The Hill Articles: December 9, 2011

House Republicans release payroll-tax package under Obama veto threat Dems pour money into Oregon contest A closer look at next week … Gingrich surrogates: Romney camp in desperate panic Perry bungles Sotomayor’s name, number of Supreme Court justices Rand Paul: Gingrich ‘diametrically opposed’ to Tea Party position Wasserman Schultz says Giffords ‘doing great’ Dem ads target House GOP on payroll tax Rand Paul ‘not even sure’ Trump’s a Republican At ease: Lighter moments from the week DAY’S END ROUNDUP Amazon bolsters lobbying force for sales tax fight DCCC Chair: 2012 race for House control will be ‘razor close’ European fiscal crisis could force Pentagon to alter F-35 plans Trump looking into canceling his debate White House: Obama not ‘aware’ of Perry attacks Consumer confidence hits highest level in six months Obama getting involved in Defense bill negotiations Obama and Reid on GOP’s ‘naughty’ list Texas Dem: Perry owes apology to gays in the military after ad House GOP put Obama and Reid on ‘naughty’ list Joint Chiefs chairman lightly jabs change-resistant defense firms Trump: ‘We’re not seeing a lot of courage’ in GOP field Corzine to face Senate committee next week Huntsman: ‘I’m not going to contort myself into somebody I am not’ Poll: Gingrich leads in Romney’s home state of Michigan Gingrich, neocon wars, John Bolton as secretary of State? White House says it doesn’t need to threaten veto of Republican tax bill Energy policy TV show will go dark after funding loss President Obama sets off metal detector…at the White House Sen. Graham says Boeing withdrawal ‘hard to celebrate,’ vows to continue NLRB holds With caveats, CBO says GOP bill would add $25.3B to deficit Gingrich cancels book signing amid security concerns Obama’s El Salvador ambassador expected to face GOP opposition in confirmation Gingrich widens lead in first post-Cain Gallup national poll Ron Paul wishes NLRB-Boeing decision was made on ‘constitutional grounds’ Obama on NLRB: ‘I’m glad people are gonna be working’ House plans to approve tougher Iran sanctions by suspension vote Meeting our obligation to America’s military families
 Repeal of sodomy, bestiality ban sparks fight on Defense bill Issa: NLRB withdrawal a ‘victory,’ but investigation will continue Dem lawmaker clarifies comments on GOP payroll-tax package GOP candidates applaud NLRB complaint withdrawal Gen. Dempsey breaks into song Shut down ‘zombie’ election commission, says GOP lawmaker AT&T/T-Mobile case faces restart Welfare dollars tossed from strip clubs under GOP payroll-tax package House Republicans propose drug testing for unemployment benefits House Foreign Affairs to move ahead with Keystone pipeline markup House GOP defers to Senate Republicans on Keystone pipeline push Pelosi: GOP tax bill ‘doesn’t have a shot’ Gen. Dempsey wows wonks by breaking into song Senate panel to mark up STOCK Act next week US takes EU to WTO again over aircraft subsidies Gen. Dempsey outlines ‘significant,’ but not ‘bold,’ cuts to budget plan House payroll tax package charges rich seniors more to help pay for ‘doc fix’ Mitt’s moment GOP includes spectrum auctions, net-neutrality restriction in payroll tax bill Single and ready to mingle…with the right candidate Congress clears bill to provide flags for bureaucrats killed in the line of duty NLRB withdraws Boeing complaint On International Anti-Corruption Day, the US should not enable corruption Program for early retirees will end Dec. 31 Bolton ‘honored’ by Gingrich offer of Cabinet position Ba-Humbug! Why we can’t take the drop in unemployment at face value Meet Bahrain’s lobbyists Sen. Rand Paul blasts Gingrich as ‘not even a conservative’ US trade deficit narrows to lowest level this year Issa says administration using Fast and Furious for stricter gun laws New problems for Obama on Israel as Republicans renew attacks Clinton urges countries not to ‘clamp down’ on Internet freedom Trump ‘very disappointed in’ Bachmann Reid warns of daunting workweek ahead Rep. Cantor’s holiday party guests sip Oprah’s fave drink Centrist Dems push Rep. Schwartz’s Medicare reform proposals Interior drilling chief rebuts industry, lawmaker ‘fantasies’ Cain spoke with ‘two of the top’ GOP candidates about endorsement Obamas, Bidens celebrate Hanukkah at the White House Rep. Cleaver on payroll tax cut: ‘You get the best deal you can’ in politics Bachmann: My daughters can’t ask boys to prom House Republicans look to ‘strip’ TSA screeners of their ‘officer’ title News bites: Australian court rules Samsung can sell Galaxy tablet Republicans: Arizona still a deep-red state News bites: Climate talks coming to a close News bites: Tower power Poll: Obama leads, Sen. Casey in good shape in Pa. Dem rep. says Obama might walk back pipeline veto threat Rep. Berman: Don’t ‘give in’ to White House efforts to soften Iran sanctions plan Ron Paul on steady upward trajectory, third-party talk will escalate Free New England. Free California. Martha Coakley to the rescue. Sanders proposes amendment to the Constitution that would limit free speech Men and philandering? Romney attack hits Gingrich from right News bites: EU moves forward on treaty changes Friday: Free parking News bites: CMS accused of giving privileged access to Wall Street Snowe rips Amazon for ‘incentivizing consumers to spy on local shops’ Follow Friday: @jahimes Large group of Senate Democrats seeks to stop Postal Service cutbacks Gay Republicans seething at Perry Marines wade into program management GOP seeks to cut unemployment benefits MORNING READ Joe Walsh changes mind on which district he’ll run in Trump says Romney lacks the ‘courage’ to participate in Newsmax debate Pro-Romney group accidentally leaks ad attacking Gingrich