Political Wire: Gun Control and the New Budget

Gun legislation leads the debate and more.

In Case You Missed It - Republicans leave President Obama scratching his head; Ben Carson kind of blames the spread of measles on immigrants; one lawmaker thinks it's OK if your food service worker doesn't wash his hands after a bathroom break — and more. — Joyce Jones (@BETpolitichick)

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In Case You Missed It - Congress returned to Washington after a two-week spring break to find their cups running over. Senate lawmakers are being forced to take a stand on gun control; both chambers will debate the merits of President Obama's proposed budget; the Senate's Gang of Eight announced plans to unveil an immigration bill as supporters from around the nation prepared to descend on the Capitol – and more.  – Joyce Jones (Photos from left: Tom Pennington/Getty Images,AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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Determined As Ever - During a speech in Connecticut before an audience that included several Sandy Hook Elementary families, Obama reiterated his determination to get a Senate vote on various gun control measures. He chided lawmakers who are planning a coup to prevent the votes, asking, "What's more important — our children or an 'A' grade from the gun lobby?" (Photo: AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Photo By AP Photo/Susan Walsh

It's Personal - As the White House argues that voting on gun control legislation should not be politicized, for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid it is very personal. While a state legislator, he authored a bill that requires a three-day waiting period for handgun purchases. “And it is believed that alone has saved the lives of many people," Reid said on the Senate floor. "Sometimes people in a fit of passion will purchase a handgun to do bad things with it, Mr. President, even as my dad did — killed himself. Waiting a few days helps.”  (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

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It's Personal - As the White House argues that voting on gun control legislation should not be politicized, for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid it is very personal. While a state legislator, he authored a bill that requires a three-day waiting period for handgun purchases. “And it is believed that alone has saved the lives of many people," Reid said on the Senate floor. "Sometimes people in a fit of passion will purchase a handgun to do bad things with it, Mr. President, even as my dad did — killed himself. Waiting a few days helps.” (Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

What's Up With That? - GOP strategist and former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele doesn't understand why background checks for gun purchases is such a controversial issue. "I don't get the fear of registration," Steele said on MSNBC's The Daily Rundown. "I don't get the, the concern about trafficking. Are we saying that we want criminals to, you know, make … back-alley sales out of the trunks of their cars?"  (Photo: Courtesy The Daily Rundown via MSNBC)

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What's Up With That? - GOP strategist and former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele doesn't understand why background checks for gun purchases is such a controversial issue. "I don't get the fear of registration," Steele said on MSNBC's The Daily Rundown. "I don't get the, the concern about trafficking. Are we saying that we want criminals to, you know, make … back-alley sales out of the trunks of their cars?" (Photo: Courtesy The Daily Rundown via MSNBC)

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Budget Battle Royale - In the days leading up to the formal release of Obama's proposed budget, the president was getting hit from the right and the left. Republicans think it doesn't cut deeply enough, while liberals argue it goes too far, particularly with regard to Social Security benefits. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee is threatening to go after incumbent Democrats who vote for benefit cuts during the 2014 primary election cycle.(Photo: AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

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They've Got a Plan - The bipartisan Senate group known as the Gang of Eight has reached a deal and is set to drop an immigration reform bill in the next few days. On April 10, thousands rallied  for reform at the U.S. Capitol, holding up the flags of their native countries and signs that read "Dividing families is immoral!” and “I was born on Earth, how am I an alien?!”(Photo: AP Photo/CBS News, Chris Usher)

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They've Got a Plan - The bipartisan Senate group known as the Gang of Eight has reached a deal and is set to drop an immigration reform bill in the next few days. On April 10, thousands rallied  for reform at the U.S. Capitol, holding up the flags of their native countries and signs that read "Dividing families is immoral!” and “I was born on Earth, how am I an alien?!”(Photo: AP Photo/CBS News, Chris Usher)

Hadiya Pendleton Was Me - First Lady Michelle Obama made an emotional plea for gun control during a luncheon in Chicago where she urged local leaders and businesses to create opportunities for kids to help reduce gun violence. Recalling the slain teenager Hadiya Pendleton, the first lady said that "[she] was me, and I was her. But I got to grow up, and go to Princeton and Harvard Law School, and have a career and a family and the most blessed life I could ever imagine."  (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

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Hadiya Pendleton Was Me - First Lady Michelle Obama made an emotional plea for gun control during a luncheon in Chicago where she urged local leaders and businesses to create opportunities for kids to help reduce gun violence. Recalling the slain teenager Hadiya Pendleton, the first lady said that "[she] was me, and I was her. But I got to grow up, and go to Princeton and Harvard Law School, and have a career and a family and the most blessed life I could ever imagine." (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Russell Simmons - While the Def Jam mogul and Battery Park resident was fortunate enough to take shelter in Los Angeles during the superstorm (which also ravaged his Hamptons property), he did point out a sobering reality about the homeless of NYC: "They're f*****," Simmons said bluntly. "[Mayor Bloomberg] did a s**** job."  (Photo: D Dipasupil/FilmMagic)

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Go Easier - A coalition of more than 100 entertainers and civil rights leaders, led by rap mogul Russell Simmons, have signed a letter to Obama urging him to offer intervention and rehabilitation, instead of jail sentences, for nonviolent offenders. The group also asks the president to support a measure that would allow judges to waive mandatory minimum sentences.(Photo: D Dipasupil/FilmMagic)

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Movin' On Up - The White House announced that Melanie Roussell, currently national press secretary for the Democratic National Committee, has been appointed assistant secretary for public affairs for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.(Photo: David Grossman/DNC) 

Clinton's New Twitter Handle - President Clinton was taken. William Jefferson Clinton was taken. So when comedian Stephen Colbert opened a twitter account for Clinton, he went with @PrezBillyJeff. The former president dictated his first tweet to the comedian and as of early evening April 11, he had more than 144,000 followers and was following just one: Colbert.  (Photo: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

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Clinton's New Twitter Handle - President Clinton was taken. William Jefferson Clinton was taken. So when comedian Stephen Colbert opened a twitter account for Clinton, he went with @PrezBillyJeff. The former president dictated his first tweet to the comedian and as of early evening April 11, he had more than 144,000 followers and was following just one: Colbert. (Photo: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

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Say What? - Saline County, Kansas, commissioner Jim Gile is being pressured to resign after using the n-word at a county meeting. Gile said that the county should hire an architect to work on its Road and Bridge Department building rather than n----r-rigging it. When asked what he'd said, he replied African-Americanized, which some might consider just as offensive.  (Photo: Courtesy of Saline County Kansas)

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Say What? - Saline County, Kansas, commissioner Jim Gile is being pressured to resign after using the n-word at a county meeting. Gile said that the county should hire an architect to work on its Road and Bridge Department building rather than n----r-rigging it. When asked what he'd said, he replied African-Americanized, which some might consider just as offensive. (Photo: Courtesy of Saline County Kansas)

Again? - A second African-American New York state lawmaker has been arrested. This time it's Bronx assemblyman Eric Stevenson for allegedly accepting $20,000 in bribes in exchange for assistance opening two adult day care centers in his borough.(Photo: AP Photo/Richard Drew) 

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Again? - A second African-American New York state lawmaker has been arrested. This time it's Bronx assemblyman Eric Stevenson for allegedly accepting $20,000 in bribes in exchange for assistance opening two adult day care centers in his borough.(Photo: AP Photo/Richard Drew)