The Hill Articles: December 17, 2010

Inhofe bashes Rockefeller’s claim that GOP abandoned block-EPA effort Reid calls for passage of lands bill, Republicans underscore opposition Iowa Republicans launch effort to impeach state Supreme Court judges Biden surprises birthday boy Chris Matthews Republicans rip the Fed after examiner tells Okla. bank to hide religious items Issa, House GOP create new oversight sub-panels for TARP, stimulus House funds government for three days, forcing return of lawmakers next week President Obama says the tax deal shows parties can cooperate The Senate must put our nation on the right side of history and repeal ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ (Rep. Jared Polis) McConnell uncertain GOP can block New START, ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal Gallup: Employer-sponsored health insurance down Sen. Corker: START being sunk by ‘partisan’ issues Rep. McCarthy hires Time Warner lobbyist as chief of staff Give up on repeal? Not now, not ever Rockefeller concedes defeat in bid to block EPA climate rules DREAM Act is an acute issue for Asian Americans New House Financial Services chief may target ‘troubling’ oil payments mandate Congressman applauds Pence for president push Amazon opposes Genachowski’s rules Tea Party-backed DeVore hints at 2012 Feinstein challenge Google refuses to turn over Wi-Spy data to Connecticut AG White House official orders no ‘political interference’ in ‘scientific processes’ GOP on earmarks: I love you, I love you not Watchdog group calls on leaders to name new ethics committee Congressman-elect denies receiving secret payments from dog track Minorities remain grossly underrepresented in communications and media businesses (Rep. Bobby Rush) Fox News says it has no interest in hiring outgoing Rep. Wamp On tax cuts, GOP passes 1st leadership test Report finds evidence of oil in Gulf Scaling back the estate tax hurts middle-class families (Rep. Keith Ellison) Lieberman says he would likely pursue reelection as an Independent Rep. Johnson urges FCC to approve NBC-Comcast merger Rep. Polis rides a ‘rocket-trike’ Study estimates loss of $13 billion from interchange fee proposal McConnell to attend tax-bill signing House easily approves 2011 defense bill Google’s Cerf says governments shouldn’t control the Web Boehner won’t resurrect Hastert’s ‘majority of majority’ Massive tax increases – let that not be the legacy of this Congress (Rep. Tom McClintock) Exxon boosts lobbying against oil payments disclosure mandate A bipartisan pro-growth, pro-jobs plan for Congress Pawlenty wishes he’d sought third term Congressman-elect under investigation for alleged secret payments New GOP telecom team decries FCC process The Revolution this time: The 28th Amendment Tea Party to host GOP presidential debate White House hails ‘big win’ CNN teams with Tea Party Express for GOP primary debate Blue Cross Blue Shield asks Michigan court to dismiss antitrust lawsuit Boehner: No earmarks next year NAACP backs Comcast-NBC merger after securing diversity pledges Sen. Corker: No talk of Tea Party challenge back home Two Texans to take top spots on House science panel Generation gap shrinks online Fox News hears from Al Gore Hastings announces Republican members of Natural Resources Committee UN talks in Cancun were not a success (Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr.) Hoyer wants tax reform in the next Congress Food safety bill looks dead, though Democrats say they haven’t given up Next year Administrator of Gulf spill fund talks about final payments, lessons learned The American people have finally been heard (Sen. Mitch McConnell) Dr. Jill Biden: A grinch? Rep. Weiner: GOP played better ‘poker’ than Obama on taxes Huckabee hits GOP on 9/11 health bill; 2012 decision coming ‘later rather than sooner’ The man who just won’t quit End of omnibus jeopardizes funding for Wall Street regulation America needs a new START (Rep. Edward J. Markey) A commitment renewed: U.S. and South Africa save lives from HIV/AIDS through smart investments Political fact-checker says ‘government takeover’ year’s biggest lie Obama set to meet with union leaders GOP looks to gather momentum from defeat of omnibus Florida, Virginia AGs make case against individual mandate Alaska court could decide Joe Miller’s lawsuit Friday House Republicans voting against tax package might have eye on 2012 races News Bites: Documents show lawmakers’ safety fears ahead of BP disaster, James Cameron’s blue-green gifts, and more Palin won’t decide on 2012 run for ‘some months still’ Poll: Obama not vulnerable to 2012 primary challenge MORNING READ House Democrats fail to push through estate tax change House passes temporary extension of Bush-era tax cuts, 277-148 Cummings gets nod from caucus to take top Dem spot on Oversight panel OVERNIGHT TECH: Hutchison moves to stop FCC from enforcing net neutrality Rep. Smith to be top Democrat on House Armed Services panel $1.1 trillion spending bill collapses as GOP senators yank support Emanuel awaits board’s decision on residency challenge in mayor’s race Chippers, pizza, and Tex-Mex: Congress prepares for a long night Senate to vote on ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal this weekend Sen. Menendez lauds Bon Jovi’s spot on White House council Reid pulls back from yearlong omnibus, aims for short-term funding resolution Late-night House tax vote back on after Pelosi appeases liberals McCain: Filibuster omnibus, even if it prompts government shutdown OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Feinberg to raise bar for oil-spill compensation payments