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1) The House Ethics Committee admonished Rep. Charles Rangel for accepting reimbursement for trips to a business-planned and funded event in the Caribbean in 2007 and 2008.

2) The House Ethics Committee also exonerated all members under investigation in the PMA Group earmark-campaign contribution scandal.

3) The Kentucky congressional delegation strongly defended Toyota in oversight hearings. Kentucky is home to major Toyota plants with thousands of jobs in the state.

4) The oil industry is booming in North Dakota. You can bet that they will play a significant role in the coming Senate race to replace retiring Sen. Byron Dorgan.