Good morning, Washington. House Speaker John Boehner has abandoned efforts to cut a grand debt-reduction deal, blaming its collapse on Obama’s insistence that significant new tax revenue is needed. Boehner now has his eye on a more modest deal.
Mike Allen sums up the sensationalistic finger-pointing.
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has said that the government will begin to default on its obligations after Aug. 2 unless Congress acts to raise the $14.3 trillion legal limit on the debt.
>> Mike DeBonis profiles D.C. Attorney General Irvin B. Nathan, who DeBonis writes “has taken an aggressive stance toward government ethics issues.” In June, Nathan filed a civil lawsuit accusing council member Harry Thomas Jr. (D-Ward 5) of funneling $316,000 in city funds intended for youth baseball programs to his personal use.
>> To the Washington Examiner for more on scandals: Freeman Klopott reports that the deadline for D.C. Council Chairman Kwame Brown to give up control of the economic development committee is fast approaching, but so many crooked council members complicates the succession.
>> In sports, the Colorado Rockies beat the Nationals 2-1 on Saturday night and D.C. United scored a 1-0 win over the New York Red Bulls.
>> Derek Jeter hit a home run for his 3,000th hit Saturday (here’s a bit of local perspective.), and news around a former Yankee gives us some insight into the the art of jury selection.
>.> A major earthquake off Japan’s northeastern coast Sunday prompted tsunami advisories that were later canceled, though small tsunami waves did reach the country’s Pacific coast.
>> The nation’s biggest foodmakers, fast-food chains and media companies have banded together to form the Sensible Food Policy Coalition, a campaign aimed at shutting down government efforts to create voluntary nutritional guidelines for foods marketed to children.
>> News of the World says a sentimental farewell, with a touch of narcissism.
>> Rotting teeth and lungs, tracheotomy holes and oxygen masks apparently do deter smoking.
>> The dean of Washington National Cathedral is resigning his post.
>> Another navigational error?
>> Good day for the Virginia State Police.
