Daily Political Wire 5-11-2010

George Wenschhof

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to propose splitting Mineral Management Services (MMS) into two departments - The Washington Post has more here.

Salazar and the Obama administration are trying to get ahead of the story surrounding the BP oil rig disaster in the Gulf coast. Salazar has been known to have close connections to oil executives while urging the President to allow off-shore oil drilling. It was also MMS which waived the requirement for BP to submit an Environmental Impact Statement.

MMS has been the subject of reports detailing sex parties and gifts between MMS employees and representatives of oil companies.

The proposal by Salazar would have one department responsible for overseeing the leases and collection of the estimated 10 billion in annual royalties and the other department would be charged with inspecting oil rig, oil companies and enforcing safety regulations.

There is more to this story. Stay tuned...

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West Virginia primary today has another incumbent worried - this time it is Democratic Representative Alan Mollahan who is facing a stiff challenge from Democratic state senator Mike Oliverio. Mollahan has served for decades and this is the first time he has faced a primary since 1998. Stay Tuned... AP has more here.

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Democratic Leaders plan to move forward with over 200 billion in additional spending - the budget supplements are for ongoing programs, such as extension of unemployment benefits, 180 billion for medicare doctor payments and 33 billion for the Afghanistan war. Expect Republicans to throw the pay-go legislation promoted by President Obama and passed to be thrown at the Democrats. Republicans will also point to the current Greece debt crisis. TheHill.com has more here.

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DCCC pulls funds from Hawaii special election - DCCC chair Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) announced the suspension of funding after spending nearing $250,000 in the special election to replace Neil Abercrombie (D), who is running for Governor. FirstRead.com has more here.

Republican candidate Charles Djou is winning in the polls due to two Democrats; Collen Hanabusa and Ed Case splitting the vote. A classic case of Democrats beating themselves in a district won by Obama with 70%. Hanabusa has the support of both U.S. Senators and Case was the hopeful by the DCCC.

The emphasis by the DCCC will now be on the general election and supporting the Democratic nominee. In the meantime, a Republican victory in the May 22 special election will be used by them in the spin room.

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