Friday's news roundup

Conspiracy theory? Judd Gregg's withdrawal stirs speculation on Obama's Census plan... White House's Census's 'interest': Gregg... and just for kicks, a Twitter Census

Thursday's roundup

Gregg withdraws nomination, key Senate committee votes to give Utah a fourth House seat, and other items below...

--Gregg withdraws as Commerce secretary nominee

--GOP leaders criticize White House's role in census

--Senate panel OKs bill giving Utah a 4th House seat

--White House denies meddling in Census

--Republicans continue to hammer White House over role in Census debacle

Gregg withdraws nomination for Commerce Chief

Breaking news today -

Judd Gregg withdrew his nomination as Secretary of Commerce, due to "irresolvable conflicts":

Sen. Gregg stated in a paper statement, “I want to thank the president for nominating me to serve in his Cabinet as Secretary of Commerce. This was a great honor, and I had felt that I could bring some views and ideas that would assist him in governing during this difficult time. I especially admire his willingness to reach across the aisle. However, it has become apparent during this process that this will not work for me as I have found that on issues such as the stimulus package and the Census there are irresolvable conflicts for me. Prior to accepting this post, we had discussed these and other potential differences, but unfortunately we did not adequately focus on these concerns. We are functioning from a different set of views on many critical items of policy.

“Obviously the president requires a team that is fully supportive of all his initiatives. I greatly admire President Obama and know our country will benefit from his leadership, but at this time I must withdraw my name from consideration for this position. As we move forward, I expect there will be many issues and initiatives where I can and will work to assure the success of the president’s proposals. This will certainly be a goal of mine. Kathy and I also want to specifically thank Governor Lynch and Bonnie Newman for their friendship and assistance during this period. In addition we wish to thank all the people, especially in New Hampshire, who have been so kind and generous in their supportive comments.

“As a further matter of clarification, nothing about the vetting process played any role in this decision. I will continue to represent the people of New Hampshire in the United States Senate.”

Are you ready for a Census fight, Chicago style?

...or so the Washington Post asks. The Census should remain independent of politics, as noted by the Sleuth's entry, but will it? Stay tuned.

Gregg mum on Census Bureau

Apparently Judd Gregg, Obama's pick to head the Commerce Department, is tight-lipped when it comes to the Census. Read more here.

The NY Times asks, what about the Census?

Apparently the NY Times can't figure out why President Obama has nominated Republican Senator Judd Gregg to serve as his Secretary of Commerce.

White House to bypass Commerce on Census?

CQ Politics is reporting that the U.S. Census Bureau will report directly to the White House, and not to the Secretary of Commerce, according to a "senior White House official."

This is a strange twist - keep watching for further updates. Historically, the Census Bureau is folded within the Department of Commerce. Why the change? Glenn Thrush of Politico has his own ideas.

**Thrush updated his blog, with a congressman's take on the issue.

Even the White House weighs in via spokesman Ben LaBolt:

"From the first days of the transition, the Census has been a priority for the President, and a process he wanted to reevaluate. There is historic precedent for the director of the Census, who works for the Commerce Secretary and the President, to work closely with White House senior management -- given the number of decisions that will have to be put before the President. We plan to return to that model in this administration.”