Today’s edition of quick hits:
* I’ll have a detailed write-up in the morning, but for now, note that the Senate held two up-or-down votes this afternoon on competing tax plans. The Republican proposal was defeated and the Democratic plan narrowly passed. (VP Biden was in the chamber in case of a tie.)
* As the Olympics gets underway, it looks like British security is pretty intense.
* The argument over fixing a House Republican typo got a little heated on the floor this afternoon, but Democrats held their ground.
* Years after Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) first pushed a measure to audit the Federal Reserve, the House actually passed his bill today. In fact, the vote wasn’t close — 327 to 98.
* The nation’s brutal drought is expected to “drive up the price of milk, beef and pork next year, the government said Wednesday, as consumers bear some of the brunt of the sweltering heat that is driving up the cost of feed corn.”
* 285,000 acres: “The Obama administration will open public lands in six western states to more solar projects as part of a solar energy road map it publicized Tuesday.”
* The “Great Green Fleet” aircraft carrier strike group: “Navy Secretary Ray Mabus insisted plans for a “green fleet” that uses biofuels will move forward despite efforts by Republicans in Congress to stop it.”
* I’ve always wondered why more cities don’t bury their power lines. * Marriage equality is proving to be good for New York City’s economy. * And after Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) chastised Rep. Michele Bachmann’s (R-Ariz.) anti-Muslim tactics, Wes Harris, a leading Tea Party activist in Arizona, responded, “Go to hell, Senator, it’s time for you to take your final dirt nap.” Stay classy, Tea Partiers. Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
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