A former Aiken County Republican Party treasurer has written a letter admitting she paid for unsolicited automatic phone calls in South Carolina legislative races. ‘The Aiken Standard’ reported Wednesday that former GOP official Virginia “Ginny” Allen admitted to and apologized for the automatic calls in a letter addressed to state Sen. Greg Ryberg and voters.

The White House says that Republican wins in two governors’ races were not referendums on the president.

House Republicans have produced a health care bill to offer as an alternative to legislation by majority Democrats, focusing more on lowering costs than expanding coverage.

One of President Barack Obama’s top aides says Fox News Channel acts like a wing of the Republican Party. White House Communications Director Anita Dunn told CNN’s “Reliable Sources” on Sunday that Fox News operates “almost as either the research arm or the communications arm of the Republican Party.“

House Republicans are backing off an effort to reprimand a Florida congressman for saying the GOP’s health care plans amount to wanting sick people to “die quickly.“ Republicans led by Rep. Tom Price of Georgia drafted a resolution last week scolding Democrat Alan Grayson for his remarks. The measure mirrored a resolution that Democrats pushed through last month against Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., for shouting “You lie!“ at President Barack Obama.

Republicans hoping to succeed South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford will appear in their party’s first debate. The Laurens and Newberry County Republican parties will hold the “First in the State GOP Gubernatorial Debate” on at the Newberry Opera House Tuesday.

The House has voted to admonish Rep. Joe Wilson over his “You lie” outburst to President Barack Obama during the president’s health care speech to Congress last week. WJBF News Channel 6’s SC Capitol reporter, Robert Kittle, tells us the outburst may hurt tourism in the Palmetto State.

Barring a last-minute apology to Congress, Republican Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina faces what is likely to be a partisan vote scolding him for shouting “You lie!“ at President Barack Obama.

A key South Carolina legislator says he expects a move to impeach Gov. Mark Sanford will have traction when the legislative session begins next year. GOP House Judiciary Chairman Jim Harrison told a convention of the state’s judges Thursday that a bill to force out the Republican governor could have the support to be passed from his committee to the House floor. WJBF News channel 6’s SC Capitol reporter, Robert Kittle, has more.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is endorsing Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor, calling her a well-qualified judge who would be fair and evenhanded on business issues.

An aide to Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins says Collins will vote for Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.

The Senate’s top Republican will vote against Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. A senior aide says Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell plans to announce his opposition to President Barack Obama’s high court nominee on Monday.

The Senate Judiciary Committee chairman says he’ll set a vote in his panel next week on confirming Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.

South Carolina Democrats are firing back at the GOP, for censuring Governor Mark Sanford. They say, without asking him to resign, it was a meaningless move. If Governor Sanford were to step down, Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer would take over. Greg Suskin talked with Bauer about the scandal.

South Carolina Democratic leaders are criticizing a state GOP vote to publicly reprimand Gov. Mark Sanford, rather than ask him to resign, as a meaningless move that provides him cover to stay in office.