Cal Thomas: Mike Pence says Trump has a mandate

When Mike Pence becomes the 48th vice president of the United States next month, he will take on the role of a political lobbyist for Donald Trump's activist agenda. In an interview I conducted with Pence in his transitional office next to a sandwich shop in Washington, he said he believed voters gave Donald Trump a "mandate."

The Latest: Trump team says Energy questions unauthorized

In this June 15, 2012, file photo, Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson shake hands at a signing ceremony of an agreement between state-controlled Russian oil company Rosneft and ExxonMobil at the Black Sea port of Tuapse, southern Russia. President-elect Donald Trump selected Tillerson to lead the State Department on Monday, Dec. 12, 2016.

Most Valley Congressmen, senators support cyber hacking probe

With Illinois Senator Dick Durbin calling for a National Intelligence Estimate on the subject, most - but not all - members of the Wabash Valley Congressional delegation support investigations by Congress and the Obama Administration into possible Russian intervention in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Durbin is among nine Democratic senators who this week called on James Clapper, director of national intelligence, to provide an authoritative assessment of the collective judgment of the nation's 16 intelligence agencies into allegations Russia intervened in the election, possibly to assist Donald Trump, and publication of an unclassified summary of key judgments by Jan. 20, 2017.

Eric Brakey says he may seek U.S. Senate seat

After winning re-election last month by a wide margin, 28-year-old state Sen. Eric Brakey is eyeing what might come next. He has ruled out a possible gubernatorial bid in 2018 but hedged on whether he might take aim at U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent who plans to seek a second term as Maine's junior senator.

Maine congressional delegation visits New Balance factory

The director of manufacturing at New Balance says a "Made-in-USA" provision for athletic footwear for military recruits could mean an additional 250,000 sneakers a year. Brendan Melley touted the figure Wednesday as three members of Maine's congressional delegation visited a New Balance factory in Skowhegan, the Morning Sentinel reported.

Trump picks Michigana s Ronna Romney McDaniel for RNC chair

Michigan's Republican Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel is President-elect Donald Trump's choice to become the new Republican National Committee chair next year. The niece of 2012 GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney would be the first woman to hold the committee's top position in 40 years, and her promotion comes after Trump became the first Republican to carry Michigan in 28 years.

Trump, US Technology Leaders Attempt to Move Past Election Animosity

President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with technology industry leaders at Trump Tower in New York, Dec. 14, 2016. From left are, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Alphabet CEO Larry Page, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, Vice President-elect Mike Pence, and Trump.

Request for Energy employees working on climate change a not authorizeda by Trump team

President-elect Donald Trump's transition team said Thursday that a survey sent to the Energy Department asking for the names of people who had work on climate change was "not authorized." "The questionnaire was not authorized or part of our standard protocol," Trump spokesman Sean Spicer said .

For the Record: Davis’ spending among top 20% in House

Spending by U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, in the past quarter has been in the top 20 percent of his fellow representatives. As prosecutors prepare their corruption case against former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock , The News-Gazette decided to look at the past quarter's spending by U.S. Rep. RODNEY DAVIS , R-Taylorville.

How Fast Could GOP Congress Get Obamacare Repeal To Trump’s Desk?

House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is part of the Republican leadership working to repeal the Affordable Care Act as quickly as possible in January. Republicans in Congress are so eager to repeal the Affordable Care Act that some have vowed to get a bill to President-elect Donald Trump's desk on the day he takes the oath of office.

Donald Who?:

Why the GOP Congress Will Stop Trump from Going Too Far : The coming resistance from Republican lawmakers who hate Trump, fear executive overreach--or both. Consider the many ways in which the substantial ambitions of GOP legislators could bring them into conflict with the Trump administration.

Why is Rex Tillerson as secretary of state so controversial?

Boosters of Donald Trump's candidate to be the next secretary of state talk about his experience leading one of the world's largest companies -- and so do his detractors. Fans of ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson say running a global energy company equips the 64-year-old with the management tools needed to represent the US abroad.

Republican looks to overhaul Social Security

A senior Republican lawmaker wants to overhaul Social Security, the decades-old program that provides benefits to some 60 million retirees and disabled, with a plan to gradually increase the retirement age and slow the growth of benefits for higher-income workers. Rep. Sam Johnson, of Texas, the chairman of the House Ways and Means subcommittee on Social Security, introduced legislation just before the end of the congressional session last week that he said would "permanently save" the program while increasing some benefits for lower-income workers.

Going in would have been a calamity: Michael Burleigh says it is…

Going in would have been a calamity: MICHAEL BURLEIGH says it is nonsense that Britain holds some responsibility for the horrors in Syria after not intervening The endgame in Aleppo was always going to be dreadful. How could it not be after many months of a siege that has generated terrible suffering with heart-rending images being broadcast round the world? But for Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, former chancellor George Osborne and other MPs to say we in Britain bore some responsibility for the horrors now taking place in the ancient Syrian city because we did not intervene in the war is, quite frankly, nonsense.

Trump rewards Michigan party chair with national role – Tue, 13 Dec 2016 PST

President-elect Donald Trump wants Michigan Republican Party Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel to be national party chairwoman, in part as a reward for the party carrying Michigan for the first time in 28 years. The choice of McDaniel to serve as Republican National Committee chairwoman was confirmed Tuesday night by a person familiar with Trump's decision.

GOP to Reintroduce ‘Religious Liberty’ Bill Targeting LGBT People

When at first you don't succeed in discriminating against LGBT people, wait until Trump is sworn in as president. That's the strategy of Congressional Republicans, who told BuzzFeed News that the GOP plans to reintroduce the First Amendment Defense Act next year, hopeful that the "religious liberty" bill will pass under "a new Congress and new administration."