The Hill Articles: January 26, 2011

OVERNIGHT MONEY: The blame game OVERNIGHT HEALTH: GOP bolsters repeal agenda Pence’s decision OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Is Obama’s ‘clean’ standard the next cap-and-trade? Rep. Walter Jones is first GOP defection in the 112th Congress OVERNIGHT TECH: Rep. Berman’s donors get box seats to the Grammys Rep. Berman to host fundraiser at Grammys White House rekindles fight with actuary over healthcare savings Minnesota Dem takes aim at Rep. Bachmann’s speech Udall predicts bipartisan seating to continue Charming, but not bold Obama’s Sputnik moment Dems letting GOP take first move on CR Former drug lobby head Tauzin joins Alston & Bird lobby shop Weyants World: January 27, 2011 DAY’S END ROUNDUP Schumer: GOP trying to ‘finish the job’ that Citizens United started Senate Floor update: Senate passes minor bills, delays healthcare vote again HHS grants 500 new healthcare waivers Kucinich sues Longworth cafeteria over olive pit in sandwich: Report Rep. Paul reintroduces measure to audit Fed Pelosi names new slate of Ethics panel Democrats Pentagon faces ‘severe problems’ without defense spending bill Ethics panel drops cases in probe of Wall St. vote, fundraising Obama’s wireless goal ‘realistic,’ Mobile Future chairman says Chaffetz: Apply FOIA to Freddie, Fannie Homeland Security to drop color-coded threat system Thune sees ‘big opportunity’ in 2012 field Minnesota members compete to make the hottest ‘hotdish’ GOP lawmaker downplays drilling risks, compares to ‘slipping on ice’ AFL-CIO, Chamber release joint statement to push infrastructure spending Baucus rips Obama for not providing trade agreement timeline Nelson: Eliminate partisan seating in Senate Manufacturing an ethical conflict Priorities in Congress begin to take shape (Rep. Phil Roe) Hatch, Cornyn unveil balanced budget amendment Centrist Dems seek transparency in state redistricting efforts CBO predicts healthcare spending up $1T over 10 years Senate passes Tucson tribute House adjourns until February 8 Next generation biologic drugs provide hope for HIV/AIDS patients Pfeiffer: Successor to Gibbs should be named ‘soon’ CBO head Elmendorf reappointed McClintock takes first swing in debt ceiling fight Dem Conrad: GOP debt-limit proposal a ‘very, very bad idea’ The lack of a vision for Afghanistan in the State of the Union Matsui named co-chairwoman of High Tech Caucus Fed sticking with QE2 despite GOP criticism GOP torn between homeland security, fiscal restraint in public safety fight White House communications director gets on Twitter Obama builds on American Exceptionalism House Democrats introduce oil spill legislation Lofgren resigns as ranking House Ethics Committee member House votes to end publicly financed presidential campaigns Connecticut Republican pitches centrist path as way to win House seat Kucinich sues Longworth cafeteria over olive pit in sandwich: Report Senate floor update: All quiet as senators honor Giffords, hash out rules deal Dems propose limited tort reforms following Obama overture Obama touts competitiveness and takes some ribbing in Wisconsin trip SOTU: Where’s the rest? Gibbs demurs on replacement for White House climate adviser Rep. Issa: Obama ‘feigns perfection’ without achieving it on lobbying rules Dems want redistricting reforms Liberal group: Use tax reform to reduce deficit Cantor: Battle is yet to be won on taxes GOP members say new bill would prevent US default Dem leader Durbin: Senate is ‘out of the business of earmarks’ Harry Reid is right about earmarks Sen. Manchin on Obama vow to veto earmarks: ‘I strongly disagree’ Amendments to campaign finance bill Financial Services hearing sets stage for future fights GOP aims to scrap Medicare board, calling it Soviet-style ‘central planning’ Weiner teases Chaffetz on Twitter over SOTU seating Consumers Union wants more transparency on wireless charges In Wisconsin, Obama flooded with Packers gear Obama causes Medicare jitters with call for deficit reduction MORNING READ Republicans to look at federal gun laws Weyants World: January 26, 2011 EPA reaches $5.3 million settlement with major petroleum refiner Boehner will wait and see on Rivera investigation Democrats slam Rep. Ryan’s Medicare vouchers during healthcare hearing Bingaman ‘anxious’ to work with Obama on clean energy standard despite skepticism Healthcare repeal bill makes Senate debut SOTU: Pulling the wool over their eyes Boehner rates Obama’s SOTU as ‘OK’ SOTU, the Middle East and the end of the audacity of hope? Boehner on State of the Union: ‘It was OK’ House approves rule, moves to debate on campaign financing bill Scholars argue against repealing reform law Obama the capitalist Spinning the future: President Obama’s State of the Union (Rep. Thaddeus McCotter) Lawmakers clash over witness, opening statements at first Oversight hearing Sweden a model for American school choice options Zuckerberg’s Facebook gets hacked Markey touts FCC broadband plan after Obama’s speech Obama takes ‘win the future’ theme to critical Wisconsin battleground New federal research – subsidizing pharma