Herb Kohl

The election of Wisconsin Senator-elect Tammy Baldwin has been named a top Democratic moment of 2012 by MSNBC. The election of Wisconsin Senator-elect Tammy Baldwin has been named a top Democratic moment of 2012 by MSNBC. On November 6, Baldwin became the first openly gay senator to be elected in U.S. history. ?I'm very aware that I will have the honor to be the first woman senator from Wisconsin,? Baldwin said in her acceptance speech. ?And I'm well aware that I will be the first openly gay member of the United States Senate.? ?I didn't run to make history,? she added. ?I ran to make a difference ? a difference in the lives of families struggling to find work and pay the bills, a difference in the lives of students worried about debt and seniors worried about their retirement security, a difference in the lives of veterans who fought for us and need someone fighting for them and their families when they return home from war, a difference in the lives of entrepreneurs trying to build a

Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin on Tuesday defeated her Republican rival to become the nation's first openly gay senator. Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin on Tuesday defeated her Republican rival, former Governor Tommy Thompson, to become the nation's first openly gay senator. The AP called the race for Baldwin around 10PM ET. Baldwin replaces retiring Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl. ?The people who had faith that this was possible made it possible,? Baldwin said before voting in Madison. The 50-year-old Baldwin announced her decision to enter the race in an email to supporters, ending months of speculation. Baldwin first ran for Congress in 1998 after serving 8 years in the Wisconsin Assembly. While Baldwin is a perennial favorite among the constituents in her district, her highest hurdle in running for the Senate was lack of name recognition outside her district. That is something Thompson has in spades, having served as United States secretary of health and human services under George W. Bush

Eight LGBT candidates are running for Congress, including the nation's first Senate candidate. Eight LGBT candidates are running for Congress ? a new record ? including the nation's first Senate candidate. Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat, and former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson are competing to replace retiring Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl. According to a poll released last week, Baldwin has a 4 point lead, 47 to 43 percent. Two weeks ago, Thompson held a slim 1 point lead. Mark Pocan, a small business owner and a Wisconsin state representative, is running to fill the 2nd Congressional seat being vacated by Baldwin. His Republican challenger, Chad Lee, ran an unsuccessful bid against Baldwin in 2010. Pocan, 48, married his husband, Phil, in Canada in 2006. In Massachusetts, Richard Tisei is campaigning to become the House's first openly gay Republican member. Tisei has an unlikely ally in his corner: House Speaker John Boehner, an ardent opponent of gay rights. The 50-year

Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin goes into next week's election with a 4 point lead over her Republican rival Tommy Thompson. Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin goes into next week's election with a 4 point lead over her Republican rival Tommy Thompson. Thompson and Baldwin are competing to replace retiring Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl. According to the final poll before voters decide on November 6 by the Marquette University Law School, Baldwin has a 4 point lead, 47 to 43 percent. Two weeks ago, Thompson held a slim 1 point lead. If elected, Baldwin would become the nation's first openly lesbian senator. The subject of Baldwin's sexuality became an issue early in the fall when a Thompson staffer criticized Baldwin's orientation just hours before she was to give her prime time speech at the Democratic National Convention. Brian Nemoir, political director for the Thompson campaign, sent an e-mail and tweeted messages highlighting her appearance at a 2010 Gay Pride event. Referring to Baldwin's as

Senate candidates Tammy Baldwin and Tommy Thompson recently discussed their differing views on gay marriage. S?enate candidates Tammy Baldwin and Tommy Thompson recently discussed their differing views on gay marriage. Thompson and Baldwin are competing to replace retiring Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl. Thompson, the former governor of Wisconsin, and Congresswoman Baldwin spent part of their first debate Friday night sparring over marriage equality. ?71 out of 72 counties voted for a constitutional amendment in Wisconsin and I support those 71 counties,? Thompson, a Republican, stated. ?It's an issue left up to the states and that's where it should be.? Baldwin, who if elected would become the nation's first openly gay senator, said she supported marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples. ?I believe in principles of equality and I certainly support marriage equality,? she answered. ?I recognize what the voters of Wisconsin decided back in 2006. But we know that every year people are th

