Hotline Whip Count: The RNC Chairman’s Race
Republican National Committee members are being inundated with promotional material, phone calls and even personal visits from candidates who want to be their next chairman.
Some of the 168 voters are already making up their minds, but the majority are keeping their options open. The race is viewed as a free-for-all, with at least five serious contenders battling for votes. That means the five weeks between now and the January 14 election day will be a furious sprint for votes. And we at The Hotline will track every voter.
Here’s our initial look at voters who have publicly committed to backing a candidate:
SAUL ANUZIS (8)
Saul Anuzis, Michigan national committeeman
Morton Blackwell, Virginia national committeeman
Mark Fahleson, Nebraska Party chair
Dana Randall, South Dakota national committeewoman
Tom Ross, Delaware Republican Party chair
Heidi Smith, Nevada national committeewoman
Mike Stuart, West Virginia Party chair
Dick Wadhams, Colorado Republican Party chair
ANN WAGNER (6)
David Cole, Missouri Party chair
Ann Dickinson, Missouri national committeewoman
Peggy Lambert, Tennessee national committeewoman
Randy Ruedrich, Alaska Party chair
John Ryder, Tennessee national committeeman
Jan Staples, Maine national committeewoman
REINCE PRIEBUS (5)
Henry Barbour, Mississippi national committeeman
Pat Brady, Illinois Party chair
Mary Buestrin, Wisconsin national committeewoman
Alec Poitevint, Georgia national committeeman
Reince Priebus, Wisconsin Party chair
GENTRY COLLINS (3)
Tom Fetzer, North Carolina Party chair
Chris Healy, Connecticut Party chair
Matt Strawn, Iowa Party chair
Holine Whip Count: The RNC Chairman’s Race
Republican National Committee members are being inundated with promotional material, phone calls and even personal visits from candidates who want to be their next chairman.
Some of the 168 voters are already making up their minds, but the majority are keeping their options open. The race is viewed as a free-for-all, with at least five serious contenders battling for votes. That means the five weeks between now and the January 14 election day will be a furious sprint for votes. And we at The Hotline will track every voter.
Here’s our initial look at voters who have publicly committed to backing a candidate:
SAUL ANUZIS (8)
Saul Anuzis, Michigan national committeeman
Morton Blackwell, Virginia national committeeman
Mark Fahleson, Nebraska Party chair
Dana Randall, South Dakota national committeewoman
Tom Ross, Delaware Republican Party chair
Heidi Smith, Nevada national committeewoman
Mike Stuart, West Virginia Party chair
Dick Wadhams, Colorado Republican Party chair
ANN WAGNER (6)
David Cole, Missouri Party chair
Ann Dickinson, Missouri national committeewoman
Peggy Lambert, Tennessee national committeewoman
Randy Ruedrich, Alaska Party chair
John Ryder, Tennessee national committeeman
Jan Staples, Maine national committeewoman
REINCE PRIEBUS (5)
Henry Barbour, Mississippi national committeeman
Pat Brady, Illinois Party chair
Mary Buestrin, Wisconsin national committeewoman
Alec Poitevint, Georgia national committeeman
Reince Priebus, Wisconsin Party chair
GENTRY COLLINS (3)
Tom Fetzer, North Carolina Party chair
Chris Healy, Connecticut Party chair
Matt Strawn, Iowa Party chair
Hotline Whip Count: Deficit Commission Looks Dead
A presidential deficit commission is struggling to win the votes necessary to pass a sweeping austerity plan as members get set to vote on a final draft today. Despite lobbying efforts by commission chairmen Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson, five of the 18 members have said they will vote against the plan, effectively scuttling its chances.
Bowles and Simpson have secured ten votes, while five commissioners have said they will vote against the proposal. Commission members include: Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Judd Gregg (R-NH), Reps. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Dave Camp (R-MI), Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Paul Ryan (R-WI), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and John Spratt (D-SC), Honeywell International CEO David Cote, former Young & Rubicam Brands CEO Ann Fudge, Brookings Institute senior fellow Alice Rivlin and former SEIU president Andy Stern.
The vote will be held today.
VOTES IN FAVOR
Bowles
Simpson
Coburn
Conrad
Cote
Crapo
Fudge
Gregg
Rivlin
VOTES AGAINST
Baucus
Camp
Ryan
Schakowsky
Stern
UNDECLARED/UNDECIDED
Becerra
Hensarling (May vote no)
Spratt
Hotline Whip Count: The Deficit Commission
With less than 24 hours to go before the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility meets for a final vote on a draft proposal, commission chairmen Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson are scrambling to secure the 14 votes they need for a formal endorsement. And, despite early skepticism they would ever reach that goal, there is a path, albeit a narrow one, to pull out the political miracle.
