resuming Sales Of Rifles & Shotguns At Hundreds Of Stores

Eric Lach | April 28, 2011, 3:16PM

Wal-Mart will resume selling rifles, shotguns and ammunition at hundreds of stores as part of what The Wall Street Journal calls a "major retooling of [Wal-Mart's] U.S. operations," in which the retailer is returning to shelves many "heritage categories" it pulled a few years ago.

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Roman Otto Conaway

Illinois Man Convicted Of Making Terroristic Threats In Koran-Burning Standoff

Ryan J. Reilly | April 28, 2011, 1:35PM

Roman Conaway

A 51-year-old Illinois man who allegedly threatened to kill President Barack Obama during an eight-hour standoff with federal authorities last September was convicted Wednesday of making a false threat to detonate an explosive device and influencing a federal officer by threat.

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North Carolina

North Carolina GOPers Get In On The 'Sharia Ban' Game

Jillian Rayfield | April 28, 2011, 10:34AM

Republican lawmakers in North Carolina have introduced a bill to ban the use of "foreign law" in courts, joining a growing number of states that are apparently fearful of Sharia law taking hold in the U.S.

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Mitch Daniels

Mitch Daniels' Social 'Truce' Faces Test Over Planned Parenthood Vote

Melissa Jeltsen | April 28, 2011, 10:21AM

Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-IN)

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels' (R) "truce" on social issues is now facing its first real test.

Indiana is set to become the first state to cut off federal funding for Planned Parenthood, unless Daniels vetoes the bill sent to him Thursday by the Indiana State Legislature.

The bill would bar the state from entering a contract with any entity that performs abortions (excluding hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers). Planned Parenthood, which operates 28 centers in the state, would lose all public dollars.

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John Yoo

Yoo: President Can Slaughter Village, But Not Force Disclosure Of Political Donations

Ryan J. Reilly | April 28, 2011, 8:46AM

John Yoo

Torture advocate John Yoo thinks that the President of the United States has the executive power to order a village of civilians slaughtered. But force federal contractors to disclose their political donations? That's a bridge too far.

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Joseph Farah

After-Birthers: How Conspiracy Theorists Reacted To Obama's Long-Form Birth Certificate

Ryan J. Reilly | April 28, 2011, 8:21AM

Now that President Barack Obama's legal team went out of its way to get a copy of Obama's so-called long-form birth certificate, it's time for the birthers to eat crow, right? Not so much. It hasn't taken long for members of the "birther" movement to grab their backup plans.

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Terrence Lakin

Court-Martialed Birther Army Doc Supporters: If Only Obama Had Released The Birth Certificate a Year Ago!

Jillian Rayfield | April 27, 2011, 6:03PM

The defense fund for birther and former Lt. Col. Terrence Lakin put out a statement on Wednesday in response to the release of President Obama's long-form birth certificate, asking that Lakin, a doctor, be given a "full and complete presidential pardon" for his court martial conviction of six months, "including restoration of pay, benefits, and service."

The reasoning? If only Lakin had seen this birth certificate a year ago he would have never refused his orders to deploy to Afghanistan!

"This document which was so casually dropped on the news corps could just have easily been provided twelve months ago or two years ago," the statement said. "Even six months ago, it would have prevented LTC Lakin being manacled and hauled away to Fort Leavenworth prison for standing up for the Constitution, consistent with the oath he took as an officer, and the rule of law."

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John Ensign

Reid: Ethics Committee Is 'Obligated' To Issue Ensign Report

Susan Crabtree | April 27, 2011, 4:31PM

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) was traveling on an official trip to China last week when his scandal-scarred Nevada GOP colleague, John Ensign, announced his resignation so he hasn't had a chance to comment until now.

Reid told reporters on a conference call Wednesday that he thinks the Senate Ethics Committee will issue a final report on the charges surrounding Ensign's affair with a top staffer's wife and the creative steps he took to keep it quiet.

In fact, he said, the panel doesn't have a choice.

"They are obligated to come up with a report," he said, noting that he had previously served as chairman of the ethics panel for many years.

