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• Vote and weather leave Burr out in the cold
  Sen. Richard Burr seems to have emerged from his unsuccessful leadership bid with his powder dry. His 1974 Volkswagen "Thing" wasn't so lucky.The GOP freshman from North Carolina hadn't thought about putting the top up on his vehicle before Washington got about 3 inches of snow beginning Wednesday.After he lost his shot at being chairman of the Senate Republican Conference to Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Burr had to trek outside with a broom and sweep the snow out of the primer gray-colored Thing, a Jeep-like car modeled after a World War II vintage German military vehicle.Burr can't fully blame Thursday's leadership race for the weather distraction. He confesses that on another day, that one rainy, he felt like Mary Poppins while pulling into the Capitol grounds with an umbrella up and his top town. He says the Capitol police are still laughing at him. Off and On the HillGetting a little help from his friendsBurr relied on two senators from his congressional freshman class to speak on his behalf in the closed door leadership election.Sen. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia nominated him and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina gave the seconding speech. The three were elected to the U.S. House in 1994 and have been friends ever since. Chambliss and Graham got to the Senate in 2003, two years earlier than Burr."I'd much rather have a friend stand up and talk about me than to choose folks because of the ideological or regional effects that it might have on the race," Burr said.Burr's personal pitch came in one-on-one meetings with almost every one of the 49 GOP caucus members. He said he told them Republicans need to re-establish their identity with the disgruntled public."We need to formulate our message about who we are and what we stand for," he said. "We've done an inadequate job of communicating what it is we stand for."Burr lost the conference chairmanship by a 31-16 vote. He said his run shouldn't be viewed as a sign of future aspirations."None whatsoever," he said. "Being a part of the leadership is never something I have been attracted to."Until a couple weeks ago anyway. Still, he's not ruling out a future bid.Dole's `lifetime achievement' saves livesBefore GOP Sen. Elizabeth Dole represented North Carolina on Capitol Hill and led the American Red Cross, she ran the U.S. Department of Transportation.Her crowning achievement there two decades ago was to apply the pressure needed to get the auto industry to start offering air bags as standard equipment on some vehicles. Air bags have been credited with saving about 25,000 lives.Dole was recognized for her work encouraging air bags and seat belt laws with the first "lifetime achievement" award presented by a coalition of vehicle safety groups called Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.Also earning the award was Joan Claybrook, who, as administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration during the Carter administration, worked to require automatic protection in vehicles.Bill seeks to boost public fundsThat $3 check-off that federal taxpayers can choose to commit to public financing of presidential campaigns would go up to $10 if an N.C. congressman gets his way.Rep. David Price, a Democrat from Chapel Hill, proposed the increase as part of a larger bill that aims to make it less of a disadvantage for presidential candidates to choose the public financing system over raising private money.Former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., is one of four presidential candidates who qualify for the public financing; he's agreed to accept it.The check-off is on the Internal Revenue Service forms due by April 15 every year.Kissell gains high-profile contributionIn another sign that Biscoe teacher Larry Kissell won't be twice underestimated by the Democratic establishment, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has made a contribution to his campaign from her political action committee.Her PAC to the Future donated $2,500 to Kissell on Sept. 20, Congressional Quarterly reported last week.New records that her leadership PAC filed with the Federal Election Commission show she gave to a number of other candidates as well, with some donations in the $5,000-$10,000 range.After a 329-vote loss in 2006, Kissell is mounting another challenge to Rep. Robin Hayes, a Concord Republican.Hayes looks across aisle for amendmentsHayes voted for an energy bill that promotes alternative fuels and technology, but he wasn't completely happy about it.He sent a letter to Pelosi saying he'd like the bill to be modified before it becomes law because he's worried about how renewable electricity and fuels mandates will affect North Carolina.There might be a chance to amend the legislation. The bill passed the House 235-181 on Thursday, but it stalled in the Senate a day later with a vote of 53-42.Hayes was the only N.C. Republican in the House to join the delegation's Democrats in supporting the bill. In the Senate, all four Carolinas senators blocked its advancement.In other votes:The GOP senators were part of the majority that voted 88-5 Thursday for a one-year fix to the Alternative Minimum Tax, which is snaring more and more middle-class Americans.The Carolinas senators voted Tuesday for the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, which passed 77-18.LisaZagaroli
• Freshman Burr seeks high-ranking position
  Sen. Richard Burr has been in the Senate only three years, but he's angling to be the third-ranking Republican in the chamber.The N.C. freshman is running for the position of chairman of the Senate Republican Conference.The job is opening because its current occupant, Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona, seems a shoo-in to take over the minority whip position from the retiring Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi.Burr has tough competition in the race, which is expected to be decided behind closed doors in a leadership election Thursday.Also vying for the post are Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas, who holds the caucus's No. 4 slot as chairwoman of the Senate Republican Policy Committee; and Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, who lost the whip race to Lott by a single vote.Burr, viewed by some as a solid conservative with a moderate persona, has some help. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., is making calls on his behalf.Burr spokesman Chris Walker said colleagues encouraged the senator to run, and he took that to heart."He wants to make a contribution," Walker said.The job seems suited for a policy wonk with a knack for spin.Here's how the Republican conference describes itself:"Over the last century, the mission of the conference has expanded and been shaped as a means of informing the media of the opinions and activities of Senate Republicans. Today the Senate Republican Conference assists Republican senators by providing a full range of communications services including graphics, radio, television and Internet." Off and On the HillA new holiday traditionRep. Patrick McHenry is planning his "first annual" Christmas dinner.The Dec. 17 fundraiser at the Holiday Inn Select in Hickory costs $100 per couple. To attend a private reception beforehand with former Gov. Jim Martin, "patrons" pay $250 per couple, "sponsors" pay $500 per couple, and "hosts" pay $1,000 per couple.N.C. musicians play White HouseJeff Perks has played piano while folks have prayed, dined and cruised.Now the Denver, N.C., resident gets to show his talent for guests strolling through the White House.Perks is one of the musical entertainers selected to perform at a series of receptions hosted by President Bush and first lady Laura Bush.Perks is scheduled to play Dec. 19-20 at two holiday open houses for invited guests.He describes his songs as "elegant dinner type music."Perks got a piano performance degree at the University of South Carolina and lived in Charlotte between 1991 and 2002 while playing at venues such as the Providence Baptist Church and the now-closed Bravo restaurant.He left for four years to play on Carnival Cruise Lines ships.Back in the area for the last year and a half, he can be heard at Denver United Methodist Church, the East Lincoln Community Chorus, and the Speedway Club at Lowe's Motor Speedway. He also teaches piano to children and adults and has seven CDs.Perks, 45, says he played his first wedding when he was 13, and he got the White House gig through a more recent matrimonial event. An assistant to Laura Bush was singing at a wedding where he was the accompanist."I'll be playing holiday favorites," he said. "They said you can play anything you want as long as it is all holiday music."On tap are classics like "Home for Christmas" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."Perks isn't the only Carolinian on the White House list of entertainers.The 4 Bows String Quartet from Mooresville was scheduled to play Saturday. Others on tap include the Sherwood Forest Elementary Songsters from Winston-Salem on Tuesday,Angela Ballard and Charlie Tipton from Iron Station on Saturday, the UNC Asheville Chamber Singers on Dec. 19, and 4 For One from Lincolnton on Dec. 21.LisaZagar