Obama to unveil $3.77 trillion spending plan  —  President Obama plans Wednesday to unveil a $3.77 trillion spending plan that proposes modest new investments in infrastructure and education, major new taxes for the wealthy and significant reforms aimed at reducing the cost of Social Security and Medicare.

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.

The GOP's Gun Control Misfire  —  The filibuster threat is giving political cover to Senate Democrats.  —  'This is about these families and families all across the country who are saying, 'Let's make it a little harder for our kids to get gunned down,'" President Obama declared Monday …

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)

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.