Massachusetts News by Jeremy Jacobs

In another sign of a divided House Republican caucus, state Rep. Lewis Evangelidis and his supporters launched their own blog on Thursday calling for a "New Direction."

State Rep. Brad Jones on Thursday defended the process by which he was re-elected minority leader, saying challenger Lewis Evangelidis' criticisms are off base.

Jones, a North Reading Republican, was re-elected on Wednesday in a nine to seven vote. Following the vote, Evangelidis ripped Jones for "shut[ing] down debate" and refusing to conduct the election by a secret ballot.

Harvard Law School Professor Cass Sunstein is slated to become a top regulatory official in President-elect Barack Obama's administration, the Washington Post reported Thursday.

Sunstein will head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the Washington Post reports, citing an anonymous transition official.

Here is Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Tom Daschle's opening statement before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Thursday, from the office of U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Hyannis Port), the chair of the committee:

            Chairman Kennedy, Senator Enzi, members of the Committee, thank you for inviting me here today to discuss my nomination to be Secretary of Health and Human Services.