District of DeBonis - More than a city. Not quite a state. Enough for a blog.

Posted at 02:12 PM ET, 07/29/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: July 29, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

Today: Kwame Brown, Harry Thomas Jr. and cabdrivers.

By Mike DeBonis | 02:12 PM ET, 07/29/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:12 AM ET, 07/28/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: July 28, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions. Today: Why is Cathy Lanier so popular? — Is HTJ’s legal defense fund kosher? — Robert Brannum joins the Gray administration — Finally, a parking ticket amnesty — Nat Gandhi says U.S. default will ruin city finances — Terry Bellamy says he’s staying the course

By Mike DeBonis | 10:12 AM ET, 07/28/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 PM ET, 07/27/2011

District CFO warns of dire debt ceiling consequences

By Mike DeBonis

Chief Financial Officer Natwar M. Gandhi tells city leaders what might happen should Congress not reach a deal to raise the federal debt ceiling.

By Mike DeBonis | 06:00 PM ET, 07/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:05 PM ET, 07/27/2011

Gray on Thomas: ‘I just don’t want to dump him out the window’

By Mike DeBonis

In an interview earlier this month, Mayor Vincent C. Gray addressed his relationship with embattled D.C. Council member Harry Thomas Jr.

By Mike DeBonis | 05:05 PM ET, 07/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:10 PM ET, 07/27/2011

DeAfternoon DeBonis: July 27, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions. Today: As pressure builds, HTJ says he’s not quitting — New tensions atop Washington Teachers’ Union — Irv Nathan throws cold water on tax claims — Homicides way down this summer — A year later, still no medical marijuana — Three potential elected AGs

By Mike DeBonis | 01:10 PM ET, 07/27/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:42 AM ET, 07/26/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: July 26, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

Today: Kwame Brown and Vince Gray punt on Thomas settlement — Rokey Suleman resigns — IG among Court of Appeals applicants.

By Mike DeBonis | 11:42 AM ET, 07/26/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:10 PM ET, 07/18/2011

See you in a week!

By Mike DeBonis

DeBonis will return on July 25

By Mike DeBonis | 12:10 PM ET, 07/18/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:09 AM ET, 07/15/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: July 15, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions. Today: DCPS says exceptions will be made to IMPACT firings — Fenty speaks — Jim Vance presses POTUS on voting rights — Guns in police stations? — More blather about Kwame Brown — Martin Luther King Drive approved

By Mike DeBonis | 11:09 AM ET, 07/15/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:17 PM ET, 07/14/2011

Natwar Gandhi to portray Mahatma Gandhi

By Mike DeBonis

Natwar Gandhi, municipal bean-counter, will become Mahatma Gandhi, icon of the human race, in a theatrical production set to debut next month.

By Mike DeBonis | 03:17 PM ET, 07/14/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:51 AM ET, 07/14/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: July 14, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions. Today: More council shuffle fallout — Christopher Barry’s drug arrest — Yvette’s got her work cut out for her — FEMS scarecrows — OIG says celebrity police escorts are par for the course — Adrian Fenty, trial lawyer

By Mike DeBonis | 10:51 AM ET, 07/14/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:49 PM ET, 07/13/2011

Cheh: D.C. taxi medallion bill will stay dead

By Mike DeBonis

The bill that would establish a medallion system for city taxicabs was left up in the air by Tuesday’s unexpected D.C. Council committee shuffle. New transportation panel chair Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) said she will not schedule a hearing.

By Mike DeBonis | 07:49 PM ET, 07/13/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:03 PM ET, 07/13/2011

D.C. Council to vote on designation of ‘Martin Luther King Drive’

By Mike DeBonis

The council will weigh

By Mike DeBonis | 06:03 PM ET, 07/13/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:56 AM ET, 07/13/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: July 13, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

Today: ‘Lord of the Flies’ at JAWB? — shakeup means Metro board shuffle — Post editorial tees off on Brown, Cheh et al. — bond tax delayed — no gun license for D.C. government

By Mike DeBonis | 11:56 AM ET, 07/13/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:51 PM ET, 07/12/2011

Kwame Brown’s power move and the death of the ‘progressive caucus’

By Mike DeBonis

Kwame Brown’s power move and the death of the ‘progressive caucus’

By Mike DeBonis | 08:51 PM ET, 07/12/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 03:21 PM ET, 07/12/2011

D.C. Council approves unprecedented oversight shuffle

By Mike DeBonis

In a highly unusual mid-term shakeup, the D.C. Council voted at the behest of Chairman Kwame R. Brown to switch oversight assignments among members.

By Mike DeBonis | 03:21 PM ET, 07/12/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:06 AM ET, 07/12/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: July 12, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions.

By Mike DeBonis | 09:06 AM ET, 07/12/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:26 PM ET, 07/11/2011

Council eyes sweeping changes to D.C. gasoline industry

By Mike DeBonis

The D.C. Council is putting the screws even tighter on gasoline industry heavyweight Eyob “Joe” Mamo of Capitol Petroleum Group. Revised legislation approved Monday by the council’s Government Operations Committee is intended to lower gas prices, but it would seriously impact Mamo’s business model.

