Ann Romney Says She’ll Work with Troubled Teens as First Lady

Darren McCollester/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- At a campaign stop in Iowa, Ann Romney, wife of GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney, said working with “at risk” kids would be the cause she devotes herself to if she becomes first lady.

“At risk youth has been a concern of mine and love of mine for a lot of years,” she said.

Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, hinted that his wife would choose to work with troubled young people if he were elected president as he campaigned in Florida earlier this week.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

GOP Pressures for Health Reform Repeal with 1.6 Million Signatures

ABC News Radio(WASHINGTON) -- About a dozen congressional Republicans gathered Wednesday morning to pressure Democrats to repeal the president’s health care law and to receive 1.6 million hand-signed signatures demanding that Congress overturn the law before it can be fully implemented.

Rep. Steve King, who has helped champion the effort to repeal the law and also to defund it, said he wakes up every day “to fight ‘ObamaCare.'”

“Health care costs more. We have fewer insured. Everything good that [President Obama] said it was going to do we got the inverse of the president’s promise on this,” King, R-Iowa, said. “What they really designed this to do was create a socialized medicine policy.”

Twenty-nine boxes filled with petitions containing 1.6 million signatures to repeal the Affordable Care Act were delivered to Capitol Hill Wednesday morning by Ken Hoagland, the chairman of Restore America’s Voice Foundation and repealitnow.org.

King said that the petitions serve as a reminder to members of Congress not to give up on their effort or wait for the courts to overturn the legislation, but rather to press forward and attempt to repeal the legislation until a like-minded Republican is in the White House.

“We need to do everything we can do within the job that we’ve been assigned here in the legislature, and then in the end the presidential candidates will be the ones that help us out the most. They’ve all been clear; they’re all for repeal of Obamacare,” King said. “We need to find a way to get it done, get it on the president’s desk. And some would say that the president wouldn’t sign that if it’s on his desk…Let’s just get it there and see.”

Sen. Jim DeMint, a leading conservative associated with the Tea Party movement, admitted that there are genuine problems in the country’s health care system but he said that any solutions Republicans proposed when the law was being drafted “were summarily ignored by the president” as Barack Obama forced the “socialization of medicine, the federal control of health care, that has proved all his promises false.”

“It’s obvious the president has done harm to health care, to our economy and to the American people,” he added. “This is not a partisan issue, this is an American issue. We have got to stop this before it is implemented. We cannot wait for the Courts. It’s something we need to do for the American people here in Congress.”

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

First Lady Reveals Her Daughters Fight over Secret Service Detail

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza(WASHINGTON) -- First Lady Michelle Obama visited the Secret Service headquarters Wednesday to thank the agents for their hard work and for being like family, so much so that her daughters actually fight over which detail gets assigned to cover them.

“You all have really made us feel at home and safe, and there is no amount of thanks that I could convey that would give you a sense of how important you all are to us,” the first lady told more than 200 agents. “We love our details...for us, it’s like having family around.”

The first lady explained that there’s a “fight among our family” over who works with which agents.

“Sasha will come in, it’s like, ‘You took Scott!’… Malia’s like, ‘You took Scott? That’s not fair!’” Mrs. Obama said, impersonating her daughters.

The squabbling doesn’t stop there, however. “Then I’ll say the same thing to Barack – it’s like ‘Why did you get Beth?’”

“It’s dinner table conversation. But that’s because we feel close to each of you.  And particularly for the girls, they have just transitioned beautifully because of the work that you all do,” she said.

Mrs. Obama also toured the headquarters Wednesday and came to the conclusion that “ignorance is bliss.”

“I mean, the work you do here is pretty scary, let’s just say that,” she said. “I just don’t want to know. You all can handle all that; just tell me when -- where to run.”

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Democrats Revise Obama Jobs Bill: New Tax On Millionaires

US Senate(WASHINGTON) -- Hoping to win over Democratic support for the president’s jobs bill, Senator Reid announced Wednesday he’s tweaking the $447 billion jobs plan by substituting some of Obama’s provisions for a tax increase on the “richest of the rich,” those earning $1 million a year or higher. 

“The American people believe it is time for millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share to help this country thrive,” Majority Leader Reid, D-NV., said on the Senate floor Wednesday  morning. “So when Democrats bring this common sense job legislation to the floor, we'll ask Americans who make more than $1 million a year to contribute more to help this country reduce its jobs deficit.”

