DC Government Divided on Tax Hikes: Morning Links

Must-reads from around Washington

Written by Sommer Mathis | Published on May 9, 2011

Poll Shows Support for DC Tax Hike: Faced with a $322 million budget shortfall, District voters responding to a DC Fiscal Policy Institute poll overwhelmingly support increasing taxes on residents who make more than $200,000 a year. "A large majority – 70 percent – of poll respondents said it is more important to preserve services than to hold down taxes." [DCFPI]

Related: Council Chairman Kwame Brown "says the budget he will put before the council will not include any increases in property or income taxes, despite the mayor's proposal to raise incomes taxes on the wealthy." [Examiner]

Tim Kaine, George Allen in Early Tie: "George Allen and Timothy M. Kaine are locked in a dead heat 18 months from Election Day, according to a new Washington Post poll, suggesting that the U.S. Senate race between the Virginia titans may live up to its billing as one of the most competitive contests in the nation." [Washington Post]

Obamas Dine at Tosca: Saturday night, just before 8 PM, the president and first lady strolled in to Tosca (#33 on our list of 100 Best Restaurants) for a date night. [NBC4]

Alexandria Mulls New Parking Restrictions for Mark Center: That massive new housing development for Pentagon workers in Alexandria looks like it could force the creation of special parking district in neighborhoods on Seminary Road. "City officials are worried about nightmarish traffic conditions that are likely to occur once thousands of employees begin commuting to work along Seminary Road and Interstate 395, the intersection where the Mark Center office space is located. [Examiner]

Related: WTOP package on Why BRAC is About to Change Your World.

President Obama on 60 Minutes: 'Well, it was certainly one of the most satisfying weeks not only for my presidency but I think for the United States since I've been president. Obviously, bin Laden had been not only a symbol of terrorism but a mass murderer who had eluded justice for so long and so many families who have been affected I think had given up hope. And for us to be able to definitively say, "We got the man who caused thousands of deaths here in the United States" was something that I think all of us were profoundly grateful to be a part of.' [CBS]

Carman Wins James Beard Award: Local food critic Tim Carman, now with the Post, took home the James Beard Award for food-related columns and commentary over the weekend for three columns penned for his former publication, Washington City Paper. Links to those stories and well-deserved bragging rights can found here.

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