Top Republican Blasts Obama Budget As ‘Shocking Attack On Seniors’  —  Remember those warnings about how instead of welcoming President Obama's adoption of Chained CPI, Republicans would continue to deny him a budget deal and attack him for proposing to cut Social Security?

Grover Norquist: Chained CPI Violates Taxpayer Protection Pledge  —  WASHINGTON — Members of Congress who have pledged never to raise taxes will be breaking their promise if they support changing how the government measures inflation for Social Security and tax purposes.

Howard Students Didn't Totally Hate Rand Paul  —  Paul's speech at the historically black college didn't get a lot of converts, but the students were glad to listen.  —  Image by Aron Heller, FILE / AP  —  WASHINGTON — Senator Rand Paul's speech at Howard University certainly didn't recruit a lot of new Republicans.

Rand Paul: 'I've Never Been Against The Civil Rights Act.  Ever.'  —  Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), a proponent of civil liberties, told a professor on Wednesday that he never opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  —  “I've never been against the Civil Rights Act.

In Blow To NRA, Senators Reach Bipartisan Agreement Expanding Background Checks  —  A bipartisan duo of senators with A ratings from the National Rifle Associated have reached a deal to expand background checks to private gun purchases that occur in commercial settings.

NRA Says Background Check Compromise Won't Work  —  Sen. Manchin's office said Wednesday morning that the gun lobby was “neutral” on their bill.  But an NRA statement released on the heels of a Manchin press conference says background checks don't work.  [Updated]  —  Senator Joe Manchin (D-WVA)