Top Republican woman in Congress becomes a force

◼ In the world of conservative politics, Republican Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers has arrived. - Reuters

In the last three weeks, she has sparred on national television with Democrats over Republican policies toward women, been called a "lying mouthpiece" by a liberal blog, and chided former House speaker Nancy Pelosi.

...She has appeared on TV and written defiant opinion articles, saying that Democrats are accusing Republicans of being anti-women because the Democrats do not want to discuss President Barack Obama's handling of the economy and the federal debt.

GOP leaders join Issa in pressuring Holder on Fast and Furious

◼ House Republican leaders on Friday joined Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) in pressuring Attorney General Eric Holder to turn over documents to congressional investigators in the Fast and Furious case. - Jordy Yager/The Hill

Following a 15-month investigation House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.), and House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) demanded that Holder comply with a 7-month old subpoena or face the consequences.

“As co-equal branches of the U.S. Government, the relationship between the Legislative and Executive branches must be predicated on honest communications and cannot be clouded by allegations of obstruction,” stated the Republican leaders in a letter to Holder sent on Friday.

“If necessary, the House will act to fulfill our Constitutional obligations in the coming weeks.”

...Since early last year, Issa has been investigating the botched gun tracking operation Fast and Furious, which oversaw the sale of nearly 2,000 firearms to straw buyers for Mexican drug cartels in a failed attempt to dismantle their gun trafficking routes.

But after 15 months, Issa and GOP leadership say that the DOJ has stopped complying with his efforts to get more information about who in the agency knew about and approved the controversial tactics, which may have contributed to the killing of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.

Congressional Republicans Outraise Dems in April

◼ The GOP's House campaign organization slightly outraised its Democratic counterpart in April and also ended the month with $2 million more in cash. - Caitlin Huey-Burns/Real Clear Politics

Democrats need to gain 25 seats in the November elections to reclaim the speaker’s gavel. Analysts say the challenge is a difficult one, and some believe that the party will only pick up five to 15 seats. DCCC Chairman Steve Israel told reporters last week that the committee is within range of its goal, and predicted that the margins will at least be “razor close” on Election Day. But Israel also said he has been asking the Democratic National Committee for financial help with down-ballot races. The DNC and the Obama re-election campaign do not plan to share money with the congressional campaign groups anytime soon.

Meet the Rubios

◼ (T)hey’re not just any couple. - Politico

At 40, he is the most prominent Latino in national politics today, and a widely touted prospect to be Mitt Romney’s running mate. She is a shy, behind-the-scenes booster married to her high school sweetheart who has never given a speech and bristles when the media reduces her life to a brief stint as a Miami Dolphins cheerleader.

Are we supposed to call him ‘Dear Leader’? Is this some kind of North Korea thing?”

◼ Dems Disenfranchise Voters After Polls Show Obama in Close Primary Race - Weekly Standard

After a poll released this week showed President Barack Obama only beating his Democratic primary opponent John Wolfe Jr. by seven points, 45 percent to 38 percent, in Arkansas's Fourth Congressional District, state Democrats moved to practically disenfranchise Arkansas voters. "[D]elegates Wolfe might claim won't be recognized at the national convention," national party officials are telling state Democrats. Wolfe is being accused of not following the party rules.

...If he's denied delegates he's rightfully won, Wolfe says, Democrats would be effectively disenfranchising those who chose him over President Obama. And if that happens, he’ll take his own party to court.

“They took my money and put my name on the ballot,” he says. “They’re trying to make people think it’s hopeless to vote against Obama.”

America's fourth greatest President strikes again