The Hill Articles: March 4, 2011

Grassley, Issa continue probe into Madoff case Factory orders hit four-year high Ways and Means subcommittee to tackle data matching Former aide to GOP congressman admits embezzling campaign funds Report: FAA says iPads can replace paper maps in cockpits A closer look at next week … DAY’S END ROUNDUP Social Security’s silent attackers White House calls push for strategic oil reserve release ‘premature’ Chances improving that Kaine runs for Senate, Va. senator says Getting the Gulf back to work Senate Republicans introduce bill to defund NPR, PBS Scientists split on cause of dolphin deaths in Gulf House liberal wants review of Arizona Medicaid enrollment House and Senate plan budget hearings next week Senate Dems target Boehner’s F-35 engine earmark Brown steps back from ‘Hitler’ remarks Boehner: ‘Lobbyists help provide a service to every elected official’ Ron Paul deserves far more respect! IRS rebuts ‘frivolous tax arguments’ Democrats argue McConnell move exposes GOP divide on spending Trump associate to court potential supporters in Iowa Lawmakers spar over REAL ID extension Al Gore raps New Hampshire lawmakers for climate vote that ‘ignores science’ Gallup: Heartland states least hit by underemployment Stearns describes privacy bill, emphasizing self-regulation Partnership not profiling Obama’s backward budget priorities Loughner indicted on 49 counts in shooting that wounded Rep. Giffords Next week in Congress: Budgets, mortgages and public health GAO: Coins instead of cash could save government billions Counties go to bat for gas tax increase opposed by Obama Democrats request hearing on Medicare drug rebate program Boehner makes step toward defending DOMA in court Daley: Americans have become nation of ‘whiners’ Rep. Blackburn wants to hear from broader group than ISPs at hearing Eric Holder jokes about iPads with techie lawmakers Staffer e-mails are not private property BP cleared of safety violations in Atlantis investigation Let’s be smart about cutting the deficit McConnell objects ‘for today’ to Reid plan to allow for amendment to FY 2011 spending bill U.S. financial health dependent on fiscal discipline Reid: GOP spending bill among ‘worst pieces’ of legislation in history Rep. Connolly rules out 2012 Senate run; hopes for Kaine Boehner shoots down Dem plan to cut $6.5B as ‘indefensible’ Comcast, Verizon, AT&T tell White House: FCC is mucking up Obama’s vision Virginia Dem on Kaine: He’s ‘never lost an election’ Senate CR funds healthcare reform, Planned Parenthood GOP is playing politics with the nation’s welfare Positive jobs report becomes ammunition in fight over spending Commitment to NIH funding is important Cost of ObamaCare is too high ICE arrests man for allegedly streaming live sporting events online Curtain falls on tanker fight: EADS will not protest Boeing’s win Congress deluged with conflicting calls on Planned Parenthood funding Dem chorus for strategic oil release grows Florida court rules Gov. Scott can reject high-speed rail money Florida’s high-speed rail project is dead Eric Holder jokes about iPads with techie lawmakers Rand Paul seeks to thwart EPA on coal permits Coble loves his nicknames Obama as beer-brewer-in-chief Senate Dems to Boehner: Strip lawmaker pay in case of shutdown Durbin says House GOP budget hurts chance of economic recovery Former Sen. Specter on GOP infighting: I should have called it ‘raw cannibalism’ Senate Republicans introduce bill to defund NPR, PBS McConnell: Obama’s latest budget proposal ‘outrageous’ Congress’ intent is to handcuff the EPA McConnell: White House offer to cut $6.5B is ‘unserious’ Greenspan: ‘No question’ economy is picking up Senate to hold test votes on competing spending plans Burton bill would strip federal courts of power to hear same-sex marriage cases Shame: Republicans attack police and firefighters! A good day for Israel Issa taps former Daily Caller flack as new spokeswoman DeMint: End public broadcasting subsidies Dems tried to recruit ‘Jeopardy!’ champ to challenge Sen. Orrin Hatch ‘Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves’ Economy adds jobs as unemployment falls below 9 percent Ex-Rep. Heather Wilson to make 2012 Senate run News bites: Calls grow to tap strategic reserves, mass extinction may be under way, and more Boeing, EADS upped lobby spending Lobbying battle on tap over proposed changes to workplace-safety rules Calls for new VAT tax prove unpopular with both Dems, GOP GOP has uphill fight for Hawaii seat Dodd: Now I might be a lobbyist TechNet execs to lobby Congress, White House next week MORNING READ Lawmakers, administration officials press for free trade agreements Boehner promises Obama GOP cover if he takes first step on entitlement reform Panel OKs federal abortion funding bill Appointments OVERNIGHT MONEY: All eyes on Friday morning unemployment report Obama’s Egypt criticism has stench of hypocrisy Attacks on conservation bills would only benefit polluters Obama, GOP start $50 billion apart OVERNIGHT ENERGY: GOP seeks Dem backing to kill climate rules