Analysis: Heartbeats Away from the Presidency By Jonathan Allen and CQ Staff Posted December 15, 2008 at 1:00am Facebook Twitter Email Reddit was re-elected step down president pro tempore Senate’s Web site Recent Stories Nonprofits take a hit in House earmark rules Micron gets combined $13.6 billion grant, loan for chip plants EPA says its new strict power plant rules will pass legal tests Case highlights debate over ‘life of the mother’ exception Supreme Court split on Idaho abortion ban in emergency rooms Donald Payne Jr., who filled father’s seat in the House, dies at 65