The Hill Articles: December 16, 2011

McCain: Omnibus is ‘hernia-inducing’ FTC warns domain-name expansion poses ‘significant threat to consumers’ Carney coy on White House accepting Keystone provision in tax bill Sen. Feinstein introduces bill prohibiting military detention of US citizens DAY’S END ROUNDUP Negotiators continue working toward longer-term deal on jobless benefits Dem lawmaker honors the late Christopher Hitchens on House floor US turns over Hezbollah prisoner to Iraqi government Hoyer warns that Congress must return to finish payroll tax, unemployment, doc bill Regional observers: Iraq unlikely to slide back into sectarian civil war McConnell pressures Dems on Keystone Ros-Lehtinen, Diaz-Balart vote for omnibus despite Cuba provision Obama makes impassioned plea for support from Jewish audience Dem Keystone support creates tougher fight for Reid, Obama Healthcare execs top list of highest-paid CEOs Chris Wallace on Sen. Schumer: He ‘wastes our viewers’ time’ House approves $1 trillion omnibus spending bill in easy 296-121 vote DNC attacks Romney for ‘out of touch’ comments on entitlements Interior approves Shell’s Arctic drilling plan Ron Paul nailed Gingrich on Freddie Mac; Gingrich should donate the money to homeless vets Newsmax to reschedule GOP debate after Trump drops out Ethics panel extends Waters investigation Rapper: TSA discovered pot in my bag, left a note — and the drugs Romney to present ‘Top Ten’ on ‘Late Show’ Monday Republican lawmaker calls the omnibus spending bill a ‘crap sandwich’ Key Bush adviser on security ‘ambivalent’ about end of Iraq war Court: Rule change for transportation union elections is valid Romney talks ‘war on religion’ in Iowa Comcast CEO pays $500,000 fine for reporting violation Bachmann: Ron Paul’s foreign policy views a ‘total disqualifier’ Cantor: House likely to return Monday to deal with tax bill Campaign video touts Obama’s promise to end Iraq war Robert Redford endorses candidate for Congress Cantor: House likely to return Monday to deal with tax bill Bachmann: ‘I am not a student of Gingrich’ Rep. Van Hollen: Keystone pipeline ‘extraneous’ to payroll tax cut debate Sen. Bingaman: Light bulb rider will have ‘little practical consequence’ Senate GOP digs in on Keystone pipeline push Markup over House piracy bill adjourns after marathon debate HHS defers to states, will let them decide which benefits health plans must cover Poll: Democrat has 11-point lead in Oregon special House race Actress Danes: ‘Amazing’ that Obama watches ‘Homeland’ House Democrat on hunger strike out of ‘solidarity’ with protesters Hoyer: ‘Not one of us has read’ entire omnibus House expected to return next week Cornyn pushes for Keystone provision on Twitter Hoyer calls on Democrats to support omnibus no one has read Rep. Sanchez debuts new holiday card featuring deceased cat Actress Danes: ‘Amazing’ that Obama watches ‘Homeland’ Liberal think tank: House in play in 2012 Bachmann to miss vote on spending bill that funds Obama’s healthcare law Sen. Hatch: Obama ‘acting like some scaredy cat’ on Keystone pipeline Release of Romney TV ad in South Carolina coincides with Gov. Haley endorsement Pelosi: GOP House leads ‘do-nothing’ Congress Obama campaign: Ending Iraq war ‘a promise kept’ Judge dismisses Twitter stalking case on free-speech grounds Northeast lawmakers want feds to oversee toll rates Boeing settlement showcases the value of collective bargaining POGO: Pentagon report suggests new troubles for F-35 program House approves intelligence authorization Benefits of medical imaging PolitiFact denies affirming accuracy of Bachmann attacks on Gingrich Rage against the NLRB House GOP, Dems blame one another as they advance omnibus bill Congressional cowardice, not military detentions, is the real threat to civil liberty House cybersecurity bill would establish federal overseer Russia takes next step toward WTO membership Ros-Lehtinen to vote for omnibus despite Cuba provision LightSquared hires major K Street lobbying firm Pelosi: Dems can take back House Former Fannie, Freddie execs sued by SEC Heritage urges members to vote down omnibus Pro-Romney super-PAC attacks Gingrich in Florida TV ad Saturday votes planned in the Senate Sen. Hatch calls Obama ‘scaredy cat’ Still no omnibus plans in the Senate Dems call on Rep. West to apologize for Joseph Goebbels comparison News bites: Zynga raises $1 billion for public offering House quickly debates bills on intelligence, religious freedom; moves to rule for omnibus bill Report: Panetta slaps gag orders on officials preparing strategy review News bites: Union busting Romney’s retail politicking on display in New Hampshire TV ad Good for all concerned News bites: There’s an app for that flight data The winners of the Republican debates: Mitch Daniels and Barack Obama NJ redistricting head eyeing new map by Christmas Democratic senator says new Ryan Medicare plan is ‘lipstick on the pig’ Shutdown averted: Deal reached on $1T omnibus package News bites: Hobbled Japanese nuke plant declared stable, oil companies beef up security in Iraq, and more Friday: Congress set to approve 2012 spending bill; tax bill up in the air Poll: Majority think Obama should not win second term; approval at new low News bites: Short-term ‘doc fix’ on the table South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley endorses Romney for president Christopher Hitchens dead at 62 Pipeline politics reach GOP presidential stage Providing certainty and creating jobs The other 5 million Obama runs risk of overexposure with his most recent media blitz Emily’s List puts two more candidates ‘on the list’ Follow Friday: @RepDavid MORNING READ GOP debate: Gingrich under fire Mitt Romney deflects the ‘flip-flopper’ label Bachmann: I am a serious presidential candidate GOP debate: Mitt Romney deflects the ‘flip-flopper’ label GOP Candidates weigh reining in the courts GOP debate: Perry reiterates call for Holder’s resignation Gingrich: I don’t want to appear ‘to be zany’ GOP debate: Candidates weigh reining in the courts Omnibus spending deal blocks funding for light bulb efficiency standards Perry: ‘I hope I am the Tim Tebow of the Iowa caucuses’ GOP debate: Gingrich’s electability at issue Pelosi ‘optimistic’ about avoiding shutdown GOP debate: The Hill’s live blog discussion GOP debate: The Hill’s live blog Reid, GOP leaders $90 billion apart on payroll tax holiday package Reid acts to force Senate vote on House payroll tax legislation Senate Dems file cloture on House GOP payroll tax cut bill