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John Cornyn, the senate majority whip, was pushed by news-makers on Sunday to explain a last minute addition to the final tax bill which could benefit those with real estate income. Senator Bob Corker supported the bill at the last minute, after the language was added. John Cornyn, the second-ranking Republican in the Senate, was pushed by news-makers on Sunday to explain a last minute addition to the final tax bill that could benefit those with real estate income. The provision calls for a tax deduction on income made from "pass through" entities, like real estate LLCs, including those with...

'Multiple shootings' reported near congressional baseball game practice field: Report Live More to follow. Reports that Steve Scalise (R-LA) shot in hip. Security detail members returned fire and killed suspect. Staffer and security personnel also wounded. Breaking Live

Boehner’s opposition grew Tuesday morning just a few hours before the vote... ...At least 12 House Democrats will be in Manhattan attending Mario Cuomo’s funeral Tuesday in Manhattan. Another “handful” of Democrats are already planning to skip the vote, and that number could grow much larger, according to Democratic insiders. But every Democrat who skips the speaker vote helps lower the threshold for Boehner to be reelected. Air travel is already slowed as well. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is holding aircraft at their destination until 10 a.m., and is experiencing delays of between 15 and 30 minutes for flights...

Incoming House Majority Whip Steve Scalise has tapped Rep. Patrick McHenry as his chief deputy majority whip. McHenry, a North Carolina Republican, was elected in 2004 and was a key player in Scalise’s successful attempt to defeat Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Ill.) for the majority whip post. “I look forward to working with him on behalf of the Republican Conference to advance the conservative values and principles that unite us and move America forward,” the Louisiana Republican said in a statement. McHenry also served on the Republican whip team under Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), the newly elected House majority leader. “His...

Now they have it. Now tea party-backers finally have a strong conservative in the Republican leadership of the GOP-controlled House: Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana, who was elected by party members on Thursday to the No. 3 job in the leadership. The Louisianan will take the position of whip, making him responsible for corralling votes in order to pass legislation. He fills the slot left vacant by Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, who was elected – and elevated – to the No. 2 job of majority leader, who decides what legislation comes to a vote. The changes were triggered by...

The tea party has claimed its first spot in House leadership with the election of Rep. Steve Scalise to the No. 3 post – majority whip. Will he ease GOP tensions or make them worse? ...The Louisianan will take the position of whip, making him responsible for corralling votes in order to pass legislation. He fills the slot left vacant by Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, who was elected – and elevated – to the No. 2 job of majority leader, who decides what legislation comes to a vote.

Washington — Some political campaigns are marathons, but for U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, of Jefferson, this one has been more of a sprint — and it ends Thursday afternoon when he finds out if he will take over the No. 3 spot in the ruling House Republican majority. That spot — majority whip — would represent the highest any Louisiana Republican has climbed in the U.S. House leadership (although one of his 1st Congressional District predecessors, Bob Livingston, came within an extramarital indiscretion of landing the top job of House speaker in 1998). The constituency for the leadership election is...

Rep. Raul Labrador, the Idaho Republican running for House majority leader, presided over chaos at this weekend's state GOP convention in Moscow, which abruptly adjourned Saturday after he failed to broker an agreement between the party's warring factions.

Go to the link it is only 42 seconds. The Interview is on running on Hugh 24 / 7 and apparently Mark Levin had him on as well last night. Busy day on this end, Freepers please help with links etc to add to this Posting! Thanks!

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) will not run to replace House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.). The conservative favorite said in a statement Thursday he was not going to challenge Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) or Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) for the No. 2 spot in House GOP leadership.

So, much of the caucus’s more prominent work — fighting for its agenda on the Senate floor or on TV — falls to Reid’s No. 2, Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin . It’s in one sense a natural role for the senior senator from Illinois, who’s been a trial attorney and clearly relishes vigorous debate. In another sense, though, it’s an odd choice: Durbin is the only member of the majority leadership facing re-election in 2008, so if the caucus produces little to no legislative progress, he’ll be answerable for it at the polls. Does that mean he could step...

