Lawmakers Insist on Congressional Permission for Syria Strike, Beltway Insiders "Review" NSA Surveillance, Feds Won't Challenge Marijuana Legalization: P.M. Links

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  U.S. Navy

  As of today, 116 lawmakers from both major parties signed a letter demanding that President Obama seek congressional approval for any military action against Syria. Rumor has it that Obama responded by making his horse a senator.

• The panel established by the White House to review federal surveillance turns out to be packed with policy insiders closely connected to current snooping practices. U.S. intelligence agencies have a (no longer secret) "black budget" of $52.6 billion for 2013, according to Edward Snowden.
• The U.S. sent a fifth destroyer to park itself off Syria's coast, while a revolt in the British parliament appears likely to at least delay that country's participation in any military action.
• Stymied by congressional and public opposition to further restrictions on guns, the Obama administration unilaterally tightened firearms regulations.
• Under domestic and international pressure to stop milking its population, the French government says it won't raise taxes as much as originally intended.
• Just days after Tennessee unveiled excellent test results for charter school students, Nashville educrats stepped up efforts to destroy the independent schools.
• The U.S. Department of Justice says it won't directly challenge state laws legalizing medical and recreational marijuana. For now.

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