The Hill Articles: April 18, 2012

Affordability and stability Independence, strong growth New show features real fake dog tale Dem senator: Romney in 1 percent on wealth and 3 percent on climate change Kim Kardashian’s supposed mayoral run hits a snag Poll: Seven in 10 believe economy in bad shape Rep. Blumenauer reveals shoe of choice for running marathons Sen. McCain brings mom to watch shuttle fly over Action on an ‘all-of-the-above’ strategy Jordin Sparks’s political pick for ‘Idol’ judge: Obama They’re both right (and wrong) on Buffett Rule Cleaner, cheaper energy technologies Gingrich: Saying Fox News more biased not ‘blaming the media’ Q&A with Julia Louis-Dreyfus OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Republicans pile on over nomination of nuke official Three Secret Service agents leave due to prostitution scandal Dems should pitch budget Toomey to force vote on Ryan budget OVERNIGHT MONEY: Small-business tax cut takes center stage in the House OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Budget wars flare up Draft Hillary for 2016 bid Mitt Romney gives his horse a soundtrack Weyants World: April 19, 2012 OVERNIGHT TECH: Homeland Security panel approves overhauled cybersecurity bill Panetta: ‘We’re within an inch of war almost every day’ Sen. Boxer encourages House to immediately appoint highway bill negotiators GOP lawmaker: Dick Clark should be remembered as model of free enterprise Pentagon chief: ‘We’re within an inch of war almost every day’ House GOP advances measure rolling back Dodd-Frank provisions Obama warns House GOP he won’t sign spending bills that break debt deal NASA administrator: Final shuttle flight marks the ‘next era of exploration’ Senate voteless ‘markup’ may be another blow to Bowles-Simpson Lugar to feature McCain, Daniels in new ads for reelection DAYS END ROUND-UP House clears highway bill with Keystone pipeline mandate, thwarts Obama Protecting access to justice matters to us all Romney: ‘This campaign is going to ultimately become about jobs, not dogs’ Looking to dodge White House dinner? Try partisan dodgeball Poll: Bill Nelson up double digits on GOP challengers Poll: Iran bigger threat to US than North Korea Industry tells House panel private sector will be key in fixing spectrum crunch House Republican: Dick Clark’s gone to ‘rock n roll heaven’ Stumping in Ohio, Obama hits Romney with ‘silver spoon’ House accepts three GOP amendments to highway bill on way to passage ‘Veep’ star aiming for laughs from Al Gore Obama called Warren Buffett following cancer diagnosis Romney takes Obama critique to Dem convention site GOP witness: IRS understaffed for health law tax enforcement Rep. West: No ‘regret’ over saying 80 House Dems are communists In the ‘war on women,’ it’s time to be decisive FCC asks Supreme Court to uphold fine for Super Bowl ‘wardrobe malfunction’ Krauthammer: Get ready for ‘dirtiest campaign you’ve ever seen’ After several years, House gets on road to long-term highway bill Santorum strategist says meeting with Romney about endorsement imminent North Carolina Dem joins Blue Dogs Sen. Levin: US ‘can’t guarantee’ future funds for Afghan forces House continues to demand greater transparency from Obama administration Business leaders outline housing sector overhaul House Democrats ready to vote for Keystone to get to highway conference President Obama touts federal funding for job training Sen. Grassley: ‘Heads are going to roll’ over Secret Service scandal Elizabeth Warren says part of the healthcare law should be repealed Boehner chides bishops for not seeing big picture on budget Obama administration claims $42.8 billion in savings from health law bidding program House advances highway/Keystone bill Panetta says photos of troops posing with dead Afghans ‘not who we are’ Poll: Romney edges Obama in critical swing state New Hampshire Santorum will discuss Romney endorsement in ‘next month or so,’ says former staffer EPA finalizes first-ever air pollution rules for natural-gas ‘fracking’ Shuttle Discovery’s last flight Barber promotes work for Giffords in first campaign ad Panetta apologizes for Afghan photos; White House