Photo by adprince

Good morning, Washington. I’m not really sure what it is, but the Cooch and I have a weird connection. Every week, when it’s my turn to do the Morning Roundup, there’s a story or two about Virginia’s controversial attorney general, Ken “The Cooch” Cuccinelli. Today is no exception. The Examiner reports that Cuccinelli and Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell have expressed differing opinions on the Arizona immigration law, with the attorney general arguing that he thinks the controversial immigration law is constitutional while the governor has remained more vague on the matter. Additionally, the Post published a long profile of Cuccinelli, digging into the past and personality of the commonwealth’s highest law enforcement official. Honestly, I still think the man’s a little batty, but the piece does provide some interesting history and context. There are plenty of Fridays left until his term is up, so I guess I should expect to be writing a lot more about him in the next few years. Sigh.

Union Challenges Rhee on Number of Teachers Fired: Nothing is as it seems over at the District’s public school system, is it? The Post is reporting that the Washington Teachers Union claims that D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee didn’t actually fire the 241 teachers she recently claimed she did, but rather a much lower number — 76. According to George Parker, the union’s president, the inflated number was simply a “publicity stunt…to improve her national image.” Rhee fired back yesterday to say that 241 teachers had in fact been fired, but only a certain number of termination letters had been sent out so far. The rest of the letters will go out by August 13.

Cabbies Take to Congress: Despite a recent run-in with cab cheapskate Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), local drivers are asking Congress to examine a provision that they say Mayor Adrian Fenty has used to take control of the city’s Taxicab Commission. The Examiner reports that cabbies have sent 1,000 petitions to Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.), asking him to explain a provision he inserted in a 2006 budget request that mandated a switch to meters and which they claim Fenty has used to take over the commission. The cabbies argue that Fenty has turned the commission from a regulatory body to an advisory one, limiting its ability to challenge what they say are fares that are too low.

McDonnell Sells Selling Liquor Stores: The Post writes that Gov. McDonnell is setting off on a statewide tour to sell his plan to privatize Virginia’s 323 state-run liquor stores. The closest he’ll get to us us Herndon on August 25. In related news, I’m announcing today that I am becoming a liquor entrepreneur. If you want to invest in my booming liquor store enterprise, PayPal me your initial investment and we’ll work from there.

D.C. Youth Summer Employment Program Runs Above Budget: Wait, didn’t the same thing happen last year? Yep. The District’s controversial program to give youth in the city a summer job is again running over budget, currently having sucked in $34.2 million, almost 50 percent more than the $22 million set aside for it. Needless to say, members of the D.C. Council are none-too-happy with the news.

Briefly Noted: If you’re reading this now, you missed the annual riot/mad dash for cheap wedding dresses at Filene’s Basement … D.C. lawyer Bob Bennett — yep, the guy who got Marion Barry kicked off his committee assignments — hosts fundraiser for Vincent Gray.

This Day in DCist: On this day in 2009, 10 people got stuck in the Woodley Park Metro station elevator and a Metrobus operator caught talking on his cellphone was set to be fired. In 2008, D.C. libraries had to cut back operating hours to save money.