Bowles and Simpson have secured nine votes, while two commissioners have said they will vote against the proposal. Commission members include: Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Kent Conrad (D-ND), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Judd Gregg (R-NH), Reps. Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Dave Camp (R-MI), Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), Paul Ryan (R-WI), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) and John Spratt (D-SC), Honeywell International CEO David Cote, former Young & Rubicam Brands CEO Ann Fudge, Brookings Institute senior fellow Alice Rivlin and former SEIU president Andy Stern.
The vote will be held tomorrow.
VOTES IN FAVOR
Bowles
Simpson
Coburn
Conrad
Cote
Crapo
Fudge
Gregg
Rivlin
VOTES AGAINST
Ryan
Schakowsky
UNDECLARED/UNDECIDED
Baucus
Becerra
Camp
Durbin
Hensarling
Spratt
Stern
Highlights of coverage of Roskam appointment to Chief Deputy Whip post
Here’s a collection of excerpts from various media regarding the naming of Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL) to the post of Chief Majority Whip in the 112th Congress:
“Rep. Peter Roskam was named chief deputy majority whip of the incoming GOP-controlled House on Monday. The Wheaton Republican will rank fourth among House Republican leaders, giving Illinois a voice at the upper levels of the party’s hierarchy.” Crain’s Chicago Business, November 29, 2010.
“Mr. Roskam is positioned to be a go-between with the White House for the House GOP leadership. He and President Barack Obama served together in the Illinois Senate and collaborated in Springfield on issues such as death penalty reform.” Crain’s Chicago Business, November 29, 2010.
“A staunch conservative, he has nonetheless developed a reputation for reaching across the aisle including working with President Obama on death penalty reform while they served together in the state Senate. More recently, at a meeting with the House Republican Conference in January, Obama agreed with Roskam that advancing the South Korea free trade agreement is critical to expanding markets for American manufacturers.” Daily Herald, November 29, 2010.
“US Congressman Peter Roskam is adding a new job title to his resume. He is slated to become a republican leader in the newly elected Congress. Roskam is taking the title of chief deputy majority whip so he will be the highest ranking appointed Republican leader. Only Congressman John Boehner, Eric Cantor and Kevin McCarthy rank higher in leadership.” ABC 7 Chicago, November 29, 2010.
“[T]his isn’t Roskam’s first foray into leadership politics. He had a leading role in America Speaking Out, the online grass roots initiative that helped Republicans develop the Pledge to America, the GOP’s agenda document.” Politico, November 29, 2010.
“Republicans will try to position Roskam as a go-between, of sorts, with President Barack Obama. The two served together in the Illinois Senate, and Roskam has sought to remind Washington that the president legislative with Republicans as a young legislator in Springfield.” Politico, November 29, 2010.
Roskam’s elevation to deputy whip could put him on a fast-track for higher leadership positions in the future,” and “Roskam could help the GOP better reach out to President Obama: He served with the president when he was an Illinois state senator and is one of the few House Republicans who has a personal relationship with Obama.” The Hill, November 29, 2010.
And now a Chicago video mash-up:
Technorati tags: 
politics news Republican Congress Illinois 
illinois politics dupage county peter roskam gop Congress
Roskam new GOP Chief Deputy Whip
 |
| Rep. Peter Roskam, (R-IL) |
There is good news for Illinois Republicans this afternoon. Rep. Peter Roskam (R-Wheaton) was named today as the Chief Deputy Whip for the GOP House caucus.
From a press release from the office of the incoming Majority Whip, Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA):
McCarthy issued the following statement regarding the appointment:
My good friend Peter Roskam is a bold leader whose fresh ideas will continue to help energize the Republican Party as we move forward in the Majority. I look forward to working with him to fulfill our Conference’s Pledge to America. Together, we will use our common-sense conservative principles to advance job-creating policies, cut spending, and reform Washington. As Jobs Policy Director of the America Speaking Out project, Peter helped develop a positive agenda for robust economic growth and quality job creation. As a member of the Whip Team, I know that his insight and experience will greatly enhance our Majority Whip Operation.
The Chief Deputy Whip responsibilities include working with Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy to unify the party, building broad support for policy initiatives, educating Members of Congress and answering questions on policy.
Regarding the appointment, Roskam stated:
I look forward to working with Majority Whip McCarthy as we advance a positive agenda for renewed innovation, investment and growth. For too long under the control of both parties, Washington has borrowed and spent too much money, jeopardizing our nation’s prosperity and our children’s future.
The American economy faces serious challenges and we must all work together to end the uncertainty coming out of Washington so that we can once again unleash the American entrepreneurial spirit and get our economy and our country back on the right track.