The move would throw out the pay-for provisions that were listed in the White House-written American Jobs Act and replace it with a 5% tax increase on millionaires. The 5% surtax on a millionaires' earned income rate would not be permanent, lasting for the next ten years and would completely fund the $447 billion jobs bill, Reid said today. 

Obama had proposed higher taxes on family incomes over $250,000 and on the oil and gas industry as a way to pay for the bill. Some Democrats, like Senator Schumer, D-NY., faced a constituent base that would have been hit hard by the higher tax rates, so the increase to a surcharge on millionaires will likely win over Democratic votes.

The Democratic leadership believes they have an “overwhelming majority” of Democrats for this bill now, although confess there has not been a proper whip count yet, with the new proposal.

Democrats said they have consulted with the White House over the change to the president’s original proposal and they are “fine with the idea,” because the president was always open for alternative ways of paying for the bill.

Republicans will surely stand in opposition to this tax increase. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY., said that Senate Democrats have decided to make the changes to the bill in order to “sharpen” their “political edge.”

Reid today was asked why he would propose this when he knows he will not have Republican support for the bill, nor would it go anywhere in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

“Seventy-five percent of Republicans support this tax.  The problem is, none of them are in the Senate.  So they're going to have to listen to their constituents,” Reid said, “the Republicans have to make a decision.  They can -- they can hang on to their mantra:  no new taxes.  But I would suggest that they're really not keeping in touch with their constituents.”

The Democrats are setting up a contrast -- hoping to cast a Republican vote against this as a vote to protect tax breaks for the wealthiest 1% of America instead of aiding in the economic recovery.

Majority Leader Reid says that he’d like to set up a first vote on this “very soon,” likely within the next few days after finishing the China currency bill.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

GOP Candidates, President Obama Could Pay Higher Taxes under Buffet Rule

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- Some GOP presidential candidates may have more to lose than political points if the debt super-committee adopts President Obama’s deficit reduction plan, one provision of which would raise taxes on some millionaires to ensure that high-income earners do not pay a lower tax rate than middle-class Americans.

According to his 2010 tax return, Obama’s effective federal income tax rate was about 24 percent. With a reported income of about $1.7 million, the president paid the same rate as a married couple who earned $101,000 after deductions. Under the Buffett Rule, the president would undoubtedly have to pay higher taxes to push his taxable income into the highest 35 percent tax bracket.

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney would likely have a much heftier tax burden as well because the majority of his income came from his investments, many of which are taxed at a lower rate than salary. Romney is the wealthiest candidate on the GOP primary ballot bringing in between $9.6 million to $40 million in 2010, according to campaign disclosure forms.

By ABC’s approximations, Newt Gingrich reported the second-highest income, totaling between $2.6 million and $2.7 million. Almost all of Gingrich’s income was paid in the form of dividends from his company, Gingrich Productions. Although Gingrich falls into the millionaire category, he probably would not pay significantly higher taxes under the Buffett Rule because dividends are taxed at virtually the same rate as salary.

Herman Cain, on the other hand, could see a fairly large increase in his taxes under Obama’s Buffett Rule because a large portion of his income stream is from less-taxed capital gains. Cain’s disclosure forms showed that he took in between $230,000 and $1.3 million from capital gains in 2010.Cain’s total income for the year was between $1.1 million and $2.4 million, making him the third wealthiest GOP presidential candidate.

Rick Santorum, the fourth-highest paid GOP candidate, would probably not see his tax burden increase significantly because his 2010 income of between $1.4 million and $1.6 million came almost solely from salary. The former Pennsylvania senator earned $1.3 million in consulting and news media contributor fees.

All of Jon Huntsman’s reported income came from his investments, but it was unclear whether the bulk of it would fall under the higher-taxed dividends or lower-taxed capital gains. Huntsman reported earning between $688,700 and $3.7 million in 2010 making him the second wealthiest candidate if his profits came in on the high end of the approximation or the sixth wealthiest if he earned closer to the low end of his reported income range.

Depending on where his income level actually lies, Huntsman may fall short of the Buffett Rule tax increases. The same is true for his fellow GOP contender Ron Paul, who reported earning between $400,000 and $1.3 million in 2010.

