The WonkLine: February 7, 2011

“Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) have rekindled their alliance on immigration reform, taking some early steps to test the political will for addressing the contentious issue this year.”

South Carolina state Sen. Larry Grooms “has introduced a bill aimed at implementing an Arizona-style immigration reform law in the state. The move makes South Carolina the latest state to consider an immigration law crafted off of the one in Arizona.”

“Illegal immigrants could apply for permits to work in Utah under a bill proposed in the Legislature. Republican Rep. Bill Wright of Holden says House Bill 116 helps the state identify illegal immigrants living in Utah and provides a way for those immigrants to continue working in the state.”

“With Egypt’s revolt entering a third week, thousands of protesters gathered in Tahrir Square, demanding the immediate departure of President Hosni Mubarak, even as his government portrayed itself as already in the midst of American-approved negotiations to end the uprising.”

“Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned on Sunday that removing President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt too hastily could threaten the country’s transition to democracy.”

“Obama’s special Egypt envoy Frank Wisner raised eyebrows Saturday when — contrary to what the White House had been saying for several days — he told a Munich security conference that Hosni Mubarak needed to stay on as Egypt’s president to approve constitutional reforms.”

The L.A. Times looks at the politics of rewriting the Elementary and Secondary Education Act: “Some Democrats privately doubt the Republicans would let Obama score such a win, especially on a topic voters take as personally as education.”

Several states try to curb the ability of teachers to collectively bargain.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-NY) targets superintendents’ salaries for cuts.

According to analysts, higher food prices are here to stay.

President Obama is speaking at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce today, where he will reportedly “tell company executives that they have an “obligation” to ‘hire our workers, and pay decent wages, and invest in the future of this nation.’”

Congressional Democrats: Obama broke his pledge to push for mortgage cram-downs.

“While several factors have contributed to soaring food prices,” Paul Krugman writes, “what really stands out is the extent to which severe weather events have disrupted agricultural production.”

“Heavy rain triggered flooding in Sri Lanka that killed at least 11 people and is threatening up to 90 percent of the staple rice crop,” and Cyclone Yasi has damaged the Great Barrier Reef and decimated Australia’s sugarcane crop, while wildfires rip through western Australia.

Climate bloggers take down New Mexico energy secretary Harrison Schmitt, a self-proclaimed climate “denier.”

“Iowa Governor Terry Branstad says he believes the Iowa Supreme Court erred in legalizing gay marriage,” but doesn’t want to “impose my will on the people” and won’t talk about whether he supports an effort to overturn the court’s 2009 unanimous decision.

“Republican lawmakers in Indiana are resuming their push for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. A legislative hearing is scheduled for Monday.”

“A bill that would offer gay and lesbian couples identical benefits and responsibilities to marriage goes before a Hawaii House panel on Tuesday, the AP reported.”

“Massachusetts regulators granted more exemptions last year to residents who said they could not afford the health insurance required by the state, waiving the tax penalty for more than half of those who appealed, according to state data.”

“A U.S. Supreme Court showdown over President Barack Obama’s health-care overhaul may be inevitable. His administration is in no rush for the court to get involved.”

“Eight Democratic attorneys general have issued a statement defending the constitutionality of the healthcare reform law.”

A Nebraska judge ruled that married same-sex couples in that state are not allowed access to divorce proceedings.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg pours cold water on Cuccinelli’s attempt to bypass the largely Democratic Fourth Circuit and have his health care challenge heard directly by the Supremes.

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) really doesn’t want judicial nominee Arvo Mikkanen to become the first Native American on the federal bench — but he’s not telling anyone why.

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