The Hill Articles: December 11, 2009

More than $100M committed to defunct presidential helicopter Judge stops ACORN funding ban Copenhagen against Tiger Sec. LaHood gives Rep. DeFazio a rusty old screw for Christmas Both parties prepare for special election for Abercrombie seat Independent healthcare cost analysis becomes political football Copenhagen, Tiger Woods hot topics on Web U.S. Copenhagen envoy downplays Senate climate outline’s effect on summit PHOTO: RNC’s Steele strikes a pose with interns Verizon disagrees with Slaughter on tax law DAY’S END ROUNDUP Rep. Neil Abercrombie tweets resignation Panel: Dismissal possible for House staffers if they miss ethics training FCC chairman masters Twitter Bill floated to rescind pay increases TOP TWEETS W.H. praises passage of financial overhaul Black Caucus demands jobs programs, but still stresses support for Obama FCC chairman gets laughs at ‘telecom prom’ A bit more about the climate science emails House approves financial overhaul Former Sen. Conrad Burns suffers stroke Obama offers Hanukkah greetings Barton: Palin wrong to call for Obama to boycott Copenhagen FCC chairman masters Twitter EADS executive says tanker contract ‘critical’ to U.S. business Obama holds at 50% in Gallup Minnick amendment to scrap proposed consumer protection agency fails Poking fun at Hollywood–with puppets Treasury lays out new pay guidelines at bailed-out firms TARP oversight panel ineffective, says former member GOP urges Obama administration to move on trio of trade pacts Cornyn: Health care becoming ‘potent’ issue for GOP State Dept. live-tweets Clinton speech Rep. Gordon teases Hall about his age Rep. Tammy Baldwin sick with H1N1 Sen. Durbin says he’s ‘in the dark’ on possible healthcare reform compromise Rep. Tammy Baldwin sick with H1N1 Mugged by reality Book review: The story behind the search engine MIDDAY ROUNDUP Tea partyers petition Dem lawmaker to move office to make protests easier Senate’s vote against the Pro-Life Amendment was immoral (Rep. Paul Broun) Nelson (Fla.): Healthcare compromise ‘a non-starter’ White House: Boehner and Republicans ‘rooting against’ economic recovery Barrow to face primary rematch API announces cuts Steele stays neutral in Florida Senate primary Nielsen: Google, Apple iPhone most popular in 2009 Davis cosponsors Xmas resolution by mistake Rep. King delivering a Hanukkah gift to his constituents Poll finds majority backs cap-and-trade, but barely Poll: Slight majority favor cap-and-trade Dem lawmaker ‘votes’ for Palin Mayo Clinic blasts proposed Senate health compromise Hatch: College football playoff bill could pass the Senate All I want for Christmas is reasonable regulation of the financial industry (Rep. Jackie Speier) Murkowski praises Cantwell-Collins plan – with some big caveats Sarah Palin could win as a third party. And Howard Dean? Chuck Hagel? Ron Paul? The bailout that never ends (Rep. Lynn Westmoreland) PFAW releases report: Rise of The New McCarthyism Jenny Sanford files for divorce Cantwell, Collins shake-up climate debate with alternative bill The Big Question: Should Obama focus on black jobless rate? Senior Dem: Obama will have financial reform by Easter UPDATED: Biden to campaign for Dodd, stimulus McCaskill enjoys an extra-ethical breakfast Jenny Sanford files for divorce from governor Copenhagen’s Mad Men Bayh: Obama should apply resoluteness in Oslo toward deficits MORNING READ Huffington Post Drudge Report firedoglake Townhall AMERICAblog Powerline Failed omnibus talks set up another working weekend for Senate House to take up financial overhaul bill amid consumer-agency controversy Pharmaceutical deal holding up bipartisan health amendment