Good riddance, Mr. DeMint  —  Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) is leaving the Senate to take over the Heritage Foundation.  He will replace Ed Feulner as the conservative think tank's president.  He expressed no qualms about leaving the Senate before his term is up, nor did he reflect on his legislative achievements, of which none come to mind.

11 Reasons You're Glad Jim DeMint Is Leaving The Senate  —  In an unexpected move, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), an arch-conservative and leader of the Tea Party movement, is resigning his seat in order to head up the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington DC.

Sources: DeMint wants Rep. Tim Scott to take his place in Senate  —  Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) has made it known in South Carolina that he wants Rep. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) to replace him in the Senate, two state Republican sources tell The Hill.  —  The sources, requesting anonymity to speak candidly …

McConnell Filibusters His Own Bill To Lift Debt Ceiling  —  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) wanted to prove on Thursday that Democrats don't have the votes to weaken Congress' authority on the debt limit.  Instead they called his bluff, and he ended up filibustering his own bill.

Boehner Gains Strong Backing of House G.O.P.  —  WASHINGTON — With a daunting fiscal crisis looming and conservatives outside the House torching him at every turn, Speaker John A. Boehner might be assumed to have a shaky hold on his gavel.  Instead, it appears he is enjoying the broadest support …