Americans for Prosperity protests lame-duck Congress outside Capitol

Conventional wisdom says the lame-duck session of Congress will not produce any legislation of consequence. Regardless, speakers and activists at an Americans for Prosperity-organized protest outside the U.S. Capitol railed Monday against the prospect of the outgoing Democratic Congress trying to pass anything.

“It’s about trust but verify,” Dallas Woodhouse, More…

Covering climate policy: science versus politics

Maybe it’s time to renew my pledge to write more often about climate science and how it shapes the political debate.

Reuters reports on a new study that shows that under 10 percent of the articles written about last year’s United Nations climate change talks in Copenhagen focused More…

In about-face, McConnell will join DeMint in voting to end earmarks

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. That seems to be the course of action that Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has just taken in his standoff with Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and the Tea Party over earmarks. Delivering remarks on the Senate floor, McConnell just announced More…

California Supreme Court preserves in-state tuition for undocumented students

Some good news for the estimated 25,000 undocumented students who receive in-state tuition in California: The California Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of the state’s law allowing illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition rates at public universities.

California is one of 10 states that allow More…

Coburn says he’ll force a Senate floor vote on earmarks on Wednesday

On a conference call hosted by the Heritage Foundation, Sens. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) delivered an impassioned plea in advance of tomorrow’s Republican Conference vote over ending the practice of requesting earmarks for local spending projects. But if the measure doesn’t pass tomorrow, Coburn made it known More…

Business leaders call for electric vehicle legislation

A coalition of business leaders today called for passage of a series of proposals that would provide tax credits for the purchase and production of electric vehicles.

The push comes as an electric and natural gas vehicles bill that addresses a number of the coalitions concerns is expected to come More…

Anuzis makes it official: He’s challenging Steele for National GOP Chair

Former Michigan GOP chief Saul Anuzis has made it official: He is going to challenge Michael Steele for the right to run the Republican Party.

Anuzis told The New York Times last week he was considering a challenge. Now, on his blog “That’s Saul Folks,” Anuzis lays out More…

Lunchtime Links

James Blunt might have prevented World War III.

Facebook kills Gmail (maybe) with a new email service.

John McCain finds a new reason to oppose repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” …

…and Cindy McCain supports his position, despite what she said in More…

Despite the odds, unions and environmentalists continue push for lame-duck passage of RES

A prominent coalition of unions and environmentalists called today for passage of a renewable energy standard during the lame-duck session, but offered few specifics about the likelihood that such a proposal will actually come up for a vote.

The Blue Green Alliance — which includes among its membership the United More…

Utah conservative groups, leaders commit to moderate stance on immigration

Conservatives in Utah signed a pact last week promising to push for a moderate approach to immigration reform as a state lawmaker works on an Arizona-style immigration enforcement bill for the next session. The “Utah Compact” commits politicians and reform supporters to five broad priorities for More…