Roskam also serves on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. In regards to the Pledge to America, it calls for allowing small businesses to take a tax deduction equal to 20 percent of their income and eliminating burdensome Washington regulations that rob small businesses of resources and hurts their competitiveness.
As we all know, small businesses are our nation’s job creators.
Technorati tags: politics news Republican Congress Illinois illinois politics dupage county peter roskam california gop Congress kevin mccarthy california politics
Hotline Whip Count: House Minority Leader
The following is a breakdown of members who have said publicly that they will not back House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to be Minority Leader in the next Congress. At this point, no other Democrat has announced an intention to run for the position.
Opposing Nancy Pelosi For Minority Leader: 6
Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.)
Dan Boren (D-Okla.)
Tim Holden (D-Pa.)
Jim Matheson (D-Utah)
Mike Ross (D-Ark.)
Albio Sires (D-N.J.)
Hotline Whip Count: GOP Conference Chair
Here is a breakdown of which members are publicly supporting Reps. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) and Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) for House Republican Conference Chair.
Republicans Backing Rep. Jeb Hensarling(R-Texas): 5
Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.)
Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)
Eric Cantor (R-Va.)
Mike Pence (R-Ind.)
Paul Ryan (R-Wis.)
Republicans Backing Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.): 4
Steve King (R-Iowa)
John Kline (R-Minn.)
Erik Paulsen (R-Minn.)
Chip Cravaack (R-Minn.)*
*Incoming freshman
Hotline Whip Count: House Minority Whip
Below is a breakdown of incumbent Democrats who have publicly said they will back current House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) or House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) for House Minority Whip in the next Congress.
Democrats Supporting Steny Hoyer (D-Md.): 34
Jason Altimire (D-Pa.)
Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.)
Dan Boren (D-Okla.)
Robert Brady (D-Pa.)
Lois Capps (D-Calif.)
Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.)
Ted Deutch (D-Fla.)
Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.)
Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa)
Sam Farr (D-Calif.)
Bob Filner (D-Calif.)
John Garamendi (D-Calif.)
Gene Green (D-Texas)
Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.)
Tim Holden (D-Pa.)
Dale Kildee (D-Mich.)
Larry Kissell (D-N.C.)
Jim Langevin (D-R.I.)
Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.)
Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.)
Ed Markey (D-Mass.)
Jim Moran (D-Va.)
Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.)
Pedro Pierluisi (D-Puerto Rico)
Jared Polis (D-Colo.)
Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas)
Steve Rothman (D-N.J.)
Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.)
Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.)
John Sarbanes (D-Md.)
Adam Schiff (D-Calif.)
Albio Sires (D-N.J.)
Adam Smith (D-Wash.)
Peter Welch (D-Vt.)
Democrats Supporting James Clyburn (D-S.C.): 8
Emanuel Cleaver (R-Mo.)
Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.)
Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.)
Barbara Lee (D-Calif.)
Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.)
Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.)
Grace Napalitano (D-Calif.)
Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.)
Sessions backs off GOP whip fight
Washington (CNN) – House Republicans avoided a potentially contentious leadership fight Monday when Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, announced his decision not to challenge Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-California, for the position of majority whip – the third highest ranking position in the House GOP hierarchy.
Sessions will instead seek another term as head of the National Republican Congressional Committee, which is tasked with heading House GOP campaign efforts.
FULL STORY
Starting Lineup: Whip Up
Good Monday morning and welcome back to the Starting Lineup. On the radar today: Steny Hoyer and James Clyburn continue to battle it out for House Minority Whip; Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) prepares to unveil her backers for Republican Conference Chair; Eric Cantor (R-Va.) takes a shot at Nancy Pelosi; Lisa Murkowski‘s (R-Alaska) rural focus; and Jon Ralston dissects Harry Reid‘s (D-Nev.) stunning victory.
Dem Leadership Battle: The battle to be House Minority Whip in the next Congress between current House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) is sure to be a focus on Capitol Hill on Monday. So far, Hoyer has released many more backers than Clyburn, though it is still early – and Clyburn is expected to win the support of most CBC members, and most haven’t publicly announced who they’re backing. Here’s the public whip count so far:
Hoyer: Reps. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.), Robert Brady (D-Pa.), Jim Moran (D-Va.), Lois Capps (D-Calif.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas) and Del. Pedro Pierluisi (D-Puerto Rico), Bob Filner (D-Calif.), Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), Shelley Berkley (D-Nev.), Dan Boren (D-Okla.), Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.), Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), Sam Farr (D-Calif.), Gene Green (D-Texas), Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa), Brian Higgins (D-N.Y.), Tim Holden (D-Pa.), Dale Kildee (D-Mich.), Larry Kissell (D-N.C.), Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.), Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Steve Rothman (D-N.J.), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), John Sarbanes (D-Md.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Albio Sires (D-N.J.), Adam Smith (D-Wash.).
