Priebus: ‘Malpractice’ for me to back Trump debate  —  Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus spoke out Thursday against an upcoming GOP presidential debate to be moderated by Donald Trump, saying it would be “malpractice” for him as the leader of the party not to think the debate was problematic.

Perry and Bachmann Also Pass on Trump Debate  —  6:51 p.m. |  Updated MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. - Gov. Rick Perry of Texas and Representative Michele Bachmann have joined other candidates, including Mitt Romney, in passing on Donald Trump's Dec. 27 debate in Iowa.  Mr. Perry's campaign issued this statement on Thursday:

Hill staffers fired for off-color tweets  —  They called it a “December to Remember”: a mission to spend the final month of the legislative session partying under the patronage of Rep. Rick Larsen.  —  Eight days into it, and a series of ill-advised tweets later, three staffers …

House Republicans Unveil Plan to Extend Payroll Tax Cut  —  WASHINGTON — House Republican leaders on Thursday unveiled their plan to extend a payroll tax holiday and expiring unemployment benefits and pay for them through changes in social spending programs while adding contentious new provisions opposed by Democrats.

Corzine says he could have been misunderstood on transfer of MF Global accounts  —  Jon S. Corzine, the former U.S. senator and governor who presided over the collapse of the commodities brokerage MF Global, told lawmakers Thursday that he never intended to authorize a transfer of customer funds …