Verizon Q4 earnings miss forecasts GOP presses Obama adviser over reform improvements Dems, GOP fight over campaign financing Stock market surpasses 12,000 for first time since 2008 Consumer Watchdog portrays Schmidt as lunatic Senate witness The legacy of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) Senate Republicans lay down markers in bid to block EPA climate rules Poll: Public opposes most spending cuts Rep. Weiner: ‘I just needed a drink’ after GOP response Senate Dems lavish praise on Obama’s SOTU Oberstar says no run for old seat Moving America forward with job creation and deficit reduction (Sen. Barbara Boxer) Gov. Barbour in S.C. as he continues to mull White House bid CBO: Deficit widened to $1.5 trillion this year Rockefeller, Harkin renew mine-safety push Chamber creates chart of Dodd-Frank rules President Obama puts the Republicans in a box Right tone set by State of the Union (Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez) A bold vision for America (Rep. Michael Honda) Senate to take up resolution honoring Giffords Hoyer urges “no” vote on bill ending public funding of presidential campaigns How we must address our common challenges (Rep. Steny H. Hoyer) Forgive them, for they know not what they’re doing Rep. Weiner: ‘I just needed a drink’ after GOP response Obama missed the message (Rep. Tom McClintock) State of the Union neglects our borders (Rep. Peter T. King) The president’s speech: The new Jacksonians advance. What’s the matter with Congress? McConnell rejects Obama’s spending freeze: ‘Completely inadequate’ Bill looks to curb individual mandate Financial Services announces tentative hearing schedule House members named to Budget, other committees The questionable ethics standard of Clarence Thomas Tech keywords make Obama’s speech RNC chairman: Obama can’t win in 2012 without ‘battleground’ Wisconsin News bites: Despite spill, world drilling increased; a polar bear searches for ice SOTU-lite Good morning… Sen. Webb unfazed by Allen’s entrance into 2012 Senate race Axelrod mocks Tea Party response: ‘Am I looking at the right camera?’ The Apollo projects of our time Cantor jabs at Reid on Social Security reform Doctors: Giffords’s condition now ‘good’ Rep. Bachmann headed back to Iowa Republican aides hired to fight cuts Republican draws line on funding boost for ‘failed’ regulators GOP hopefuls candid on delayed bids Don’t confuse nice with weak: Pawlenty Wanting for details, some Dems wary of spending freeze plan Schumer eyes energy bill as Democrats warm to more bipartisan ‘clean’ standard Homeland Security chairman wanted to hear ‘once and for all’ about terror trials GOP: Push for comprehensive tax reform Lawmakers press forward with free trade agreements Revenue collection could be barrier in tax reform talks New seats but no spats on congressional date night despite hoopla GOP senators willing to consider disclosure of lobbying meetings Dicks expecting full-year CR with cuts in defense spending McCaskill: Obama’s proposed spending freeze isn’t enough Senate Democrats skeptical on malpractice reform Thune calls Obama’s spending talk ‘too little, too late’ Rep. Broun to Obama: ‘You believe in socialism’ Baucus: Tax reform bill ‘hopefully’ in 2012 Energy, enviro reactions to Obama’s address White House official: Obama will tackle ‘very important issue’ of gun control Bachmann rips Obama on spending in Tea Party response Obama’s address: By the numbers Groups ‘thrilled’ by Obama’s call for infrastructure investment President vows in State of the Union to veto any bill ‘larded’ with earmarks Bachus calls for less spending after Obama address Obama: ‘This is our generation’s Sputnik moment’ President urges passage of contentious immigration bill Obama jokes about airport pat-downs Absence of climate change in Obama address a sign of the times Obama rests big goals, hopes in wireless broadband Oil industry pans Obama’s State of the Union address Senate to adjourn first legislative day Obama calls on Congress to make tuition tax credit permanent Ryan ties reform law to nation’s debt Obama address causes heartburn for tort lawyers Obama urges Congress to pass South Korean free trade agreement White House fact sheet details Obama’s SOTU energy plan Join The Hill’s liveblog: The 2011 State of the Union address Obama: Simplify corporate tax codes House Republicans vote to roll back spending levels Obama speech calls for clean power boost, steers clear of climate Obama to reject repeal, embrace tort reform Members of Senate leadership working to ease flow of legislative business Interior Sec. Salazar will stay behind from State of the Union Obama to set pair of infrastructure goals in speech The text of President Obama’s State of the Union address Obama to say ‘painful cuts’ are needed to tackle the deficit Full text: President Obama’s State of the Union address OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Join us tonight for State of the Union coverage Obama to call for huge increase in low-carbon power Ryan to tell nation America is at fiscal tipping point House Dems finalize Budget panel; Becerra bumped