Republican Governor Makes Unemployment Extension Push (Updated)

The governors of the two states with the highest unemployment rates — including a Republican — are urging Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio to take up the Senate’s unemployment extension bill.

• Manchin Talks Up UI Extension Petition

Filibuster Unconstitutional? D.C. Circuit Denies Appeal, Cites 'Speech or Debate' Flaw

Advocates asking the judiciary to declare the filibuster unconstitutional were dealt a major setback Tuesday by the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

• 'Nuclear' Nominations Aftermath Slows Senate to Crawl

Notes on 'Boston Bound' — Hill Navigator Heads North

Capitol Hill staffers, by job design, are dedicated. The boss’ needs are elevated above their own, a staffer’s actions — good and bad — reflect back on the member. The job is all-consuming, sometimes exhausting and overwhelming, but Hill Navigator would not have a column in Roll Call if working on Capitol Hill was not as rewarding as it is.

• Boston Bound: Staffers Lace Up for Marathon

Bentivolio's Republican Rival Goes On the Air

The Republican challenger to Rep. Kerry Bentivolio, R-Mich., is on the air with a positive spot and is putting big money behind it.

Tisei Gaining Steam on Tierney in Massachusetts | Ratings Change

Massachusetts voters haven’t sent a Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives from any district in nearly 20 years. Republican Richard Tisei nearly broke that streak in 2012 and is challenging Rep. John F. Tierney, D-Mass., once again in 2014.

Ratings Update: Wisconsin’s 6th District

Rep. Tom Petri, R-Wis., is the latest member to announce his retirement, opening up another potentially competitive congressional district.

House Democrats Bank Over $10 Million in March

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee raised $10.3 million in March, according to a committee aide.

Spending Caps May Force $66 Billion Defense Cut | Topic A: Defense

The Pentagon’s planned five-year spending plan for procurement and research-and-development projects, set forth in its 2015 budget proposal, would be cut by $66 billion if US federal spending caps remain in place

Tony Strickland Up With First TV Ad in California House Contest

Former state Sen. Tony Strickland released his first ad in his bid for California’s open 25th District on Wednesday, laying out his priorities, including GOP favorites like repealing the Affordable Care Act, cutting spending and balancing the budget.

Democrats Lose Top Recruit in Florida House Race

Alex Sink, the Democratic nominee in a recent high-stakes special election in Florida, will not challenge GOP Rep. David Jolly to a rematch in the 13th District this November.

Grimm Raises Sizable Sum, Despite Balcony Incident

Embattled Rep. Michael G. Grimm of New York raised $346,000 in the first quarter, a large haul despite swirling controversy after the Staten Island Republican threatened to throw a reporter off of a balcony after the State of the Union address.

How to Handicap a Campaign's Ground Game in 2014

This cycle, Democrats are counting heavily on registering new voters and turning out registered voters who otherwise don’t bother to vote during midterm elections. Republicans are also putting more emphasis on voter contact programs.

Capitol Police Chief: We Are Not the 'Media Police'

Capitol Police Chief Kim C. Dine clarified that his officers are not the “media police,” following a March 28 police-press run-in that nearly resulted in the arrest of a journalist.

Lax EPA Regulations Allow Biomass to Pollute More Than Coal | Topic A: Energy

A new study charges that government regulations for biomass plants are riddled with loopholes that allow wood-burning facilities to spew more toxic emissions in the air than coal-fired power plants.

Despite Capitol Renovations, Plenty of Action for Tourists on Campus

Congress has skipped town, so it’s time to cut a rug.

Ratings Change: Minnesota’s 2nd District

Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., was re-elected in 2012 with less than 55 percent in a district that Barack Obama won twice, making him an initial Democratic target.

Bachmann Endorses Emmer as Successor in Minnesota

Retiring Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., on Tuesday endorsed former state Rep. Tom Emmer as her successor in her soon-to-be former House seat, according to a local report.

Ratings Change: New York’s 18th District

By the numbers, New York’s 18th District isn’t solid-blue Democratic territory. But at this stage of the cycle, GOP optimism about defeating Democratic Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney is very low. And that lack of enthusiasm could indicate that former Rep. Nan Hayworth, a Republican, won’t get much financial support from outside groups for the stretch run this fall.

'Kissing Congressman' McAllister Ducks Tea Party Rally for Counseling

The governor, the chairman of his state party and a growing list of other Republicans (including, in all likelihood, the GOP leadership in the House — though they’ve yet to say so publicly) have asked him to step down, but Rep. Vance McAllister, for now, is trying to ride out the storm.

Can You Lie in Politics? Supreme Court Will Decide

The Supreme Court has made pretty clear that putting your money where your mouth is deserves broad protection as a form of free political speech. The justices are about to consider whether outright lying in a campaign deserves a similar First Amendment shield.

After Afghanistan, Boehner Heads for Abu Dhabi

John A. Boehner is using social media to document his recess-week overseas trip, posting videos and photos Monday of himself and seven other Republicans in Afghanistan and updating Tuesday with shots from Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Clay Aiken Reports Fundraising for North Carolina House Campaign

Clay Aiken, an “American Idol” runner-up and Democratic long-shot running for Congress in North Carolina, reported raising $233,000 in the first quarter of this year.

Florida Special: Meet the Consulting Teams

The special-election primary in the race to replace former Rep. Trey Radel is only a week away. The Republican field is crowded — three organized candidates are in the mix — and as a result state and national consultants are involved.

Congress Takes Hands-Off Approach to Miriam Carey Shooting

Release of the final autopsy report for Miriam Carey, the 34-year-old dental hygienist who was shot outside the Capitol on Oct. 3 after a fast and furious car chase from the White House, has renewed calls for action from an attorney for her family.

Obama Not Considering Arms to Ukraine, Plans to Call Putin

Senators in both parties have said arms for Ukraine should be on the table as that country faces down a threat from Russian President Vladimir Putin, but President Barack Obama has no plans to go there.

Washington Responds to Passing of Nuala Pell, Widow of Former Rhode Island Senator

Nuala Pell, widow of former Rhode Island Sen. Claiborne Pell, passed away Sunday morning in Newport at age 89.

Rand Paul Endorses in Race to Replace Trey Radel

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., endorsed Republican businessman Curt Clawson in the upcoming special election for a House seat in Florida.

Ban on E-Cig Sales, Marketing to Children Pushed by Durbin, Waxman

E-cigarette sales and marketing to children will soon be banned and flavorings could be restricted by the federal government if two senior congressional Democrats get their way.

Arnie Thomas, Veteran Washington News Man, Dies at 66

Arnie Thomas, a former senior vice president at CQ Roll Call, former director of LEGI-SLATE at The Washington Post, president of the A Thomas Group and mentor to scores of people he worked with over the years, died of a heart attack on April 12. He was 66 years old.

Take Five: Pedro R. Pierluisi

It’s time again for Take Five, when HOH talks with a member of Congress about topics relatively unrelated to legislative work.

GOP Candidate's Response to Attacks? Silence and Ocean Waves

In the final week before a special primary in Florida, businessman Curt Clawson has a message for his opponents: silence.

The War of Obamacare Anecdotes in the 2014 Elections

A couple months ago on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal, I said that I thought the 2014 elections would be driven by anecdotes related to the Affordable Care Act. I think a pair of ads in two of the most competitive Senate races in the country could be a pretty accurate roadmap for the debate that is coming over the next six months.