FIRST TICKET: Senate drops omnibus spending bill; McCain in trouble with the maple syrup lobby

The Ticket

Welcome to First Ticket, a morning snapshot of the day's political news.

• The Senate dropped consideration of the controversial $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill. (CNN)

• Meanwhile, the Senate will take up a proposed repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" and the DREAM Act as early as Saturday. (TPMDC)

• Could the lame-duck session be the beginning of a comeback for President Obama? (The Caucus)

• Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain has run afoul of the maple syrup industry. (Huffington Post)

• Wisconsin GOP Rep. James Sensenbrenner, a key global warming skeptic, won a seat on the House Science panel. (Politico)

• California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters' ethics probe has been derailed by infighting on the House ethics committee. (Washington Post)

• Minnesota Democratic Sen. Al Franken's political action committee is accused of taking illegal campaign contributions. (Star Tribune)

• Kevin Spacey found Jack Abramoff "charming." (Las Vegas Sun)

• The Iowa GOP will hold its presidential straw poll on Aug. 13, 2011. (Des Moines Register)

• Gasp! President Obama didn't make the guest list for Prince William's wedding. (Daily Mail)