The Hill Articles: April 21, 2009

Senate panel blames Bush officials for torture policy Christopher Hill confirmed, with a few vote changes Obama rekindles debate over Truth Commission Harman fires back on audiotape Stopping Dem 60 ‘real hard,’ Cornyn fears Intraparty trade war brews CEO: GM needs to get further, faster Gates could shortchange Army on cargo aircraft Banks, automakers cut back, but continue spending on lobbying Healthcare provisions would not derail budget legislation Contain the emotion, provide a solution Chamber says it’s not ready to declare card-check dead Lobbying World Harman: More members could have been tapped Q&A with National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) Specter tweets against Toomey Conyers to hold hearings on ‘torture’ memos Senate confirms Hill as Iraq ambassador Reps. look to cut ties between earmarks, donations Polarizing or just plain popular? Pence, GOP to grill Clinton on Chavez ‘aftermath’ High-speed rail needs a push Former N.H. Rep. Bass eyes return to politics Espionage is back Congress must light the way for biologic drugs’ approval Pot advocates see their once-smoldering issue heating up Poor, poor pitiful GOP DAY’S END ROUNDUP Obama’s leap to socialism Conyers, Scalise: Stars of state-based movie biz Pelosi: Climate Change Bill This Year Lost Our Moral Bearings Weyant’s World: April 22, 2009 Romney: military options should be on table for Iran, N. Korea Congress shouldn’t use Mexican violence to curb gun rights (Rep. Kevin Brady) Schumer hints at Dems using reconciliation on healthcare Feinstein backs Harman, wiretap release Warm words for Teddy McCain calls Obama’s cap-and-trade a ‘government slush fund’ Obama urged to reconsider Gitmo closure Former Bush EPA head vocally backs Obama carbon plan Lautenberg renews push to shut gun show ‘loophole’ Expand Domestic Oil Production in the Name of National Economic and Energy Security Students on Capitol Hill tweeting for energy reform No More Wasteful Spending (Rep. John Boozman) Bellantoni sees PR at work EPA’s Decision Will Do More Harm Than Good (Sen. Kit Bond) Don Henley sues Senate candidate Announcements – April 22, 2009 Gibbs leaves door open to torture prosecutions Anti-EFCA group launches post-recess blitz Toomey strikes back at Pa. Club for Growth letter Leading lawmakers’ donations come in bigger chunks GOP lawmakers, governors pull together TOP TWEETS Another Dem declares he’ll challenge Specter The President’s Budget Is Not What’s Best for America (Rep. Robert Aderholt) Harman: I never contacted the White House, DoJ, or press for AIPAC Pirate’s Mom asks Obama to release her son Endangerment Finding Threatens Economic Recovery (Sen. Lisa Murowski) McCain gets Minuteman challenger in AZ Harman calls for release of tape transcripts Blago denied permission for NBC reality show S.F. Mayor Newsom running for Calif. governor Harold Ford Jr. to write autobiography Obama: Iran effort continues despite ‘appalling’ talk EPA Administrator: ‘I’m trying to save the world’ MIDDAY ROUNDUP Big Stuff Happening at Fed Tech Managers Meeting, IRMCO.gov Newsom hopes 275k followers help gubernatorial announcement go viral Dean: Trailblazer for Change Refuting the Self-Fulfilling Torture Prophecy: A Response to Hayden and Mukasey (Rep. Jan Schakowsky) Kerry draws on ’71 Vietnam testimony in asking current vets to speak Moran leads Tiahrt 39-35 in SUSA poll House Republican says image of Obama-Chavez handshake ‘fair game’ for political ads Sebelius wins committee approval Senate panel backs Sebelius’ HHS nod Collins boasts about The Hill’s story VIDEO: Ron Paul: It’s a ‘shame’ we no longer use secession Webb calls for hearings on piracy Senate Finance begins health reform roundtables At least one Kennedy backs Gillibrand Geithner: We have enough money for crisis Isakson sticking with Senate VIDEO: Cheney slams Obama Journalism organization opposes Fairness Doctrine Pa. Club for Growth founder calls on Toomey to abandon Senate run Reality Show Nelson incredulous toward Florida colleagues Perry tweets Texas independence Concrete jungle 2012 Watch: Romney slams Obama on foreign policy Rohrabacher sparring abroad Kanjorski may get primary opponent MORNING READ Drudge Report The Huffington Post The Daily Beast Michelle Malkin MyDD Red State Talk Left The Corner Daily Kos Power Line Bailout’s top cop probes twenty TARP fraud cases