Rangel Trial Will Focus on Corporate Favors From Tax Committee, Former Chairman Sought $30 Million Donations by Gregory Hilton

February 2009, the President and Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) are shown in the East Room of the White House. In the center is the late Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA). This was Rangel's highpoint. The next month he would lose his Chairmanship of the most influential committee on Capitol Hill.

The House Ethics Committee yesterday released an in-depth report on its 21-month investigation into the financial dealings of Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY). Rangel is the former Chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, and the report describes how he used that role to request contributions of $30 million a piece from many of the nations top corporations. The recipient was his vanity project at City College of New York (CCNY) which was intended to be similar to a presidential library.

Tabloid Photos Bring Back Angelina Jolie’s Troubled Past, But Her Message is Inspirational by Gregory Hilton

The tabloid has published the old photos for the first time, and this is one of the less controversial shots. Jolie appears to be crying. The actress has already admitted she had a troubled past.

A tabloid has just published nude and provocative photos of Angelina Jolie, the Academy Award winning international superstar. The photos were taken years before she became famous, and what they all have in common is that the actress looks desperately unhappy.

Why We Need to Kill The Death Tax by Gregory Hilton

Whitemarsh Hall outside of Philadelphia was constructed in 1921 by J.P. Morgan's partner, Edward T. Stotesbury. It was then America's fifth largest home, and his other residences were "El Mirasol," the first Spanish style mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, and Wingwood House, his 80 room “cottage” in Bar Harbor, Maine. Stotesbury's 150 servants rotated between various residences and maintained his private railroad car, yacht and fleet of luxury automobiles. Whitemarsh Hall was over 100,000 square feet, and it had 147 rooms, 24 fireplaces, three elevators with access to six different levels (three below, three above), a movie theater, barber shop and wine cellar that remained fully stocked through out Prohibition.

The death tax is now back on top of the legislative agenda. As part of George W. Bush’s 2001 tax cut, the estate tax was reduced gradually and this year it is zero. The death duties will go back into effect next January unless Congress acts, and the old 55% rate will return.

Rep. Mary Fallin Wins Gubernatorial Primary, But Will Republicans Unite? by Gregory Hilton

Rep. Mary Fallin (OK) won the GOP gubernatorial nomination last night with 55% of the vote. It was a clear victory but State Sen. Randy Bragdon’s 39% indicates he picked up considerable support over the past few weeks. The results were damaging to the reputation of the state’s best known survey, the Sooner Poll.

Campaign 2010: 100 Days Left, GOP Has High Hopes but Many Races are Too Close to Call by Gregory Hilton

There are now 100 days left before the 2010 election. The polls continue to be favorable for Republicans, but many key races are in the toss-up category. If the election were held today, the GOP would pick up at least six seats in the U.S. Senate, 11 Governors, 26 seats in the House of Representatives, and control of an additional 8 state legislative chambers.

The Tea Party and the New GOP Contract by Gregory Hilton

House Republican Leader John Boehner (OH) is continuing to advocate a new GOP manifesto. A name has not been selected but the document is expected to be similar to the 1994 Contract With America, which was developed by then House Whip Newt Gingrich (R-GA). The original Contract was the focal point of a campaign which resulted in Republican capture of both the House and Senate.

In Six Months Gov. Chris Christie Has Transformed New Jersey by Gregory Hilton

For the past 180 days, no other state capital has matched the excitement and change of Trenton, New Jersey. On his 6th month anniversary this week, Gov. Chris Christie (R) expressed gratitude for the reforms which have been enacted and promised to bring “even more change” in the future.

Major Victory for Conservatives: Senate Puts Global Warming in Deep Freeze by Gregory Hilton

Advocates of the Kerry cap and trade bill say it is necessary to stop sea levels from rising and flooding low-lying coastal areas such as New York City. The graphics used in Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" movie predicted a 20 foot increase in sea levels. Gore received the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize along with the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The IPCC has significantly revised its data and they now say a six inch increase is possible over the next century. Even that claim is seriously disputed.

Sen. John Kerry’s (D-MA) cap and trade system is going down to defeat in a major victory for conservative Republicans. The legislation was supposed to be on the Senate floor this afternoon, but now a vote on cap and trade is highly doubtful.

Georgia Votes on Tuesday: Top Republicans Want to Eliminate State Income Tax by Gregory Hilton

The final debate in the Georgia GOP gubernatorial primary was held last night. Front runner Karen Handel was represented by an empty podium because she refuses to appear on stage with Ray McBerry. The primary election is on Tuesday, and a run-off is expected to be held on August 10th. From the left are State Sen. Jeff Chapman, former Congressman Nathan Deal, former State Sen. Eric Johnson, Ray McBerry and Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine. Photo by Ruth Malhotra.

The Georgia Republican gubernatorial primary will be held on Tuesday but no candidate is expected to receive 50% of the vote. That will result in an August 10th run-off election between the top two finishers.

West Virginia Will Hold A Special Election for U.S. Senate: Return of the LBJ Law by Gregory Hilton

The West Virginia legislature voted last night to approve a special election this November to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the late U.S. Senator Robert Byrd (D). A compromise was reached at 5 pm and the legislation was then approved with large majorities in both chambers.