• Gibbons: Use lottery commission to pay for pre-K

    March 10, 2010

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Gibbons is proposing to fund pre-kindergarten expansion by cutting the amount of money the state lottery pays to ticket vendors. Gibbons, who is the top prosecutor in Shelby County, said at a gubernatorial forum in Nashville on Wednesday that "big oil" shouldn't receive... more »
  • Democrat White hits Perry on state budget cuts

    March 9, 2010

    AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Democrat Bill White is criticizing Republican Gov. Rick Perry for pressing state agencies to cut their budgets by five percent, calling the approach "Soviet-style" budget management. With Texas facing a budget shortfall of at least $11 billion, White says he'd insist on "fiscal discipline" but refuses to... more »
  • Ex-Pa. treasurer exits race for Murtha's seat

    March 10, 2010

    HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) Former Pennsylvania treasurer and auditor general Barbara Hafer (HAY'-fuhr) has dropped out of the Democratic primary race for the U.S. House seat once held by late Rep. John Murtha. Hafer said Wednesday she's exiting the race to defer to Murtha aide Mark Critz, who has been endorsed... more »
  • Republican Sen. Kip Averitt to resign

    March 8, 2010

    AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Republican Sen. Kip Averitt of Waco is resigning his Senate seat, saying it will allow Gov. Rick Perry to call a May special election to replace him. Averitt won his re-election race last week. That's even after his January announcement that he was dropping out of the... more »
  • Ex-Christian Coalition head won't run for Congress

    March 10, 2010

    ATLANTA (AP) Former Christian Coalition head Ralph Reed says that after much thought and prayer he has decided not to run for Congress in Georgia. Reed considered seeking the Republican nomination for Georgia's 7th Congressional District northeast of Atlanta, but announced Wednesday on Twitter that he won't. The boyish-looking 48-year-old... more »
  • Texas Gov. Perry must win in Nov. before 2012 talk

    March 6, 2010

    AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Before Rick Perry can parlay his victory in the Texas governor's primary into something bigger like a spot on the 2012 Republican presidential ticket, perhaps he'll have to win a record-setting, third full four-year term. And that means beating Bill White, the former Houston mayor. White might... more »
  • Ky. finance secretary criticized over fundraiser

    March 9, 2010

    FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) The Kentucky Republican Party chairman is criticizing state Finance Secretary Jonathan Miller for sending out invitations to a fundraiser for Gov. Steve Beshear. GOP Chairman Steve Robertson says Miller shouldn't be raising funds for Beshear's re-election campaign because he oversees many state contracts. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports... more »
  • Unofficial results: Edwards loses by 11 votes

    March 4, 2010

    HOUSTON (AP) State Rep. Al Edwards of Houston apparently lost by 11 votes in his re-election bid, but the tally could change. Unofficial results from the Texas secretary of state's office, with all precincts reporting, showed former Rep. Borris Miles the Democratic primary winner in District 146. Election officials say... more »
  • Woes at family bank loom over Ill. Senate race

    March 9, 2010

    CHICAGO (AP) Democrats desperate to hold on to President Barack Obama's old Senate seat are scrambling to counter revelations that a bank owned by their candidate's family may be nearing collapse. The troubles of Chicago-based Broadway Bank have become the central focus in one of the country's hottest Senate races.... more »
  • Savvy conservatism, country charm led Perry to win

    March 4, 2010

    AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Rick Perry was once written off as a lightweight who got the state's top job because George W. Bush handed it to him. Not anymore. Perry's proven he can do more than show up at the right place at the right time. In this case, he didn't... more »