The Hill Articles: December 12, 2011

Appropriators nearing deal on $1 trillion spending omnibus Gingrich’s race-baiting The case for Mitt Romney OVERNIGHT TECH: Smith hits back at Google on piracy Weyants World: December 13, 2011 Senate sends Obama’s ambassador to El Salvador packing Nevada Dems to hit GOP on ‘Heller Tax’ Boehner plans Tuesday vote on payroll tax Senate confirms acting ambassador to Czech Republic Wikipedia mulls blackout over piracy bill Huntsman challenges Romney to unmoderated debate Poll: Hirono in solid shape in Senate primary OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Healthcare fights surround spending bill, tax bill, GOP primary OVERNIGHT MONEY: Payroll tax bill moves into the legislative spotlight House approves oil, gas pipeline safety bill State Department warns that GOP plan could scuttle Keystone pipeline Boehner: House to vote Tuesday on payroll tax Judiciary Committee schedules markup of online piracy bill for Thursday FCC warns of fraud in telephone subsidy Weyants World: December 12, 2011 DAY’S END ROUNDUP Sanders looks forward to supporting Obama, still holds back endorsement Panetta confirms ‘invaluable’ Flournoy leaving Pentagon Obama taps two to head manufacturing office Things can buy if you win Romney’s $10K bet: Four-bedroom house, lots of ice cream MPAA accuses Google’s Schmidt of hyperbole Docs won’t benefit from prevention cuts Radio host offers Gingrich $1 million to drop out of GOP race Report: Palin shopping another reality show Apple removes fake driver’s license app at urging of Sen. Casey Vitter praises SEC’s reported decision to go to court for investors Hospitals blast Medicare cuts in GOP payroll tax bill Yearly deficit falls below $1 trillion for the first time under Obama $1M Crossroads ad buy targets Obama, Ben Nelson GOP proposal to cut jobless benefits could cost economy billions, says study GOP lawmaker cites electability in Romney endorsement Myths about religious freedom abroad Reid warns Republicans that filibusters could endanger holiday recess Crossroads to let loose $1 million in ads against Obama, Ben Nelson AT&T, T-Mobile merger on life support Report: Top Pentagon official stepping down The Hill’s Erik Wasson tells C-SPAN payroll tax is ‘big item of the week’ GAO says health funding in stimulus has created jobs Obama’s final act on Iraq GOP senators make good on Army-Navy game bet Ron Paul ad blasts Gingrich as a ‘career politician’ Ten things to watch in spending fight McCain jokes about baseball player’s failed drug test Rep. Issa says nuke power agency in ‘crisis’ House Democrat launches investigation into executive pay Reid: GOP’s millionaire job creators are imaginary like ‘unicorns’ The Hill’s Daniel Strauss talks GOP race on Bloggingheads TV Poll: Democrats gaining ground in GOP battleground districts Rep. Issa says nuclear agency in ‘crisis’ amid internal battle Sebelius: Plan B decision not political Google chairman says online piracy bill would ‘criminalize’ the Internet In conservative pledge, Gingrich vows no more marital infidelity FreedomWorks endorses Johnson for Senate leadership position Obama: US has asked Iran to return drone Obama, al-Maliki vow U.S.-Iraq partnership after troop withdrawal Penn State scandal sparks Senate hearing on child abuse Cable channel gets ready to debut shows on female lawmakers Senators make case for mass transit tax credit Gambling addiction expert says $10,000 bet shows Romney ‘lost his cool’ McCain says Obama, Iraqi PM failed to lead New Ron Paul ad charges Gingrich with ‘selling access’ to Washington Sen. Manchin: A bill adopting Simpson-Bowles is ‘being written’ Capitol Hill Agenda: December 12, 2011 Kagan recuses herself from Arizona case Johnson digs Senate GOP leadership in bid to join it The time has come to abandon our conciliatory attitude to the Castro regime Rick Perry attacks the nation of ‘Solynda’! Obama confirms Iran has US spy drone Proposed federal food advertising guidelines raise legal questions under federal nutrition law Secretary must consider most vulnerable when determining essential benefits package Poll: Gingrich loses ground in tight Iowa race Donor governments stop short of crossing the ‘finish line’ in global health Nuke industry calls on Congress, WH to address concerns about NRC chief LightSquared calls for investigation of leaked report Boehner nominates Secret Service official for House Sergeant at Arms Perry says back surgery may have hindered his campaign Ex-supercommittee staffer floats payroll tax compromise Obama: ‘Doesn’t really matter who the nominee is going to be’ Latest fight over ‘Volcker rule’ a matter of timing Rapper Common makes stop in Washington American oil, gas production righting our economy’s ship
 Gingrich: Romney attacks ‘a sign that somebody’s desperate’ Veto threat looms over high-stakes talks on terrorism detainees Republicans buck the CBO, argue their payroll tax bill would lower deficit Obama should veto the Defense authorization bill Europe’s prevailing uncertainty, and new realities Aerospace industry hails US move in WTO Airbus case Santorum: $10,000 bet ‘typical’ of Romney Report: LightSquared disrupts 75 percent of GPS Online holiday spending up 15 percent ahead of ‘Green Monday’ The good, the bad and the bogus BBA’s The UK: Switzerland with nuclear weapons? Climate change pact has fighting chance at passage, according to US envoy Dem senator says House Defense bill contains $834 million in earmarks The copyright lobby comeuppance Supreme Court to review challenge to Arizona illegal immigration law Internet piracy bill: A free speech ‘kill switch’ Bachmann fires back at Donald Trump criticism No leaders Week Ahead: Will Obama veto a military policy bill? Huntsman’s ex-campaign manager backs Romney Gingrich holds double-digit edge in new Iowa poll The Week Ahead: Congress barreling toward clash over Keystone, EPA Romney snags former Huntsman campaign manager Michigan rep: Cancel recess until unemployment ‘stalemate’ is broken Health mandates a big problem for Romney, Gingrich, Perry News bites: Amazon plans Kindle Fire update Rick Perry calls ‘Solynda’ a country Should you invest in unregulated investment firms? Trump-moderated debate: ‘Full steam ahead’ A Christmas dream: England and the Anglosphere Elizabeth Warren solidifies front-runner status in Dem primary Perry stumbles over solar firm Solyndra, calls it a country Monday: Prepping for the tax bill News bites: Perry’s climate claims under fire, fallout from the UN climate deal and more DNC chairwoman: Romney bet ‘really out of touch’ News bites: In the blood Poll: Gingrich leads in South Carolina, Florida Romney defends $10,000 bet to Perry News bites: Plan B grief, Medco merger and more This week: Race to the finish on payroll tax, omnibus Week ahead: Docs hope to get their ‘fix’ in time for Christmas Week Ahead: Crunch time for Congress Hill Poll: GOP gives Gingrich edge, Romney shows Nov. appeal Boehner faces toughest leadership test Williams: Best Congress member 2011 Gregg: How New Hampshire makes sure US gets the president it wants Rokita finds election law expertise useful as he adjusts to life on Hill This Week In Tech: Battle lines drawn over online piracy bills Capitol Police officer dies while volunteering at church Business groups push for investment write off in payroll tax deal We ‘made all the right moves’ on economy, says Obama