Pence meets privately with potential Cabinet appointee Corker

Sen. Bob Corker, who is being considered by Donald Trump 's transition team for the secretary of state post, met privately with Vice President-elect Pence Thursday morning. Corker confirmed the meeting to the Washington Examiner but would not discuss any details of the conversation, including whether the meeting centered around his candidacy to become President-elect Trump's top foreign diplomat.

Gingrich rules out Cabinet role in Trump administration

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich confirmed on Thursday that he is not seeking a Cabinet-level post in the next administration, dispelling rumors that he was being considered to lead the Pentagon or State Department. Instead, Gingrich said he intends to assist the Trump administration as a private citizen.

Zoe Lofgren

A bill intended to close loopholes in the H-1B visa program , introduced by Representative Darrell Issa and co-sponsored by the rest of the San Diego delegation, is facing opposition and a committee vote has been delayed. The Protect and Grow American Jobs Act , as the bill is known, was touted for its bipartisan support.

John Garamendi

Fifteen of California's 53 congressional districts are expected to see competitive races in the November election. Among the most interesting congressional races: Rep. John Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, faces Republican Dr. N. Eugene Cleek, a surgeon and farmer from Orland who has received the National Republican Congressional Committee's "Young Guns" label and support.

Doug LaMalfa

California's $64 billion high-speed rail plan lacks reliable funding sources and is in danger of ending up with only one line that doesn't connect to San Francisco or Los Angeles, members of a Congressional panel said Monday during a hearing. Proceeds from a state environment program that is supposed to help fund the project were far below expectations and private funding for the train has yet to materialize, Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a California Republican, said.

Why Its Not All Doom And Gloom Around Here

A few years ago Blue America's list of endorsed candidates had the biggest success rate of any PAC recruiting and endorsing candidates. We beat NARAL, the Sierra Club, the Human Rights Campaign and the League of Conservation Voters that year-- not to mention the NRA and Club for Growth.

Outspending Sununu didn’t win Van Ostern NH governor’s race

Nearly final campaign spending and receipt reports to Secretary of State Bill Gardner's office confirm that Democrat Colin Van Ostern was easily going to finish well ahead of Republican Gov.-elect... Democrat Colin Van Ostern, left listens as Republican Chris Sununu, answers a question during the Granite State Debates gubernatorial debates held at ... (more)

Donald Trump denies reports of transition team issues

President-elect Donald Trump and his team are battling back against charges of chaos and infighting as they race to set up an administration. The incoming Republican administration got an unlikely boost from outgoing Vice President Joe Biden, who said "no administration is ready on Day One."

Pelosi Faces Little-Known Opponent as Democrats Rue Election

Representative Tim Ryan, a little-known Democrat from Ohio, said Thursday he'll challenge Nancy Pelosi to lead a party that's reeling from a disappointing Election Day. Ryan's announcement that he'll run against Pelosi pits him against the only woman to ever serve as House Speaker and comes after more than a half-dozen better-known colleagues in recent years shied away from the challenge.

Several’ officials have asked Bentley about Sessions’ seat; Mo Brooks interested

Gov. Robert Bentley already has a list of willing volunteers for U.S. Senate, should Jeff Sessions leave his seat for a job in President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet. Bentley's spokeswoman said "several" people have reached out to the governor about Sessions' seat.

Bernie Sanders ‘Looking Forward’ to Seeing Donald Trump Honor His Populist Promises

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders called on President-elect Donald Trump follow through on a raft of pledges-including heavy federal spending on Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and infrastructure-that he made as candidate, in the face of the Republican Congress's budget-slashing ambitions. Trump split with decades of fiscally conservative GOP dogma during his erratic run at the presidency by promising to leave entitlement outlays untouched and to sink billions into the country's bridges, roads and water systems.

The Latest: Trump to bar officials from lobbying for 5 years

Donald Trump's transition team says the incoming president is planning to require officials to pledge that they won't lobby the government for five years after leaving the Trump administration. Transition spokesman Sean Spicer says Trump will require new government officials to terminate their role as either state or federal lobbyists before joining the administration.

How Trump’s son-in-law spurred a ‘purge’ of Christie associates21 minutes ago

Gov. Christie risked his political reputation as a moderate Republican with good standing in the establishment wing of the party by endorsing the insurgent campaign of Donald Trump. His long-shot bet appeared to pay off last week with Trump's stunning election victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

APNewsBreak: VA whistleblower resigns, citing retaliation

A Department of Veterans Affairs employee who told Congress the agency was using unauthorized wait lists for mental health care in Colorado has resigned, saying he was subjected to retaliation for speaking out. Brian Smothers told The Associated Press Wednesday the VA had opened two separate inquiries into his actions and tried to get him to sign a statement saying he had broken VA rules.

Republican Electors Are Being Called Upon To Vote Their Conscience, Not For Trump

Since the election, there has been much talk about the idea of "faithless electors;" that is, those in the electoral college who defy the pledge to vote for Trump and instead vote for another Republican. They call themselves "Hamilton Electors."

Great Northern transmission line receives final permit

Minnesota Power's Great Northern Transmission Line received federal approval Wednesday when the U.S. Department of Energy issued a Presidential Permit allowing the transmission line to cross the international border between the United States and Canada. Lines in Minnesota will carry clean electricity generated by Manitoba Hydro.