The Hill Articles: June 30, 2010

The F-35 — cleared for takeoff Van Hollen: Extension of Bush tax cuts will not be offset Members switch votes on Wall St. overhaul Rep. Melancon uses former Vitter aide in fundraising email WHINSEC vital to era of engagement Top Democrat drafting plan to deny BP new offshore drilling leases Now is time for Obama to channel Winston Churchill’s wartime spirit A wave of missed opportunity House, Senate will vote Thursday on separate unemployment bills Campaigning on anything House approves Wall Street reform House panel cancels Thursday mark-up of Gulf health bill Comcast, NBC-Universal sign diversity agreement with Hispanic groups Casey, Brown push to extend COBRA subsidies — with a new offset Debt commission could alter fate for Bush tax cuts Controversial ads aren’t resonating in Alabama, officials say Foundation removes itself from Free Press net neutrality letter Rep. Forbes tries flight simulator in Rayburn Congress set to leave for recess without moving unemployment Gun rights concerns mean Kagan’s nomination may be scored as a ‘key vote’ Senate cameras won’t film Byrd’s last appearance Senators warn approval for drilling oversight bill may hinge on changes Obama fiscal commission chief eyes spending caps, entitlement reforms Governors warn of “double-dip” recession without Medicaid help Waxman to push carbon limits in conference if Senate falls short Facebook simplifies privacy controls for applications Voinovich accuses Reid of exploiting benefits impasse for political gain DAY’S END ROUND UP Obama can’t ‘keep the change’ Senators slam Homeland Security for not coming to hearing on nuclear terrorism Voinovich a ‘no’ on Reid’s latest unemployment extension November special election for Byrd Senate seat now a possibility SEC votes to restrict pay-to-play practices in pension industry Skelton ‘angry, period’ about cemetery mismanagement Financial commission member compares AIG to BP Camp goes after IRS over looming tanning tax (again) Palin focuses on Obama during Georgia appearance Former AIG executive pressed on end of stormy tenure FCC names Douglas Sicker chief technologist Thompson jokes, chides Dems about gun control EMILY’s List props up three House candidates Menendez promises to block repeal of Cuba travel ban VIDEO: Rep. Weiner’s catch makes it on Sportscenter The Big Question: What is the key to passing an energy bill this year? Florida Tea Party feud escalates Baucus: Deepwater Horizon rig owner may have ‘exploited’ tax law House bill would bolster health tracking on Gulf Coast OMB guidance leaves tech industry with questions Sen. Sherrod Brown: Keep Congress in session until benefits extended Harriet Miers faced the gauntlet while Kagan skates on by Top Republican: Obama’s stimulus little more than ‘sugar high’ for economy Report translates redacted pieces of Chinese Internet policies Former AIG official defends record House Dems reopen stimulus to find offsets to more spending Djou first to use iPad for floor speech Spies among us Obama immigration speech will not offer timeline for action Clinton didn’t give Obama heads-up on Romanoff endorsement White House: Obama hasn’t called Medvedev following bust of Russian spy ring No privacy for George Allen Kucinich bill would examine health effects of cell phones White House didn’t get advance notice of Clinton Colorado endorsement White House, Boehner spar on economy, financial reform Harkin pitches for Grassley’s challenger Rapidfire e-mails from both sides highlight Kagan’s positions Biden dines at the Petraeus’s house New report in Mass. finds record numbers dumping healthcare coverage Reid blasts Republicans for not extending Bush-era tax cuts The president’s space policy will compromise American jobs and American world leadership (Rep. Robert Aderholt) Republicans say Dems are rushing oil spill safeguards bill The spies coming into the cold Senate unanimously votes to confirm Petraeus for new post Senate vote on Wall Street reform delayed; Collins inclined to vote yes CBO director: Stimulus and deficit-cutting measures don’t clash MIDDAY ROUNDUP Reid: One vote shy on extending unemployment Senate panel approves creation of competing spill commission Dissuading Iran from developing a nuclear weapon Poll: Majority think Obama handling oil spill same or worse than Katrina Google says its Web search is partially blocked in China Sen. Scott Brown to introduce bill boosting federal Medicaid funding Bennett says GOP short on ideas Pawlenty doles out PAC money for South Carolina Republicans Obama blasts GOP leader’s ‘ant’ comment as ‘out of touch’ Senate authorizes subpoena power in Indian Health Service investigation Environmentalists target centrists on climate bill Dodd circulates fundraising mailer for Bennet NRCC has 39 ‘Guns’ ready for November Democrats hammer GOP 13-5 in congressional baseball game SCOTUS nominations shouldn’t be pro forma exercise Cuba: A seminal moment Senate aiming to move unemployment benefits, homebuyer tax credit extensions Wednesday Sen. Brown says he’ll ‘continue to review’ Wall St. reform over recess Kagan wants cameras in the Supreme Court DPBO: An inexpensive way to make the federal workforce more competitive and fair Rep. Djou praises Obama on trade Biden warns of GOP ‘blitzkrieg’ Payers, providers, consumers urge quick confirmation of Berwick to head Medicare Boehner and Cantor back efforts to repeal entirety of healthcare reform Puerto Rican delegate wins Dem ‘Facebook’ contest Good morning tech Spy case won’t hurt ties CBO says debt will reach 62 percent of GDP by year’s end CBO says debt will reach 62 percent of GDP by year’s end An anniversary to forget (Rep. Frank Lucas) MORNING READ Five cash-strapped states up taxes on cigarettes for needed revenue Kirk goes on the offensive in the Illinois Senate race Study forecasts delays in shift to electronic medical records Today’s health calendar Candidates and parties in second-quarter fundraising flurry Puerto Rican delegate wins Dem new-media contest E2 Round-up: Cleanup group swamped by oil spill, BP aids gas stations hit by boycott, and BP CEO Hayward’s claim of safety improvements is questioned BP spill taking toll on Gulf lawmakers GOP hopes for 2012 victories in Northeast Climate ads slam Nelson, Burr over votes on EPA rules Dems seek to salvage climate provisions after White House meeting President Obama juggles competing issues of immigration and climate Some puzzled by Reid’s latest on unemployment Wall Street conferees adopt changes after GOPs raise objections Clinton endorses Bennet’s opponent Landrieu balks at giving Lautenberg Byrd’s subcommittee chairmanship Reid files cloture on bill with unemployment benefits, homebuyer tax credit Chamber raises stakes in Cuba travel ban Defense firms publicly back budget effort