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WASHINGTON Republican governors meeting in Washington this weekend said financial conditions in their states have deteriorated so much that they must raise taxes, even if it means crossing their own party.

In the face of a historical antipathy deepened by the tea party movement, chief executives in Alabama, Nevada and Michigan among other states are proposing increases this year to address shortfalls or to spend more on faltering schools and infrastructure. They advocate higher levies on businesses, tobacco, alcohol and gasoline, in some cases casting the increases as user fees.

The governors are at a crossroads. They are choosing between the path of Gov. Sam Brownback in Kansas, who has refused to change course even after tax cuts provoked furious opposition, and that of Alabamas Robert Bentley, who has said the states perennially precarious budget has reached the breaking point.

I dont want to raise taxes, but I also know that we need to pay our debts, Bentley said in an interview. We dont have any choice.

Governors in about 10 states, many led by Republicans, are proposing increases this year, said Brian Sigritz, director of state fiscal studies for the National Association of State Budget Officers in Washington. Several plans involve raising fuel taxes to pay for crumbling roads and bridges, while Republicans including John Kasich in Ohio and Maines Paul LePage want higher sales or other levies to offset income-tax cuts. The burden of such taxes falls more heavily on the poor, who spend a larger proportion of their income.

In Nevada, two-term Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval has proposed $1.1 billion in new or continued business, tobacco and other taxes to pay for education and initiatives such as expanding full-day kindergarten.

He said he has no choice with a shortfall caused by declining mining and gambling revenue, as well as a need to spend more on an education system that has the worst high-school graduation rate in the U.S.

His proposal has drawn opposition from Republican officials such as Treasurer Dan Schwartz, who said voters rejected two similar proposals in November and that Sandoval has divorced himself from state Republicans.

Sandoval said there are Republicans who support his plan, and that business leaders want better-educated workers.

I knew going in that I was going to receive criticism, Sandoval said in an interview. Thats why its important for me to explain the why, and the why is to improve education in Nevada.

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Tax increases much-regretted necessity for Republican governors

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., joined by other GOP leaders, from left, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas, says the Senate is stuck over a bill funding the Homeland Security Department and overturning President Barack Obamas policies on immigration and insists the next move is up to the House, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2015, during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. McConnell tried three times last week to pass the House bill, but Senate Democrats blocked each attempt. AP

WASHINGTON, United States A Department of Homeland Security shutdown grew increasingly likely Monday, with lawmakers fighting over funding for the US agency amid a bitter standoff about President Barack Obamas immigration reform plan.

Facing a Friday deadline, Senate Democrats for a fourth time blocked a measure that would fund the department tasked with protecting Americans and securing the border.

Lawmakers want to see DHS fully funded, particularly during the current heightened threat environment.

But the $40 billion bill contains Republican amendments that would repeal Obamas plan to shield millions of people from deportation, changes that Democrats do not support.

With the blame game in full swing, it appeared increasingly likely Congress would fail to fund DHS before the midnight Friday deadline.

Boxed canyon

Were in a bit of a boxed canyon here and I think we all know that, Republican Senator Jeff Flake said after the vote.

Right now, it does seem to be where were headed, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said of a possible shutdown.

All Senate Democrats voted against the measure, along with Republican Dean Heller.

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Republican amendment endangers US Homeland Security

Rachel Maddow 3.02.2015 Welcome To Your Republican Future Republicans Elect Exorcist In Colorado
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By: Rachel Maddow Show

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Rachel Maddow 3.02.2015 Welcome To Your Republican Future Republicans Elect Exorcist In Colorado - Video

Lansing, Mich. Michigan Republicans picked a niece of Mitt Romney on Saturday to lead the state party for the next two years.

Ronna Romney McDaniel got 55 percent of the vote on the first ballot before delegates at the Michigan Republican convention made the selection unanimous. Bobby Schostak didn't seek another two-year term after four years as chairman.

Republicans control the state Capitol but haven't delivered Michigan to a GOP presidential candidate since 1988. President Barack Obama defeated Romney, a Michigan native, and picked up the state's electoral votes in 2012.

"We might not agree on everything, but we can agree that seven years of liberal Obama policies have a destructive effect on our nation and we need to get a Republican in the White House through Michigan in 2016," McDaniel, 41, of Northville, told the convention.

The Detroit Free Press reports:

McDaniel, a married mother of two, worked on her uncle's presidential campaign in Michigan and served on the GOP state committee. She has served as a precinct delegate, worked as a manager for the staffing firm Ajilon, as a business manager for the video company Mills James Productions, and as a production manager for SRCP Media.

She is the daughter of Ronna Romney, a former U.S. Senate candidate who attended the convention, and Scott Romney, an attorney who is Mitt Romney's brother.

The over-riding theme of my campaign is unity," McDaniel told reporters. "We have a lot of different factions in our party. We need to get them to coalesce if we're going to be successful.

The other candidates for party chair were Norm Hughes, who worked for former President Ronald Reagan, and Kim Shmina, a nurse.

Mike Farage of Grand Rapids said he voted for McDaniel partly because she wants to make the party more appealing to minorities "the elephant in the room" for Republicans.

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Mitt Romney's niece leads Republican Party in Michigan

Republican candidate Scott Angelle has launched campaign for the 2015 governors race with the first set of TV ads in four Louisiana cities.

Angelles campaign said it will spend $200,000 to run campaign ads in Lafayette, Lake Charles, Houma and Alexandria in an effort to reach voters who might not know much about him.

One of Angelles ads highlights his affiliation with the Louisianas Public Service Commission. The spot describes his support for fewer government regulations, improved job skills training and middle class tax relief, according to the Associated Press.

Another ad describes his work history in the oil and gas industry. The commercial includes his family and two of his favorite pastimes, hunting and fishing. The ad has two different versions, one that ends with Angelle speaking Cajun French.

Other candidates in the race for governor are Republican Lt. Gov. Jay Dardene, Democratic state Rep. John Bel Edwards and Republican Sen. David Vitter.

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Republican Scott Angelle launches first of 2015 campaign ads