BILLBOARD News Now

Open or Closed?

Everyone in America is aware the Federal government is in chaos, the House of Representatives is on vacation, the U. S. Senate is struggling to work and only essential employees are trying to keep planes flying.

If you are paying attention to the events on Capitol Hill, you must have noticed that the U. S. Senate is at work.  They are voting on legislation that if passed would reopen the government, holding hearings with administration officials and today confirmed more than 100 of President Trump nominees.

All the while the House of Representatives is nowhere to be seen after acting on required legislation before the end of the fiscal year.  Members were sent home by House Speaker Mark Johnson.

The House could have stayed on the job since the legislative process can change quickly.  Some unexpected development could open the door and lead to the shutdown being avoided.  House Democrats were there ready to work…but the doors to the House floor were locked.

If the Senate could find a way to enact the Continuing Resolution with a few minor tweaks it would be returned to the House for final passage.  However, Speaker Johnson has given the House another week off.

There could be another reason Johnson does not want members at work.  House members only need one more signature to send a discharge petition to the floor requiring the release of the Epstein files.

That signature is Adelita Grijaiva, newly elected from Arizona who plans to be the 218th signer of the discharge petition. Until she takes the “Oath of Office” she cannot sign.  Wonder if that is why Speaker Johnson gave House members another week off?

The Senate is working…the House vacations…and the public pays!

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Manchin To Announce Intentions

Governor Joe Manchin told POLITICO in Boston he will announce his intentions about entering the Senate race on Monday.  Manchin says only “procedural” matters regarding who would become governor were he to vacate the position remain. He is attending the National...

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Manchin’s Legal Counsel Issues Statement

The Governor’s Legal Counsel has issued a statement advising the Governor to call a special session of the Legislature next week to address the issue of succession.  The statement is below.   STATEMENT FROM THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE Statement from the Governor’s Legal...

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Manchin Capito Matchup In Senate Race

Rasmussen Reports conducted a telephone survey of Likely Voters in West Virginia Thursday night.  Governor Manchin is matched with two potential Republican opponents. Click the link above for the results.

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RNC Enters WV State Chairman’s Race

The Chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) Michael Steele has put himself in the middle of the race to select a Chairman of the Republican Party in WV.  He has no business doing so.  Chairman Steele yesterday announced the RNC will establish a West...

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McGraw Issues Fast Opinion

Attorney General Darrell McGraw in less than a day has responded to Governor Manchin’s request for a legal opinion of the succession process to fill the vacancy left by the passing of Senator Robert C. Byrd. Secretary of State Natalie Tennant had offered her opinion...

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A Private Sector Stimulus

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The Incumbent Protection Act

While a change in the election law may be at hand to fill the seat of the late Senator Byrd I would like to urge “The Incumbent Protection Act” be amended.  That is my name for how vacancies in nominations are filled (Section 3-5-19). Current law says if no one files...

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How Did We Get Section 3-10-3?

Many of us in the political business have been consulting the election laws of West Virginia in recent days.  Reading Section 3-10-3 leaves you wondering where this concept originated.  Political columnist Phil Kabler for The Sunday Gazette-Mail took time last week to...

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Political Tidbits

Political junkies are going to love 2010…..looks like we are moving toward a change in election law…..an election to replace the late Senator Robert C. Byrd…..which could then result in a special election for Governor. Republicans are quiet…..but John Raese is a name...

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Manchin’s Decision

Many readers of phillipsbillboard do not read The Charleston Gazette on a daily basis nor desire to.  There is an excellent historic perspective prepared by The Associated Press on appointees being named to vacant U. S. Senate seats in West Virginia. It could explain...

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Political Tidbits…..

Governor Manchin kept his word…..he will not go to the Senate but remain in office as promised for his full term…..but the Governor got a little help from SOS Natalie Tennant…..she says the law does not require a special election to fill the Byrd seat…..wonder if she...

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West Virginia Day Political Tidbits…..

2010 elections will see Democrats spend $50 million to focus on Obama’s minority and young voters…..want to bet this is the first poll for 2012…..to see if surge voters will return to help re-elect Obama. 1st District congressional candidate David McKinley needs to...

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BILLBOARD Archives

Political Tidbits…..

Good Saturday morning.  No weekend off for Political Tidbits. Breaking last night…..President Obama said some members of Congress should share the blame for the Gulf Oil spill…..this was in an exclusive interview with political writer Roger Simons…..look for more over...

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Political Tidbits…..

Is there a woman Governor in WV’s future…..they carried the day across the country on Tuesday…..what about Betty Ireland…..Gayle Manchin…..Shelley Moore Capito…..Natalie Tennant……don’t count any of them out.  Charleston Judge Mary Stanley was in Washington to help...

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Mitt Romney Has It Right

Governor Romney conducts a leadership seminar in USA Today.  When it comes to a turnaround his record speaks for itself.  This is a piece that ought to be shared.

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Political Tidbits

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First District Will Be National Battleground

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Job Offer Cover Up

Last week I wrote about The President’s lunch with President Clinton the day before the unbelievable explanation offered by the White House Counsel on the job offer to Congressman Sestak.  For weeks I had been following this developing issue.  After the poorly thought...

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Political Tidbits…..

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White House Burns Midnight Oil

IN FAIRNESS.   The Obama White House must have learned a lesson.  It did not take three months to explain the latest job offer. They must have burned the midnight oil.  Just  before as the morning news shows were reaching their peak they released a statement on the...

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Job Offer Mess Grows at White House

Just arrived.  Wonder if it will take Obama's transparent White House three months to answer this one? POLITICO Breaking News: ----------------------------------------------------- Colorado U.S. Senate candidate Andrew Romanoff confirmed Wednesday that Jim Messina,...

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White House Dangles Another Job

The Associated Press late this afternoon broke a story that White House job bank is up and running.  Full details begin with a Washington Post account.

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Japanese Prime Minister Sets Example for Obama

A breaking news dispatch came last night advising Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama intended to resign.  It was reported due to his broken campaign promise. What about Obama’s broken campaign promise to be more transparent?  Just to mention one.

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Obama, Clinton Lunch in Private

Missed in the coverage of the Sestak job offer scandal was a lunch The President had with President Clinton in the private dining room.  This was reported in Politico Playbook 5:31 AM EST Thursday.  Was this a “message coordination luncheon” or “a thank you Clinton”...

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