Breakfast links: Deeply divided

Virginia Senate divided over Silver Line

Virginia Democrats defeated Governor McDonnell’s budget in a party-line vote after the governor refused to provide any money for the Silver Line. Senator Chuck Colgan (D-Manassas) had initially sided with Republicans, but switched sides. (Examiner)

Maryland divided over special session

Maryland’s legislature adjourned with no budget, which may mean deep cuts that could hurt counties’ credit ratings. State leaders disagree over whether to call a special session to pass a new budget. (Baltimore Sun)

Council vs. mayor

The DC Council turned down Mayor Gray’s proposals to spend DC’s current fiscal year budget surplus. Kwame Brown and Gray have also increasingly sparred verbally as a rift between them grows. (Post)

LivingSocial gets LivingSocial-type deal on taxes

Mayor Gray wants to give LivingSocial a tax break worth up to $32.5 million, in an effort to keep the company in the city.  As part of the deal, half of new hires must live in DC. (Post)

Buses down

WMATA is taking all 94 of its Orion VI buses out of service after two caught fire. Along with 47 New Flyer Xcelsior buses pulled for an electrical problem, nearly 10% of Metro’s bus fleet is unavailable. (TBD)

Taller building gets OK

Alexandria approved a plan for a 10-story residential building near the Braddock Road Metro. The building gets to be taller than otherwise because it will include affordable units. (Patch)

Kids allowed to walk to school

Some Fairfax County schools used to prohibit students from walking or biking to school, but after outcry from parents and advocates, parents can now decide how their children get to school.  (Safe Routes Partnership)  (Tip: David Alpert)

Fix DC elections

DC should provide public funding for campaigns and replace the current party primary system with a nonpartisan runoff between the top 2 finishers, suggests Chuck Thies. (NBC Washington)

Peck wrongly sent packing?

Some say Bob Peck, the recently-ousted head of GSA’s Public Buildings Service, was unfairly made a scapegoat after the recent scandal. He has done a lot to save taxpayers money in much bigger ways, like getting government agencies to save space and energy. (Post)

And…

Arena Stage architect Bing Thom will design the new Woodridge Library. (City Paper) … O Street is coming back. (In Shaw) … The ICC is loud. (Examiner)