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Donald Trump

Orly Taitz: Obama's Long-Form Birth Certificate Should Say 'Negro' Not 'African'

Ryan J. Reilly | April 27, 2011, 11:55AM

Orly Taitz

In a development that will surprise no one, it turns out that President Barack Obama's decision to release his long-form birth certificate hasn't quieted members of the "birther" movement who promote the conspiracy theory that he wasn't born in the United States.

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Arson

Fire That Killed Eight Horses May Have Been A Hate Crime

Jillian Rayfield | April 26, 2011, 5:48PM

whiz media group

Authorities in Ohio are investigating whether a barn fire that killed eight horses, which was ruled arson, was also a hate crime.

The barn was owned by Brent Whitehouse, who may have been targeted because of his sexuality. The barn's remains were been spray-painted with epithets like "fags are freaks" and "burn in hell." The State Fire Marshal's Office said in a statement that "in addition to the fire, investigators are also looking into messages painted on the barn and barn doors prior to the fire."

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Bobby Jindal

Ousted Administrator Has Doubts About Jindal's Privatization Plan

Eric Lach | April 26, 2011, 5:22PM

Tommy Teague

In his first extended public remarks since his ouster, the former chief executive officer of Louisiana's Office of Group Benefits (OGB) expressed doubts about the Jindal Administration's plan to privatize the agency, which manages state public employees' health insurance.

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Hal Rogers

'Prince Of Pork' Spokeswoman Says Helping 'Navigate' Bureaucracies Is A 'Duty'

Ryan J. Reilly | April 26, 2011, 5:11PM

Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY)

A spokeswoman for Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee who reportedly funneled more than $236 million in federal funds to nonprofit groups he created since 2000, is slamming the watchdog group which issued a report critical of Rogers and claiming that it is the "duty" of members of Congress to "help constituents navigate Washington's vast bureaucracies."

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Pamela Geller

Pamela Geller Fights On For Detroit Anti-Islam Bus Advertisements

Melissa Jeltsen | April 26, 2011, 5:04PM

Conservative activist Pamela Geller says the first amendment protects her right to run anti-Islam advertisements on Detroit buses. The local transit authority disagrees. Cue a year-long battle over free speech, with the ball now (temporarily) back in the hands of the bus company.

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Eric Holder

Holder Defends Clement; Compares Attacks Over DOMA Defense To Smears Of Gitmo Attorneys

Ryan J. Reilly | April 26, 2011, 4:52PM

Attorney Gen. Eric Holder and Paul Clement

While he believes the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional, Attorney General Eric Holder is defending former Solicitor General Paul Clement's decision to leave a prominent law firm over its decision to abandon its agreement to defend the statute in court on behalf of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

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WND Promotes 'Welcome Home From Military Prison' Party For Birther Army Doctor

Jillian Rayfield | April 26, 2011, 1:35PM

Right-wing "news" site World Net Daily is happy to inform its readers that former Lt. Col. Terrence Lakin will be released from military prison in three weeks, and they too can be a part of the celebration by attending the "Terry Lakin Homecoming Event."

Lakin was dismissed from the Army and sent to a military prison for six months after a court martial found him guilty of refusing orders to deploy to Afghanistan. He refused on the grounds that he believes President Obama may not be eligible to be Commander-In-Chief because of questions about his birthplace.

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Proposition 8

Prop 8 Supporters Contest Ruling On Grounds Judge Has Same-Sex Partner

Jillian Rayfield | April 26, 2011, 12:36PM

Supporters of Prop 8 in 2008

Supporters of Proposition 8, California's ballot-approved ban on same-sex marriage, filed a motion this week contesting Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling that the ban is unconstitutional, because he's gay man who may have wished to marry his partner.

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Ali Aujali

Former Libyan Ambassador Registers To Lobby For Transitional Council

Ryan J. Reilly | April 26, 2011, 11:55AM

Ali Suleiman Aujali, the former Libyan ambassador to the U.S. who publicly broke with the Qaddafi regime in February, has registered to lobby on behalf of the Transitional National Council Office of the Representative to the United States.