Tommy Thompson's claim that an aide 'acted on his own' in criticizing Tammy Baldwin's sexual orientation questioned. Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson's claim that an aide ?acted on his own? in criticizing Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin's sexual orientation is being questioned. Independent fact checker PolitiFact concluded that Thompson's statement deserves the group's ?pants on fire? label. Baldwin and her GOP rival Thompson are competing to capture the seat being vacated by Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl. If elected, Baldwin, 50, would become the first openly gay U.S. senator. Just hours before Baldwin was to give? her prime time speech at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), Brian Nemoir, political director for the Thompson campaign, sent an e-mail and tweeted messages highlighting her appearance at a 2010 Gay Pride event. Referring to Baldwin's assertion that her speech would focus on ?heartland values,? Nemoir wrote, ?Clearly, there's no one better positioned to talk 'heart

Pointing to a video of Tammy Baldwin dancing at a Gay Pride event, the Tommy Thompson campaign has questioned her values. Pointing to a video of Tammy Baldwin dancing at a Gay Pride event, the Tommy Thompson campaign has questioned her values. Baldwin and her GOP rival Thompson, the former governor of Wisconsin, are competing to capture the seat being vacated by Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl. If elected, Baldwin, 50, would become the first openly gay U.S. senator. Brian Nemoir, Thompson's political director, sent an e-mail and posted a Twitter message on Thursday concerning Baldwin at a 2010 Gay Pride event, ahead of her prime time speech at the Democratic National Convention. Referring to Baldwin's assertion that her speech would focus on ?heartland values,? Nemoir wrote, ?Clearly, there's no one better positioned to talk 'heartland values' than Tammy.? The attached video shows Baldwin dancing on stage with the disco band VO5 as it plays the theme from Wonder Woman. Baldwin hugs the gro

First Lady Michelle Obama gave a huge shout-out to Tammy Baldwin at a luncheon hosted by gay rights groups. First Lady Michelle Obama on Wednesday gave a huge shout-out to Tammy Baldwin at a luncheon hosted by several gay rights groups at the 2012 Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Charlotte, North Carolina. Obama spoke at the event sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign, National Stonewall Democrats, the National Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, Equality North Carolina and the DNC's LGBT caucus. HRC President Chad Griffin introduced the first lady. ?Can she deliver a speech and inspire America or what?? Griffin asked the audience, a reference to Obama's keynote address at the DNC. ?We can count ourselves truly fortunate? to have the Obamas in the White House, he added. The first lady said that she was going to keep it short because ?you might be a little sick of me? to shouts from the audience of ?No.? ?I also want to recognize a congresswoman who has been a great leader in the House

Wisconsin Representative Tammy Baldwin will address the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Thursday. Wisconsin Representative Tammy Baldwin will address the Democratic National Convention (DNC) on Thursday. The 50-year-old Baldwin would become the first openly gay U.S. senator if she captures the seat being vacated by Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl. Her Republican rival, Tommy Thompson, is a former governor of Wisconsin. Baldwin has been given a prime speaking slot: on the convention's final evening and in the same stadium where President Barack Obama will accept the Democratic nomination. ?We've seen Paul Ryan and Scott Walker on the national stage. I'm going to talk about the Wisconsin I know,? Baldwin told the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel. ?We've increasingly seen wealthy, powerful interests gain power in Washington and, frankly, in Madison, and write their own set of rules. Hardworking families deserve a shot.? Last month, LPAC, the political action committee formed earli

Gay GOP group GOProud has endorsed Tommy Thompson for the U.S. Senate over Rep. Tammy Baldwin. Gay GOP group GOProud on Wednesday endorsed former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson for the U.S. Senate over Rep. Tammy Baldwin. The 50-year-old Baldwin would become the first openly gay U.S. senator if she captures the seat being vacated by Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl. Last week, voters decided on Thompson as her Republican rival. ?Tommy Thompson is a common-sense conservative who will focus on creating jobs and growing the economy for all Wisconsin,? Jimmy LaSalvia, executive director of GOProud, said in a statement. ?Governor Thompson's experience and leadership uniquely qualify him to serve in the U.S. Senate.? The group noted that Thompson opposes a federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. But the GOP candidate remains opposed to legalizing gay nuptials and has previously voiced support for the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Thompson's record on gay rights also includes h

Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin's run for the U.S. Senate is the first race to be endorsed by LPAC. Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin's run for the U.S. Senate is the first race to be endorsed by LPAC, the political action committee formed earlier this year to support candidates and causes that appeal to lesbian voters. The 50-year-old Baldwin could become the first openly gay U.S. senator if she captures the seat being vacated by Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl. Wisconsin voters on Tuesday will decide on her Republican opponent, a point noted by LPAC in an e-mail to supporters. ?Today Tammy's opponents, four anti-gay, anti-choice men, are duking it out in the Republican primary to see who can be the most extreme,? wrote Sarah Schmidt, the group's treasurer. ?Tomorrow morning, Tammy will have a challenger, who will be able to spend 100% of his energy attacking her. Secret groups funded by the Koch brothers, the US Chamber of Commerce, and Karl Rove have already spent millions of dollars attacking

More voters in Wisconsin believe gay marriage should be illegal than legal – but opposition is falling. More voters in Wisconsin believe gay marriage should be illegal than legal ? but opposition is falling. According to a Public Polling Policy (PPP) survey of 1,057 voters contacted by phone conducted from July 5th to 8th, 43 percent of respondents support legalizing gay nuptials, while 47 percent remain opposed. However, a poll conducted last August found 50 percent of voters opposed to such unions and only 39 percent in support. That is an increase in support of 4 percentage points in less than 11 months. A large majority (69%) of voters in the Forward state support legal recognition of gay unions with either marriage (39%) or civil unions (30%). Twenty-eight percent say there should be no legal recognition of the relationships of gay couples and four percent refused to answer. Support for the institution has steadily increased since 2006, when voters approved a constitutional amendm

Witnesses clashed Thursday in the US Congress on Universal Music Group's plan to buy British music label EMI, as some lawmakers offered skeptical comments.

Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin has endorsed adding gay marriage to the 2012 Democratic platform. ?Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin has endorsed adding gay marriage to the 2012 Democratic platform. ?I think that would be tremendous, and we have to be focusing on advancing equality in so many different realms,? Baldwin told gay weekly The Washington Blade. ?It's a statement of values, and I think it's very important to be included.? Baldwin, 50, could become the first openly gay U.S. senator. Polling shows she is running close to her Republican rival, former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, who is considered the front-runner in the race for the seat being vacated by Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl. On Wednesday, Baldwin announced that her campaign had brought in more than $2 million in the first quarter of 2012 fundraising. She joins a growing chorus of elected officials who have endorsed putting marriage equality in the platform, including Democratic National Convention chair Antonio Villaraigo

President Barack Obama is moving in the right direction on gay marriage, Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin has said. President Barack Obama is moving in the right direction on gay marriage, Wisconsin Rep. Tammy Baldwin has said. Baldwin, 50, could become the first openly gay U.S. senator. After reminding Baldwin that Obama, who supports civil unions for gay and lesbian couples, has said he's ?evolving? on gay marriage, The New York Times' Sunday Magazine in an interview titled Is This Our First Gay Senator? asked Baldwin: ?Would you respect his support on the issue if you thought it was based on an electoral calculation?? ?Look, he is moving in the right direction on this issue,? Baldwin replied. ?He's been crucial in equality efforts like the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and signing the Matthew Shepard hate crimes prevention act. I have no idea what goes on in another person's mind. As a legislator, I need to be good at persuading people, counting votes and getting to 50 percent plus on

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - William Baer, a widely respected antitrust veteran, is the White House's top choice to head the Justice Department's antitrust division, legal sources said.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - William Baer, a widely respected antitrust veteran, is the White House's top choice to head the Justice Department's antitrust division, two sources close to the process said this week.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. drugmakers and device companies got an extension on the deadline to record all payments and gifts to doctors because of a delay in a proposed rule from health officials.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Major firms which oppose a proposed deal to merge Medco Health Solutions Inc and Express Scripts Inc feared retaliation and declined to publicly discuss the deal, said Senator Herb Kohl, head of the Senate Judiciary Committee's antitrust panel.

MADISON, Wis (Reuters) - Former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson officially launched his campaign on Thursday for the Senate seat being vacated by four-term Democratic Senator Herb Kohl.