http://www.realclearpolitics.com/ en Copyright 2012 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:11:19 -0600 Under attack for his spending habits in Congress, Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum defended his use of earmarks, saying Thursday that some were necessary for defense or health programs.With the ex-senator's surprising climb back into contender status with a trio of wins this week in the race to become the GOP's presidential nominee, http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/under_attack__santorum_defends__good__earmarks.html 400580857 Brian Bakst The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:08:16 -0600 The first new U.S. nuclear power plant in a generation won approval Thursday as federal regulators voted to grant a license for two new reactors in the southern state of Georgia.The Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted 4-1 to approve Southern Co.'s request to build two nuclear reactors at its Vogtle site.The vote clears the way for officials to http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/us_approves_first_new_nuclear_plant_in_3_decades.html 400580856 Matthew Daly The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:05:16 -0600 State lawmakers have introduced a measure that would repeal a sweeping bill overhauling Ohio's election laws, a move made ahead of a scheduled referendum vote on the legislation.The new bill came the same day the coalition of labor, clergy and some Democrats pushing for repeal, threatened to mount a second signature drive against any replacement http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/ohio_senate_moves_to_repeal_election_law_overhaul.html 400580855 Julie Carr Smyth The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:02:16 -0600 Republicans moved forward with a proposal to let businesses use deadly force against intruders, one of a handful of GOP proposals being heard Thursday aimed at expanding gun rights.The Republican-controlled House approved the bill expanding self-defense protections for businesses on a voice vote, with Democratic opposition. The bill dubbed http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/make_my_day_law_for_colorado_businesses_debated.html 400580854 Ivan Moreno The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:47:16 -0600 Mayor Rahm Emanuel proposed statewide legislation Thursday to require handgun owners to register their weapons, calling it a common sense measure that would protect the rights of responsible gun owners while keeping illegal firearms off the streets.The city of Chicago requires all handgun owners to register their guns with police, but the state of http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/emanuel_wants_gun_registration_throughout_illinois.html 400580853 The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:44:16 -0600 The Virginia Senate passed legislation Thursday allowing private adoption agencies to deny placements that conflict with their religious or moral beliefs, including opposition to homosexuality.The mostly party-line 22-18 vote virtually ensures the Republican-backed bill will become law. The House of Delegates has passed its own identical version http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/va__senate_passes_adoption_discrimination_bill.html 400580852 Larry O'dell The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:11:16 -0600 The nation's first new nuclear power plant in a generation won approval Thursday as federal regulators voted to grant a license for two new reactors in Georgia.The Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted 4-1 to approve Atlanta-based Southern Co.'s request to build two nuclear reactors at its Vogtle site south of Augusta.The vote clears the way for http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/nrc_approves_first_new_nuclear_plant_in_3_decades.html 400580850 Matthew Daly The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:23:16 -0600 The former president of the Maldives, who says he was forced from power earlier this week in a coup, has demanded that his successor step down and that new elections be held in the Indian Ocean nation.The next elections are scheduled for 2013.Mohamed Nasheed made the announcement late Thursday after a court in the Maldives issued a warrant for his http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/former_maldives_president_urges_early_elections.html 400580849 The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:20:16 -0600 The Legislative Research Commission will appeal a judge's ruling that found newly drawn legislative districts to be unconstitutional.Commission spokesman Rob Weber said Thursday that the appeal would be made directly to the Kentucky Supreme Court "in order to get a quicker resolution" to a case that's been pending since last month.The http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/legislative_agency_to_appeal_ky_redistricting_case.html 400580843 Roger Alford The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:11:16 -0600 Residents in Knott County will soon decide whether to allow alcohol sales in the eastern Kentucky community.Judge-Executive Randy Thompson says a petition asking for the vote had enough signatures to schedule a local-option election. He says the vote will be held April 10.The county joins a growing list of small-town, socially conservative http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/knott_voters_to_decide_on_alcohol_sales_in_april.html 