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Mike Pence has spent more than a decade courting the deep-pocketed small-government cadre that has come to dominate Republican politics: The Koch brothers, the Club for Growth and the Heritage Foundation.

He turned their heads by opposing President George W. Bushs No Child Left Behind education bill in 2001; captured their imagination by leading a revolt against the expansion of Medicare into prescription drug coverage in 2003; and won their loyalty with a 2004 speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference that took the GOP to task for veering off course into big-government Republicanism.

Now, Pence is in his second year as governor of Indiana, and some of the very same Republicans who once thought of the former radio talk-show host as their voice on the U.S. House floor want him in the 2016 Republican presidential contest.

I have no doubt that he would make a great president, said Steven Chancellor, the chief executive officer of Evansville, Indiana-based American Patriot Group, the parent of a company that makes ready-to-eat rations for the Pentagon. He certainly distinguished himself in the House and is off to a great start as governor.

White knight or dark horse, Republicans are searching for a candidate who can unite the partys pro-business establishment with its small-government activists, particularly now that New Jersey Governor Chris Christies bridge scandal has left a void in the presidential field. Pences allies say the temperate-toned executive has a record that pleases the staunchest defense hawks, anti-tax groups and abortion-rights opponents.

Pence is extremely well thought of on the conservative side and has a lot of support from the mainstream, as well, said Chancellor, who has encouraged Pence to run in subtle ways, even though he also likes former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Florida Senator Marco Rubio and South Dakota Senator John Thune as prospective candidates.

Part of the challenge for Pence, 54, is that he would have to distinguish himself from a bumper crop of Republican governors with longer records who are also potential candidates. They include Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Texas Governor Rick Perry, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Bush. Grover Norquist, president of the Washington-based Americans for Tax Reform, said Pence has to answer this question after just slightly more than a year running Indiana: How do I compete with people who have done a whole bunch?

And even though hes a favorite of some of the wealthiest Republican donors, many of those contributors have also given to other potential Republican hopefuls.

Pence said last week that hes listening to those who want him to run for president, and his campaign reports show he can raise enough money to compete.

When he ran for governor, billionaire industrialist David H. Koch poured $200,000 into the campaign, according to Indiana campaign finance records. Angies List co-founder Bill Oesterle of Indianapolis kicked in $100,000, and Waltham, Massachusetts-based buyout specialist J.W. Childs added $50,000 to Pences coffers.

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Mike Pence, a Koch Favorite, Mulls 2016 Run for President

National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Mr. Maxi Okwu, has written to the Independent National Electoral Commission, asking it to afford it all necessary facilities to participate in the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

In a letter dated April 14, 2014, signed by Okwu and Sagir Maidoya, Chairman and Secretary respectively, APGA urged INEC to respect the decisions of the courts, which ruled that the National Working Committee of the party, elected at the April 8, 2013 national convention of the party, was the authentic leadership of APGA.

The PUNCH got details of the letter on Tuesday.

It was entitled Demand for the formal recognition of the All Progressives Grand Alliance National Executive elected on 8th April 2013 at Womens Development Centre, Awka, Anambra State.

The letter further indicated that the striking out of the first application by the judgment debtors for stay of execution of the judgment of January 15, 2014 ends an important stage of this litigation.

It stated that when juxtaposed with the proceedings on April 8, 2014, at the Court of Appeal, we submit that we are now fully entitled to enjoy the fruits of our judgment.

It also stated that though the case was on appeal to the Court of Appeal, the law is settled that the decision of the court remains valid and must be complied with until it is set aside.

The APGA executive consequently informed INEC that we therefore with the greatest respect urge you as a law abiding organisation to immediately abide with the decision of the courts of the land.

It added that the urgency of this matter is heightened by the pendency of gubernatorial by-elections in Ekiti and Osun states and we would not want our party to suffer any legal disabilities in its nominations.

Originally posted here:
Ekiti, Osun polls: Okwu writes INEC on APGAs participation

The good news for progressives, including Madisons Democratic congressman, Mark Pocan, is that the budget proposal authored by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis, has almost no chance of becoming law anytime soon.

Although the Ryan budget narrowly passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives last week, it does not have the support necessary to get through the Democratic Senate and President Barack Obama would not sign it even if it did.

The bad news for progressives is that their alternative budget proposal has about the same chance of seeing the president's desk.

But the Congressional Progressive Caucus, made up of 67 liberal Democrats and one independent (Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont), is promoting its vision for American economic recovery and deficit reduction nonetheless.

The differences between Ryans budget and the progressive alternative display many of the age-old left-right debates over what the government should prioritize. Ryan seeks to balance the budget by reducing spending on entitlements and other social programs, while progressives aim to cut defense spending and raise revenue by increasing taxes on capital gains and incomes above $250,000.

The two proposals also reflect fundamentally different beliefs about how to generate economic growth.

Ryan believes that trimming spending on social programs and cutting taxes on the American investment class will lead to heightened economic activity, which will generate greater tax revenue.

He argues in supply-side fashion that lowering tax rates and plugging loopholes will produce more income, not less, conservative economist and columnist Larry Kudlow noted approvingly in 2012.

In contrast, progressives believe that New Deal-style spending on programs that deliver dollars directly to low and middle-income Americans food stamps, hiring more teachers is a more effective way to jump-start the economy and will ultimately lead to a balanced budget down the road.

Laura Dresser, an economist at the liberal Center on Wisconsin Strategy, explained the progressive approach: When youre in a down cycle and there is a lack of jobs, you need demand in the system and the only place that can come from is the government.

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Comparing Paul Ryan's budget to the proposal from Mark Pocan's progressive caucus

The congresses of the All Progressives Congress in four local governments of the Edo-North Senatorial District have been cancelled due to the inability of party members to reach a consensus agreement.

The local governments are Akoko-Edo, Etsako-West, Etsako-Central and Owan-West.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria, who monitored the exercise, reports that the congresses were held in Owan-East and Etsako-East local governments.

The Chairman of Owan-West Local Government, Mr. Godwin Aigbodion, told NAN that the congresses were cancelled because party members disagreed on adopting consensus candidates for the positions of Chairman and Secretary.

The local government congress has been cancelled as party members in the local government area could not reach a consensus agreement on the position of local government chairman of the party.

I cannot say when the congress would hold, but members need to go and harmonise before the congress will take place, he said.

However, in the Owan-East local government, a consensus was agreed as names of the elected officers were harmonised and affirmed through the raising of hands by the delegates.

The Chairman of Owan-East, Mr Jimoh Ijegbai, said that the council decided to build on the consensus agreement to elect party officials.

We decided to build on the consensus agreement and as you witnessed yourself, the only position that was contested for is the position of youth leader and an election was conducted.

The 275 delegates that came from the 11 wards voted at the congress; that is the beauty of democracy.

See the article here:
APC cancels congresses in four Edo councils

David Graham | Ralph Rodighiero | 24th District West Virginia House of Delegates | Liberals ACA Guns
David Graham and Ralph Rodighiero are both running for the 24th District West Virginia House of Delegates. This video covers some of what has been found with...

By: West VA Liberal Agenda

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David Graham | Ralph Rodighiero | 24th District West Virginia House of Delegates | Liberals ACA Guns - Video