The Hill Articles: December 16, 2010

WHIP COUNT: House Democrats’ positions on Obama’s tax compromise House to hold separate votes on amendment, tax bill Boehner nominates former House clerk to serve again OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Pitts, Burgess named at top of E&C health panel Rep. Towns says Pelosi ‘made it clear’ he did not have her support Sen. Wyden to have surgery for prostate cancer, will miss votes Durbin weighs in on debt-card fee rules DAY’S END ROUNDUP Following Avastin decision, Republicans say FDA rationing care Rep. Weiner compares Senate to the ‘1970s Politburo’ Administration uses Medicare grants to spread the word about healthcare reform First Iowa presidential debate announced for August 2011 Sen. Kerry: FCC should impose conditions on NBC-Comcast merger Rockefeller may seek to force vote on blocking EPA climate rules EIA: Coal will be the ‘dominant fuel’ for generating electricity through 2035 Activists may have mischaracterized Amazon on net neutrality Lieberman claims 60 votes for repeal of ‘Don’t ask’ policy Sen. Bingaman gets a GOP challenger Pitts, Burgess named at top of E&C health panel Snow envelops the Capitol dome House GOP considers constitutional test for all new legislation Changes expected on rule governing tax-bill debate Commerce Republicans announce subcommittee roles Upton reshuffles Energy and Commerce Committee deck, names subcommittee leaders GOP names 11 freshmen to House Budget Committee Reid wages vigorous defense of earmarks in $1.1 trillion omnibus Fed proposes rules on bank card fee limits Jobless claims drop last week, reflecting fewer firings Dems still hoping to bring up tax bill Thursday Senate Chaplain hosts Christmas open house Experts: Charging WikiLeaks could erode freedom of the press End this war (Rep. Russ Carnahan) New insurance rate regulations pending Rep. Walden uses Morse code to tweet telecom gavel win Oil trade group vows fight to narrow SEC disclosure rule Cato says omnibus vote harbinger for budget talks next year Sen. Brown slams ‘outrageous and inappropriate’ omnibus Drug Czar blames rising teen pot use on medical cannabis laws rather than on the administration’s own failed policies Gulf spill response leader denies Obama influenced decision on sand barriers Blue Dogs urge passage of tax-cut compromise White House: Obama will sign omnibus Gen. Cartwright: ‘We need START, and we need it badly’ Democratic staffers play a word game Obama: Tough days ahead but Afghan mission on track Sen. Menendez lauds Bon Jovi’s spot on White House council Biden: ‘I’m going to say something outrageous’ More on the Blue Button: Health records download for vets House tax vote could be delayed Medicare agency targets fraud and abuse prevention Senate buildings put on alert as police arrest ‘threatening’ man Stearns to head oversight subcommittee Harry Reid stands up for Christmas! Rep. Dicks gets to keep top slots on Appropriations, defense spending Sen. Kirk says Emanuel heading to runoff if poll numbers ‘hold’ Supporters confident in ‘Don’t ask’ repeal Fourteen lawmakers vote to go home Report: Drug companies biggest defrauders of government Oversight panel lauds TARP’s price tag, but says work not done Exercise caution with the government of Sudan Commerce calls for cloud security, privacy ‘bill of rights’ GOP will paralyze Senate floor with reading of 1,924-page spending bill Medical industry and patient groups urge omnibus passage FDA revokes approval for late-stage breast cancer treatment McCain, Tapper do ‘Twitterview’ We must exercise caution with the government of Sudan (Sen. Sam Brownback and Rep. Donald Payne) Sen. Thune likely headed to N.H. early next year McConnell offers two-month extension of bill to fund the government Markey signals Natural Resources Committee clashes with Republicans EIA: GHG emissions will begin to grow, but will be tempered by various policies HHS launches two-day meeting with state officials on health exchanges To appease liberals, House will vote on change to estate-tax provision in bill Rep. Conyers: Calls for criminal charges against WikiLeaks founder ‘extreme’ McCain: Republicans could lose seats if omnibus passes Next steps in Afghanistan GOP swing-vote senators have $1.1 billion in omnibus earmark requests Indiana Gov. Daniels will decide on 2012 bid in April GOP senator: Flip-flopping is dangerous Presidential panel OKs synthetic biology, but urges federal attention Report: Nintendo’s Wii sucks less power than rival systems GOP critics of omnibus have millions in earmarks in it GOP freshman charges Cantor with crafting lax work schedule Solutions for making ObamaCare effective The individual mandate is unconstitutional (Sen. Orrin Hatch) Sen. DeMint: ‘We’re trying to run out the clock’ on omnibus Tea Party organization outlines strategy for healthcare repeal Florida GOP debates moving its ’12 presidential primary Markey takes a shot at Palin over polar bears Why doesn’t Palin just endorse Rick Perry? Richard Holbrooke: A great man of peace (Adm. Michael Mullen) Harkin: Dems will try again on DREAM Act Richard Holbrooke: A great man of peace Obama 55 percent, Palin 33 percent GOP still searching for Sen. Sherrod Brown challenger News Bites: Chinese companies push wind turbines with ‘made in China’ label Poll: Tax-cut deal a positive for Obama in Pa. Lieberman: Repeal ‘Don’t ask’ before ratifying arms treaty GOP looks to box in Obama on $1.1 trillion government spending bill Rep. Frank blasts credit rating agency for analysis of tax-cut package Biden scolds GOP on treaty: ‘Get out of the way’ Poll: Obama bests potential GOP challengers in 2012 Afghanistan review shows progress, but terror concerns remain MORNING READ Sources: Walden to be telecom chairman Senate Republicans oppose net neutrality OVERNIGHT TECH: House Judiciary Committee tackles WikiLeaks on Thursday House set to consider estate tax amendment Thursday House ethics chief counsel has resigned Congress passes Rockefeller bill targeting Web scams OVERNIGHT ENERGY: DoJ suit stirs talk of Senate spill bill