The Hill Articles: June 8, 2010

House duo backs banks on cards Dems seek weakness in prosecutors’ armor Importance of Whitman and Fiorina BP, Katrina: A world of difference Liberal groups call for more spending Orszag asks agencies to trim costs Judge orders Blagojevich not to tweet in court Financial regulation conference will start Thursday Weyant’s World: June 9, 2010 Do not let Helen Thomas fade quietly into twilight Ethics PR fiasco Will anyone replace her? Obamanomics recession Interior issues new oil-and-gas drilling safety requirements Kevin Costner to testify on oil spill clean-up effort Saints to raffle off Super Bowl ring for oil spill response CBC urges Menendez against moving rum tax bill Obama to make fourth Gulf trip next week with two-day visit Free Press wants harsher punishments for FCC lobbyists Obama to make fourth Gulf trip next week Laura Bush says family laughs off Dem shots at former president BP pledges funding for new wildlife fund BP pledges funding for new wildlife fund Vitter, Melancon trade shots over drilling halt DAY’S END ROUNDUP Saints to raffle off Super Bowl ring for oil spill response C&A veep: Twitter “embedding” itself in policymakers’ lives Schwarzenegger’s first ballot is rejected Schwarzenegger’s first ballot is rejected Primary primer Clyburn: “No flash cuts” in USF transition Obamacare is bad policy, no matter how he spins it (Rep. Michele Bachmann) Senate pushes enhanced Medicaid payments to states Judge orders Blagojevich not to tweet in court Dorgan calls on BP to pay $10 billion into a recovery fund It is time to make the BP pledge a binding commitment (Sen. Byron Dorgan) Judge orders Blagojevich not to tweet in court Lieberman attacks possibility of climate bill as amendment Barrasso’s new chief of staff sounds a lot like his last one Petraeus to testify on Afghanistan before Senate next week VA opens $80 million innovation competition Reid suggests ‘doc’ fix,’ COBRA amendments to extenders bill likely Reid suggests ‘doc’ fix,’ COBRA amendments to extenders bill likely Laura Bush says family laughs off Dem shots at former president Embattled BP CEO Hayward to testify before Congress Rebranding the GOP and closing the gender gap Embattled BP CEO to testify before Congress next week Private equity investment would fall under carried interest proposal Trumka said he would be surprised by union endorsement of Lincoln Delay in Medicare payment fix could mess up doctors’ federal cash flow Republican live-tweets rebuttal to Obama speech Rep. Gordon ‘groveling’ to get science funding passed in Senate Obama threatens to veto Murkowski climate plan as lobbying intensifies Parties get early jump on 2012 primary calendar Just the facts Memo to Democratic campaign managers: Times are a’changin’ and so should your paid media strategy Dodd won’t be pressed by deadlines to finish financial reform Skelton takes Gates ‘seriously’ on defense spending reforms In the Army? There’s an app for that Realistic optimism on Afghanistan (Rep. Larry Kissell) Lawmakers look to another celebrity for answers on oil spill The greatest casualties of this long war are the children of the world (Rep. Dennis Kucinich) Sen. Levin blasts Swiss for blocking names of tax cheats Obama trumpets benefits of healthcare Presidential scholars see recent White House job offers as nothing new Dems craft bill to give oil spill commission subpoena power Dems craft bill to give oil spill commission subpoena power Reid ties Murkowski climate plan to oil spill NAFCU’s Dan Berger fly-fishes on TV Rep. Skelton said he hears little from constituents on ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ Army looks to create massive virtual world for soldiers When volunteering isn’t voluntary Sen. Sanders predicts Fed audit amendment will survive conference Van Hollen latest Dem leader to join Twitter A Second Opinion: When campaign ‘volunteering’ isn’t so voluntary The Big Question: Who will be the Election Day winners and losers? Senator: BP criminal case proven Senator: BP criminal case is essentially proven MIDDAY ROUNDUP Schumer: Dems have the votes to pass tax extenders legislation Twitter looking for Beltway liaison Kerry: Senate climate bill has deeper support than House plan Video: Super Tuesday primer Pelosi heckled at liberal activist conference Obama reacts to Helen Thomas’ retirement Resolution would increase US oil dependence even as BP’s oil spill keeps gushing (Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin) Boehner ridicules Obama’s healthcare town hall with seniors as PR gimmick Judiciary Republicans want info from Holder on White House job talks Obama budget chief asks agencies for deep cuts Delaware candidate and Sen. Reid are fast friends Advocates say consumer access equals better healthcare outcomes Obama calls long-time journalist’s comments ‘offensive,’ but praises career Grassley questions Labor on green jobs Individual rights Cycle of nature New tax could ‘carry’ over hard times in real estate Top of the ballot: Super 12 Rockefeller may back Murkowski plan to block EPA climate rules Liberal group targets Sen. Collins on EPA resolution Obama says he would have fired BP CEO RNC staffers beat DNC at softball 15-3 Obama: No assurances yet that deepwater drilling can be done safely Good morning tech E2 Round-up: BP’s safety problems go back years, Senate Democrats struggle with path forward on energy, and a bleak outlook for global climate cooperation MORNING READ Player of the Week: Sen. Lisa Murkowski White House wants federal agencies to cut spending by 5 percent Gallup poll: Voters hold strong anti-incumbent sentiments Obama wants to know ‘whose ass to kick’ Obama wants to know ‘whose ass to kick’ over oil spill Ax may fall on tax break for mortgages Republicans put health reform on ballot in push to turn out conservatives New members Critz, Djou start off in campaign mode Candidate finds pals in Washington The campaign image OPINION: Peacemaking takes courage, leaders CBC faces tough fight on summer jobs Advocates push back against black lawmakers on ethics office Reid, Pelosi head for climate clash Weyant’s World: June 8, 2010 U.S. has an oil addiction; it’s time to start our rehab Primaries and July 4