Bait and Switch?  —  Walker's budget plans don't fix what he says is the crisis.  —  Republican Gov. Scott Walker has kicked off a firestorm with his budget proposals, but his most controversial plans wouldn't address this fiscal year's shortfall.  —  Why now?

Wonkbook: Will Wisconsin spread?  —  A few days ago, Gov. Scott Walker's effort to end collective bargaining for state employees looked almost certain to spread to other GOP-led states.  And there has been some interest, notably from Ohio's John Kasich and New Jersey's Chris Christie.

Koch Whore  —  Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker answers his master's call  —  “David Koch”: We'll back you any way we can.  What we were thinking about the crowd was, uh, was planting some troublemakers.  —  Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker: You know, well, the only problem with that—because we thought about that...

Newt Gingrich confronted over affair  —  PHILADELPHIA — Newt Gingrich's speech at the University of Pennsylvania Tuesday night quickly took a turn for the dramatic when the first student to question him brought up his admitted extra-marital affair and accused him of being “hypocritical” for espousing moral values.

Chicago's next mayor: Emanuel  —  Ex-presidential adviser avoids runoff with 55%  —  Rahm Emanuel, a top adviser to two U.S. presidents who returned to Chicago just months ago, swept into the mayor's office Tuesday, inheriting a city reeling from recession and promising to reshape City Hall.

WikiLeaks Cables Detail Qaddafi Family's Exploits  —  WASHINGTON — After New Year's Day 2009, Western media reported that Seif al-Islam el-Qaddafi, a son of the Libyan leader Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, had paid Mariah Carey $1 million to sing just four songs at a bash on the Caribbean island of St. Barts.

W.H.: Obama won't speak on Libya  —  Jay Carney said that he didn't anticipate Obama speaking about Libya.  —  AP Photo  —  White House press secretary Jay Carney told reporters on Air Force One that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will speak about Libya at 2:30 p.m. He referred questions on Libya to …

Federal Judge In D.C. Upholds Health Care Reform, Says Some Arguments ‘Ignore Reality’  —  A federal judge on Tuesday upheld the health care reform law signed last year by President Barack Obama and found that Congress had the clear authority to regulate health insurance under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution.

Providence plans to pink slip all teachers  —  PROVIDENCE — The school district plans to send out dismissal notices to every one of its 1,926 teachers, an unprecedented move that has union leaders up in arms.  —  In a letter sent to all teachers Tuesday, Supt.

The Scrubbing has Begun...  Today the state of Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing, announced that it would begin “looking into accusations that a number of local doctors provided the notes for protesters who missed work during the week...the department will review complaints …

D.C., Hawaii Still Most Approving of Obama; All States Decline  —  Approval is higher than average in 12 states plus D.C., lower than average in 18 states  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Residents of Hawaii gave native son President Barack Obama the highest average 2010 job approval rating (66%) …

Wisconsin Dems' filibuster halts anti-union bill  —  Assembly members block vote in their chamber overnight, after senators flee state to avoid vote  —  MADISON - Democrats kept the Wisconsin Assembly up overnight with a droning filibuster in another desperate attempt to block …

If Not Now, When?  —  What's unfolding in the Arab world today is the mother of all wake-up calls.  And what the voice on the other end of the line is telling us is clear as a bell:  —  “America, you have built your house at the foot of a volcano.  That volcano is now spewing lava …

Report: Ex-minister says Gadhafi ordered Lockerbie  —  STOCKHOLM — Swedish tabloid Expressen says Libya's ex-justice minister claims Moammar Gadhafi personally ordered the Lockerbie bombing that killed 270 people in 1988.  —  Expressen on Wednesday quoted Mustafa Abdel-Jalil as telling …

Indiana Official: “Use Live Ammunition” Against Wisconsin Protesters  —  A conservative deputy AG let his emotions get out of hand.  It wasn't the first time.  —  Post Comment  —  On Saturday night, when Mother Jones staffers tweeted a report that riot police might soon sweep demonstrators …

Scaling Back State Programs Is Least of Three Fiscal Evils  —  Less objectionable than reducing state worker pay or benefits, increasing taxes  —  PRINCETON, NJ — As Wisconsin and numerous other states struggle to reduce untenable budget deficits, a new USA Today/Gallup poll finds …

Why Cuts Don't Bring Prosperity  —  Remember the German economic boom of 2010?  —  Germany's economic growth surged in the middle of last year, causing commentators both there and here to proclaim that American stimulus had failed and German austerity had worked.

Oregon Rep. David Wu airs regrets, owns up to taking prescription painkillers  —  U.S. Rep. David Wu broke his silence on national television on Tuesday but failed to slow the growing controversy over his behavior and future or stop new revelations that he behaved erratically during …