calls them ‘reprehensible’ A bi-partisan DREAM Act: A proposal that must be taken seriously Ron Paul still buying ad time in Rhode Island Forbes bill calls for more US intel, military assets against China GSA scandal exposes waste – of Congress’ time DCCC reserves $32 million in airtime in unprecedented early buy Sen. Paul urges Obama to cut off aid to Egypt Conrad: Congress ‘probably won’t act before the election’ on budget Washington needs to reform the tax code, not raise taxes BAE picks former Homeland Security head Chertoff as chairman Consumer bureau promises to get tough on discrimination Romney energy adviser lands on Time’s ‘most influential’ list Taliban leaders set up fundraising hotlines, plead for donations Gallup: Half of country expects tax increase next year Issa bill would deny salaries to recess appointees Bill filed to apply FAA fatigue rules to cargo pilots Verizon to sell spectrum; consumer groups oppose Message to Congress: Space junk is serious business Obama campaign releases first series of Spanish language ads Speaker Boehner says AWOL Obama ‘shrinking from his responsibility to lead’ Mitt Romney says he would ‘clean house’ at GSA, Secret Service Dem Sen. Webb says healthcare law cost Obama ‘a lot of credibility as a leader’ ‘Latinos for Obama’ outreach launches in president’s push for Hispanic support BP, plaintiffs ask judge to approve $7.8 billion oil-spill settlement Obama campaign ‘honored’ to have green groups’ endorsement Mica: Reid trying to ‘intimidate’ GOP into halting GSA investigation Rubio’s dreamless DREAM Act McConnell: ‘There isn’t a single issue’ Dems are willing to act on Nevada senator says Las Vegas isn’t to blame for GSA spending Mortgage applications rise on increase in refinancing Rep. Paul Ryan blasts Conrad budget move Senate Commerce panel to examine how Netflix, Hulu are changing TV Obama congratulates NASCAR driver Tony Stewart, asks for media advice GOP lawmaker says he’ll ‘pull apart GSA’ to prevent wasteful spending McConnell pressures White House to re-nominate Republican nuclear official In Congress, a Mulligan for golf GOP Rep. Tim Murphy scares off big-spending foe ahead of primary Obama pens Warren Buffett profile for ‘100 most influential’ list Rep. Rivera won’t be charged by Florida officials Want to cut reliance on foreign oil? Replace the whole barrel Transportation secretary sees no hope for pre-election highway bill Tax expert: GOP plan would result in 350K fewer people with health insurance Reid cites seniors’ love of junk mail to argue for passage of postal reform bill McConnell: Obama, Democrats a ‘disgrace’ House GOP unveils cuts to NASA, science funding Romney hits Obama on jobs in pre-buttal to convention speech Democrat calls for hearing on Google Wi-Fi snooping Mandel highlights military training in first Senate ad Rand Paul/Joe Miller 2016 Geithner: Hands off Dodd-Frank Pentagon: Photos of troops posing with Afghan dead ‘inhuman’ News bites: Boss woes Four green groups officially back Obama’s reelection campaign Potential VP pick Mitch Daniels endorses Mitt Romney News bites: Apple, Samsung told to work together News bites: Secret Service approved News bites: Public links extreme weather, climate change Cantor: Obama wants to ‘micro-manage’ small businesses Poll: Obama and Romney locked in a tie Wednesday: Highway, Keystone in the House; Violence Against Women Act in the Senate Boehner: Obama ‘lost his courage,’ has already ‘checked out’ Romney says ‘vast left-wing conspiracy’ in media is attacking him News bites: Progress outside the Beltway, mythical food deserts and more Kelly wins GOP primary in contest for former Rep. Giffords’s seat Voters prefer Mitt Romney on economic issues but Obama leads in likability ‘Terrified’ lobbyists brace for lame-duck chaos, expecting tough tax, budget votes Obama flips, re-labels likely foe Romney Colombia prostitute scandal grows; 20 women allegedly brought to hotel MORNING READ GOP lawmaker: Obama and Buffett should pay more taxes voluntarily GOP leaders endorse Mitt Romney, seek party unity behind probable nominee Bill Clinton enters 2012 race — to back his wife’s supporters