Deal Wins GOP Nod In Georgia's Gubernatorial Race

Nathan Deal will be the GOP nominee in Georgia’s Gubernatorial race following a statement issued by Karen Handel conceding the close primary.

“As of this morning, we are four tenths of a percentage point behind Nathan Deal,” Handel said. “We certainly have the option of requesting the automatic statewide recount. But we are not going to do that.”

Handel, Georgia’s former Secretary of State, was endorsed by Sarah Palin as part of the ex-Alaska Governor’s “Mama Grizzly” campaign. Deal is a former U.S. Congressman.

Former Rep Rostenkowski Dies

The Associated Press is reporting that former Rep. Dan Rostenkowski (D-Ill.), who served 18 terms in Congress, has died at the age of 82. Rostenkowski was, at one point, chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. He was voted out of Congress in 1994, and later served time in prison on corruption charges…

White House Announces $3 Billion To Help Unemployed Homeowners

The White House announced Wednesday that the administration will allocate $3 billion for foreclosure prevention programs aimed at unemployed homeowners.

“The U.S. Department of the Treasury will make $2 billion of additional assistance available for HFA programs for homeowners struggling to make their mortgage payments due to unemployment,” according to a statement put out by the White House late Wednesday morning.

The statement goes on to say, “The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will soon launch a complementary $1 billion Emergency Homeowners Loan Program to provide assistance – for up to 24 months – to homeowners who are at risk of foreclosure and have experienced a substantial reduction in income due to involuntary unemployment, underemployment, or a medical condition.”

The $3 billion will come from the Hardest Hit Fund, a safety-net set up in February for states particularly affected by the economic downturn.

Palin Statement On Stevens

Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin posted the following statement regarding the death of former Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens on her Facebook page Tuesday evening:

It’s with great sadness that Todd and I hear the reports coming in of Senator Ted Stevens’ passing in the plane crash near Dillingham. In our land of towering mountains and larger than life characters, none were larger than the man who in 2000 was voted “Alaskan of the Century.” This decorated World War II pilot was a warrior and a true champion of Alaska.

In 40 years of service in the U.S. Senate, he fought tenaciously for Alaska’s future. Alaskans know how much we owe to Senator Stevens, but all Americans owe him a debt of gratitude for his leadership on many issues, including the crucial energy issues that fuel American prosperity. Two years ago, he sat at my kitchen table over a salmon lunch, and we talked about our long anticipated Alaska natural gas pipeline and our mutual commitment to have the Last Frontier’s rich resources contribute to America’s quest for energy independence. 

Our Senator was also known for spearheading efforts to ensure equality in education, and his Title IX legislation allowed girls to be on a level playing field in the athletic arena. 

Our hearts and prayers are with the Stevens family and the families of the other victims of the crash.

- Sarah Palin

Democrats Vote Down Price Resolution

Led by Democrats, the House today voted against a resolution put forth by Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) that would’ve kept Congress out of session following the November elections. The Hill has more on the story…