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Hal Rogers

'Prince Of Pork' Funneled $236M To His Nonprofit Groups

Ryan J. Reilly | April 26, 2011, 11:10AM

Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY)

The new chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), has funneled more than $236 million in federal funds to nonprofit groups he created since 2000, according to a new report by an ethics watchdog group.

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Sovereign Citizens

Sovereign Citizen's Widow Sues Police For Gold Over Husband's Shootout Death

Jillian Rayfield | April 26, 2011, 8:40AM

Jerry Kane

A Florida woman is suing the police department in West Memphis, Arkansas for the deaths of her husband and stepson, who were killed in a shootout after opening fire on two police officers last year.

Donna Lee Wray-Kane filed a lawsuit in Florida District Court over what she calls "torture killings and civil rights violations," and is asking for damages of at least $75,000 each for the deaths of her husband and stepson -- to be paid in gold "at $38 per troy ounce," according to the complaint.

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Bobby Jindal

Louisiana Dems Oppose Jindal's Health Care Privatization Push

Eric Lach | April 25, 2011, 11:10PM

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal

Louisiana Democratic Party Chairman Claude "Buddy" Leach, Jr. has come out with a statement opposing Gov. Bobby Jindal's plan to privatize the state's Office of Group Benefits (OGB), the agency that manages state employees' health insurance.

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National Organization for Marriage

NOM Launches 'Investigation' Of Law Firm's Decision To Drop DOMA Case

Ryan J. Reilly | April 25, 2011, 5:35PM

The National Organization for Marriage (NOM), a conservative organization fighting against the legalization of same-sex marriage, said Monday it would launch an "investigation" into the decision of the law firm King & Spalding to drop its defense of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

"We will convene a panel of legal experts and ethicists to determine if any rules of professional conduct have been violated, or if the firm has acted illegally in reaching their decision," NOM President Brian Brown said in a statement posted on their website. "We already know they have violated the moral imperative of acting in good faith and fair dealing. If our review concludes that the firm has violated any statutes or rules of professional conduct, we will initiate the appropriate disciplinary complaints."

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Bobby Jindal

Bill Could Clear Way For Jindal's Health Care Privatization Push

Eric Lach | April 25, 2011, 5:14PM

Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA)

A bill that will soon be debated in the Louisiana legislature contains language that appears to clear the way for the state to use money from the potential privatization of the Office of Group Benefits (OGB), the agency that manages state employees' health insurance, to help plug a budget hole.

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PATRIOT Act Author: 'No-Brainer' To Hire Lawyer Who Quit Law Firm Over DOMA

Ryan J. Reilly | April 25, 2011, 2:33PM

Former Assistant Attorney General Viet Dinh and former United States Solicitor General Paul Clement

When Paul Clement resigned this morning from the law firm King and Spalding after it decided to withdraw from its agreement with House Republican leadership to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in court, the small law firm Bancroft PLLC quickly announced Clement would be joining it as a partner.

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DOMA

Conservative Lawyer Resigns After Law Firm Drops DOMA Defense

Ryan J. Reilly | April 25, 2011, 11:20AM

In a major setback for opponents of same-sex marriage, the law firm of King and Spalding is withdrawing from its agreement the House Republican leadership to defend the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in court.

The motion to withdraw was filed in federal court on Monday by Richard A. Cirillo on behalf of King and Spalding, as first noted by the Huffington Post's Amanda Terkel. Former Solicitor General Paul Clement, who headed up King & Spalding's appellate practice, had been set to defend DOMA on behalf of House Republican leadership after the Justice Department said it would not defend the 1996 law because it determined provisions of the law were unconstitutional.

Clement submitted his resignation letter to King and Spalding on Monday morning. He will continue to represent the House, according to House Speaker John Boehner's office.

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Terry Jones

Terry Jones Threatens To Sue MI Officials After Arrest Over $1 Peace Bond

Jillian Rayfield | April 25, 2011, 10:53AM

Anti-Islam pastor and Quran-burner Terry Jones is threatening to sue the Wayne County Prosecutor's office in Dearborn, Michigan, after he was briefly arrested on Friday for initially refusing to pay a $1 peace bond related to his planned protest in front of a mosque.

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