Clyburn: Reps. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Emanuel Cleaver (R-Mo.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.), Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) and Grace Napalitano (D-Calif.).
(Are we missing any? Let us know in the comments section below.)
Donnelly No On Pelosi: Rep. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) became the first Democrat to oppose current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) staying in the leadership. Donnelly issued a statement calling for new leadership. “I strongly believe we need a change in leadership to reflect the desires of the millions of people who cast votes in this recent election,” Donnelly said. http://bit.ly/aTrk4p
Hensarling v. Bachmann: The leadership battle between Reps. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas) and Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) for House Republican Conference Chair is set to heat up this week. Hensarling has already trickled out endorsements, including from most of the GOP leadership. Most recently, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), a favorite of the conservative right, endorsed him on Friday. Sources in Bachmann’s camp plan on announcing who they have lined up early this week and that it’s a “good number.” Bachmann may have a base of support with the sizable freshman class, given that many ran as conservative outsiders, a group more sympathetic to her anti-establishment message.
Steny Hoyer, James Clyburn To Battle For Minority Whip
Nancy Pelosi’s decision to stay on as House Minority Leader has set up what could be a contentious battle for the No. 2 spot in the Democratic Caucus:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Rep. James Clyburn says he’s seeking the No. 2 job in the House Democratic leadership, setting up a possible showdown with the current second in command, Steny Hoyer.
Clyburn of South Carolina made the announcement in a letter to his colleagues on Friday. He says the Democratic caucus is at a crossroads and he is a proven leader.
Clyburn is the House’s highest ranking African-American and his challenge sets up a contest with the current Democratic No. 2, Hoyer of Maryland
Clyburn is generally seen as more liberal than Hoyer so this will set up a battle between those who say that Democrats need to learn a lesson from the election results and not push an aggressive progressive agenda that has clearly been rejected, and those who say that the party has not been progressive enough. There is also, of course, the added fact that Clyburn is one of the longest serving African-American Members of Congress.
This will be an interesting battle to watch.
House Majority Whip James Clyburn Suffers Bout Of Insanity
Its something sad to see but it seems that Congressman James Clyburn is suffering from some sort of disorder that fries his brain cells, or maybe he is suffering from the early stages of dementia, or possibly his Underoos are too tight. Whatever the malady, the house majority whip had another public bout of insanity today.
In an an interview published Monday on an African-Americans news site, TheGrio.com, Clyburn took his best shot at convincing black voters to get energized and come out in big numbers for Democratic party candidates. But instead of coming out with something logical, Clyburn spewed something that showed his showed his diminished mental capacity. If the GOP wins the house they will begin an investigation to prove President Obama was born outside the United States.
Clyburn, the third-ranking Democrat in the House, said Republicans will grind the government to a halt by issuing subpoenas against the Obama administration over a number of issues if they take power. He predicted that “gridlock” in Congress would “define” Obama’s first term if Republicans win the House, but expressed confidence his party would prevail.
Clyburn noted that Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), the ranking Republican on the House Oversight panel, has said will will issue “subpoenas everywhere” if Republicans win the majority.
“The White House will be full-time responding to subpoenas about where the president may or may not have been born, whether his mother and father were ever married, and whether his wife’s family is from Georgetown or Sampit,” Clyburn said in . “That will define the next two years of the president’s administration.
Of course Congressman Issa’s office replied diplomatically without pointing out Clyburn’s malady.
Issa has promised to ramp up his probes into the Obama administration, but his spokesman said he would not pursue the “birther” controversy and that the congressman has not spoken about the issue.
“The Democratic Caucus doesn’t take Jim Clyburn seriously – Americans shouldn’t take his ridiculous claims seriously either,” said Issa spokesman Kurt Bardella in an e-mail. Bardella noted that Issa has already released his “blueprint for oversight” that focuses on investigating the expansion of government.
Congressman Clyburn went on to blame conservative media for the birther phenomenon and said others could rebut those views if the Fairness Doctrine, a government policy abolished in the 1980s that required broadcasters to give both sides equal time on political programs, was still in place. Of course has forgotten the guru of birtherism Philip Berg is a long time Democrat.
Poor Congressman Clyburn, it is so obvious he is losing touch with reality, well either that or deliberately making up stories to scare voters. But I would never accuse an honorable man like James Clyburn of deliberately trying to scare voters, so it obviously must be some sort of brain disorder.
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Whip Uncertainty Now: An Exit Strategy from Obama’s Economy
Never have the blind led the blind so inextricably into a dialogue with the deaf.
American Thinker Blog
