Brewing budget cuts
1| Tea Party reminds GOP legislators
The details: Tea Party leaders rallied Thursday in Washington to remind newly elected Republican legislators of their promises to cut federal spending. And to promise primary challengers if they fail.
AARP in hot water
2| Republicans ask for IRS probe
The details: House Republicans are asking the Internal Revenue Service to review AARP’s tax-exempt status after finding that the seniors lobby stands to make a $1 billion profit selling health insurance under Obamacare, which it lobbied heavily to pass.
Kill bill
3| Bill targets
Fannie, Freddie
The details: Republican Sens. John McCain and Orrin Hatch introduced legislation that would dismantle mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac within five years — or turn them into completely private entities. The government has spent $150 billion so far to keep them from collapsing.
Supply for demand
4| Farmers to plant more corn
The details: Agriculture officials say U.S. farmers are planning to plant 5 percent more corn in 2011 than they did in 2012. Bigger crops might help bring down prices increased by ethanol makers’ demand for more kernels.
Pacifying
5| Assad bows to reform pressure
The details: Syrian tyrant Bashar Assad agreed to an investigation of civilian deaths and to end emergency laws that for years empowered his regime to arrest citizens without formal charges. Tyrants making concessions is often a signal of their approaching exit.
Up, up, up
6|D.C. home gains outpace U.S.
The details: Home prices in the Washington region have increased for the past eight months in a row, sparing area home sellers the double-dip losses afflicting the rest of the country. Local home prices are now back up to their 2004 values.
More clout
7| Northern Va. wins redistricting
The details: Northern Virginia is the big winner in the legislative redistricting mandated by the 2010 census. The regions stands to pick up three seats in the House of Delegates and one state Senate seat at the expense of less populated areas down south.
Crackdown on truants
8| Bill set to prevent school violence
The details: One year after a mass shooting on South Capitol Street, D.C. Councilman David Catania introduced a bill intended to keep closer tabs on students. The proposal reduces allowable unexcused absences from 25 to 10 and streamlines youth access to mental health programs.
College Park
9| Best place in Md. to raise kids
The details: Bloomberg Businessweek recently ranked College Park as the best place to raise a family in Maryland. The magazine notes College Park’s affordable housing, well-lit trails and proximity to the University of Maryland. Other factors included job growth, good air quality and low cost of living.
Wining
10| Md. OKs home wine shipments
The details: Maryland’s General Assembly voted to allow residents to receive up to 18 shipments of wine directly from wineries to their homes per year, simplifying life for oenophiles. Mail-order wine is legal in 36 states and the District of Columbia.
