Thornburgh To Step Down: Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh will be stepping down from his position effective Feb. 15 to take a job in the private sector. Thornburgh has served as Secretary of State for 15 years and briefly challenged Sen. Sam Brownback for the Republican nomination for governor.

Reardon Won't Run: Democrat Kansas City Mayor Joe Reardon says he won't run for retiring Dennis Moore's seat in Congress. This is yet another blow to the Democrats who are having trouble recruiting a candidate that can hold on to that 3rd Congressional seat.

Fed Up: The approval rating of Congress fell to its lowest rating in more than a year, according to the Gallup organization. Only 18 percent of Americans approve of the way Congress is doing business, down from 24 points in January.

Death Penalty Debate: The State Senate will soon debate a bill that would replace the death penalty with life in prison without parole. According to the Topeka Capital-Journal, even if the Senate passes the repeal, it is highly unlikely the House would take up, let alone, pass this measure.

NRCC Adds to "Young Guns" List: The National Republican Congressional Committee today announced the addition of 15 candidates to their program which helps Republicans that are challenging vulnerable Democrats.

Freeze on Tax Exemptions: The House Committee on Taxation is considering a bill that would put a three-year moratorium on granting new tax exemptions. The Chamber of Commerce and other business groups believe such a move could impede economic growth.