WASHINGTON - As East Tennessee Rep. Zach Wamp was campaigning for the No. 3 House leadership post, he compared the U.S. Congress to a church-building committee. "There are well-intended people getting together to do important work, but they have the capability of really messing things up," Wamp said. His House colleagues often laughed, though there was some truth to the comparison. Wamp, whose district includes Oak Ridge and Chattanooga, spent recent weeks trying to become the first Tennessean in 70 years to win a top House leadership post. He said that he talked to more than half of the 231...

Of all those most mentioned as winners in last week's successful passage of the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) — the White House, the Republican-led Congress, House Majority Leader Tom DeLay — none proved himself or earned as much newfound respect as Majority Whip Roy Blunt. Though seen as an effective leader and vote-herder, Mr. Blunt had never really commanded the awe and reverence in the position as his predecessor — and close ally — Mr. DeLay. Last week's come-from-behind victory on CAFTA, however, might just change that. In the beginning of the year, just about the only person...

House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) today issued the following statement following President Bush's speech to the troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina: "The president's dedication to a peaceful and stable Iraq as an important step toward peace in the Middle East was evident again tonight as he thanked the troops at Fort Bragg for their service and asked them to stay the course. "We must reassure our troops that they have the unwavering support of Americans back home and maintain our commitment to the brave men and women serving in the armed forces until they accomplish their mission. As...

WASHINGTON, June 20 /U.S. Newswire/ -- House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) today issued the following statement regarding comments made by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) on the House floor Thursday calling, the war in Iraq a "grotesque mistake" and the resources allocated for fighting the war spent "without success:" "When elected officials back home call the war our men and women are fighting abroad a mistake, the only people emboldened are the enemy. "Our troops in harm's way need armor and equipment, not second-guessing and cynicism. They deserve to be supported, not demoralized. "Leader Pelosi's comments during debate...

The days of buying certain cold remedies off the drugstore shelf may soon be gone, a casualty of the methamphetamine epidemic. Picking up on laws already passed in more than a dozen states, Congress is thinking about requiring the nation's retailers to sell medicines like Sudafed and Nyquil behind the pharmacy counter to make it harder to get the ingredients needed to make highly addictive meth. A similar law in Kansas took effect this week and a bill in Missouri is awaiting the governor's signature. Retailers, who once resisted the idea as burdensome for consumers, now seem ready to go...

House Majority Whip Roy Blunt hopes to use his weight in Congress to help National Guard and Reserve members win more benefits and bolster job security. Blunt, R-Mo., and other House members plan to include the protections in the Defense Authorization Bill the House is expected to approve on Wednesday. With recent reports of a steep decline in military recruiting, Blunt said Tuesday it is crucial to show a greater commitment to volunteer forces. "We're trying to look at things that ensure when people leave their civilian jobs to go into full-time reserve, full-time guard, when they're called up, those...

House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), the man one step behind Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) in the Republican leadership, has built a political machine of his own that extends from Missouri deep into Washington's K Street lobbying community. Blunt, who entered politics as a protege of former senator John D. Ashcroft (R-Mo.), has assembled an organization of whips and lobbyist vote counters that has delivered more than 50 consecutive victories for the GOP leadership on tough fights over issues including tax and trade bills, District of Columbia school choice and tort reform -- without a single defeat.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., March 31 /U.S. Newswire/ -- House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) today issued the following statement: "Everything about the Schiavo case has been tragic: her illness, the divisions her case has generated, and now her death. "I am sorry that the courts reviewed only the judicial process, rather than the facts of the case, as Congress had intended. "Terri can now rest in peace. I hope her family will find comfort, and that all Americans will reflect on the troubling issues that this tragedy has highlighted."

A roomful of residents at City Hall Wednesday were wanting to get some questions answered and find out the latest news on Social Security. Congressman Roy Blunt tried to oblige the 40-45 people in attendance at one of the four viewpoint sessions he was holding in the area. He made one thing clear to the seniors in the audience. "We can't move forward unless we decide that for those 55 and older, there will be no changes," Blunt said. "I wouldn't lay awake at night worrying about solutions for a little while." Blunt also pointed out some bad news. The...