The Hill Articles: May 17, 2011

OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senate GOP plan takes center stage in oil battle Senators want tough IP standards in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal Wisconsin can’t stay out of the news Five reasons to leave Afghanistan OVERNIGHT MONEY: Gas prices take center stage Taking care of business Event planning just part of the job Make every day in DC a great event Think outside the ballroom: The top event spots in DC Details key when looking to host memorable event Winning the Medicare fight Senate rejects bill to cut oil tax breaks The ‘jobs candidate’ will prevail OVERNIGHT TECH: Congress focused on public safety network Senator wants more info from FCC on broadband company Geithner slams Ryan budget: ‘America can do better’ Business, not Pelosi, asked for waivers Rising Latino tide A winning GOP debt gambit Rep. Ryan passes on Senate bid; heated primary battles to begin Wicker, Begich working on amendment to Rockefeller bill OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Waiver controversy heats up again Weyants World: May 18, 2011 Rep. Issa to review labor rules for airline employees DHS requests National Guard extension Scott Brown: Not above partisanship Rand Paul: Obama administration an ‘enemy to production’ White House slams Senate GOP drilling bill but again withholds veto threat Audit reveals housing authority misused stimulus funds DiCaprio: End oil subsidies Transportation chief tours Tennessee Nissan plant DAY’S END ROUNDUP FCC enters mobile privacy debate Maine insurance law could conflict with new federal rules DCCC invokes Gingrich criticism of Ryan budget to attack GOPers Senate Dems seek FTC investigation into alleged gasoline price fixing Missouri Republican Wagner formally launches 2012 House bid Cummings calls for closer look at misuse of federal housing funds White House: Obama’s Middle East speech comes at a time of ‘opportunity’ Sen. Murkowski says Democrats are ‘punishing’ Big Oil for making money Nevada and the West: new and important players in presidential politics Sen. Landrieu calls Senate oil-tax vote ‘entertainment’ Bachmann floats decision sooner than June Vitter blasts Republican drilling bill GOP wants faster drug approvals in emergencies Reid: Best to ‘withhold judgment’ on cutting aid to Pakistan Reid ‘confident’ debt agreement will include repeal of oil tax break Proposal to remove Amtrak from direct congressional funding gets hearing Sen. Leahy introduces update to digital privacy law Bachmann PAC raises $173K in April White House supports Senate bill to end ‘wasteful subsidies’ to oil companies Taxpayers for Common Sense: Bill to repeal oil tax breaks doesn’t go far enough Warren named to Oklahoma Hall of Fame Senators’ advice to administration: Get tough in Pakistan talks A royal visit, a bright future Government Motors a historic liberal triumph Federal math 101 Congress looking for Obama to clarify Libya mission in Thursday speech Gas prices are no surprise to Democrats Stop the violence in Syria Obama: Two-state solution in Middle East ‘more vital than ever’ Senate clears 24th judicial nominee this year Netflix now largest source of Internet traffic in North America Dems counting on public pressure to move spectrum bill Cantor ‘cynical’ about Dems on debt-ceiling talks Conservative group: Dems’ oil bill violates tax pledge NY lawmakers express concern about derivatives rules Ex-Sen. Feingold says Lieberman, McCaskill, Hoyer fit for ‘shame’ Actuary: Cost cutting trumped policy in key Medicare regulation Rep. Akin sets up a Republican primary fight in Missouri’s Senate race GOP congressman wants clean debt-limit vote to show lack of support In lead-up to vote, Reid argues oil bill could lower gas prices New HHS initiatives aim to bolster key health reform provision Salazar outlines administration wish list for drilling reform bill Groups worry DHS pushing EU to weaken privacy protections Senate Dems’ budget in limbo House Republicans threaten legislation to stop Obama’s contractor order Gov. Haley rips Gingrich for ‘cutting’ Ryan ‘off at the knees’ CBO says taxing cars by the mile could raise money for highways McConnell pans Obama drilling plan Ryan declines run for Wisconsin’s open Senate seat Dangerous liaisons Rep. Ryan passes on Senate run News bites: CenturyLink most likely buyer of Sprint Granholm on Arnold: Maybe there should be more female governors Why Washington must look to Ankara Mandatory conscription Reauthorize ESEA, help revitalize the economy Obama’s housing snake oil New residential construction falls Wily Republicans running from running Senate GOP would fine, imprison doctors who don’t notify parents of abortion procedure Congressman: You want charts? You want slides? I got ’em! News bites: Conan O’Brien has an unchecked baby on board News bites: Oil spill documentary causes stir Cantor reserves judgment on whether Gingrich is ‘finished’ after Medicare fight Senate to vote on bills repealing oil tax breaks, expanding offshore drilling Gillibrand one of the best tennis players in the Senate Ensign cites Sarah Palin in his defense Dem group uses Medicare to hit Corwin in NY-26 News bites: Asking questions News bites: Healthcare reform roils state legislatures Ex-Gov. Thompson expected to run for Senate if Ryan passes Pawlenty beefs up Iowa team, makes first SC hire Schwarzenegger fathered child with member of household staff Cindy Crawford: Now a Romney supporter? OPINION: The important role of charter schools Dems find awkward foe in Huntsman Without Dem help, GOP must pass spending bills on its own Player of the Week: Tom Coburn Bank fight tests Reid’s allegiances White House contender Huntsman: Listen to climate scientists MORNING READ Business groups to Obama: Drop order on contractor disclosure US government hits the debt ceiling New DNC head puts MSNBC host in awkward spot Senate bid would be colossal risk for fast-rising Paul Ryan