About $174,000 of Paul’s income is from his congressional salary, which would theoretically not be taxed at a higher rate under the Buffett Rule.

Neither Perry nor Bachmann would be affected by the Buffett Rule, seeing as their incomes were significantly less than the $1 million threshold.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Perry Campaign Raised $17 Million Last Quarter

http://governor.state.tx.us(WASHINGTON) -- Gov. Rick Perry’s campaign will report taking in $17 million for the fundraising quarter in just 49 days, ABC News has confirmed.

The Perry campaign has $15 million cash on hand, it revealed to the Drudge Report, which noted Perry raised $347,000 a day from 20,000 unique donors in all 50 states including DC, Puerto Rico, and Guam. Some 51 percent of the cash came from outside his home state of Texas.

When Perry entered the race over seven weeks ago, he was six weeks behind his competitors in fundraising.

The Perry camp reportedly set an initial fundraising goal of $10 million in the opening weeks of the campaign.

There have been reports that the Mitt Romney campaign raised between $13 million and $15 million. Rep. Ron Paul took in more than $5 million last quarter.

Romney raised $18.25 million in his first quarter campaigning.

Perry has fallen in the polls the last week after a shaky debate performance and a loss to Herman Cain in a Florida straw poll.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Ron Paul Says Obama Has Committed an Impeachable Offense

ABC News(WASHINGTON) -- Rep. Ron Paul expanded on his comments that the killing of a suspected al-Qaeda terrorist is an impeachable offense.

Paul, appearing on Fox News with host Megyn Kelly, denied that he directly raised the possibility, but said he was merely responding to a question.

He added that the precedent of killing an American citizen without a trial is “very serious.”

A local ABC affiliate reports that Paul was asked by a University of New Hampshire student on how Paul would hold Obama accountable for the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki. Paul said impeachment would be a possibility, but there should be an investigation that holds Obama responsible.

Paul’s comments on Monday upped the ante on a series of pointed remarks aimed at President Obama over the killing of al-Awlaki.

Last Friday he called the strike “sad” and added that it’s “not a good way to deal with our problems.”
“If the American people accept this blindly and casually -- have a precedent of an American president assassinating people who he thinks are bad -- I think it that’s sad,” he said.

Then in an op-ed piece published Sunday in the New York Daily News, Paul said “as president, I would have arrested Awlaki, brought him to the U.S., tried him and pushed for the stiffest punishment allowed by law.”

Paul wrote that he believes in the rule of law and the killing of al-Awlaki is the latest in a long line of unconstitutional acts by President Obama that includes military action in Libya and the president's controversial health care law.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Poll: Obama Gains vs. GOP on Jobs as Congress Hits New Low

JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- President Obama has jumped to a 15-point lead over the Republicans in Congress in trust to handle job creation -- a sign the beleaguered president’s $450 billion jobs package has hit its mark in public opinion.

The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll found that 52 percent of Americans support the plan, and most say it just might work.

Overall approval of the U.S. Congress, meanwhile, has dropped to its lowest in polls dating back to the mid-1970s.  And of the eight in 10 Americans who are dissatisfied with the way the country’s political system is working, more blame the Republicans in Washington than the president.

A month ago, Americans divided evenly, 40-40 percent, on whom they trusted more to handle job creation, Obama or the congressional Republicans.  Now, after his jobs proposal and ongoing promotion of his plan, it’s 49-34 percent -- Obama’s first significant advantage over the GOP on jobs in ABC/Post polling since early 2010.

The president’s also maintained a large advantage over the Republicans in Congress in being seen as more concerned with the interests of middle-class Americans, now 52-32 percent.  And the GOP, by a vast 70-17 percent, is seen as being more concerned than Obama with protecting the interests of the wealthy, a sentiment on which Obama has capitalized with his proposed millionaires’ tax.

Yet, the president’s hardly out of the woods.  This poll, produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates, finds that just 35 percent approve of his handling of jobs, and an identical 35 percent approve of his handling of the economy in general -- both new lows.

But there are no bragging rights here for the GOP.  Many fewer Americans -- 20 percent -- approve of the way the Republicans in Congress are handling the economy.  Even among Republicans and very conservative adults, 51 percent disapprove of Congressional Republicans on the economy.  Among conservatives overall, 65 percent disapprove -- up 16 points from July.

