Free Republic

Rep. Parker Griffith, a freshman Democrat from Alabama, is switching parties to become a Republican, Fox News has confirmed. Griffith is expected to make a formal announcement in an afternoon press conference on Tuesday. Griffith succeeded former Democratic Rep. Bud Cramer of Alabama, who retired earlier this year in a hard-fought contest for his northern Alabama seat. Republicans thought that district would be hard for Democrats to hold without Cramer on the ballot, but Griffith defeated Republican Wayne Parker by four percentage points -- even though Republican presidential nominee John McCain won every county in the district. Former President George...

POLITICO has learned that Rep. Parker Griffith, a freshman Democrat from Alabama, will announce today that he’s switching parties to become a Republican. According to a senior GOP aide familiar with the decision, the announcement will take place in this afternoon in his home district in northern Alabama.

Thursday, February 12, 2004 Statement Regarding the President’s Responsible Highway and Transit Budget The President has charted a course for cutting the budget deficit in half in five years. We must fund our priorities of winning the war on terror, defending the homeland, and creating jobs -- and we must hold the line on spending in other areas. The President's budget proposes a responsible $256 billion in highway and transit spending, which represents a 21 percent increase over the previous six-year period and a responsible approach to improve highway safety and curb congestion. The President also has made clear that...