Sunday, on CNN's State of the Union, Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) discussed his disappointment with what he characterized as President Obama's lack of bipartisanship.

From the Dallas Morning News and Representative Aaron Pena's (D-Edinburg) Twitter feed comes the latest news on the voter identification bill up for consideration in the Texas State House of Representatives.

Yesterday, Senator John Corona (R-Dallas), chairman of the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee, filed Senate Bill 885 that would allow urban areas to vote to levy local taxes to fund road and rail projects. Among the local taxes that could be raised under Senator Corona's plan are the following:

Even though the Legislature is now in session and Rick Perry can't raise any money until the session ends, his re-election bid is back in the news thanks to a letter from Governor Sarah Palin to "Texas Republican women" that was publicized earlier this week. Governor Palin endorsed Governor Perry as "the true conservative" in the Texas Gubernatorial race in 2010. Among her accolades for the Governor was this wonderful nugget:

UPDATE: Former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele defeated South Carolina GOP Chairmain Katon Dawson on the final ballot and is the new RNC Chair. Chairman Steele becomes the first African-American to lead the RNC.

Last week, Representative Myra Crownover (R-Denton) and Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) filed legislation in both the House and the Senate to institute a statewide smoking ban in the workplace. That means everyone's workplace, including bars, pool halls and restaurants.

Since incumbent Speaker Tom Craddick's (R-Midland) decision to not seek the office of Speaker of the Texas House was announced yesterday, battle lines have been drawn in the Speaker's race. On one side is Representative Joe Straus (R-San Antonio) and on the other side is Representative John Smithee (R-Amarillo).

The GOP is complaining that President-Elect Barack Obama has not appointed any Southerners to his cabinet.

The Boston Globe reports that Mitt Romney's PAC has spent only 12% of the money they've raised on supporting candidates.

The Austin American Statesman reports that former Comptroller John Sharp will run for Sen. Hutchison's seat.