Snyder budget: More for education, public safety, cities

Gov. Rick Snyder and his team have unveiled their budget proposal for Michigan’s 2013 fiscal year — a $48.2 billion spending plan designed to continue the fiscal overhaul the state began in his first 12 months in office.

Santorum’s sudden rise raises status of Michigan primary

Emboldened by three victories Tuesday, former Sen. Rick Santorum now seeks to usurp Mitt Romney in his native state by bringing momentum and a manufacturing revival message to Michigan.

Giffords aide to run for seat in special election

Phoenix — A top aide to former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords who suffered shots to his leg and face in the Tucson rampage that also left the congresswoman severely wounded announced Thursday that he will seek to replace her in a special election.

Romney’s new offensive blames Gingrich, Santorum for GOP failings

Atlanta—A day after his defeats in Colorado, Missouri and Minnesota, Mitt Romney pounded Republican presidential rivals Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich on Wednesday as big-spending Washington insiders whose careers show scant evidence of fiscal restraint.

Political insider: I’ll trade you a Mitt Romney for a Santorum or a Gingrich

Yard signs and pins: Been there, done that. Trading cards and dog bandannas? Now those are new ways to follow or protest those running for office.

Left behind: 10 states fleeing education law

Washington— President Barack Obama on Thursday declared that 10 states are free from the No Child Left Behind law, allowing them to scrap some of the most rigorous and unpopular mandates in American education. In exchange, the states are promising higher standards and more creative ways to measure what students are learning.

Georgia primary may not be a Gingrich slam dunk

Atlanta — The Georgia presidential primary may not be a slam dunk for Republican hopeful Newt Gingrich, a congressman from the state for two decades. Rival Mitt Romney is signaling that the biggest prize on Super Tuesday could be up for grabs.

Fight over birth control policy intensifies

Washington — House Speaker John Boehner accused the Obama administration Wednesday of an “unambiguous attack on religious freedom,” promising that Congress, if the president doesn’t, will reverse a new policy requiring religious schools and hospitals to provide employees with free birth control.

California marriage ban path to High Court unclear

San Francisco — Conservative critics like to point out that the federal appeals court that just declared California’s same-sex marriage ban to be unconstitutional has its decisions overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court more often than other judicial circuits, a record that could prove predictive if the high court agrees to review the gay marriage case on appeal.

Losses expose weakness in Romney conservative appeal

Denver — Mitt Romney just can’t shake his difficulty attracting conservatives. And that reality is undercutting his effort to cast himself as the inevitable Republican presidential nominee and prolonging a race that each day exposes deep divisions within the party.

Romney, Paul poised to make strong showings in Maine

Augusta, Maine — Mitt Romney and Ron Paul are the undisputed favorites in Maine, the next state weighing in on the Republican presidential race. They’re the only candidates who have made much of an effort here.

Snyder still deciding on GOP presidential endorsement

Lansing — With the clock ticking to Michigan’s Feb. 28 primary, Gov. Rick Snyder hasn’t decided whom to endorse as the Republican presidential nominee.

Romney touts vouchers, vows to protect Medicare, Social Security

West Palm Beach, Fla. — Standing before an audience of seniors on his recent campaign swing through Florida, Mitt Romney promised: “We will never go after Medicare or Social Security. We will protect those programs.”

Michigan GOP chair, Gingrich praise Chrysler ad

Snyder proposes adding $45M to fight crime in 2013 budget

Under attack, Santorum defends 'good' earmarks

Gov. Snyder to hold Facebook town hall meeting on budget

Details of Snyder’s budget plan

Democrats propose 6-week cut in jobless benefits

GOP chairman says Michigan primary to have influential role

Fresh off sweep, Santorum says Michigan is his next target

Snyder to answer budget questions on Facebook

Santorum: I won and raised about $250K Tuesday night

Reproductive issues spark fight

Gingrich warns darkly of Iran nuclear possibility

Congress tries to give president line-item veto

Court: California gay marriage ban is unconstitutional

Obama decides to support super PACs