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Politics

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Politics
1:10 pm
Mon December 17, 2012

What Shut The Back Door To Congressional Compromise

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Credit Harvey Georges / AP
President Kennedy speaks with Senate GOP leader Everett Dirksen of Illinois in March 1961. Dirksen's support was critical to passing civil rights legislation through Congress.
Credit Scott Stewart / AP
President Reagan and House Speaker Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill were able to forge a bond — something that has eluded President Obama and John Boehner.
Credit Barry Thumma / AP
President George H.W. Bush, seen with Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, D-Maine, in 1991, was punished at the ballot box for compromises that produced a budget-reduction act in 1990.
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By Alan GreenblattAlan Greenblatt

Originally published on Mon December 17, 2012 1:50 pm

Remember the important contributions Republicans made to civil rights legislation back in the 1960s?

They've almost been lost to memory. When Congress enacted the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the GOP presidential nominee that year, Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater, opposed it, and Republicans have never recovered their former share of support among African-Americans.

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Politics
12:23 pm
Sat December 15, 2012

Metairie Lawmaker's Resignation Effective Jan. 1

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Jefferson Parish Rep. Tony Ligi has turned in his resignation letter, to take effect at the start of the new year.

Ligi, a Republican from Metairie, is leaving the state House because he is taking a new position as executive director and chief legal counsel for the Jefferson Business Council.

He told lawmakers Friday that his resignation will be effective Jan. 1, though he also told them he'll still be watching activities at the state Capitol.

House Speaker Chuck Kleckley hasn't yet set a date for a special election to fill the vacant House seat.

Politics
9:17 am
Mon November 26, 2012

Supreme Court Turns Down Appeal From Former Rep. William Jefferson

Credit Molly Riley / Reuters /Landov
Former Rep. William Jefferson, D-La., in 2009.
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The congressman who became known as "Dollar Bill" Jefferson appears to have run out of options in his bid to overturn a 2009 corruption conviction.

The Supreme Court just announced it will not hear an appeal from former Rep. William Jefferson, D-La. So, as The Times-Picayune says:

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Politics
4:16 am
Mon November 26, 2012

Young Voters Key In Obama's 2012 Win

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Originally published on Mon November 26, 2012 8:44 am

Transcript

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm Steve Inskeep.

This is the season when political professionals try to make sense of the last election. Plenty of Republicans have been calling for their party to take a new approach to immigration after the Hispanic vote went overwhelmingly to President Obama.

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Politics
4:42 pm
Tue November 20, 2012

Democrats Poised To Pick Up Seats In Final House Tally

Credit Brendan Hoffman / Getty Images
Two weeks after Election Day, the results are almost final. It appears the U.S. House of Representatives will be filled with 234 Republicans and 201 Democrats, though the outcome is not yet official in two states.
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By editor

Originally published on Tue November 20, 2012 6:00 pm

Two weeks after Election Day, it appears the partisan makeup of the new House of Representatives will be 234 Republicans and 201 Democrats, although the outcome is not yet official in two states.

One result that did become clear on Tuesday: Republican Rep. Allen West, a Tea Party favorite, conceded to Democrat Patrick Murphy in Florida.

Unresolved races remain in Louisiana and North Carolina.

A new district map forced two Republican incumbents to run against each other in Louisiana. They will meet in a runoff on Dec. 8.

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