400580842 The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:02:20 -0600 The 109-14 vote Thursday by which the Kansas House approved a bill redrawing members' districts.Of the 92 Republicans, 85 voted "yes," five voted "no" and two did not vote.Of the 33 Democrats, 24 voted "yes" and nine voted "no."REPUBLICANS VOTING YES(equals)Steve Alford, Ulysses.Tom Arpke, Salina.Clay http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/kansas_house_roll_call_on_redistricting_bill.html 400580841 The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:53:18 -0600 The Legislative Research Commission will appeal a judge's ruling that found newly drawn legislative districts to be unconstitutional.Rob Weber, a spokesman for the agency, said in a statement Thursday that the appeal would be made directly to the Kentucky Supreme Court in an effort to get a quicker resolution to a case that's been pending since http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/legislative_agency_to_appeal_redistricting_case.html 400580840 The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:44:19 -0600 Ohio Republicans will get some input _ from afar _ into a March 1 presidential primary debate in Atlanta.The state party says it is partnering with Georgia Republicans for the CNN "Super Tuesday" debate. Georgia, with 76 delegates, and Ohio, with 66, are the two biggest prizes among the March 6 primary states.Participants at an Ohio http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/gop_says_ohioans_to_ask_questions_for_ga__debate.html 400580836 The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:29:16 -0600 Two senators say the campaign finance system is so broken that a constitutional amendment is needed to rein in runaway spending in elections.Democrats Michael Bennet of Colorado and Tom Udall of New Mexico want to put Congress in charge of setting campaign contribution limits and regulating "super" political action committees.The two http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/senators_renew_push_for_campaign_finance_amendment.html 400580834 Jack Gillum The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:20:16 -0600 The Virginia Senate has killed legislation that would have allowed voters to indicate their political party affiliation when they register.Republican Sen. Bill Stanley of Franklin County said his bill would give political parties more control over their primary elections, which now are open to all voters. It would allow the parties to continue to http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/senate_rejects_voter_registration_by_party.html 400580825 The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:11:15 -0600 If a leading candidate fails to get more than 40 percent of the vote in a North Carolina primary election race this May, when is the runoff?It depends.The runoff historically has been held seven weeks after the primary, which this year would be June 26. But a new state law designed to fulfill a federal mandate would delay all runoffs until July 17 http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/new_nc_law_could_delay_primary_runoff_by_3_weeks.html 400580824 The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:08:15 -0600 French President Nicolas Sarkozy is refusing to shut down an aging nuclear plant that has become a symbol of growing resistance to atomic energy in the country.The future of nuclear energy in the country has become a campaign issue as the presidential election approaches this spring _ in part because of the earthquake and tsunami disaster at http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/sarkozy_refuses_to_shutter_aging_nuclear_plant.html 400580823 Sylvie Corbet The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:05:16 -0600 Four Republican state senators targeted for recall faced a Thursday deadline to challenge signatures that could result in voiding any elections to remove them from office.Petitions were submitted last month to force recall elections for the four state senators, Republican Gov. Scott Walker and Republican Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch. Walker's http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/senators_targeted_for_recall_to_submit_challenges.html 400580822 Scott Bauer The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:02:16 -0600 Democrat Christie Vilsack is mounting a serious financial challenge to veteran Republican Rep. Steve King in western Iowa's newly redrawn 4th District, according to financial reports released Thursday. But she still faces big hurdles in the GOP-leaning district.The financial disclosures show that Vilsack has raised nearly $1.16 million for her http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/vilsack_tops__1_million_in_4th_district_race.html 400580821 Mike Glover The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:56:15 -0600 Rep. Peter DeFazio has introduced a bill that would make it harder for developers to build a pipeline across southwestern Oregon for natural gas exports. But he says the prospects for passage are slim.The Oregonian reports (http://bit.ly/z1RpdK) that the Oregon Democrat wants to take away the power of eminent domain for assembling the pipeline http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/bill_would_stop_property_takings_for_lng_exports.html 400580820 The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:53:15 -0600 Power in