“Senate Republicans blocked progress on an $85 billion tax package on Thursday amid deep anger aimed at Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. In a 53-40 vote, the Senate failed to end debate on the tax package authored by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Sixty votes were required to move forward, and only Republican Sen. Mark Kirk (Ill.) voted with Democrats.” – The Hill

“We’ve passed the one-year mark now on the IRS scandal of targeting conservative groups, and with each passing month two things become clearer. One, it’s a lie the taxman also put liberal groups in the crosshairs and, two, there’s more than a smidgeon of corruption here.” – James Varney/NOLA.com

“Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she hoped that former Florida Governor Jeb Bush runs for president in 2016. ‘I think Jeb would be fantastic,’ Rice said. ‘Jeb hasn’t said whether he’ll run. He’s a friend. I hope he does, frankly,’ she said in an interview with OZY.” – Breitbart

“Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid rebuked one of President Obama’s judicial nominees, saying that Michael Boggs doesn’t represent mainstream American values and isn’t fit to sit on a federal bench.” – Washington Examiner

“Governor Christie “misspoke” when he said in December that his campaign chief had assured him that he didn’t have “any knowledge” about the George Washington Bridge lane closures, an attorney for the former campaign manager said Wednesday.” – NorthJersey.com

“It appears the Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) could use a better filing system. A new Government Accountability Office investigation released Thursday found the agency had no documentation at all for millions of dollars worth of grants it awarded over the last three years.” – Breitbart

“The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is accusing an Iraq war veteran who is running for the U.S. House in New York of being a “coward,” prompting calls for an apology from the GOP.” – The Daily Caller

“A federal judge on Thursday ruled that a D.C. law requiring guns to be registered, mandating safety training and limiting the number of pistol purchases per month do not violate Second Amendment protections of the right to bear arms.” – The Washington Times

“Democracy can be cruel because elections deprive the demos of the delight of alibis and the comfort of complaining. Illinois voters have used many elections to make theirs the worst-governed state, with about $100 billion in unfunded public pension promises and $6.7 billion in unpaid bills. The state is a stark illustration of the effect of prolonged one-party rule, conducted by politicians subservient to government employees unions.” – George Will/The Washington Post

“A House oversight panel sent a second subpoena Thursday to Secretary of State John Kerry, asking him to testify before the committee May 29. Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., said he is accommodating Kerry, who will be in Mexico on May 21, the date he was summoned to appear in a previous subpoena.” – Washington Examiner