The Hill Articles: May 26, 2011

House approves Senate Patriot Act bill, sends to White House GOP bills curb effects of donor order Under Contract Reg Watch House defeats effort to scale down Afghan war in close 204-215 vote OVERNIGHT MONEY: Extra eyeballs OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senate Dems turn up the heat on CFTC over oil speculation Republicans back off Pickens gas bill amid conservative group onslaught Appointments OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Dems have high hopes for Medicare clash Cajun is coming GOP jobs plan incorporates tax reform House Rules quickly approves Patriot surveillance rule Rep. Waters extracts diversity pledge from AT&T CEO Reevaluating our ties with Pakistan Senate OKs extension of Patriot Act as race against clock continues Weyants World: May 27, 2011 OVERNIGHT TECH: Pressure mounts on online piracy Biden to help Ohio Dems raise cash in June Lawmakers see promise in push to repeal withholding rule CBO: Defunding healthcare law could end drug benefits Senators introduce bill to extend FBI chief’s term Wyden blocks online copyright bill Dropping like flies Running from Obama DNC chairwoman doesn’t drive American Poll: Sen. Nelson leads GOP field but is under 50-percent mark Deal struck on Patriot Act, votes set for Thursday afternoon A straitjacket for American nuclear strategy House Democratic support for Elizabeth Warren grows Canada, Spain highlight congressional anti-piracy watch list Rep. Cicilline’s missing car recovered by police Major gay-rights group backs Obama for second term DOJ could reopen Ensign investigation Pawlenty: I would sign Ryan plan O’Malley hits Christie for ditching cap-and-trade program AFL-CIO: Soviet comparison for Amtrak outdated Report says health law benefits young adults Santorum to announce officially June 6 House Republicans voice concerns on AT&T merger On the road again: Sarah Palin to depart on bus tour FDIC’s Bair calls for debt limit increase Senator worries disgraced ex-IMF chief may receive US taxpayer-funded golden parachute Newspaper: Texas lawmakers needed to ‘grow a backbone’ on TSA pat-down ban Tensions build between Paul, GOP over Patriot Act extension Leading themselves to slaughter Hatch says TAA doesn’t have votes to pass Rockefeller: Kids shouldn’t be allowed on Facebook BlueGreen Alliance, Apollo Alliance merge GOP seeks to refocus agenda on jobs: ‘We have a growth plan’ CBO: Ban on drug ads wouldn’t affect prices Boxer plans hearing on new climate report Senate passes Small Business Administration funding extender Obama hails arrest of accused war criminal Mladic Pelosi: Drug industry profits from Medicare are ripping off taxpayers Device-makers push Korea trade deal Ex-House admin officer comes under criticism at hearing GOP senator renews his threat to block Memorial Day recess House approves four en bloc amendments to NDAA Boehner says Medicare played ‘small part’ in special-election loss Pelosi: Medicare will be race-by-race issue on 2012 campaign stump Obama officials put regulations on the chopping block Liberals push for Elizabeth Warren recess appointment Perry: ‘Can’t say I’m not tempted’ to run for president Christie pulls New Jersey out of greenhouse-gas accord Menendez, Enzi introduce autism bill Obama recycles magnolia tree into plenty of gifts Schmidt, Zuckerberg rub elbows with world leaders at G8 summit Initial unemployment claims rise unexpectedly Clyburn: Obama’s ‘problems are in large measure because of the color of his skin’ Senate GOP to Geithner: Default would be your fault Pelosi says she’ll vote for bill to hasten withdrawal from Afghanistan DCCC chief: ‘This House is in play’ Judge strikes down Wisconsin union law NJ Dem: Amtrak ‘makes our region work’ News Bites: Comcast tests tech overhaul Landrieu: Oil liability measure bogged down by ‘technical’ woes Cicilline’s car reported missing in Providence Senate clears hurdle on Patriot Act, but expiration looms at midnight Regulatory review plans: A look at EPA, DOI and DOE The truth about energy profits Fixed mortgage rates hit lowest point this year Kucinich on 20 years of war Senate Republicans press for a contingency plan if Congress doesn’t raise the debt ceiling DNC chief attacks GOP field on American ‘exceptionalism’ RNC chairman makes 2012 pitch to North Carolina ahead of Obama visit Cheney hopes Ryan won’t run for president House tests support for Afghanistan Aid to women farmers could help alleviate global food crisis Merger gains advocate in former congressman Common sense needed in childhood nutrition guidelines Our government is on the verge of collapsing Rep. West says Congress needs to approve further Libya operations Nevada Dems: Sen. Heller ‘doubled down’ on Medicare US economic growth disappoints, holding steady at 1.8 percent Obama, Medvedev say US-Russian relations successfully ‘reset’ News bites: Whither rail-killing gov? News bites: Libyan mother lode Thursday: NDAA, possible vote on Patriot Act Rep. Pete King: Giuliani ‘very close to running’ for president News bites: Dems take Medicare victory lap Obama sees approval-rating turnaround in swing state of Florida Romney, Palin top narrowed field Goodwin Liu drops bid for judgeship after block by Senate Republican lawmaker says US Jews should be more pro-Israel Going up? An elevator operator’s tale House ignores Obama’s Libya request Republicans assisted voters with aid program the party stalled News bites: Exxon under pressure on gas fracking, US official defends climate aid, and more Biden fires up NH Dems, rips GOP GAMBLING WITH YOUR RE-ELECTION: 
How Obama’s New War on Poker Can Bring Him Down Privacy debate ahead, Facebook adds Bush aides to lobby team GOP vows to improve Medicare message MORNING READ GOP lawmaker wants to look at increased IRS authority House finishes Wednesday work on NDAA Reid blasts Sen. Vitter for blocking Interior chief’s pay raise Frustrated deficit hawk rips Norquist OVERNIGHT MONEY: The flip side Further amendments possible on Patriot Act tomorrow, says Reid