Political Scene

CONGRESS

Pro-choice Democrat skeptical of Kagan

A senior House Democrat says senators should fully question Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan to make sure she supports abortion rights.

Rep. Louise M. Slaughter of New York leads the House Pro-Choice Caucus. Mrs. Slaughter views as “troubling” a 1997 memo Ms. Kagan wrote urging President Clinton to back a ban on late-term abortions.

Mrs. Slaughter wrote Tuesday to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick J. Leahy, Vermont Democrat, and the panel’s ranking Republican, Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama.

She said the lack of a judicial record for Ms. Kagan, who has never been a judge, makes it imperative that the committee scrutinizes her abortion views.

Ms. Kagan was a domestic policy adviser to Mr. Clinton when she wrote the memo Mrs. Slaughter said.

Meanwhile, a leading Senate Republican said Ms. Kagan told him Tuesday that thousands of pages of unreleased documents from her time serving in the Clinton administration would shed light on what kind of justice she would be.

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said the Judiciary Committee shouldn’t hold hearings on Ms. Kagan’s confirmation until senators have a chance to read all the papers, currently held at the Clinton presidential library in Arkansas.

ILLINOIS

Candidate backs team’s Arizona trip

CHICAGO | Republican Senate candidate Mark Kirk said politics don’t belong on the basketball court.

Mr. Kirk said school officials forcing the Highland Park High School team to skip an Arizona tournament because of concerns about the state’s new immigration law should let the girls play. The team will play in Florida instead.

Mr. Kirk wouldn’t say whether he thinks the Arizona law is good or bad but that one state can’t solve the issue of illegal immigration. He said that’s the federal government’s job, which is why he supports completing a border fence and beefing up the Border Patrol.

His Democratic opponent, Alexi Giannoulias, opposes the Arizona law. His campaign says the controversy shows the need for Congress to enact immigration reform.

SENATE

States’ authority on banks rolled back

The Senate has handed bankers a partial victory by voting to limit the ability of states to impose their own consumer rules on federally chartered banks.

The measure, introduced by Sen. Thomas R. Carper, Delaware Democrat, rolled back provisions in an underlying financial regulation bill that broadened the authority of states. The vote was 80-18.

Current law permits federal regulators to issue a blanket rule overriding state laws concerning licensing, credit terms and loan disclosures. State attorneys general cannot enforce federal laws.

Mr. Carper’s provision would allow federal regulators to override state law on a case-by-case basis and permit attorneys general to enforce federal regulations.

The amendment passed after the Senate voted down 55-43 an amendment preferred by bankers that was offered by Sen. Bob Corker, Tennessee Republican.

COLORADO

Candidate defends Palin’s motives

CRAIG | In response to criticism from an opponent, former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton said she thinks Sarah Palin was not aware that her Colorado visit would coincide with the state Republican primary assemblies.

Ken Buck said Monday on the “Cari and Rob” show on KRAI-AM that the former Alaska governor’s visit Saturday could draw attention away from the assemblies, which Mrs. Norton has declined to attend. Mrs. Norton and Mr. Buck are seeking the GOP nomination for Senate.

Mrs. Norton said Tuesday on the show that she doesn’t assume Mrs. Palin will endorse her and is not reaching out to Mrs. Palin, but would welcome her endorsement.

Mrs. Palin mentioned the candidate in a speech in Washington last week, saying Mrs. Norton is part of a “stampede of pink elephants” who could get things accomplished.

MINNESOTA

Pawlenty silent about book bonus

ST. PAUL | Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he expects to get a signing bonus for an upcoming memoir but doesn’t plan to publicly disclose the amount.

Mr. Pawlenty said Tuesday that his contract with Tyndale House Publishers includes an advance.

The Republican governor is building toward a potential run for president in 2012. Candidates for the White House routinely write books ahead of their campaigns.

Mr. Pawlenty said he hasn’t started writing the book, which is scheduled for release in 2011, but that he will have more time to devote to it now that the Legislature has finished its work for the year.

Mr. Pawlenty said the book will cover his reflections on leadership, public service and policy.

FLORIDA

Billionaire airs ads for Senate bid

TALLAHASSEE | Billionaire and Democratic Senate candidate Jeff Greene, who made his fortune on the real estate market’s rise and fall, began airing two television ads Tuesday depicting him as a political outsider and successful businessman.

In one ad, Mr. Greene speaks directly to the camera with a tight, shoulders-up shot, opening with, “I’m tired of career politicians who are only worried about their own jobs.”

After a voice-over announcer says, “Meet Jeff Greene,” Mr. Greene continues, “I have a real plan to bring back and keep jobs in Florida, invest in green technology, and once and for all end our dependence on foreign oil.” The announcer then says, “An outsider willing to take on the career politicians.”

The other ad shows Mr. Greene in a business meeting with a suit, and later without a jacket and tie to visit a construction site as an announcer says, “He’s worked hard, built an incredibly successful business, created jobs and real paychecks for working people.”

The campaign is spending more than $1 million on the ads, which are airing statewide. Mr. Green entered the race less than three weeks ago.

NEW YORK

Democratic donors sue new Republican

NEW YORK | A group of Democratic donors filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy, demanding he return their campaign contributions now that he has switched parties to run for governor as a Republican.

Larry Silverman, a lawyer and Long Island Democratic activist, filed the lawsuit in Suffolk County Supreme Court. He is representing five plaintiffs but said if the lawsuit is successful it will serve as a precedent for others who have contributed to Mr. Levy.

“Steve Levy represented that he was a Democrat running for county executive, at the same time he was having conversations with the Republican Party,” Mr. Silverman said. “Now that he is running as a Republican, effectively, he has no need for campaign funds he raised as a Democrat.”

Mr. Levy was re-elected Suffolk County executive in 2007 as a Democrat with endorsements from the GOP, Independence, Conservative and Working Families parties.