Afternoon Fix: Tim Pawlenty joins challenge to federal health care law; conservative radio host won't serve as Allen West's chief of staff

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WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

* Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) and Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri (R), both slated to leave office soon, have joined a court filing challenging the cost of the federal health care law.

* A new Gallup poll shows that only 17 percent of adults approve of the way Congress is handling its job, down from 21 percent before the midterms.

* Conservative radio host Joyce Kaufman announced that she will not serve as Rep.-elect Allen West's (R-Fla.) chief of staff, saying, "I will not be used in an electronic lynching by proxy."

* Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias (D), who lost to Rep. Mark Kirk (R) in the state's Senate race, is flirting with the idea of running for mayor of Chicago.

* Attorney Joe Miller (R) said that his campaign has received a $20,000 contribution from the National Republican Senatorial Committee as well as a donation from the PAC of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R), who endorsed Miller in his primary against Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R).

WHAT YOU SHOULDN'T MISS

* Former President George W. Bush stops by "The O'Reilly Factor" tonight, while Jon Stewart sits down with MSNBC's Rachel Maddow.

* FreedomWorks, the conservative organization that backed tea party candidates across the country, is hosting a retreat in Baltimore today and tomorrow to encourage congressional Republicans not to abandon their advocacy for lower taxes and spending once they take office.

* The first primary debate of the White House 2012 race will be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley in the spring of 2011.

* The House Administration Committee sent election observers to several districts with unresolved races; observers remain on the ground in a handful of districts including New York's 1st.

THE FIX MIX

We'll buy another round and it's all on me.