The Hill Articles: November 19, 2009

Dem lawmakers introduce Afghan war surtax Ex-Ensign aide Hampton accuses former boss of ethics violations Skepticism greets bill to lift 50-year-old Cuba travel restrictions Pentagon pick says he’ll explore ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal Report finds credit card fees burden merchants, but changes could hurt consumers Appointments McCaskill: Health bill has ‘more meat on the bone’ than Palin’s memoir NRCC raised $3.4M in October Jon Potter to leave DiMA DAY’S END ROUNDUP The Republican plan to block healthcare reform (Sen. Jeff Merkley) Tosca: Italian king A rendezvous with Reagan Weyant’s World: November 20, 2009 Sebelius weds Rockefeller Jury of peers Youth gone legit Fault ethics committee, not OCE Coakley narrowly outraises Capuano Owens defeats Hoffman (again) in N.Y.-23 Gaming the system Sarah Palin satire ‘diary’ published House passes Medicare ‘doc fix,’ 243-183 Texas governor busted tweeting during speech Sen. Kerry’s daughter pulled over for DUI Lawmakers probe deeper into privacy Really big October for DNC Federal prison union endorses Gitmo transfers to U.S. The Big Question: Who loses if GOP filibusters Senate healthcare bill? Graham to make second run at blocking civilian trials for Gitmo terror suspects Inhofe declares victory in climate change battle PPP Poll: Majority of GOP voters think ACORN stole election for Obama GOP leads new media charge TOP TWEETS EPA should use Clean Air Act to address climate change DCCC preps attack on GOP members who vote against ‘doc fix’ and PAYGO Canadian MP wants Twitter banned from parliament The ‘Newsweek’ cover (aka The Swimsuit Issue) Mammograms indicate defects of gov’t healthcare One senator’s choice: ObamaCare or reelection What a week for government Lieberman launches Fort Hood hearings without any government witnesses Bingaman wants to double green energy tax credit in planned employment bill House Commerce Committee passes bill to hush TV ads Sen. Lugar’s wife arrested for DUI Sen. Schumer wants Lockerbie bomber back in Scottish prison Reid uncertain of tally as healthcare bill heads for rare Saturday vote Sen. Lugar’s wife arrested for DUI Gates announces Pentagon investigation into Fort Hood shooting Sen. Ben Nelson still uncommitted on Senate health bill vote Crist lead down to 10 in latest Kos poll Ben Nelson: Senate bill’s abortion provisions not good enough Report: Giuliani to run for Senate Rep. Ellison outlines new strategy for Afghanistan Lieberman: More Dems could join public option filibuster House Republicans expect strong vote against ‘doc fix’ First Copyright Czar heads to full Senate vote Stock tax less likely for jobs bill Boehner calls Senate bill ‘same nonsense’ that passed the House DeMint: Geithner won’t say when TARP will end Gone with the wind: blowing U.S. tax dollars off shore Pelosi likes Senate abortion language More data on America’s ethnic diveristy needed in next year’s census (Rep. Mike Honda) Menendez: Illegal immigrants should be able to buy health insurance from exchanges Republicans seize on flaws found by GAO in stimulus jobs data Abortion-rights supporters back Senate health bill Biden takes a sick day CBO: Senate health bill could reduce spending and lower the deficit Rep. Paul, Sen. DeMint: Congress must authorize Fed audit Conyers: ‘I’m getting tired of saving Obama’s can’ Going out of their way to irritate women AFL-CIO notes progress on Senate health bill, but still sees flaws Sec. Geithner defends his job, blames economic woes on Bush administration Alec Ross: U.S. telecom policy not admired abroad Leahy: No need to interrogate bin Laden Reid and McConnell renew war of words Palin filed under fiction Sarah Palin train to nowhere Jihadist in our midst Rep. Jordan: Recovery.gov errors prove administration’s ‘incompetence’ Poll: Voters support Obama, skeptical of his policies Schumer seeks to kiss and make up with Reid Harkin calls reconciliation the ‘worst thing’ liberals could want Rush: Privacy bill not likely until next year Stupak still wants his amendment offered in the Senate Schumer: Health measure is ‘biggest cost-cutting bill we’ve ever had’ Palin makes official return to Twitter How deep does the stimulus rabbit-hole go? ‘Who knows, man? Who knows?’ (Rep. Trent Franks) MORNING READ Huffington Post Drudge Report Essays expound flaws of net neutrality TalkLeft RedState Daily Kos RNC raises record $8.8 million in October Hot Air Foreign policy makes its grand return Tax credits eyed for solar energy firms amid Obama’s push for ‘green jobs’ Talk of new jobs legislation triggers interest-group and lobbying push Capitol Police files: Disorderly conduct in the nation’s capital Senate Democrats take $849B step toward healthcare reform package GOP turns up the heat over bringing Gitmo prisoners to U.S. soil It may be a first: Jackson-Lee agrees with Palin Hoffman doubles down, says election stolen Reid rolling out big guns to push healthcare bill to 60 Daschle is still go-to guy on healthcare Weyant’s World: November 19, 2009 House Financial Services Committee OKs powers to break up large firms Virgin Islands lawmaker slams lobbyists in fight to attract rum distillery Pentagon budget drop anticipated Former Reid chief of staff appointed to Obama administration post GOP leads media charge In the Know: Mary J. Blige, Neil Diamond, Sugarland to perform for Obama In the Know: National Geographic warehouse sale this weekend In the Know: ‘Party of 5’ star Scott Wolf on Capitol Hill In the Know: Internet scammers attack McCaskill’s mom; Dorgan uses Pizza Hut online In the Know: Specter smooches Turner’s girlfriend Give back the bonuses The curious case of duty-free buttons U.S. clean energy future rests on clarity of policies Former Bush press secretary Perino appointed to Obama administration post Read all 2,074 pages of the Senate bill Browner: U.S. in ‘good standing’ heading into Copenhagen talks Another look at Stupak-Pitts Sarah the Barracuda Sen. Brown optimistically tweets after meeting on health bill Tiahrt staffer resigns due to sex charges Bust the financial trusts Innovative bill would temporarily suspend small-business payroll tax Government interference in the marketplace is trend that Congress must reverse Back to drawing board for financial reform