In a dramatic reversal on Friday, Susan G. Komen for the Cure announced it will continue funding breast exams at Planned Parenthood clinics, despite deciding earlier this week to cut off funding for the nation’s leading family-planning and abortion provider.

“We want to apologize to the American public for recent decisions that cast doubt upon our commitment to our mission of saving women’s lives,” Komen Founder and CEO Nancy Brinker said in a statement released on the organization’s blog. “…We have been distressed at the presumption that the changes made to our funding criteria were done for political reasons or to specifically penalize Planned Parenthood. They were not.”

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WASHINGTON — A panel of federal judges told parties in a Texas redistricting case Wednesday not to expect a ruling within 30 days, throwing the date of the state’s political primaries further in doubt.

A ruling by the District of Columbia court in the complex case was expected to provide guidance to another San Antonio federal panel trying to draw new maps for state House, Senate and congressional elections. (continue reading)

Susan G. Komen for the Cure says there wasn’t anything political about its decision to stop giving grants to Planned Parenthood.

But in Washington, every decision is political — and now the cancer-fighting organization may have turned itself from a “safe” charity into just another political lightning rod.

It may have ruined its fundraising, too, as its Facebook page filled up with messages from Planned Parenthood supporters promising they’ll never give a dime to the charity again.

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When Rick Perry burst onto the Republican presidential field in August, one of his biggest advantages seemed to be his ability to quickly raise the tens of millions of dollars necessary to win the Republican primary campaign.

But the documents from his now-defunct campaign, filed with the Federal Election Commission on Monday night, show that this advantage eroded after Mr. Perry’s poor debate performances and his uncertain handling of issues like immigration undermined his standing with Republican voters.

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By Chris Tomlinson

AUSTIN — Democrats have three top candidates to choose from in the primary race for the U.S. Senate, but their ultimate choice will probably say more about the party’s future in Texas than who goes to Washington next year.

Every candidate says they are running to win the general election, but the odds are long. Former state Rep. Paul Sadler, party activist Sean Hubbard and trial lawyer Jason Gibson all insist they have a fighting chance to replace Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison this November. Those who believe President Barack Obama will win re-election speculate he could carry many down-ballot Democrats on his coattails, even in the red state of Texas.

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By Chuck Lindell

Texas taxpayers were billed almost $800,000 in travel costs for a security detail to travel with Gov. Rick Perry largely on out-of-state events tied to his presidential campaign from September through November, state figures show.

Most of Perry’s 48 out-of-state destinations were to the early primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, according to a report released late Thursday by the Texas Department of Public Safety, which provides security when Perry and his wife, Anita, travel.

For security reasons, DPS does not reveal how many troopers accompany the governor or how far in advance they arrive at Perry’s destination. (continue reading)

Remarks of President Barack Obama – As Prepared for Delivery
State of the Union Address
“An America Built to Last”

President Obama: Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow Americans:

Last month, I went to Andrews Air Force Base and welcomed home some of our last troops to serve in Iraq. Together, we offered a final, proud salute to the colors under which more than a million of our fellow citizens fought – and several thousand gave their lives.

We gather tonight knowing that this generation of heroes has made the United States safer and more respected around the world. For the first time in nine years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq. For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country. Most of al Qaeda’s top lieutenants have been defeated. The Taliban’s momentum has been broken, and some troops in Afghanistan have begun to come home.
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By Tim Eaton

A federal court in San Antonio said Monday that it is “giving serious consideration” to calling for split dates for party primaries with the presidential nominating contests coming earlier than legislative races in which district boundaries have yet to be decided.

The only way to proceed as planned with a single primary date on April 3 would be for the State of Texas and plaintiffs’ groups suing the state to agree upon interim redistricting maps by Feb. 6, said U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia, who is on the three-judge panel in San Antonio that is hearing one of the Texas redistricting cases. (continue reading)

The Supreme Court on Friday unanimously overturned orders issued by a federal court in Texas that drew new maps for legislative districts, and ordered it to reconsider.  In an 11-page unsigned opinion, the Court said that the three-judge District Court in San Antonio may not have used the “appropriate standards,” which the Court spelled out in some detail.  Justice Clarence Thomas, in a separate opinion, repeated his view that a key federal voting rights act implicated in the Texas case is unconstitutional.  The decision is here.

The Court ordered its ruling into effect immediately, thus stressing the importance of moving rapidly on a dispute in which there has been a Feb. 1 deadline for creation of new maps for the election of members of the Texas state legislature and its 36-member delegation in the U.S.  House of Representatives.    The Justices themselves produced their opinions just 11 days after lawyers had argued the case. (continue reading)