Federal spending as a percentage of GDP, tax revenue as a percentage of GDP, and the deficit as a percentage of GDP have all shrunk under President Obama, as shown by Michael Linden at Think Progress.

Called the Heath Care Rights of Conscience Act, the new law will bar anyone from being required to prescribe or administer a drug they “reasonably believe” might result in the termination of a pregnancy. The law was signed Monday.

Critics say the law will open the door for a pharmacist to refuse a request for something like the “morning-after” pill, which the Mayo Clinic says can prevent or delay ovulation, block fertilization or keep a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus.

They argued that the law puts pharmacists and physicians in a position to refuse birth control and that it will affect many women, especially those in small towns and rural communities since the health provider wouldn’t be required to provide a referral somewhere else.

Public records show Clausen “had nearly 20 busts, tickets or fines, a number of them traffic infractions related to things like driving while intoxicated, or with a suspended license. Some were related to accidents, others to driving without seat belts.”

With this kind of enthusiasm, who needs an endorsement?

“Yeah, sure, I’ll vote for Mitt Romney. Whatever,” may as well have been former president George W. Bush’s words Tuesday when ABC News asked him who he is endorsing for president.

Actually, he said, verbatim, “I’m for Mitt Romney,” as elevator doors closed on him, in perhaps the most unenthusiastic presidential endorsement of all time.

• Sh*t My Dad Says writer Justin Halpern stops by to discuss his new book, I Suck At Girls.

• United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo Gerard speaks with Alan about Romney’s jobs record at Bain Capital.

We will head to Tampa with a solid group of delegates. Several hundred will be bound to Dr. Paul, and several hundred more, although bound to Governor Romney or other candidates, will be Ron Paul supporters.

Unfortunately, barring something very unforeseen, our delegate total will not be strong enough to win the nomination. Governor Romney is now within 200 delegates of securing the party’s nod.

 So what does he want?

Paul wants GOP platform planks on monetary policy reform, prohibitions on indefinite detention, and Internet freedom. And he believes his campaign has amassed enough force to guarantee serious consideration of these “liberty issues.”

Thorne-Begland’s nomination for a judgeship on the General District Court in Richmond, where he has been a prosecutor for 12 years, had been approved by courts committees in the House and Senate.

But his nomination came under fire late last week, as the Family Foundation and Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Prince William, stoked fears that the 45-year-old attorney would allow his sexual orientation to influence his judicial decisions.

Republicans cast the 31 votes against Thorne-Begland. Ten Republican delegates abstained and 26 delegates, including a handful of Democrats, did not vote. Eight Republicans voted for Thorne-Begland.

But since Democrats seized power in fall 2006, Republicans have turned to the filibuster far more frequently. The majority has averaged about 140 cloture motions in both the 110th and 111th Congress. And Democrats are on pace to repeat that feat again this Congress…

In addition to Common Cause, three DREAM Act students and four House Democrats — Reps. John Lewis and Hank Johnson, both of Georgia, Michael Michaud of Maine and Keith Ellison of Minnesota — were named as plaintiffs in the suit.