• President Obama will apparently never have a Commerce Secretary: Republican Sen. Judd Gregg (NH) has withdrawn his name because of a difference of opinion over the stimulus package.
• Lawmakers are considering banning future governors from emblazoning their name on signs a la Blago and the Tollway.
• That's not the only sign issue in the state: now there's a fuss over the county road markers that the Cook County Board approved earlier this week, a fight that's being led by a pair of Board commissioners.

A story that is just beginning to unfold: Governor Bill Richardson is withdrawing his name from nomination for Secretary of Commerce. This news comes as a grand jury is investigating how a California company contributing to Richardson’s political activities won a $1 billion contract with the state of New Mexico. more ›

Another day, another Obama press conference to announce a cabinet nomination. Today, the President-Elect nominated New Mexico governor and former Democratic presidential opponent Bill Richardson (why'd you shave the beard, Bill? We dug it!) as commerce secretary. Richardson has previously served as U.N. Ambassador and energy secretary in the Bill Clinton administration. Obama said of Richardson, "During his time in state government and Congress, and in two tours of duty in the Cabinet, Bill has seen from just about every angle what makes our economy work and what keeps it from working better." more ›