Brown resigns as D.C. Council chairman

D.C. Council Chairman Kwame R. Brown resigned Wednesday after federal prosecutors accused him of lying on a loan application — a historic blow to a city government that has suffered unprecedented legal woes and eroded the public's trust.

Congressional staffers, public shortchanged by high turnover, low pay

High turnover and lack of experience in congressional offices are leaving staffs increasingly without policy and institutional knowledge, a Washington Times analysis of a decade of House and Senate personnel records shows — leaving a vacuum that usually is filled by lobbyists.

GOP proposes one-year delay on new tax code

Congressional Republicans floated a deal Wednesday that would extend the Bush-era tax cuts through the end of 2013, which they said would give Congress and whoever occupies the White House next year a chance to work on a total overhaul of the tax code.

Labor agreement dropped from Dulles rail deal

The regional authority overseeing the $6 billion Dulles rail project dealt a blow to union labor on Wednesday — a day after voters in Wisconsin and California did much the same.

California voters deal twin blows to unions

An election night that began with Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker winning his recall election grew progressively worse for public-sector unions as California voters approved steep pension-cutting measures in two major cities.

Democrats say GOP money bought Walker's win in Wisconsin

In what might be seen as a sign that he felt stung hard enough to hurt, President Obama on Wednesday blamed Republicans' outspending Democrats as the reason Gov. Scott Walker survived a union-driven recall election in Wisconsin on Tuesday.

Dogs outdone by electronic sensors in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, a soldier's best friend is no longer a bomb-sniffing dog, but an electronic sensor.

Counsel: Ethics case against Rep. Waters will proceed

An outside counsel hired by the House Ethics Committee to resolve allegations of prosecutorial misconduct in a 2-year-old conflict of interest case against Rep. Maxine Waters has concluded that the California Democrat's due process rights have not been violated and the case against her will proceed.

Democrats face choice on health care details

House Republicans hope to force Democrats into a choice Thursday between repealing a tax on oxygen tanks, X-ray machines and other medical equipment that could cost jobs in their district, or letting some Americans keep excess subsidies to be doled out under President Obama's health-care law.

Inside the Beltway: Scott Walker, instant icon

Scott Walker's Wisconsin victory has bought the governor instant status as a conservative icon of historic stature among the seasoned observers of many a political race. He's a Republican stalwart, they say, a gutsy guy.

Gay support pays big dividends for Obama camp

Cashing in on his support of same-sex marriage, President Obama flew to California Wednesday for a fundraiser with gay supporters, one of five events expected to pull in at least $5.3 million.

EPA's Armendariz of 'crucify' pledge a hearing no-show

House Republicans will have to wait for their chance to question former top Environmental Protection Agency official Al Armendariz, who became notorious for his pledge to "crucify" oil and gas companies in order to set a regulatory example.

Redskins to move training camp to Richmond in 2013

Adam Carriker could carve out an hour or two of family time each day during training camp in his first two seasons with the Washington Redskins. If the club's plans for 2013 become reality, though, that will be replaced by team-bonding time.

Facebook investors may get refunds

The Facebook investors who got burned by delays and computer glitches on a chaotic first day of trading could get refunds for the losses they suffered.

Ray Bradbury: Author of 'Fahrenheit 451' dies

Ray Bradbury, the science-fiction/fantasy master who transformed his childhood dreams and Cold War fears into telepathic Martians, lovesick sea monsters and, in uncanny detail, the high-tech, book-burning future of "Fahrenheit 451," has died. He was 91.

Puerto Rico-based cartel indicted for cocaine smuggling

Members and associates of a Puerto Rico-based drug cartel have been indicted by a federal grand jury in an international scheme to smuggle cocaine into the United States and transport illicit drug profits back to Puerto Rico, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) said Wednesday.

Commentary

ZUBRIN: Tapping resources in space

Entrepreneur Peter Diamandis recently announced the formation of Planetary Resources, a company whose goal is to mine asteroids for profit.

BURGESS: Medicare-less

When it comes to medical care, patients - not bureaucrats - know best what works best for them. While that sounds obvious to most Americans, in Washington, unfortunately, it's uncommon wisdom.

TYRRELL: No hope in political no man's land

Frankly, I wish the Pew Research Center would occasionally keep its thoughts to itself. Sometimes those thoughts are merely insipid and beneath the attention of serious minds. Sometimes they are alarming and capable of stirring up an already excitable populace.

DECKER: Joe Biden's replacement

"Joe would make a great president." That's what Jill Biden said about her husband the vice president Tuesday on the "Today" show. Spousal pride aside, there's a building consensus Joe Biden shouldn't even be on the Democratic ticket this year.

MILLER: Taxmaggedon showdown

Americans will be hit with $4.5 trillion in new taxes within six months. Unless Washington does something to stop it, "taxmaggedon" will have a devastating impact on the economy. President Obama is counting on it.