CHICAGO
Braun raps Clinton for backing Emanuel
Former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun says Bill Clinton’s decision to campaign for Rahm Emanuel amounts to an outsider helping an outsider in the Chicago mayoral race.
Her comments Wednesday make her the second mayoral candidate to question the ex-president’s endorsement of Mr. Emanuel in the race to replace Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.
On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis, who is also running for mayor, warned Mr. Clinton that he could jeopardize his “long and fruitful relationship” with the black community if he campaigns for Mr. Emanuel instead of one of the two leading black candidates running — Mr. Davis or Mrs. Braun.
A campaign spokesman for Mr. Emanuel declined to comment Wednesday. Messages left for a Clinton spokeswoman were not immediately returned.
VIRGINIA
Tea Party activist seeks GOP Senate nomination
RICHMOND | Virginia Tea Party activist Jamie Radtke has filed a notice of candidacy to run for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.
The Chesterfield County resident recently stepped down as chairwoman of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots. The Senate seat is held by Democratic Sen. Jim Webb, who hasn’t said whether he plans to run again in 2012.
Miss Radtke told the Richmond Times-Dispatch she plans to make a more formal announcement in January.
Other Republicans considering running against Mr. Webb include former Sen. George Allen, whom Mr. Webb unseated in 2006; state Delegate Robert G. Marshall of Prince William County; and Prince William County Board of Supervisors Chairman Corey Stewart.
OHIO
Court ruling prompts new Ohio rules
COLUMBUS | Ohio has unveiled new disclosure requirements in response to a U.S. Supreme Court decision earlier this year that eased restrictions on campaign spending.
Corporations, nonprofits and labor groups will have to show the amounts they spend on independent ads for or against candidates, under rules announced Wednesday by Ohio Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner.
The state’s outgoing elections chief says the ad sponsors also will have to provide voters with a website address in their ads.
The rules include a ban on independent ad spending by businesses that have been awarded state or federal money through Ohio during the previous year.
The rules approved by a legislative panel give the Secretary of State’s office the power to pursue violators.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
N.H. GOP: Let guns back in Statehouse
CONCORD | House Republican leaders want to reverse a ban on guns and other weapons in the New Hampshire Statehouse complex put in place last year by Democrats.
Last year, a special legislative committee — led by Democrats — reinstated the ban on weapons that had been in place from 1996 to 2006.
Guns at the Statehouse had become a concern when people with guns stood and shouted at lawmakers from the House gallery during debate and votes on a resolution to reaffirm the state’s freedom from interference by the federal government, except in areas where the U.S. Constitution gives it powers. The measure failed.
The same legislative committee — but this time with Republicans in charge — plans to bring up the reversal proposal Tuesday.
ALABAMA
Governor’s office taking free Iron Bowl tickets
MONTGOMERY | Alabama Gov. Bob Riley’s office accepted 20 free tickets to this year’s Alabama-Auburn football game while state legislators were preparing for a special session on ethics that resulted in a new law making it more difficult for officials to accept such perks.
Mr. Riley says the tickets were available to members of his staff during his eight years as governor, and he decided not to change that in his last year, even with the special session on ethics looming.
Legislators passed tougher ethics laws that put limits on how much can be spent on state officials, which will make it difficult to accept the free tickets in the future.
“We talked about it, but we decided not to change in the last year,” Mr. Riley said. “Not to do it this year seemed a little disingenuous.”
It’s a long-standing tradition for both the University of Alabama and Auburn University to provide tickets and free parking to state leaders for the annual Iron Bowl. The Birmingham News reported that at least 28 officials turned down the 2010 tickets. Some gave them away.
NEW YORK
Cuomo moves first big speech to convention center
ALBANY | Gov.-elect Andrew M. Cuomo has shifted the venue for his first major policy speech from the state Assembly chamber to the Empire State Plaza Convention Center, roughly doubling the capacity with about 1,000 more seats.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver says requests for invitations to the Jan. 5 State of the State Address have exceeded the Assembly capacity.
Mr. Cuomo says he wants more of the public to attend. General-admission tickets will be distributed through a lottery process. Details were not immediately disclosed.
The address, where governors often lay out plans for the coming year, are usually attended by legislators, lobbyists and reporters.
Mr. Cuomo said Wednesday that Mr. Silver, a Democrat, and Republican Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos will also speak.
• From wire dispatches and staff reports
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