links for 2009-04-01

House Republicans will offer an alternative plan. This too is no ordinary budget. As the opposition party, we believe this moment must be met by offering the American people a different way forward — one based on our belief that America is an exceptional nation, and we want to keep it that way. Our budget applies our country's enduring first principles to the problems of our day. Rather than attempting to equalize the results of peoples' lives and micromanaging their affairs, we seek to preserve our system of protecting our natural rights and equalizing opportunity for all. The plan works to accomplish four main goals: 1) fulfill the mission of health and retirement security; 2) control our nation's debts; 3) put the economy on a path of growth and leadership in the global economy; and 4) preserve the American legacy of leaving the next generation better off.

In an interview conducted shortly before he was sworn in today as prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu laid down a challenge for Barack Obama. The American president, he said, must stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons—and quickly—or an imperiled Israel may be forced to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities itself.

Jim Tedisco’s campaign is employing an unconventional way of getting out the vote on the final day of the election.
National Black Republican Council president Fred Brown, who headed the Bronx GOP, said he coordinated the trip to “get young members of the community involved in different situations.” He said about 65 volunteers made the trip this morning.

Brown said it was an excellent opportunity for young voters with diverse ethnic backgrounds to participate in the political process.
“This is a true picture of the many ethnicities that are doing a tremendous job for Jim Tedisco,” said Brown. “They went door to door to show the importance of this race for the Republican party.

Health and Human Services nominee Kathleen Sebelius recently corrected three years of tax returns and paid more than $7,000 in back taxes after finding "unintentional errors"—the latest tax troubles for an Obama administration nominee.

The Kansas governor explained the changes to senators in a letter dated Tuesday that the administration released. She said they involved charitable contributions, the sale of a home and business expenses.

After a short, tense campaign, the New York congressional race focusing on President Barack Obama's economic policies is so tight it may be decided by absentee ballots.

With 99 percent of the precincts in the 20th Congressional District reporting, Democrat Scott Murphy leads Republican Jim Tedisco by 81 votes out of 154,000 cast. The race is to replace Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand (KEHR'-sten JIL'-uh-brand).