Political round-up: Porter-for-Senate (maybe) fundraiser,

By Lisa Mascaro

Monday, Jan. 26, 2009 | 3:19 p.m.

Greetings, Early Liners from Washington where the crowds are gone, but the snow flurries remain.

Children’s health care is the issue of the day here and in Nevada, as state lawmakers rally against Gov. Jim Gibbons’ proposed cap on funding and in Washington, the U.S. Senate begins debate on expanding federal funds for children’s care.

President George W. Bush had twice vetoed the expansion, but hopes are that with a Democratic president in the White House and expanded majorities in Congress, the bill will be passed.

This had been an issue former Republican Rep. Jon Porter crossed party lines to support. Not so much cross-over happening now among Nevada’s delegation in Washington, which is essentially divided on this issue.

The bill before the Senate this week would hike the tax on cigarettes by 61 cents a pack to pay for additional children to be covered. These are kids whose families are the working poor — earning too much for Medicaid, but not enough to buy private insurance.

With the state’s unemployment rate today announced at 9.1 percent, the number of families unable to afford health care is sure to grow.

Democratic Reps. Shelley Berkley and Dina Titus voted in favor earlier this month in the House, Republican Rep. Dean Heller opposed. In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid has been pushing the bill forward, Republican Sen. John Ensign is likely to again oppose.

For more on the state’s budget mess, be sure to read Sun reporter David Schwartz’s Sunday story on the history of gaming revenue, as well as word out today that the chamber may be willing to support tax increases, with conditions.

Speaking of Porter, he has been out of the limelight since his defeat to Titus on election night, but maybe not for much longer.

Porter will be speaking next Tuesday evening at a reception hosted by the Mason Contractors of America PAC at the Venetian during trade organization’s annual conference.

Porter is often mentioned as the Republicans’ best hope in a challenge against Reid. The invitation describes him this way: “Mr. Porter is in the process of exploring a run against current Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid when he is up for re-election in 2010.”

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The new day in Washington continues to be felt from one end of Pennsylvania Avenue to the other.

The Interior Department’s ethical lapses under the Bush administration became known after reports of employees cavorting with lobbyists and what not.

Newly-appointed Interior Department Secretary Ken Salazar vowed during his confirmation hearing to clean up the place, job one.

Salazar issued a memo to employees today laying down the law that even underlings in the department will be expected to adhere to the ethical guidelines outlined for appointees last week by President Barack Obama in one of his first pen strokes.

Meanwhile, up on the Hill, the campaign to get to the bottom of the unprecedented firing of U.S. Attorneys during the Bush administration, including Nevada’s Daniel Bogden, continues.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers issued a subpoena today for testimony from former Bush adviser Karl Rove. Rove had refused to appear in the past, as the White House claimed executive privilege.

Rove has been asked to show up next Monday — but even if he doesn’t appear, the courts may be the ultimate arbiter as Congress continues its contempt case against the Bush administration officials who have refused to comply with subpeoneas.

That’s all for now. Check the Sun later for updates on political news from Nevada.