The Hill Articles: February 24, 2011

OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Battle over healthcare reform’s exchanges heats up OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Interior Secretary heads for hot seat Cantor: Washington forgetting about America’s creative spirit Bachmann says Glenn Beck could solve nation’s budget woes Rush ‘grossly underwhelmed’ by FCC’s ‘lip service’ on civil rights issues Battle over control of health law’s exchanges roils North Carolina GOP 2012 hopefuls are getting in touch with their inner Cheesehead Boeing triumphs over EADS in battle for $35 billion aerial tanker contract Conservative think tank gives poor grade to some Republicans on willingness to cut Ways and Means subcommittee to talk tax reform Baucus: Trade agreement will help Colombian economy Rep. Israel praises Gen. Petraeus for investigation into Rolling Stone report House Republicans demanding answers about SEC lawyer’s Madoff ties DAY’S END ROUNDUP Prank call highlighted in labor TV ad Florida Senate candidate admonished over ethics issue Surprise! Nick Jonas shows up at White House event Freddie Mac reports $14 billion loss in 2010 Rep. McHenry pays tribute to Earnhardt with Twitter picture Oversight Committee subpoenas Homeland Security officials IRS announces relaxed lien rules Rep. Stark: Insurers raked in $12B profit Murkowski vows to ‘throw some elbows’ to ensure Alaska oil production Senate Dems search for cuts of their own in bid to avoid shutdown Firm says Craigslist is “cesspool of crime” House Republicans prepare to terminate four federal housing programs Obama tasks tech execs with social issues, not just the economy Boehner raises campaign cash off of spending cuts Sen. Sanders: Afghanistan is a backward country House Republicans ready short-term bill to fund the government Norton tries to shield D.C. from shutdown in case of impasse Judiciary chairman: Texas terror arrest shows we’ve ‘not learned 9/11 lessons’ Moody’s expects government to deal with debt limit before default Fix ‘lose it’ so you can use it Vitter slams Feinberg over compensation from BP Obama stays above fray, lets Hill Democrats fight GOP on shutdown HHS offers new grants for insurance rate reviews White House: Oil price shock wouldn’t ‘derail’ economy Santorum, Bachmann lead way in criticizing Obama on DOMA decision Salazar to review blowout containment ahead of Capitol Hill grilling McCain in eight-way tie for most conservative senator Obama not ruling out military action in Libya Frank says GOP should leave housing relief programs alone Roaming means 116K jobs, rural cell firms say Amid budget battles, Obama to huddle with Democratic governors Cutting — and growing? Dingell not opposed to incentive auctions HHS announces Medicaid prevention grants for states Congressman says taxes are essential to economic system Petraeus to probe report that Army used ‘psy-ops’ on lawmakers House Dems urge Obama to consider tapping oil reserves Indiana lawmakers want NFL to play on Sales of new homes drop more than expected On Twitter, Barbour backs Wisconsin budget fix Report: Shutdown could force feds to give up BlackBerrys Enraged mayors say Republican spending bill is an ‘atrocity’ Mitt Romney donates to Wisconsin Republican Party as budget battle rages Shut down House Dems call for climate science hearings amid GOP efforts to block EPA climate rules Sec. of State Clinton will face questions from the public in House hearing next week Salazar strikes back at critics of ‘wild lands’ policy, hopes for ‘common ground’ In rare comment on national events, Franken says Walker is out to ‘bust’ unions Wyoming Wants Less Interference from Washington NYT editorial backs USF reform Barbour will head to California in March to address GOP activists Rep. Ryan: Fugitive Wisconsin lawmakers lack respect for rule of law Decision on $35B tanker contract due Christine O’Donnell gets ‘the ask’ from ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Indiana lawmakers want NFL to play on Budget update Thursday: No sign of compromise in sight Consumer group wants to tax Netflix to pay for rural broadband ‘Climategate’ report clears scientists Indiana gov. calls public unions ‘privileged elite’ Sen. Ensign breaks with Reid on prostitution, calling it a local issue House Republicans raise specter of congressional action on EPA boiler rules Lefty blogger exposes Wisconsin governor: A vanity player owned by special interests Biden pokes fun at Obama’s teleprompters Pawlenty looks to take lead in boosting Wisconsin governor Republicans prepared to ‘pull the plug’ on Obama housing relief Supplement to yesterday’s post CBO raises estimate of 2009 stimulus law on budget deficit, lowers estimate of job effects Poll: Rep. Chaffetz even with Hatch in potential primary match Democrats, GOP dig in their heels as march to shutdown continues District needs its own Tea Party Initial unemployment claims drop 22,000, to 391,000 What follows the money? Do we still need a Justice Department? Expel Libya from Human Rights Council Rand Paul: Tea Party won’t break away Libya considers ‘unauthorized’ media terrorist collaborators, State Dept. warns Wisconsin GOP freshman stays mum on labor dispute One in five think health reform not law Wisconsin Assembly to vote on controversial budget bill Gallup: 60 percent want spending compromise, not federal shutdown News bites: Oil and the economy, Cuccinelli’s climate war and Google invests in efficiency Go to Wisconsin to support labor, liberal leader urges Obama British court rules against WikiLeaks founder on extradition Axelrod: Romney would have GOP nominee under ‘old rules’ Liberals to stage Tea Party-like revolts against Republican spending cuts MORNING READ States: Judge clearly meant to halt work on the healthcare law