the Kansas House is likely to shift next year from rural parts of the state to the Kansas City area after members overwhelmingly approved a bipartisan bill Thursday for redrawing their districts.The House's 109-14 vote means the new district lines specified by the bill are likely to become law, starting with this year's elections. The http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/kan__house_approves_bipartisan_redistricting_bill.html 400580817 The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:59:19 -0600 North Dakota's secretary of state says the referendum petitions to restore the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname have more than 400 fewer signatures than first advertised.Al Jaeger says the petitions still have thousands more names than the minimum they need.Jaeger has a month to review the petitions. He's done a count of the http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/nd_fighting_sioux_petitions_have_fewer_names.html 400580816 The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:35:18 -0600 North Dakota's secretary of state says the referendum petitions to restore the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname have more than 400 fewer signatures than first advertised.Al Jaeger says the petitions still have thousands more names than the minimum they need.Jaeger has a month to review the petitions. He's done a count of the http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/nd_fighting_sioux_petitions_have_fewer_names.html 400580815 The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:38:16 -0600 House-Senate negotiations on extending jobless benefits and a two percentage point cut in the payroll tax remained stalled Thursday, despite a proposal in which Democrats urged a modest six-week cut in the maximum time unemployed workers can receive jobless benefits.Democrats, however, rejected efforts by House conservatives to require http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/democrats_propose_6_week_cut_in_jobless_benefits.html 400580814 Andrew Taylor The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:05:17 -0600 Attorneys for a group of former inmates told the Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday that former Gov. Haley Barbour's pardons of them are valid.The Supreme Court was holding a lengthy hearing on whether the pardons were legal. Barbour pardoned nearly 200 people, including four convicted murderers and a robber who worked as trusties at the http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/miss_high_court_hears_challenge_to_barbour_pardons.html 400580807 Emily Wagster Pettus The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:56:16 -0600 Casino owner Milton McGregor corrupted the Alabama Legislature by paying bribes to try to pass legislation to protect his enormously profitable business, a federal prosecutor told jurors to open Alabama's gambling corruption case Thursday.Prosecutor Emily Rae Woods said legislators were offered millions in bribes, but that was nothing compared to http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/defense__casino_owner_never_offered_bribes.html 400580806 Phillip Rawls The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:53:16 -0600 A top aide to former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords who was shot in the leg and face in the Tucson rampage that also left the congresswoman severely wounded announced Thursday that he will seek to replace her in a special election.Democrat Ron Barber declared he would run to serve the last six months of Giffords' term, and his announcement comes http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/giffords_aide_to_run_for_seat_in_special_election.html 400580805 The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:53:16 -0600 Backers of an effort to repeal Ohio's election law overhaul say organized labor would join the Obama campaign to vigorously fight any attempt by lawmakers to pass replacement legislation before November's presidential election. They say labor was invigorated by last year's collective bargaining battle.Fair Elections Ohio was reacting to a Jan. 25 http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/ohio_coalition_vows_fight_if_election_law_replaced.html 400580804 Julie Carr Smyth The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:20:16 -0600 Former Arizona Democratic Party Chairman Andrei Cherny has announced his candidacy for the party's nomination in the state's new 9th Congressional District.Cherny recently stepped down as party chairman in anticipation of the candidacy he announced Thursday.He's a former state assistant attorney general who ran unsuccessfully for state treasurer http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/cherny_to_run_for_new_9th_district_seat_in_arizona.html 400580800 The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:59:16 -0600 Three conservative clerics whose arrests nine years ago heralded the beginning of Morocco's crackdown on Islamists called on Thursday for a new investigation into their country's worst terrorist attack.After the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the U.S., Moroccan authorities began targeting hardline Islamist clerics, especially those believed to be http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/pardoned_moroccan_clerics_say_they_were_tortured.html 400580799 Paul Schemm The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:14:15 -0600 The Obama administration says health plans must start providing more consumer-friendly summaries of coverage and costs so people will know what protection they have.Officials are calling the summaries a "nutrition label for health care," naming it after those information panels found on packaged foods at the supermarket.It's a new http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/feds_require_consumer_friendly_health_plan_briefs.html 400580798 Ricardo Alonso-zaldivar The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:47:15 -0600 The House passed a bill banning Congress and executive branch officials from insider trading, but brushed aside a provision aimed at reining in those who pry financial information from Congress and sell it to investment firms.Thursday's 417-2 vote likely sends the legislation to a House-Senate conference, where supporters of the tougher regulation http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/house_passes_insider_trading_bill.html 400580797 Larry Margasak The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:44:15 -0600 Casino owner Milton McGregor corrupted the Legislature by paying bribes to try to pass legislation to protect his enormously profitable business, a federal prosecutor told jurors in Alabama's gambling corruption case Thursday.Prosecutor Emily Rae Woods said legislators were offered millions in bribes to support the legislation, but that was http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/prosecutor__casino_owner_corrupted_legislature.html 400580796 Phillip Rawls The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:29:16 -0600 Two Wyoming state lawmakers plan to introduce a bill banning local gun control laws, such as one recently passed in Casper.The proposed bill would nullify such local bans and allow anyone prosecuted for violating such a law to sue and be awarded up to $200,000.The Casper Star-Tribune (http://bit.ly/x4eCp0 ) reported Thursday that the bill will be http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/bill_in_works_to_ban_local_gun_control_in_wyoming.html 400580795 The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:23:15 -0600 Attorneys for a group of former inmates told the Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday that former Gov. Haley Barbour's pardons of them are valid.The Supreme Court was holding a lengthy hearing on whether the pardons were legal. Barbour pardoned nearly 200 people, including four convicted murderers and a robber who worked as trusties at the http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/miss__high_court_hears_arguments_over_pardons.html 400580794 Emily Wagster Pettus The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:44:15 -0600 A conservative Rhode Island think tank says a tax proposal from Gov. Lincoln Chafee (CHAY'-fee) will backfire and cost the state jobs.The Rhode Island Center for Freedom and Prosperity said Thursday that its analysis of Chafee's plan estimates it could cost the state 1,400 private-sector jobs.Chafee, an independent, has proposed new taxes on http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/think_tank_criticizes_ri_gov__s_tax_plan.html 400580780 The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:59:15 -0600 A Jackson man has contributed over $380,000 to "super" political action committees supporting Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum.The Jackson Hole Daily (http://bit.ly/yvWMiu ) reported Thursday that Foster Friess (FREEZE) is the main contributor behind the Red, White and Blue group. He has also made contributions to another http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/wyo__man_main_contributor_to_pro_santorum_group.html 400580779 The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:53:15 -0600 Republican candidates were using a lull in the primary season to reset the race for the nomination to challenge President Barack Obama in November.Mitt Romney was trying to shore up his weakened standing as the party's inevitable choice, while Rick Santorum worked to sustain momentum from a stunning sweep of nominating contests Tuesday in http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/republicans_regroup_during_primary_lull.html 400580754 Steven R. Hurst The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:59:15 -0600 Mikhail Gorbachev said Thursday that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has "exhausted" his potential as Russia's leader and his inability to change the Kremlin's political system might prompt more massive anti-government protests.Putin _ who became prime minister after serving as Russia's president in 2000-2008 _ is almost certain to become http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/gorbachev__putin_has__exhausted__his_potential.html 400580753 Victoria Buravchenko The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:20:14 -0600 Romania's Parliament approved a new government led by a former spy chief on Thursday, and he promised to keep up the austerity measures the country imposed to win international loans but to raise public-sector salaries as soon as he can."An era of prosperity will not begin tomorrow," said Prime Minister Mihai Razvan Ungureanu, who is http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/ap/politics/2012/Feb/09/romanian_parliament_approves_new_government.html 400580752 Alina Wolfe Murray The Associated Press Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:32:17 -0600