Political Scene

WHITE HOUSE

Obama to sign ’don’t ask’ repeal

The White House says President Obama will sign the repeal of the military’s ban on openly gay service members on Wednesday morning at a Department of Interior auditorium.

With a stroke of his pen, the president will end the Pentagon’s 17-year-old “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. In repealing the ban, Mr. Obama will fulfill a 2008 presidential campaign promise.

Press secretary Robert Gibbs would not say how long it would take for the administration to implement the repeal. But he said he didn’t expect it to be “overly burdensome.” In letters to the troops over the weekend, the four military service chiefs warned that the ban is still in place, and will be for some time to come.

MASSACHUSETTS

First black chief justice sworn in

BOSTON | Gov. Deval Patrick has sworn in the first black chief justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Roderick Ireland replaces Margaret Marshall.

As chief, Chief Justice Ireland will oversee the state’s sprawling court system, which has been plagued by high caseloads, budget challenges and allegations of political favoritism.

Mr. Patrick, the state’s first black chief executive, says he is proud to have been able to name the first black chief justice.

Chief Justice Ireland, a Springfield native, says he’ll seek more transparency for the courts while promising to do the best he can with current financial resources.

ATF

Feds want reports on rifle sales

Moving to crack down on gun smugglers, the federal agency that monitors weapons sales is asking the White House for emergency authority to require that dealers near the Mexican border report multiple purchases of high-powered rifles.

According to a notice published Friday in the Federal Register, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has asked the White House to approve a requirement that border-area gun dealers report the sales of two or more rifles to the same customer within a five-day period.

The move by ATF, intended to help Mexican authorities in their campaign against violent drug gangs, is likely to face stiff opposition from gun rights advocates.

“This is nothing more than a political policy that seems to be based more on Mexico blaming the United states for Mexico’s problems,” said Chris Cox, the NRA’s chief lobbyist. “To focus the efforts on law-abiding gun owners is not a serious approach. It won’t do anything to disrupt a multibillion-dollar criminal enterprise.”

The proposal was first reported by The Washington Post.

Scot Thomasson, ATF’s chief spokesman, said the agency expects the plan to be approved and implemented. ATF wants the White House Office of Management and Budget to sign off on its request by Jan. 5.

High-powered rifles have become the weapon of choice for Mexico’s warring drug cartels. More than 30,000 people have been killed in Mexico’s drug war since President Felipe Calderon launched an offensive against the powerful drug gangs shortly after taking office in late 2006.

NEW YORK

Governor fined over World Series tickets

ALBANY | The New York State Commission on Public Integrity has fined Gov. David A. Paterson $62,125 for accepting five tickets to the first game of the 2009 World Series at Yankee Stadium.

Mr. Paterson testified that he always intended to pay for the tickets. The commission says that is “false” and contradicts his staff, the Yankees and common sense. He paid for four of the tickets days later.

Mr. Paterson has said it was his duty to attend the opening Series game at the new Bronx stadium.

The commission says Mr. Paterson performed no ceremonial function at the game, which still would not have entitled him to free tickets for his son and son’s friend.

A message left for Mr. Paterson’s attorney was not immediately returned. An Albany prosecutor has been reviewing whether to bring charges.

NORTH CAROLINA

No perjury charges for Edwards ex-aide

HILLSBOROUGH | A former aide to John Edwards won’t face perjury charges over his testimony about a videotape purported to show the former presidential candidate having sex with his lover.

District Attorney Jim Woodall says he decided against charging Andrew Young for a series of conflicting statements he made last winter about where copies of the tape were kept. Mr. Woodall said he could change his mind if new evidence surfaced.

Mr. Woodall’s decision was first reported by the Herald-Sun newspaper in Durham.

Mr. Edwards’ mistress, Rielle Hunter, has sued Mr. Young, claiming invasion of privacy, to recover the tape.

Mr. Young’s attorney, Robert Elliot of Winston-Salem, said he expected Mr. Woodall not to charge his client with perjury.

NEW YORK

Budget crises greet new governors

NEW YORK | Twenty-six new governors will take office amid the worst budget climate for states in a generation.

Many of them are promising not to raise taxes, even though states face a cumulative budget shortfall of $140 billion next year.

State lawmakers across the country have been cutting budgets for the past few years because of the poor economy. So when new governors take office in states such as New York, California, South Carolina and Nevada, they will find the era of easy fixes long gone.

Polling suggests voters don’t want states to cut education and health care, even though those programs eat up a majority of most states’ budgets.

The situation will worsen when funds from the federal government’s $800 billion stimulus plan dry up next year.