Kentucky: Whitfield resigning. Eleven-term US House Rep. Ed Whitfield (R), who had previously said he would not seek reelection, announced this week that he will resign his seat effective September 6, reports the Lexington Herald-Leader. Whitfield got in trouble with the Ethics Committee because his wife, who had been talking to his staff about a bill to ban the practice of “soring” horses to produce high-stepping, became a registered lobbyist for the Humane Society and continued to consult with his staff, in violation of House rules. Not exactly Watergait ……. Tennessee: Corker under fire. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker (R) objected to President Obama’s asking for United Nations Security Council approval of a US ban on nuclear testing, thereby avoiding the need for Senate action. However, Jed Babbin, Deputy Undersecretary of Defense under President George H. W. Bush, contended in an article in the Washington Times that the procedure is the same one Corker approved for Obama’s Iran nuclear deal. Corker has said he would “seriously consider” serving as Donald Trump’s secretary of state, were he asked ……. Texas: Perry dancing. Former Gov. Rick Perry (R), a twice-losing candidate for president, says that he’s not going on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” to boost a challenge to US Sen. Ted Cruz, but to get publicity for his advocacy of the needs of US soldiers. Calling a Senate bid “far-fetched,” Perry told the Austin American-Statesman, “I’m an executive… I run big things,” although he declined to absolutely rule out a Senate race …….
