Remember that airline commercial that asks “Want to get away?” from those embarrassing moments in life? In the Internet age, there is no getting away when somebody comes up with a truly dumb, ridiculous or just plain bad idea. House Dems’ budget a bust
1| Still no budget from Senate Dems
The details: House Democrats proposed spending $3.6 trillion in 2013, and adding $6.6 trillion in debt over 10 years. The Congressional Progressive Caucus proposed a budget that raises taxes to an all-time high. Neither passed. Senate Democrats have not proposed a budget in more than 1,000 days.
Hot mic, hot air
2| Obama asks Putin for “space”
The details: President Obama told Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that he needs “space” from Vladimir Putin on the issue of missile defense. Obama added that he would have more “flexibility” after the election.
Obama’s army
3| IRS wants 4,000 more agents
The details: Four thousand new agents will join the Internal Revenue Service to hunt tax evaders, if the IRS gets its way. The IRS also plans to spend $303 million on implementing Obamacare.
Mostly dead or all dead?
4| Housing prices six feet under
The details: Housing prices hit a 10-year low as they dropped for the fifth month in a row in January. Houses have lost more than 34 percent of their value since 2006, according to Yahoo News.
TSA pimp
5| Manager arrested
The Details: Police officers arrested a manager in the Transportation Security Administration in Dallas for allegedly running a prostitution ring. It was the latest of several recent TSA arrests.
New escalators break down
6| Triple malfunction at Foggy Bottom
The details: All three new escalators Metro installed at its Foggy Bottom station — the first replacements in more than a decade — were out of order for nearly an hour Wednesday morning, forcing commuters to trudge up and down a single, two-person-wide staircase.
Cracked
7| Four ICC bridges need repairs
The details: Inspectors found cracks on four bridges holding up Maryland’s $2.6 billion Intercounty Connector. The first section of the 18-mile ICC opened just last year. State Highway Administration officials say the contractors will have to pay for the premature repairs.
Reckless
8| Councilwoman goes on trial
The details: Prince George’s County Councilwoman Karen Toles, who is accused of going 100 mph on the Capital Beltway, will be going to trial on reckless-driving charges. Because of two prior points on her driver’s license, Toles could lose her driving privileges if found guilty.
More traffic cameras
9| Gray: Cover city with ’em
The details: D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray wants to expand the use of controversial speed and red-light cameras to raise $30 million as part of his effort to close a $172 million budget shortfall. A AAA spokesman called the mayor’s proposal a “commuter tax” in disguise.
To trim or not to trim?
10| Pepco gets mixed signals
The details: Maryland’s Public Service Commission fined Pepco $1 million for unreliable service and ordered the utility to trim trees around power lines. But two Montgomery County Council members are now drafting legislation to prevent Pepco from doing just that.
