Dems force GOP to vote down RSC budget  —  Democrats voted present to force more Republicans to vote against the Republican Study Committee's (RSC) budget.  Democrats hoped that by getting their members to vote present instead of against the budget, it might be approved by the House.

The Tea Party Caucus is Dead and That's Okay  —  Two-odd months ago, I asked a Republican Hill staffer what had happened to the Tea Party Caucus.  Launched with great fanfare in 2011, it was often cited in Michele Bachmann's introductions on the presidential campaign trail — “she's the founder of the Tea Party Caucus!”

Netanyahu on Obama: This guy, I need  —  JERUSALEM — Benjamin Netanyahu has never been Barack Obama's biggest fan — and for four years, he's eagerly scored political points picking fights with the president.  —  But two paradigm-shifting elections — one in the U.S., one in Israel …

Biden and the White House are ‘still pushing’ for assault weapons ban  —  Vice President Biden and the Obama administration still hope to pass a federal assault weapons ban, Biden said Wednesday.  —  “I'm still pushing that it pass — we are still pushing that it pass.

Mistakes, Excuses and Painful Lessons From the Iraq War  —  I supported the Iraq War, and I'm sorry.  —  I have my excuses, of course.  I was a college student, young and dumb.  I thought that if U.S. President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell and former President Bill Clinton …

Justice Safety Valve Act Would Give Flexibility On Mandatory Minimum Sentences  —  Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) introduced a bill Wednesday designed to give relief to the nation's bloated prison system by offering judges leeway to consider sentences below the mandatory minimum for all federal crimes.

Blame Benen  —  I first noticed this story at the blog of the Poynter Institute, a journalism education outfit, and figured they were reflecting special solicitude for the work-load of their charges: … Now amazement at WaPo's insane expectations seems to be spreading elsewhere in the blogosphere.

Politicians and gay marriage: Profiles in calculation  —  When historians write the story of America's cultural revolution on gay marriage, March of 2013 may well get its own chapter — the month when the political balance on this issue shifted unmistakably from risky to safe.

Claire McCaskill writing book about 2012 Senate race against Akin  —  • By Joe Holleman jholleman@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8254  —  Expect a book from Claire McCaskill, in which she will “tell the whole story” about last year's raucous and bitter U.S. Senate race against U.S. Rep. Todd Akin.

Senate reaches deal on continuing resolution  —  Breaking the Senate logjam, Majority Leader Harry Reid won agreement Wednesday on a series of votes which all but assure final passage by Congress this week of a stopgap spending bill to keep the government funded through the last six months of this fiscal year.

Victim bullied after rape allegations against Torrington football players  —  jglenza@registercitizen.com  —  @JessicaGlenza on Twitter  —  TORRINGTON >> Two Torrington High School football players stand accused of sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl.  Four others were suspended …

Montana Looks at Allowing Roadkill for Dinner  —  HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Elk, deer, antelope and moose: If Montana residents can scrape it up, they can eat it.  —  State lawmakers are poised to say just that after the Senate gave its initial backing Wednesday to a bill that would allow people to salvage roadkill for food.

Secret report raises alarms on intelligence blind spots because of AQ focus  —  A panel of White House advisers warned President Obama in a secret report that U.S. spy agencies were paying inadequate attention to China, the Middle East and other national security flash points because they had become …

Questions Abound in Learning to Adjust to Health Care Overhaul  —  Baked in the Sun is a wholesale baker and distributor of freshly baked pastries near San Diego.  —  THE CHALLENGE The company is one of thousands of small businesses that employ more than 50 full-time employees and thus …

Hingesights: Hottest Workforces in DC  —  Why does everyone in DC always ask where you work when they meet you?  Depending on your place of business, there's a good chance it's to scope out dates with your coworkers.  Hinge users have accumulated more than one million ratings …

Obama Berates Journalist After Being Asked About Middle East Failures  —  Tells MSNBC host to be more like Israel press.  —  President Obama went after MSNBC host Chuck Todd for asking too many questions at a press conference today in Jerusalem, Israel:  —  Obama told Todd …

For immediate release  —  Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in January suggests a return to moderate economic growth following a pause late last year.  Labor market conditions have shown signs of improvement in recent months but the unemployment rate remains elevated.