Scott Brown Takes Swipe At Boehner

Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) issued the following statement in response to House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) newfound opposition to extending the current payroll tax holiday by two months:

“The House Republicans’ plan to scuttle the deal to help middle-class families is irresponsible and wrong. I appreciate their effort to extend these measures for a full year, but a two-month extension is a good deal when it means we avoid jeopardizing the livelihoods of millions of American families. The refusal to compromise now threatens to increase taxes on hard-working Americans and stop unemployment benefits for those out of work. During this time of divided government, both parties need to be reasonable and come to the negotiating table in good faith. We cannot allow rigid partisan ideology and unwillingness to compromise stand in the way of working together for the good of the American people.”

Supreme Court Will Hear Health Care Arguments Next March

The Supreme Court announced Monday that they will hear arguments regarding the constitutionality of the health care reform law March 26th through the 28th.

On March 26th, the court will determine whether or not they will even be able to take on the challenges to the law. Under the Anti-Injunction Act, Americans are not allowed to take legal action against a tax until it is actually levied. Since the bill’s most controversial provision, the individual mandate, slaps a tax on those who opt to not purchase health insurance, the Court may be barred for issuing a ruling until the tax goes into effect in three years. 

Presuming the Court will be able to proceed, they will hear arguments over the individual mandate on March 27th and new Medicaid requirements on March 28th.

Top Military Officer: U.S. Vigilant Following Kim Jong Il's Death

General Martin Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Monday that the U.S. is on guard following the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, but that changes in America’s military policy towards the country will likely go unchanged.

“I don’t think you’ll see any change in our posture. There’s no change in our readiness position,” General Dempsey said during a townhall Monday with U.S. servicemembers at the Ramstein Airbase in Germany.

Dempsey, the  country’s highest ranking military officer, noted that the U.S. was aware that the North Korean leader had been in poor health for quite a while and has explored possible post-Kim Jong Il scenarios.

“We think we know what succession looks,” Dempsey said. “But we’re not certain of it.”

Kim, 69, reportedly died of a heart attack. He is expected to be succeeded by his twenty-something year old son Kim Jong Un.

Ron Paul Atop New Iowa Poll

A new Public Policy Polling survey out this morning reveals a potentially explosive new development in the Republican presidential primary race.

Texas Congressman Ron Paul has overtaken former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) as the party’s frontrunner, according to the poll.

At 23 percent, Paul leads former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney by three percentage points. Paul, who eschews mostly libertarian views on policy, has run the most organized campaign of anyone in Iowa. The first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucus takes place in a little over two weeks from today.

Meanwhile, the poll shows Gingrich slipping to 14 percent, followed by former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann and Texas Governor Rick Perry, who each tied at 10 percent apiece.

Click here to read more…

Washington Reacts To Kim Jong Il's Death

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney released the following statement in response to news reports that North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il died over the weekend:

“We are closely monitoring reports that Kim Jong Il is dead. The President has been notified, and we are in close touch with our allies in South Korea and Japan. We remain committed to stability on the Korean peninsula, and to the freedom and security of our allies.”

The White House also announced that President Obama had phoned his South Korean counterpart, Lee Myung-Bak, to discuss the news:

“At midnight tonight, President Obama spoke with Republic of Korea President Lee Myung-bak to discuss the situation on the Korean Peninsula following the death of Kim Jong Il. The President reaffirmed the United States’ strong commitment to the stability of the Korean Peninsula and the security of our close ally, the Republic of Korea. The two leaders agreed to stay in close touch as the situation develops and agreed they would direct their national security teams to continue close coordination.”