By Mike DeBonis | 08:26 PM ET, 07/11/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:59 PM ET, 07/11/2011

Pay could be capped for D.C.’s police chief, schools chancellor

By Mike DeBonis

A D.C. Council panel today recommended a cap on Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier’s salary, explaining that it wants to “avoid an unchecked upward salary trajectory” for city officials.

By Mike DeBonis | 12:59 PM ET, 07/11/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:19 AM ET, 07/11/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: July 11, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions.

By Mike DeBonis | 10:19 AM ET, 07/11/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:26 PM ET, 07/08/2011

D.C. Council set to narrow smoking-ban exemption

By Mike DeBonis

The D.C. Council botched its effort to carve out an exception in the city’s indoor smoking ban for a particular fundraiser.

By Mike DeBonis | 06:26 PM ET, 07/08/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:12 PM ET, 07/08/2011

Where you can open a gun store in the District

By Mike DeBonis

In 2009, the D.C. Zoning Commission voted to restrict gun-related businesses to more than 300 feet from residential zones, places of worship, schools, public libraries or playgrounds. Here’s what’s left.

By Mike DeBonis | 01:12 PM ET, 07/08/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:23 AM ET, 07/08/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: July 8, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions. Today: Kwame Brown’s BOEE coup — Post editorial: Hurry up, Ron — Should Kwame step aside from his chairman duties? — Feds join test-cheating probe — D.C. could help you buy a handgun — Is Gray the Bob Dole of D.C. politics? — City paid for 300 abortions

By Mike DeBonis | 11:23 AM ET, 07/08/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:15 PM ET, 07/07/2011

Gray reconsiders Chartered Health Plan settlement

By Mike DeBonis

A proposed $10.2 million settlement with the city’s largest Medicaid contractor has been put on ice.

By Mike DeBonis | 09:15 PM ET, 07/07/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:35 PM ET, 07/07/2011

District could transfer guns to residents under council bill

By Mike DeBonis

D.C. Council bill temporarily would give city a direct role in helping residents buy guns; Washington has been without a gun dealer since May.

By Mike DeBonis | 02:35 PM ET, 07/07/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:57 AM ET, 07/07/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: July 7, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

Today: Team Thomas’ money paid for more than SUV — how Wal-Mart conquered D.C. — activists vent at hate crime hearing — D.C. CAS scores to be released Friday — Allen Lew vs. Dorothy Brizill

By Mike DeBonis | 09:57 AM ET, 07/07/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:27 AM ET, 07/06/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: July 6, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions. Today: Tom Lindenfeld’s 10 ideas for fixing D.C. government — Feds’ crackdown could imperil medical marijuana — Man accused of assaulting summer jobs participant has record — Kwame Brown tries to find money for bond tax — Reforming the ABC Board — Trey Gowdy’s benign neglect

By Mike DeBonis | 11:27 AM ET, 07/06/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:29 PM ET, 07/05/2011

Catania calls hearing on Chartered Health settlement

By Mike DeBonis

D.C. Council member David A. Catania has called a hearing for next Monday on the city’s $10.2 million settlement with a politically connected Medicaid contractor.

By Mike DeBonis | 06:29 PM ET, 07/05/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 07/05/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: July 5, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions.

By Mike DeBonis | 12:00 PM ET, 07/05/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 07/01/2011

D.C. Taxicab Commission reform: Some thoughts

By Mike DeBonis

The outrage over last week’s arrests of two reporters at a D.C. Taxicab Commission hearing has given way this week to discussion about the commission itself and how it might be reformed. I have a few thoughts to add to this debate.

By Mike DeBonis | 10:00 AM ET, 07/01/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:00 AM ET, 07/01/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: July 1, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

A comprehensive roundup of D.C. politics news and opinions. Today: D.C. Lottery slows ‘iGaming’ down — photographer, ACLU sue city over cop detention — D.C.’s a regulation-free tattoo wonderland — GGW still fighting over Fenty vs. Gray — Washingtonian editor gets pwned — happy Fourth of July; enjoy the Palisades Parade without me!

By Mike DeBonis | 08:00 AM ET, 07/01/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:19 PM ET, 06/30/2011

D.C. attorney general will weigh in on tax dispute

By Mike DeBonis

Attorney General Irvin B. Nathan said Tuesday he would, at the D.C. council’s request, render an opinion on a taxation dispute concerning potentially hundreds of millions of dollars. On Thursday, David A. Catania (I-At Large) made the request.

By Mike DeBonis | 07:19 PM ET, 06/30/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:30 AM ET, 06/30/2011

DeMorning DeBonis: June 30, 2011

By Mike DeBonis

Today: Big questions about ‘iGaming’ plans — Jeff Thompson’s money machine — $10.2 million Chartered settlement — super-secret donor saves DCPS sports programs — Saunders calls IMPACT racist

By Mike DeBonis | 08:30 AM ET, 06/30/2011 | Permalink | Comments ( 0)

District of DeBonis: July, 2011