The Hill Articles: December 13, 2011

OVERNIGHT HEALTH: CLASS alternative gets Democrat sponsor Poll: Gingrich leads GOP field, Romney better against Obama House passes payroll tax cut extension bill despite veto threat OVERNIGHT TECH: Issa to introduce piracy bill alternative The gift of Gingrich Obama is running from his 
record, but he can’t hide it OVERNIGHT MONEY: Payroll tax, omnibus measures loom in Congress Bachmann denounces UNESCO, Palestinians over statehood bid Weyants World: December 14, 2011 Newt Gingrich’s ‘social engineering’ comment comes back to haunt him

 GOP senators to unveil replacement for automatic Defense cuts on Wednesday Ask A.B.: Newt’s to lose Sleepy balanced-budget amendment debate continues in the Senate Ohio Democrats blast Boehner’s role in the state’s redistricting process Civil liberties groups call on Obama to veto defense bill Witness: Corzine knew about loan made with customer funds House to hold hearing on ‘skyrocketing’ cost of California high-speed rail DAY’S END ROUNDUP Post office closures delayed until May to buy time for Congress National Governors Association calls for piracy legislation Frustration emerges as Corzine says he didn’t know about lost funds Colleague salutes FCC’s Copps CLASS Act repeal sponsor teams up with pro-reform Dem on alternative Cellphone industry: Ban ‘manual texting’ but not all phones in cars Final F-22 rolls off assembly line Huckabee endorses Tommy Thompson for Senate Massachusetts Dems try to link Gingrich, Scott Brown to nationalize Senate race Rand Paul, Coburn hint at backing former staffer in House primary Republicans call for NRC chief’s ouster Reid shows sign of bending on tax bill Issa: Nuclear chief Jaczko is driving regulatory commission to ‘catastrophe’ IMF head, leading GOP critic to meet tomorrow Senate Democrats likely to rework unemployment benefits provisions — how remains uncertain Bipartisanship: House quickly approves two postal bills House advances GOP payroll tax bill Gingrich touts congressional endorsements — again Poll: Front-runner Newt Gingrich’s lead in early-voting Iowa has evaporated Scott Brown’s ‘real bet’ remark seen as poke at Mitt Romney’s $10,000 bet Ron Paul can surge against Newt Romney Opponents of online piracy bill unswayed by changes Sen. Lieberman: Palestinians ‘are a people today’ Congress sends birthday tweets to the National Guard Fed makes no new moves in latest statement FCC votes to turn down loud TV ads Trump pulls out of GOP debate House Dems accuse GOP of setting up tax bill to fail on purpose Reid: GOP stuffed bills with ‘ideological candy’ Ben Nelson says he could make reelection decision next week Prime Minister al-Maliki to US Chamber of Commerce: Iraq is open for business Lawmaker: ‘Technical’ problem brought down US spy drone in Iran HHS urges Medicare drug plans not to pay suspicious claims Green groups file lawsuit challenging Gulf of Mexico oil lease sale ‘Meaningful use’ of health information technology should be truly meaningful Blunt defeats Johnson in race for Senate GOP leadership post Scott Brown’s ‘real bet’ remark seen as poke at Mitt Romney’s $10,000 bet ‘Newt Romney’ domain name already claimed Obama threatens veto of House tax bill Time to rethink nuclear weapons spending Corzine grilled by former Senate colleagues House GOP tax bill survives Dem point of order Hoyer says Boehner assured him GOP won’t leave town without deal on taxes Scott Brown’s daughter reveals the key to singing the national anthem Pro-Gingrich super-PAC registers with FEC President Obama right to stand up to House GOP, Big Oil Biden: US scrapping dollar coins to save government money Dem lawmakers urge Obama to stand strong on mandated Defense cuts Boxer: GOP giving Americans ‘poison’ for Christmas Why won’t media allow Romney the third option on illegal population? Perry says $10,000 is like ‘pocket change’ for Romney House Democratic Whip Hoyer’s chief of staff leaving Feds call for total ban on cell phone use while driving Political gridlock could mean ‘game over’ for our national security House GOP proposes ‘lost confidence’ resolution on Attorney General Holder Senate Dems break with White House on morning-after pill Sen. Schumer calls for TSA to create ‘passenger advocate’ GOP targets nine House