Wallenberg is credited with saving 100,000 Jews during the Nazi occupation of Hungary in World War II. As of his last known contact in 1945, Wallenberg was in Soviet custody; they produced differing accounts of Wallenberg’s fate, none of which have enough merit to be fully accepted today. Congresswoman Hayworth and other supporters of the bill believe that awarding the Congressional Gold Medal during the centennial celebration of his birth is a fitting memorial to a man to whom so many Americans owe their lives. The Congressional Gold Medal is one of the highest civilian decorations in the United States, awarded to an individual who performs an outstanding deed or act of service to the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States. – Congresswoman Nan Hayworth Press Release

Sunday night, Ruben Dario Vargas, a community activist who has run multiple unsuccessful campaigns for public office, announced he’d be throwing his hat into the race for Congressman Charlie Rangel’s seat and would be launching his campaign today at noon. However, Mr. Vargas’ campaign ended almost as quickly as it began. At the event that was supposed to be the start of his campaign, Mr. Vargas instead announced he will be dropping out of the race he was in for less than 24 hours and giving his endorsement to another candidate, State Senator Adriano Espaillat. – Hunter Walker

In the second year since Gov. Chris Christie enacted a 2 percent ceiling on how much municipalities can collect in property taxes, only two towns are asking voters for permission to spend more. Voters in Lawrence and Medford will decide tomorrow between cutbacks in municipal services and a hike in property taxes. The borough council in Demarest, Bergen County will figure out tonight whether it will seek a May 8 referendum vote. Last year, 14 towns asked voters to exceed the 2 percent cap, and 12 voted no — including Medford, where the question was rejected by 84 percent of the voters. – Star Ledger

Liz Banajamin Reports: NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly was a guest on WOR this morning – an interview scheduled, according to guest host Rep. Pete King, before the NY Post report this morning that former state GOP Chairman Bill Powers plans to try to draft the Kelly into the 2012 NYC mayor’s race.

King, who was sitting in for John Gambling, asked Kelly to respond to the column penned by Fred Dicker. The commissioner praised Powers, calling him a “terrific guy” and, like Kelly himself, a former Marine. He also insisted he’s “fully engaged in the job I have now; I love it.”

“I certainly appreciate those comments,” Kelly continued. “It’s obviously flattering. But I’m totally focused on what I’m doing now.”

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Democratic National Committee chief Debbie Wasserman Schultz has been called on to release her personal income tax returns. The request was made by her congressional opponent, Republican Karen Harrington of Florida. “This week millions of taxpaying Americans will fulfill their requirement of filing their tax returns by paying any and all taxes due to the federal government,” Harrington’s campaign writes. “Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz has been asking Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney to release his 2011 tax return even after Governor Romney released his 2010 tax return.” – Weekly Standard, H/T Drudge

A top aide to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo assembled a 35-page dossier on the work of an Albany political reporter considered hostile to his administration, highlighting any shred of criticism in a document that reflects the intense sensitivity of a governor on the brink of taking the national stage. The document was provided to BuzzFeed by a New York City political operative who said he believes it reveals Cuomo’s “scary dark side.” And the document does offer a glimpse into Cuomo’s obsessive and often difficult relationship with the media who cover him. Communications Director Richard Bamberger, who acknowledged preparing the document, called it “meaningless” and “garbage,” while warning that its leak set a “dangerous precedent.” – Buzz Feed