The Hill Articles: December 15, 2010

Armed Services leaders agree to compromise 2011 defense bill Levin and McCain want stripped-down defense bill added to lame-duck agenda Obama signs law to limit volume of TV commercials Ethics panel extending probe of three lawmakers into the next Congress OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Administration to hold private reform meetings Report criticizes Wall Street bonuses Congressional time wasting Vitter slams Interior Department for sending staff to Papua New Guinea Obama tells lawmakers not passing tax deal could end presidency, Dem says Obama tells lawmakers not passing tax deal could end presidency, Dem says Rahm keeps his cool, wins the day and probably the mayor’s race House approves ‘Don’t ask’ repeal, 250-175 Boehner selects House chief administrator Snowe backs ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal Democrat hits back at Rep. Michele Bachmann Markey takes a shot at Palin over polar bears DAY’S END ROUNDUP Dems push GOP senators to withdraw their earmarks from omnibus Ralph Nader a witness for Judiciary Committee’s WikiLeaks hearing Commerce Dept to unveil privacy report on Thursday White House to hold private meetings with Medicare head on healthcare law FDIC names head for office to oversee health of financial firms Richard Holbrooke’s legacy will not be forgotten (Rep. Albio Sires) Lieberman to sit down with new Dem Senate campaign chief at her request Liberals warn payroll tax cut is a threat to Social Security START treaty advances to debate; ratification remains uncertain Scalia accepts invitation to address House GOP Republican members of crisis commission blame government in separate report Reform law opponent files brief in appeals court Napolitano to Arizona in wake of Border Patrol agent’s killing Missouri Sen. Kit Bond in no rush to endorse AT&T woos FCC with cupcakes Government sues BP, eight other companies over Gulf oil spill Put national security ahead of partisanship Consumer Protection Bureau names implementation team Another New Hampshire presidential primary debate announced FCC responds to Barton allegations on misquoting telecom industry Elmo visits the White House kitchen Path to finishing this year lies in Republicans’ hands (Sen. Harry Reid) Obama, business try for ‘new beginning’ Reid blasts GOP Sens. DeMint and Kyl as ‘sanctimonious’ Female lawmakers, women’s groups back Maloney’s bid for Oversight Obama says CEOs optimistic they’ll invest in jobs Genachowski campaigns for net neutrality on Facebook, Google success Gore slams Fox over ‘false’ climate info Deconstructing Obama’s foreign policy Reid blasts ‘santimonious’ GOP over prospect of Christmas work Google pushes back against merger criticism Eliminate redundancy, confusion within congressional ethics process Staring down tough fight, Sen. Sherrod Brown backs tax compromise Rockefeller: ‘Intense’ talks ongoing about plan to block EPA Comcast promises to invest in Asian-American programming New poll shows support of tax bill compromise One in six suffer from foodborne illness each year, CDC says Eliminate redundancy, confusion within congressional ethics process Senate passes tax package 81-19, sending Obama deal to the House Senate overwhelmingly passes tax bill SEC moves forward with ‘conflict minerals’ rule Air Force blocks NYT, other websites with WikiLeaks cables McCain cools to ratifying New START this year Six GOP centrists vote against making tax cuts permanent Six GOP centrists vote against making tax cuts permanent Senate panel working on end-of-the-year Medicare fixes House lawmakers push for last-minute changes to tax bill’s energy provisions Ex-Sen. Coleman won’t challenge Steele for RNC chair Gibbs calls START treaty delay ‘a new low’ Trading commission trying to stick to Dodd-Frank deadlines Consumer Bureau hires outgoing Ohio attorney general Rogers to helm Intelligence panel House floor vote on Obama-GOP tax package not expected until Thursday Drop off a toy, drink a Coke, feel good about yourself Government just going to make our nutrition boondoggle worse FDA warns some dietary supplements don’t disclose dangerous ingredients Oill spill victims’ compensation bill unlikely to get another Senate vote this year Repeal of 1099 provision punted to next Congress Senate GOP leaders take heat over millions of dollars in earmarks Time names Zuckerberg Person of the Year House could vote Wednesday on tax compromise bill Tech chiefs meet with Obama Democratic senator will oppose omnibus 2012 presidential debates set for South Carolina Senate plans weekend work to ratify START, pass spending bill Thune: Tax speech wasn’t dig at Romney Thune: Tax speech wasn’t dig at Romney For-profit regulations protect students and taxpayers Semper fi — but not for Gen. James Amos Washington’s economic do-over Energy Department: U.S. rare-earth access at risk, supply diversity needed FTC head endorses net-neutrality rules Fox News editor reportedly directed staff to cast doubt on climate science Six health systems band together to share data on care costs and quality Reid says Senate will stay in session through weekend White House hockey game may be in the works Amid ballot challenge, Emanuel captures lead in Chicago mayor’s race Rep. Courtney may challenge Lieberman in 2012 Obama urges support for tax package as Senate prepares to vote Poor PISA performance requires radical curriculum rethink (Rep. Mike Honda) Anti-reform group calls on senators to vote against omnibus Rare earth DeMint will force readings of START Treaty and omnibus bill Lame duck go home Obamapublicans: Tea Party lost the election, too Potential Lugar challenger says GOP already has him in sight Romney says Virginia ruling got it right Dems signal push for filibuster reform Republican: Pelosi, Boxer listen to glam rock Approval of Congress hits all-time low in Gallup poll News Bites: Controversy swirls around China’s wind policy, aging oil platforms present risks, and more Taking back Sen. Kennedy’s old seat a top priority for Democrats in 2012 The left’s frustration with President Obama will hamper his fundraising In shift, Sarah Palin stresses electability as a reason to run for president MORNING READ Consensus on tax strategy still out of reach for Pelosi’s frustrated caucus Budget-crunched states prepare for reduced aid under GOP House Senate to vote on final passage of tax deal Wednesday For House Democrats, fight over tax cuts is now about saving face Funding vote to test Obama’s resolve on ending earmarks Thaw seen in relations with Obama and K St. The Top 10 lobbying victories of 2010 Right also feels angst on tax bill Melissa Manchester Lobbying World Head of consumer group takes on FCC’s net neutrality plan Facing uphill climb, DREAM Act supporters target Senate’s ‘Most Wanted’ OVERNIGHT TECH: FCC net-neutrality vote set for Dec. 21 GOP targets $12B in stimulus funds, but Rogers searching for more to cut OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Energy Department seeks ‘rare earth’ security Spend on jobs to turn the economy right side up Drop off a toy, drink a Coke, feel good about yourself Abramoff leaves job at Baltimore pizzeria Bill and Melinda Gates, Warren Buffett visit Obama Tax primary threat Baucus, Hatch surprise Grassley White House announces chief executives attending Wednesday’s meeting 20 Questions with Kevin Spacey Bahamas denies connection to suspect accused of impersonating lawmaker Richard Holbrooke: The pragmatist The political economy of defeat