Political Quick Hits: June 14th Edition

Here’s your weekly quick look at few developing stories in the political arena:

• The Obama Administration announced this week that it is dropping its appeal of a judge’s decision which allowed the morning-after pill to be sold over the counter. The FDA says it will allow over-the-counter sales of a one-pill product “without age or point of sales restrictions.” “Today’s move by the administration means the safety and effectiveness of Plan B, not politics, will dictate access,” said Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington state. (CNN)

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Justin Burkhardt

Political Quick Hits: June 7th Edition

Here’s your weekly quick look at few developing stories in the political arena:

• New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg passed away Monday at the age of 89 from viral pneumonia. He served five terms in the U.S. Senate since 1982 and was the last surviving World War II veteran in the Senate. “Senator Lautenberg improved the lives of countless Americans with his commitment to our nation’s health and safety. From improving our public transportation to protecting citizens from gun violence to ensuring that members of our military and their families get the care they deserve,” said President Obama of the late senator. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has announced a special election in October to fill the seat through 2014. The Governor also announced that Jeffrey Chiesa, the state’s Attorney General, will serve as Senator until the special election.

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Justin Burkhardt

Political Quick Hits: May 31st Edition

Here’s your weekly quick look at few developing stories in the political arena:

• President Obama last Thursday, announced plans to change our country’s counterterrorism policy. He outlined stricter rules in regards to our controversial usage of drone strikes and again brought up wanting to close Guantanamo Bay. “Our systematic effort to dismantle terrorist organizations must continue. But this war, like all wars, must end.That’s what history advises. That’s what our democracy demands.” President Obama said. He also asked Congress to loosen restrictions to move Gitmo prisoners to the United States.

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Justin Burkhardt

Political Quick Hits: May 17th Edition

Here’s your weekly quick look at few developing stories in the political arena:

• Minnesota continued a recent trend by becoming the 12th state to legalize gay marriage on Tuesday when Governor Mark Dayton signed a recently passed marriage equality bill into law. “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness should certainly include the right to marry the person you love,” Dayton said. The bill passed in the senate on Monday by a 37-30 vote. Couples will be allowed to marry starting August 1, 2013. The other states that currently allow gay marriage are: CT, DE, IA, ME, MD, MA, NH, NY, RI, VT, WA, and also the District of Columbia.

• On Wednesday, the White House released more than 100 pages of e-mails in an attempt to quiet critics who think that President Barack Obama and his aides played politics with our national security following the deadly September 11, 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. The White House has always denied any type of cover-up. White House spokesman Eric Schultz said, “Collectively these emails make clear that the interagency process, including the White House’s interactions, were focused on providing the facts as we knew them based on the best information available at the time and protecting an ongoing investigation.”

• President Obama on Thursday said he had no knowledge of the recent IRS scandal until the media exposed it last Friday. The IRS is under heavy scrutiny for singling out groups, particularly those with Tea Party ties, that were seeking tax-exempt status. President Obama has since repeatedly denounced the discriminatory behavior at the IRS. President Obama said, “What I’m absolutely certain of is that the actions that were described in that I.G. report are unacceptable.” On Wednesday, the Obama administration called for the resignation of acting IRS commissioner Steven Miller and the Justice Department announced that they will be investigating the matter. It is not yet known whether or not any laws were broken and if any criminal charges will be filed.

• Finally, a bipartisan U.S house group has reached an agreement on immigration reform. The report says that the Democrats and Republicans involved will run it by their party leaders and colleagues and hopefully formal legislation will be introduced in June. “Filing a real bipartisan bill, a serious, enforceable commonsense bill is, I think, a huge step. But it’s the first step of the process, a very important step,” said Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida, one of the members of the bipartisan group.

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Justin Burkhardt

Political Quick Hits: May 10th Edition

Here’s your weekly quick look at few developing stories in the political arena:

• The Senate on Monday approved an internet sales tax proposal that could force shoppers to pay sales tax on the majority of their online purchases. The Marketplace Fairness Act would allow the 45 states that currently charge sales taxes to require large online retailers to collect tax on purchases made by their residents. The law would only apply to online sellers that have sales of at least $1 million outside of states where they have a physical store or warehouse. “Avoiding sales tax may not be a primary reason customers shop online, but it’s one of them,” said David French, senior vice president of government relations at the National Retail Federation.  The bill now goes to the House where Republicans are split on the idea. If passed in the house, it is believed President Obama will sign it into law.
• On Tuesday, former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford won the state’s special election for a congressional seat beating Democrat Elizabeth Colbert Busch, sister of comedian Stephen Colbert. Sanford was once considered a rising star in the Republican Party until 2009 when he admitted to having an extra marital affair. The Governor went missing, said he had been “hiking the Appalachian trail,” but then later admitted he was in Argentina with his mistress. “I have experienced how none of us go through life without mistakes, but in their wake we can learn a lot about grace, a God of second chances, and be the better for it,” Sanford told voters in one of his recent political ads.
• New Jersey Governor Chris Christie admitted this week to having Lap-Band weight loss surgery in February. Christie, who has previously poked fun at his weight, is believed to be one of the top contenders for the 2016 Republican party’s Presidential nomination. Some political insiders believed Christie’s weight would be an issue if he ran for president and the weight loss surgery was for political reasons. Christie has stated that was not the case and said, “I did not want to take the risk of becoming unhealthy and the ramifications that would have for Mary Pat and for my four kids. And as you know, I still have children that are in elementary school, so I got a long road here as a father and I don’t want to miss any of it.”
• And finally, Delaware officially became the 11th state to legalize same-sex marriage when the state senate passed a bill allowing it by a 12-9 vote. Governor Jack Markell almost immediately signed the bill into law. Same-sex couples will be able to begin getting married starting July 1st. During the debate before the vote on Tuesday Senator Karen Peterson, who has lived with her female partner for 24 years, said, “If my happiness somehow demeans or diminishes your marriage, then you need to work on your marriage.”

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Justin Burkhardt