My sources in DC tell me that Congressman John Peterson is planning to resign. His office has not yet confirmed the news but I'm currently waiting outside his Washington office to see how the story develops. More to come soon...

Congressman John Peterson retired from Congress today, the 18th Republican member this session. The Congressman made a special trip here to Washington to inform his staff and I caught up with him just after the meeting.

Watch the video story here.

Watch the interview clips here.

Congressman John Peterson was the first lawmaker I interviewed in Washington as a reporter for WSEE, and now his 5th district Congressional seat is up for grabs.
Peterson says family medical problems led him not to run for re-election, adding that he is perfectly healthy. Peterson plans to complete his 6th term in the House before he steps down.

"It's been a wonderful opportunity for a country boy without a college education, but somebody who ran businesses and worked hard. It's been a wonderful opportunity to serve in Congress," he told me inside his Washington office just after the announcement.

Candidates running for Peterson's House seat have until February 12th to qualify for the primary election in April.

There's so much media attention surrounding the New Hampshire Primaries, leading me to wonder what's really at stake?

Candidates that win the state will gain momentum, just like the gains Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee got from Iowa. They'll grab important fundraising dollars, and steal the headlines in all the major media outlets.

And we can't forget the real purpose of the primary elections--to gain delegates to the nominating conventions. The Democrats will meet in late August to announce their picks for President and Vice President and the Republicans will meet in early September to do the same. The crazy thing about New Hampshire is that the Republicans only get 12 seats out of more than 2,000 towards the nominating convention and the Democrats only get 22 seats out of more than 4,000. So, is there really that much at stake?

The polls are just closing for the night, and I can't wait to see how the mostly Libertarian and often independent New Hampshire voters cast their ballot.

I have to admit that I never really considered Rolling Stone part of my daily reading. But this article by Matt Taibbi hit home. It talks about some of the ways we fail in our political coverage, and it's worth a read. Check it out...

Merchants of Trivia

Watch the video story HERE

Each year on the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision to legalize abortion, hundreds of thousands gather to protest Roe v. Wade. This year Erie residents and St. George Grade School students traveled to our nation's capital to march for life.

The group left from St. George Church last night and spent the whole day in Washington.

Amelia Wisinski is one of the St. George students who traveled to Washington to march for life. She's adopted and says she is thankful that her birth mother had the courage not to have an abortion.

“I (came because) I wanted to be with my (adopted) mom, and it was for a good cause, and I like Washington, DC,” she said.

The 7th and 8th graders braved the chilly, rainy weather as they carried their message through the streets of our nation’s capital. St. George’s religion teacher, Marielle Lafaro, says she’s proud of the work her students are doing.

“It’s really encouraging to see the students so excited and so animated and so convicted about this and to see that they are willing to sacrifice, willing to be a little uncomfortable to make a change,” said Lafaro

Nearly 200 people from Erie took buses to Washington for the protest.

People For Life president Tim Broderick organized the trip.

“The amazing thing about coming down to Washington is just seeing the thousands and thousands of people that share the priorities and enthusiasm for the whole abortion issue,” he said.

The marchers from Erie said they hope the abortion laws will change but if not they'll be back again next year to protest.

On Monday, President Bush will deliver the last State of the Union address of his presidency. While he's busy fine-tuning his speech...I've been running around the Hill talking to lawmakers about the importance of the address.

Watch the video story HERE

An unpopular war, a tanking economy, rising energy, health care, and education costs.

They’re just some of the issues President Bush is expected to cover in his last State of the Union address. But with most of America’s political attention turned towards the 2008 presidential race, we’re left wondering how our President will turn things around.

“I think he set back Pennsylvania by not leading on economic issues, and frankly, by governing in a way that’s been partisan, instead of trying to bring about some bipartisanship and some common ground on some tough issues," said Senator Bob Casey outside his DC office.

As a lame duck president, Bush will be focused on his legacy, and the upcoming speech gives him a platform to bolster it. Our local lawmakers and members of the President's own party say he gets high marks for keeping our nation safe.

“I don’t think any of us would have bet a dime that we could go from 9-11 till today and not have a successful terrorist attack on America. And I think the President gets credit for that,” said Congressman John Peterson, who is serving his last year in Congress.

Congressman Phil English also weighed in, "I think it’s fair to say this is going to be a foreign policy presidency and it is probably going to be defined by what happens over the next few years.”

But like many other lawmakers in Washington, English added that he’s disappointed with the president’s domestic leadership.

“I don’t think he has been as aggressive perhaps as I would have liked. And the domestic agenda that he has offered frequently has been blocked in Congress, whoever has been in control," he said.

This year’s State of the Union address will be more than just the President’s report to Congress, but rather one of his last chances to shape history. And I'm looking forward to what Bush has to say.

In President Bush’s 7th State of the Union Address he outlined plans for how he’ll lead the nation during his final year in office. Bush spoke about the issue on all of our minds --the struggling economy.

Watch the video story HERE

"To build a prosperous future we must trust people with their own money. And empower them to grow our economy. As we meet tonight our economy is undergoing a period of uncertainty," said Bush.

The speech to the nation comes amid fears of a recession and just days after Congressional leaders agreed on a multi-billion dollar proposal to revive our economy.

“The United States is prepared to adopt a tough, pro-growth economic policy to move us forward,” said Congressman Phil English.

Many Americans are strained by a housing slump, a credit crisis, and high energy prices.

“This President has an energy background, the Vice President an energy background. I’ve been very disappointed in their timid leadership on energy. That’s my opinion, timid leadership,” said Congressman John Peterson.

The President didn’t make any new, bold proposals but he kept the military’s progress in Iraq front and center.

"While the enemy is still dangerous and more work remains, the American and Iraqi surges have achieved results few of us could have imagined just one year ago," said Bush

Senator Bob Casey says the President needs to offer a new plan for our war weary nation.

“This administration has to do more to address the concern that a lot of Americans have that we ought to change course in Iraq and focus our energies on getting our troops out of a Civil War,” said Casey.

And even with the President’s approval ratings in the low 30’s Senator Arlen Specter says he hopes Bush can make some real progress.

“It’s an important year for the United States, and I do not think that because it is the President’s last year we ought to simply say, well not much can get done,“ said Specter.

As the President serves his last year in office has his work cut out for him.
Bush still faces a legislative arena controlled by democrats and a nation whose political attention is focused on the campaign trail.