The Hill Articles: March 18, 2011

Obama issues warning to Gadhafi but rules out ground troops At campaign event Biden mentions rape in criticizing Republicans Bipartisan House members look to spark commercial real estate market Pay Per View distributor cheers Obama administration’s crackdown on piracy Reid predicts Gadhafi’s days are numbered Rhode Island to apply for rejected Florida rail money DAY’S END ROUNDUP White House report shows positive benefits of economic stimulus Obama signs three-week spending bill Sen. Boxer asks wireless firms to speed up mobile donations to Japan NY Dems expected to tap Hochul for special election I’m optimistic about Afghanistan Obama takes heat from left on Libya decision Durbin fires back at editorial for ripping his plan to set debit card fee Third deepwater drilling permit OK’d GOP goes weak at knees on budget cuts GOP senators push for Western Hemisphere trade deal ‘Messenger’ craft successfully launched into Mercury orbit Lawmakers introduce bill to prohibit insider trading on Capitol Hill Legislation in response to Japanese nuke crisis begins surfacing Feinstein, Boxer seek to reauthorize earthquake research program, lower insurance costs Respecting marriage means repealing DOMA now Liberal congressman applauds Obama’s Libya plan HUD provides grants for neighborhood redevelopment FCC approves Qwest-CenturyLink merger Day 5: Cairo, Egypt Working toward fiscal responsibility CBO: Obama budget worse than projected on 10-year deficit IBM to pay $10M to settle charges it bribed Chinese, Korean officials Poll: Public feels more pessimistic about health of economy Washington Post reporter named Biden communications director Ron Paul: Out of Afghanistan, Iraq, the United Nations, Libya Dems pressure GOP candidates over Wall Street law rollback Pelosi visits Italy amid crisis in Libya Green groups press White House on nuke plant info US monitoring planes, passengers from Japan for possible radiation Report: Cyber-attacks against federal agencies up 40 percent Fed will allow some banks to boost dividends Seeing the mission through House Republicans set to tackle Fannie, Freddie reform Obama condemns violence in Yemen South Park creators invite Romney, Huntsman to new play One week into debate, small-business bill remains bogged down in amendments Gingrich: Obama’s approach to crisis appears ‘weak and uncertain’ Obama set to brief congressional leaders on Libya situation House Dems want small tech firms on White House jobs council Amtrak to Fla.: We’d like to help, but we can’t Medical innovation demands policy support Judge blocks Wisconsin union law Pelosi visits Italy amid crisis in Libya Hatch urges Obama to take note of trade agreement impact in Latin America Obama signs spending bill averting shutdown Sixty-four senators call on Obama to take up tax and entitlement reform Top energy Republican: ‘Premature’ to compare Japan to Chernobyl Gingrich: Healthcare reform will be repealed in 2013 Top energy Republican: ‘Premature’ to compare Japan to Chernobyl House slashes committee expenses for 112th Congress GOP lawmakers: Sell some public lands to narrow deficit House Dem campaign arm outraises GOP for second month in row Microsoft takes down major spam network Republicans split on White House response to Japan’s nuclear crisis Analyst sees nuclear-power battle lines ‘redrawn’ by Japanese crisis DC appeals court fast-tracks review of health reform challenge Obama’s military coalition for regime change in Libya Poll: Majority now supports same-sex marriage rights Congressman lists movies, tells jokes to eat up floor time Idle Morning Reading – March 18, 2011 U.S. leadership on human rights essential to strengthen democracy abroad News bites: Yen intervention Amash cites unconstitutionality as reason for ‘present’ votes on Afghan, NPR bills News bites: Japan raises nuke crisis severity level, battle to contain stricken reactor continues, and more A historic opportunity for Syria Tax deferral threatens middle income Americans Bachmann says too little intelligence about Libyan opposition ‘Give them the wings for their dreams to take flight…’ Reports: Libya declares ceasefire against rebel forces after UN vote The ‘Palin Doctrine’: Obama follows Mama Grizzly to war in Libya Sen. Sherrod Brown on Afghanistan: ‘I think we’ve been there too long’ Repatriating offshore profits Wrong time for President Obama to visit Brazil? Gingrich: Obama is ‘spectator in chief’ Dems to defend health law as anniversary nears Lawmakers push for bipartisan bill to fight online child porn OPINION: The best economic policy helps US ‘out-educate’ world OPINION: Cutting off NPR funding means less news, job losses Labor leader: No Colombia deal in 2011 Dems see hope in a Lugar primary loss Pentagon defends foreign aid as essential to national security In GOP plan for entitlement reform, Ryan knows he’s handing Dems a weapon Democrats argue party failing to humanize cuts, losing message war MORNING READ Obama orders review of nuclear plants in US, but calls them ‘safe’ House votes to ax $5M from NPR Reid: Rider on Planned Parenthood won’t be included in budget deal OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Bingaman, gently, bashes GOP gas price claims Appointments March 17, 2011 Appointments March 17, 2011