The Hill Articles: July 1, 2011

Medicare proposal links surgical center payments to quality DAY’S END ROUNDUP Industry critical of HHS report on medical equipment bidding Nation in fiscal crisis faces only tough choices Google hiring 12 lobbying firms as FTC readies antitrust probe A closer look at next week… GOP lawmaker says Obama stripped Americans of their liberty with healthcare law Reid: Yucca Mountain court ruling a ‘great day for Nevada’ Obama moves to fill vacant spot at banking regulator Sen. Marco Rubio: Obama corporate jet remarks disappointing White House releases staffers’ salaries White House says stimulus boosted employment by as many as 3.6M jobs Dems pile on Romney for economy backtrack Pawlenty raises $4.2M in second quarter Union: Increase mileage reimbursement for government employees FAA, air traffic controllers union agree to fatigue recommendations Cancelled Recess Affects Senators’ Wedding Plans Iowa’s federally subsidized straw poll Featured House hearings: Members to hear testimony on NLRB GOP senators: Shine the light on debt proposals EPA floats draft air permits for Shell’s Arctic offshore drilling Kind says Senate decision to wait until after recall elections GAO finds gaps in antibiotics data Giffords’ husband rules out run for public office — at least for now Rob Lowe’s son to intern for House GOP leader Pawlenty, state Dems lock horns over Minnesota shutdown Feds: Beware of illegal fireworks on 4th of July For $100, Tiffany offers lots of options Consumer confidence falls more than expected in June Massachusetts delegation calls on Obama to protect Medicare, Medicaid from cuts Budowsky’s first Ron Paul truth-o-meter HHS awards $352 million to prepare for disasters Court tosses Yucca Mountain challenge for now Date set for special election to fill Weiner’s seat Strauss-Kahn released as sexual-abuse case against him teeters Senate finishes 25-second session Top House Dem to Geithner: Please stay Bill would tighten rules for dietary supplements Florida Dems: Rick Scott approved one railway and not the other to swipe at Obama Policy article rekindles debate on Medicare’s efficiency Construction spending drops for sixth straight month The war on voting weakens youth power Federal judge grants extension in US case against Ensign staffer DeMint: Tea Party misread as ‘right wing’ PR firm quits California high-speed rail project amid tensions Senators float bill to create interim storage sites for spent nuclear fuel Florida Gov. Rick Scott to OK railway Treasury holds firm on Aug. 2 deadline Manufacturing sector grows for 23rd straight month Reid: Millionaires should pay more taxes for deficit reduction News Bites: AT&T ramps up lobbying spending Haridopolos supports Obama troop withdrawal but not Ryan budget plan Stem cell bill ignores patients and real science Panetta promises defense cuts will not leave Pentagon with ‘hollow force’ FTC probing Twitter’s business practices Sen. Rubio likes U2 cause Free speech is just that – “free” Senate GOP mocks president with video of Obama on golf course CER will cost money and lives Minnesota government shuts down after tax plan torpedoes budget Keep Medicaid strong and protect our children Senate honors cowboys, cowgirls July 4 infamy: Republicans try to destroy the American economy Marco Rubio and Bono — the beginning of a beautiful friendship? News bites: Turtle power News bites: Doubts about Strauss-Kahn case Easy Friday: Pro forma sessions in House and Senate An opening for Pelosi Crocker confirmed as ambassador to Afghanistan Rep. Cummings: On debt-ceiling increase, Obama needs to take ‘bully pulpit’ around the country Senate confirms top Interior Department wildlife official News bites: New York moves to ease ‘fracking’ ban, California grapes face climate change wrath, and more News bites: California youth might not see reform benefits 2012 candidates close books on second-quarter fundraising Obama’s fighting tone could buy room with left for a deal with right MORNING READ McCotter to enter presidential race