And now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine...
Take it to the Bank
A report from the Institute of Policy Studies finds 25 of the country's 100 highest paid CEOs actually earned more in co mpensation than their companies paid in federal income taxes last year.
The average package for those CEOs was $16.7 million. The study also found 20 of those 100 companies spent more on lobbying than paying Uncle Sam.
Uncivil Discourse
Democratic Congressman Andre Carson of Indiana says some Tea Party backed members of Congress favor lynching African Americans.
He spoke at a Congressional Black Caucus event in Miami last week.
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
REP. ANDRE CARSON, D-IN: Some of them in congress right now, of this Tea Party movement would love to see you and me...hanging on a tree
(END AUDIO CLIP)
Carson's spokesman defends the remark, saying -- quote -- "He used the strong language because he believes that that agenda jeopardizes the most vulnerable."
The only Republican member of the caucus Florida's Allen West called the comment reprehensible.
And West now says that he is considering leaving the Congressional Black Caucus.
Thrown for a Loop
Finally, some Florida students were greeted on their first day of school by a state senator handing out belts.
Democrat Gary Siplin had pushed for 6 years for legislation banning saggy pants. It finally passed this spring.
So Siplin went to local high schools and handed out belts to students still adjusting to the new law.
We'll see how many actually use them.
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