Still, while Obama’s gained the edge on jobs, the price of his proposals hasn’t escaped notice: Congressional Republicans now lead him by a slight 7 points -- 46-39 percent -- in trust to handle taxes, a turnaround from last spring and the Republicans’ first advantage on this issue.

While the president and the opposition party do battle, Congress overall is much the worse for wear.  Just 14 percent of Americans approve of the way it’s doing its job, compared with Obama’s 42 percent approval.  That’s the lowest for Congress in polls by ABC and the Post, and Gallup previously, since 1974.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Cain Ties Romney in New Poll, Perry Sinks to Third Place

Photos.com/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- One day, three polls, and the storyline of the Republican race seems to be Romney back in front with Herman Cain surging in a major way, and Rick Perry continuing to deal with problems for his presidential campaign.

In a CBS News poll released Tuesday evening, businessman Herman Cain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney were found to be neck and neck, tying each other with 17 percent of support from Republican primary voters, while Texas Gov. Rick Perry sank to third place for the first time, garnering only 12 percent of the vote.

Following the top three candidates in that poll -- conducted between Sept. 28 and Oct. 2 -- were Newt Gingrich at eight percent, Ron Paul at seven percent, Michele Bachmann at four percent, Rick Santorum at three percent and Jon Huntsman at two percent.

A Quinnipiac poll was released in part earlier Tuesday, testing support for a presidential bid by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who announced that same day that he will not seek the presidency.  The poll signaled that Perry might sink to third place.  Conducted between Sept. 27 and Oct 3., it indicted that without Christie in the race, Romney stayed on top with 22 percent of support while Cain rose to second place with 17 percent and Perry fell to third place with only 14 percent.  The full results of the Quinnipiac poll will be released Wednesday morning.

Perry has seen a decline in the polls since his poor debate performance two weeks ago, in which his controversial views on immigration arose, and after placing second at the Florida Straw Poll, which he campaigned hard for and was expected to win.

An ABC News/Washington Post poll released Tuesday morning showed Romney at the top of the pack with 25 percent of support -- unchanged from last month’s poll.  Perry was still in second place but at 16 percent -- a 13 point drop since September -- and is now tied with Cain, who also had 16 percent.

Cain has surged in the polls following a win at the Florida Straw Poll.  He is currently on a book tour for his new tome, This is Herman Cain! which already sits on the Amazon Best Sellers List.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio

Ann Romney Lays Groundwork in Iowa for Husband’s Campaign

Darren McCollester/Getty Images(ADEL, Iowa) -- Ann Romney, wife of Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney, was in Iowa Tuesday laying the groundwork for her husband to make a real play for the state’s caucuses -- a vote that typically goes to more conservative candidates.

”Iowa is a great state.  I’m happy to be here again and happy to participate in this process.  We will be back, and we will be here, because Iowa is important,” Ann Romney told a small gathering in Adel, Iowa.

Her husband, a former Massachusetts governor, had earlier in the campaign shied away from Iowa, focusing instead on the first primary  state of New Hampshire.  But those close to the campaign say Romney is looking closely at Iowa now too.

Ann Romney, a mother of five who has spent 42 of her 62 years married to Mitt Romney, said she hoped to tell Iowans who her husband really was.  A breast cancer survivor who has also been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, Ann Romney wants to make her husband -- often caricatured as a robot -- appear more human.

She spoke openly about her struggle with MS, and the support she received from her husband.

“Another time that was very difficult in my life was when I was first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and that was in 1998.  I was a very, happy, healthy, active person, and all of a sudden I was too sick to get out of bed, weak and too fatigued to take care of anything.  I could take care of myself, and it was a very hard time in my life and very depressing time,” she said.

”He didn’t care if I ended up in a wheelchair, that didn’t bother him.  He didn’t care if I couldn’t put dinner on the table.  He said: ‘I can have toast and cereal my whole life.’  And that again was a wonderful time when I realized he was going to be so relieved, and that was a turning point for me.  You can see now I’m standing here.  I’m in remission.  It’s wonderful,” she said.

At the time of her diagnosis, Mitt was tapped to save the flailing Olympic Games in Salt Lake City.  For the torch relay, Americans from around the country nominated their own personal heroes to participate.  Mitt Romney nominated Ann.  Together they ran one of the final legs of the relay into Salt Lake City.

Copyright 2011 ABC News Radio