The Hill Articles: July 11, 2011

OPINION: Iran’s nuclear threat is escalating OPINION: Progress in Afghanistan calls for Afghans to take more responsibility OPINION: Arab spring offers lessons for US OVERNIGHT MONEY: 22 days and counting… NATO on the brink College 2012 Dem leadership at odds over what’s on table Inside the office of: Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.): Eduardo N. Lerma Jr. Americans for Tax Reform should look into MEADS Cool Connolly officiates staffer, nursing student’s wedding on a summer’s day No more monkey business for senators NY Sen. Schumer bets on debt-ceiling deal before A-Rod’s return Lightbulb bill likely headed for defeat in House Typo spells embarrassment for the House sergeant at arms Former Sens. Alan Simpson, Tom Harkin once nearly came to blows House rejects RSC cuts to energy subsidies OVERNIGHT TECH: FCC fights ‘cramming’ on cellphone bills GOP allows Reid’s ‘millionaire tax’ resolution to advance in Senate Obama, leaders bicker; More debt talks slated for Tuesday afternoon OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Exchanges rule leaves unanswered questions Priebus fails to deliver The Pelosi-Bachmann axis Weyants World: July 12, 2011 FCC launches new education program Blumenauer ribs GOP as old-fashioned Rep. Polis promotes economic benefits of fair use exception DAY’S END ROUNDUP Sen. Paul: Boehner has ‘no plan’ to balance the budget GOP senator lectures Dems on lax schedule Perry promotes Aug. 6 ‘Day of Prayer’ in new Web video McCaskill raises big money in anticipation of tough race RSC looks to slash energy subsidies from energy, water spending bill GOP hearings shine spotlight on lawsuit to stop Medicare board Chamber targets regulations as economic roadblock House could cut rail stimulus funds Study argues rural broadband stimulus wasn’t effective Conrad presents budget plan on Senate floor White House tells independent agencies to conduct reg review Report: Obama proposed raising Medicare eligibility age Pawlenty tells Conan O’Brien don’t count me out before Halloween The House cannot pass a bill that raises taxes Pawlenty to Conan O’Brien: Don’t count me out before Halloween Mica: Dem attacks on highway bill proposal are ‘disappointing’ White House bashes GOP light bulb bill ahead of vote Obama says he’s ‘bent over backwards’ to get deal with GOP Boehner says tax hikes were never on table in debt-ceiling talks Cool Connolly weds staffer, nursing student on a hot summer day Amtrak train collides with truck in Maine Now is the time to put aside politics and create jobs our people so desperately need House Dem to introduce tax-loophole measure Companies snap up emergency oil HHS: Exchanges rule gives flexibility to states Poe optimistic House will cut foreign aid to Pakistan House Republicans seek to block wider enforcement of offshore drilling rules Rep. Latham raises $580k for race against Rep. Boswell Conrad: Senate has votes for ‘big deal’ It’s all about the pressure to spend OPINION: Competing currencies: a defense against profligate spending Ford supports Rep. McCarthy bill to ban hand-held cell phone use while driving nationwide Did workplace flexibility protect women during the recession? Cantor digs in on taxes Rep. Allen West scores $1.5M haul in second quarter House Dems send warning against Social Security cuts Default OK with Obama Sen. Schumer bets on debt-ceiling deal before A-Rod’s return Tucker Bounds, Sarah Feinberg join Facebook Hatch calls for mock conference of pending trade deals Obama pushes for infrastructure bank proposal after debt deal Rep. Lankford says interest rate hike would doom US First lady Obama to attend Betty Ford funeral NRDC: House GOP rushing light bulb bill to the floor Stevie Nicks remembers Betty Ford Club for Growth attacks Lugar, Hatch on debt ceiling Obama calls out ‘irresponsible’ GOP opponents of raising debt limit Poll finds a third of adults own a smartphone Administration unveils key health reform regs on state exchanges Employment index inches up in June Browner back to Albright shop as post-White House roles expand Patently unjust DeMint to host Labor Day forum for GOP presidential contenders Rep. Frank defends Wall Street reform law bearing his name McConnell: Tot mom shows difficulty of terrorist trials in court No more monkey business for senators Ex-Ruth’s Chris CEO Miller to join crowded Florida Senate GOP field Boehner: Democrats hindering Obama in debt-ceiling talks Weyants World: July 11, 2011 GOP asked to return federal health benefits News bites: Groupon data sharing could invite scrutiny Obama to use bully pulpit to press lawmakers to back big debt deal Ethanol compromise: a model for bipartisan problem solving The Balanced Budget Amendment: three lessons the ERA could teach the GOP Highway spending fight begins in Congress Rep. Flake to report $2 million for Senate race Conservative group urges Republicans to ‘show some spine’ News bites: Pants on fire The week ahead: Light bulb, energy-spending battles dominate agenda Schumer: ‘Jittery’ credit markets will force Republican retreat on taxes Rupert Murdoch and the end of fear Stay the course on debt negotiations Goodbye, Space Shuttle Monday: Weekend deadlock over taxes to continue in Senate News bites: Decades of deficit drama News bites: Oil and the economy, Israel and Lebanon vie for offshore gas reserves, and more Report touts drug industry’s economic impact as debt negotiators debate cuts News bites: Battle over insurance exchanges flares up Poll shows Bachmann holding Iowa lead This week: Elizabeth Warren to go another round with House GOP HHS queues up major healthcare law regulation OPINION: GOP distracts from drug horror OPINION: Default deadline approaches as leaders from both parties hesitate The Week Ahead: Deficit talks redux OPINION: BULB Act is dim-witted In debt talks, McConnell and Pelosi send Obama a message: We’re still relevant ‘Numbers guy’ puts his focus on budget THE HILL POLL: Neither party stands tall in voters’ assessment MORNING READ This Week in Tech: Lawmakers to poke around Web privacy laws