The Hill Articles: August 17, 2010

State regulators’ vote on medical loss ratio upsets insurers Group launches website uncovering senators connected to oil Sen. LeMieux calls on Crist to return GOP money Industry groups weigh in on “grandfathered” status as comment period ends Blagotown USA in Washington, D.C. Obama sharpens campaign rhetoric as approval ratings fall Blagojevich found guilty on one count Will Mayor Bloomberg switch from Kirk to Giannoulias in the Illinois Senate race — fallout from the mosque? Landrieu blasts Obama on drilling moratorium Outgoing Ambassador briefs press on Iraq one last time Massey failed to report accidents at doomed West Virginia mine DAY’S END ROUNDUP Obama taking security team on vacation Gore calls for major protests on government’s climate change inaction Swedish Pirate Party to host WikiLeaks servers Obama jabs GOP candidate Rossi on Wall St. reform Green groups to take ‘CarnivOIL’ on the road next week Ex-Senate candidate asks for money, not place to stay Kerry stresses good governance during Kabul visit The Ag Minute: EPA Strikes at Crop Protection Tool for Farmers Medicaid agency tells states how they can get federal HIT funding IE still top Web browser for feds after 15 years Obama hits GOP for blocking small business bill Obamas show some affection Reid gave White House a heads-up on mosque And the next president will be… Iowa Republican reacts to mosque controversy: ‘Are we wimps?’ Double-digit jump in bankruptcies Don’t give Islamic extremists another victory at Ground Zero! Advocacy groups push back on delayed prison-rape standards Ayotte again targeted for Ponzi scheme investigation Obama has no problem disagreeing with Reid over mosque debate House letter to Obama calls for establishment of Afghanistan-Pakistan study group Star Jones backs Florida Senate hopeful Heritage Foundation offers solutions on healthcare, other topics Obama taking security team on vacation State regulators approve health insurance reporting forms Spain joins chorus of concern on Google ‘Wi-Spy’ Breathing is not commerce (Rep. John Boehner) State department spokesman notes North Korea’s Twitter debut NRCC promotes trailing candidate Rep. Issa: Stimulus website is ‘propaganda’ Michelle Obama to hit campaign trail with ‘upbeat’ speech CIA still has video, audio footage from interrogation at secret prison in Morocco GOP reminds Biden of recovery forecast Majority in Gallup daily poll disapprove of Obama for first time Obama calls for ‘strategy that starts reducing carbon’ Oil industry group to hold ‘citizen rallies’ Groups on both sides of abortion debate boost their support for dueling female candidates Mayor Bloomberg talks gun control with Sestak Giannoulias backs mosque plans Next hot study-abroad locale: Cuba? Primary loss would be a ‘favor’ for Rangel, opponent says Pragmatism over politics: Why building the mosque makes sense Obama travels to Washington to help Dems hold Murray’s Senate seat MIDDAY ROUNDUP Toomey opens nine-point lead in Pennsylvania Senate race U.S. Chamber urges repeal of 1099 mandate Dem wants unused state aid for deficit Sen. Murray ‘excited’ for Obama visit as other Dems maintain distance Paterson to discuss ‘alternate location’ for New York mosque Mine safety officials ‘beef up’ enforcement of ventilation rules EPA and the Pentagon: A failure to communicate on Superfund cleanups Obama trumps Motley Crue at LAX First lady will hit campaign trail, but won’t hit Republicans Top Republicans look to cast their party as solutions-oriented Ex-Ohio senate candidate sells ‘Courage’ Obama trumps Motley Crue at LAX Obama sends false warning on GOP privatizing Social Security, group finds Liberal group launches attack on Palin Idaho Democrat: Challenger missing ‘again’ from NRCC support list Biden to speak at Stevens funeral If you couldn’t make it to Mountain View… ‘Sacred ground’ Governors associations boast record fundraising totals Obama will travel to meet with EU leaders shortly after election Rep. Sherman wants to help Ahmadinejad punish innocent Iranians Bush, Kennedy and Bill the Blessed: America adopts the Hapsburg model Analyst: Congress may punt on spill bill Mine safety officials ‘beef up’ enforcement of ventilation rules Biden to host Elie Wiesel for lunch Howard Dean takes early shot at Lieberman Geithner: Glory days over for Fannie and Freddie Geithner: Fannie, Freddie losses were ‘avoidable,’ pledges bipartisan overhaul On cue, Republicans press energy scare button Former President Bush won’t comment on Ground Zero mosque Bank repossessions at record high Proposed mosque brings out worst in America Rep. Titus targets banks in district hit by housing crisis Shallow-water drillers cautiously greet Interior review plan E2 Morning Round-up: Georgia study debunks fed assessment of remaining Gulf oil spill, oil industry decries possible tax hikes, BP ‘bottom kill’ effort stalls, and more Green groups escalate online campaign to link senators and oil cash Biden to meet with Elie Wiesel Good morning tech McCain blames press for new image Obama boasts of most ‘progressive’ political triumphs in decades Labor leader calls for union members to get behind Conn. Dems Healthcare Tuesday Sec. Gates’s exit sparks talk of Hillary Clinton taking over at the Pentagon MORNING READ GAO: Coordination lacking on cybersecurity Rossi likely to face Sen. Murray after top-two primary