LSJ Blogs: Capitol Journal by Scott Davis

The end.

This is my last-ever Capitol Journal post, and while I was planning to do something more elaborate I think I'll keep this final entry short and sweet. Thank you all for reading these past two years. It has been a joy writing for you each day.

All the best,

-Derek

Granholm staying in Michigan

It looks like Fox News was way, WAY off the mark. Gov. Jennifer Granholm appears to be staying in Michigan after President-elect Barack Obama tapped California Democratic Rep. Hilda Solis to lead the Department of Labor.

Granholm's chances of leaving: 50 percent

Why? Because Fox News says she's the clear frontrunner for the Department of Labor job while the Free Press wrote that she "does not want to be considered for an appointment." Flip a coin because one of them is right.

Hoekstra leaving Congress, Guv's mansion next?

West Michigan Republican Rep. Pete Hoekstra announced today he won't run for Congress in 2010, clearing the way for what everybody and their mother believes will be a run for governor that year.

Just in time

The Facility for Rare Isotope Beams award to Michigan State University, a $550 million federal promise that will make Sparty the national leader in atom smashing, came just in time. One month later and it might not have come at all.

Reports: Granholm passed over for Energy

Multiple reports out late Wednesday say that Gov. Jennifer Granholm will not be tapped to lead the Department of Energy, with that post instead going to a Nobel prize-winning physicist.

Winners and losers in Blagojevich scandal

Lots of stuff for you today, led with the arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Solution lacking in public works plan

A patch for Michigan's crumbling roads is on its way, thanks to President-elect Barack Obama's $500 billion public infrastructure plan. But a failure to reconsider how the U.S. funds roads means a potential solution remains far off.

Weekend update: Autos deal in the works

While it would be foolish to proclaim anything final before all the votes are counted, Congress and the White House are said to be close on an agreement to aid the Big Three automakers.

Automakers make their case

The Senate heard the case for auto bailouts Thursday and the House gets its chance Friday. And while no decision is close, senators hinted that the case for an emergency loan isn't nearly as bleak as it was just 24 hours ago.