Dems on Keystone pipeline Republican lawmakers accuse Sen. Reid of taking $1 trillion hostage in tax fight Rep. Issa asks Obama official why illegal camping of Occupy DC was permitted GOP senator jokes about time Harry Reid ‘locked me in a garage’ Leader Reid: GOP’s tax bill won’t sell in the Senate Huntsman says he would support Newt if he won the nomination Liberals lobby against tax holiday Tea Party Patriots to host call, straw poll with candidates Poll: GOP rising in swing states Dodd on piracy bill: ‘Hollywood is pro-Internet’ Senators to announce legislation blocking additional Defense budget cuts Like casserole? So does Ron Paul’s family GOP punts repeal of healthcare reform program to 2012 Senate Dems: GOP light bulb rider a sticking point in spending deal Reid: GOP taking pipeline hostage in tax fight Gingrich vows to run positive campaign News bites: Distracted Reid to hold government funding hostage over Keystone, suggests McConnell FBI denies request for documents on cellphone-tracking app Republican leaders say they’ll have the votes to pass payroll-tax bill Why the farm bill needs a robust energy title House Dem blasts Lowe’s for pulling ads from Muslim-centered TV show Cheney praises Gingrich, Romney for their ‘wealth of experience’ McConnell: President Obama unhappy unless he has issue to ‘divide’ us Panetta travels to Afghanistan Sen. Rubio blasts Obama on Afghanistan, Iraq policies Report: Fixing health law ‘glitch’ would expand subsidies to tens of thousands Perry TV ad: ‘Truth is frowned upon’ in Washington Outlawing diplomacy with Iran comes with dangerous repercussions News bites: Canada will pull out of Kyoto Protocol The end to a long and needless war News bites: EU takes hard look at Google-Motorola deal Perry’s new TV ad slams ‘political correctness’ in Washington Digital thieves are stealing from me What’s good for the Jews? Tax credits to stimulate the economy? The Constitution, not Congress Cheney: Obama should have destroyed drone Arab Spring election aftermath: Morocco moves ahead with reform agenda Biopharma exports benefit the U.S. economy and global health Tuesday: Payroll tax and unemployment insurance Herman Cain says no endorsement for a while Newt Gingrich: The world begins with Trickster Dems get their candidate in retiring Rep. Costello’s district News bites: Plan B redux, ‘broken’ healthcare, and more Gingrich says he’ll ‘disown’ staffers who go negative News bites: Fed legacy Dem lawmaker blasts ‘Professor Obama’ as arrogant, alienating MORNING READ Newt’s lonely battle to win GOP nod Mitt Romney starts to show cracks as front-runner status slips further Earmark ban a strain on higher ed Lawmakers reach deal to fund small-biz programs Final DOD policy bill would get tough with F-35 prime contractor Dem calls GOP jobless benefits bill ‘heartless’ Deal reached on DOD authorization bill Balanced budget amendments to face off in the Senate on Wednesday Supremes inject court into the 2012 campaign on health and immigration Obama, Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki try to turn the page from war to trade GOP vies for high ground on taxes Final Pentagon policy bill includes Senate’s sanctions against Iran White House: Nuke commission infighting won’t jeopardize nuclear safety FERC commissioner Spitzer announces departure Player of the week: Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) Fix the filibuster For-profit school leaders criticize Cummings investigation With tough election ahead, McCaskill targets earmarks House unanimously rejects motion to adjourn Bottom Line Things you can buy if you win Romney’s $10K bet: Four-bedroom house, lots of ice cream Study: Gingrich tax plan aids wealthy, adds to deficit HBO poised to debut shows on female politicians SPOTTED: Grammy Award-winning rapper and actor Common Scott Brown’s daughter reveals the key to singing the national anthem Like casserole? So does Ron Paul’s family Polls confirm Newt Gingrich’s rise to top of GOP — and potential to fall OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Keystone pipeline showdown reaches House floor Bargain basement ballot? Inside the Office of Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.): Paul Bell CBO: Transaction tax could hurt U.S. financial industry