House Republican Primary Recap: Pompeo, Amash Win; Bentivolio Defeated

Representative Mike Pompeo of Kansas and Representative Justin Amash of Michigan both won the Republican renomination for their seats. Their colleague Representative Kerry Bentivolio, also of Michigan, lost to attorney Dave Trott. Representative Amash has been described as a libertarian, and his challenger Brian Ellis has been called an “establishment” Republican and earned endorsements from groups like the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce and Michigan Right to Life. On the other hand, Representative Bentivolio, frequently called “the accidental Congressman” because he won election after his predecessor failed to qualify for the ballot, hails from the conservative wing of the Republican Party, and Trott has been billed as an “establishment” candidate. Representative Pompeo defeated former U.S. Representative Todd Tiahrt, his predecessor who vacated his seat to run for Senate in 2010.

Detroit Free Press: Challenger Trott Defeats Bentivolio, Ends Tenure of “Accidental Congressman”

Michigan Live: Representative Justin Amash Defeats Brian Ellis: “I Ran for Office to Stop People Like You”

The Wichita Eagle: Pompeo Claims Victory Over Tiahrt in 4th District Race

Opinion: Explaining a Presidential Power Grab

President Barack Obama has pledged to make an end run around Congress and implement changes to U.S. immigration policy. He claims that Congress’ alleged failure to address immigration reform justifies his decision to use various Executive actions without the legislature’s approval. New York Times columnist Ross Douthat has recently written an opinion piece eviscerating the arguments of those who support the President’s attempt to unilaterally reform the immigration system. “If we are a republic of laws, in which separation of powers matters, Congress cannot be said to have an “obligation” to legislate on any issue the White House happens to deem important, or — to borrow from the president’s rhetoric — any issue where a sufficient number of powerful interest groups are aligned on the White House’s side; that would afford the executive branch an extraordinary power to dictate policy and legislative outcomes”, Douthat writes.

New York Times: Opinion: Anatomy of a Power Grab

Congressional Slumber Party

Every so often, Members of Congress decide to forego an apartment or home in Washington and simply sleep in their offices at the Capitol complex. In the past, this has been the domain of male Republicans, but now their female colleagues are getting in on the act. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington, Representative Lynn Jenkins of Kansas and Representative Kristi Noem of South Dakota, all Republicans, have decided to spend their nights in their offices. Members who get cozy in their offices typically want to show to their constituents that they aren’t too comfortable with DC. No Democratic women are known to stay overnight in their congressional offices.

Wall Street Journal: Some Congresswomen Are Bunking at the Office

And for our latest post: Supreme Court on Recess Appointments: The President Loses, Congress Partially Wins