* A bill that would require certain welfare recipients to take a drug test in order to receive benefits passed a GOP-controlled Virginia Senate committee Friday.
The bill failed in committee when the Senate was under Democratic control the past four years.
Democrats objected to the bill because they say it would unfairly target poor people.
The Richmond Times Dispatch reports:
"Are there any people receiving money from the commonwealth who are tested for drugs other than poor people?" Sen. Yvonne B. Miller, D-Norfolk asked pointedly
The bill allows a social worker to test any welfare recipient they suspect of using drugs.
* Turns out social media can help a kid’s education. Don Graham, chairman of Washington Post Co. who sits on Facebook’s board of directors, stands to earn $46 million with the social media company’s recent IPO filing.
And Graham says that when he does decide to sell his 770,000 shares, he will donate the earnings to two or three DC education-related charities he supports.
A spokeswoman said on behalf of Graham, via Forbes.
I won’t sell any Facebook shares as long as I’m on the board. When I leave, all my Facebook shares will be donated to two or three DC education-related charities I’ve supported over the years. Thus, a small portion of Facebook’s success will be shared with low-income students in Washington.
* The Virginia Senate postponed the vote to lift the state’s one-per-month-limit on handgun purchases Friday in order to give two absent senators a chance to vote. It is expected to be voted on Monday.
* Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is set to face off against Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley in a debate on the federal health care law next week at the National Press Club.
Cuccinelli was the first AG to sue over the law in 2010, while Coakley filed a brief to the Supreme Court defending it.
Each AG will have 15 minutes to speak about the Affordable Health Care Act followed by a question and answer session with reporters.
* Here's an unfortunate story that keeps getting worse. The Washington Times reports that D.C. Children & Youth Investment Trust Corp.,the non-profit at the center of former D.C. Council member Harry Thomas’ scandal, paid more than $400,000 to a Kentucky company to rent a giant heated tent and other equipment during the week of President Barack Obama’s swearing-in.
At the time, the group was facing a multimillion-dollar deficit.