The Hill Articles: April 19, 2012

Reid announces deal to consider 39 postal bill amendments ‘We the People’ petition site the newest tool in K Street lobbying repertoire Under Contract Capitol Police officers: Asbestos concerns ignored Reg Watch GSA hearings should focus on spending, not location A ship sinks, and what remains? Bubbly bottles of Champagne Sen. Grassley facing pressure from GOP to lift holds on Obama nominees OVERNIGHT HEALTH: More retiring Dems pile on Obama for healthcare focus Poll: Obama leads Romney nationally Cooking from the heart Dem. lawmaker says Secret Service will be tougher on itself ‘than Congress could ever be’ War on 
women stays Twin GSA, Secret Service scandals pose new threat to Obama OVERNIGHT MONEY: It’s tax time Weyants World: April 20, 2012 OVERNIGHT TECH: FCC to hand over more LightSquared documents Obama raffles dinner with George Clooney to campaign donors OVERNIGHT ENERGY: The Gulf oil spill, two years later Obama raffles dinner with George Clooney to campaign donors Four US soldiers killed in Blackhawk crash in Afghanistan Audit finds ‘significant’ errors in Gulf oil spill compensation process Unions, watchdogs decry delays on workplace safety rules Charting a new course for the US ship of state Nugent cleared after ‘good, professional meeting’ with Secret Service VA plans to add 1,900 mental health workers Iran outlines no-go zones for US warships Benefits of joining the Law of the Sea Convention Officers: Capitol Police ignored asbestos exposure concerns New York accuses Sprint of ducking taxes DAY’S END ROUNDUP House Dems dismiss Allen West’s ‘childlike’ communist comments Karzai calls for quicker NATO withdrawal after photo scandal Tariffs on imported solar cells are a bad idea A path for Romney Dem leader Pelosi ‘stunned and disgusted’ by Secret Service scandal GOP lawmaker calls Cantor tax cut a ‘sugar high’ Panetta: Russia cooperating with US, allies on Syria peace plan Matt Damon would ‘kiss George W. Bush on the mouth’ for work on AIDS Ron Paul leads ‘Road to Revolution’ in video game Gloria Steinem: Flap over Hilary Rosen comments ‘stupid’ FCC tracks wireless carriers’ efforts to stop ‘bill shock’ Moving beyond boom and bust in clean energy GOP lawmaker calls Cantor tax cut a ‘sugar high’ House Dems press Holder to probe oil-market manipulation Senators want own ‘Kony’ video to go viral Lawmakers question FAA on privacy of drones India cannot wean itself off Iranian Oil overnight Cantor: 2013 appropriations floor process to start May 7 Dem lawmaker: Secret Service scandal could affect President Obama’s safety‬ SB1070 is working Kim Kardashian’s supposed mayoral run hits a snag Rep. Paul Ryan spars with US bishops over criticism of budget cuts Bringing science back to the Keystone Pipeline decision Regulators: Banks need not play by ‘Volcker Rule’ until mid-2014 Obama sits on Rosa Parks’s bus White House spokesman: Romney in the ‘doghouse’ in presidential canine clash Obama to nominate nuclear official that Reid accused of lying Senators: Peace plan in Syria has failed Goldie Hawn, John Legend on Correspondents’ dinner after-party guest list Obama hasn’t spoken to Secret Service director about prostitution incident Romney speaks at shuttered Ohio plant, blasts Obama’s economic record Rep. Cantor’s small-business tax cut bill passes House in 235-173 vote Sen. Sessions blasts Dems for lack of budget: ‘You can spin it any way you want’ Obama to give women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt presidential medal of freedom House GOP challenges Pentagon on war powers for Syria Software group reorganizes to focus on lobbying, anti-piracy efforts States to compete for slots in new job-training program Has Ron Paul left the country? Sen. Warner calls for inventory of nation’s radio spectrum The Pulitzer committee does the right thing Gov. Perry intends to give 2016 presidential run a ‘good’ look NRSC raised $5.75M in March, has almost $20M in the bank Sen. Sessions blasts Democrats for refusal to bring budget for vote Sen. McCain brings mom to watch shuttle fly over Sen. Lieberman praises DHS-EU agreement on sharing airline passenger info Study: Healthcare law will help close pervasive gaps in insurance coverage Former PM Blair: US should ‘remain strong’ despite criticism from overseas Sen. Franken chides GOP no-shows at hearing on impact of climate change Romney to raise cash for Christie ally in NJ NLRB’s ambush elections would hurt local businesses Sen. Conrad defends decision to avoid budget vote AFL-CIO chief blasts executive pay, renews push for rule to shame CEOs Rockefeller announces witnesses for future of television hearing California Dem grills copyright chief over meeting with movie lawyers on SOPA Rubio’s stumble while denying VP interest has some suggesting Freudian slip Chamber backs Nebraska’s Bruning, widening rift with fiscal conservatives Modest progress and an open door with Iran Redirect the nuclear weapons budget McConnell sides with White House with his vote on spending bills Sen. Coons calls for making R&D tax credit permanent, open to start-ups Ill. Rep. Walsh settles with his ex-wife over unpaid child support House advances small-business tax cut over Democrats’ objections Report: CIA seeks to expand drone campaign in Yemen Reid: House postal reform bill ‘unacceptable’ Obama to nominate Republican nuke regulator to another term GOP Senate candidate compares smoking laws to Nazis’ Jewish star Jordin Sparks’s political pick for ‘Idol’ judge: Obama Romney says Obama ‘likes to attack’ people who are successful Romney to speak at Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University Rep. Polis attempts to kill ‘zombie’ earmark McConnell, GOP turn up pressure on Obama to renominate Svinicki to NRC Cantor: GOP will expand majority Jobless claims remain high as evidence mounts of stalled labor market Actress Louis-Dreyfus: VP job is ‘ripe’ for comedy Bachmann: Obama ‘waving tar baby in the air’ with oil crackdown Poll: Obama edges Romney; Christie top VP pick Rep. Latham reserves $1.5 million in campaign airtime News bites: iPhone challenger sales are mixed Hillary Clinton would win in a landslide against the party of Ted Nugent, Allen West, Ron Paul and Paul Ryan DSCC posts nearly $18M in first-quarter fundraising Rep. West doubles down on communist ‘ideology’ of Progressive Caucus Who understands women better? Keystone pipeline developer proposes new route Thursday: Small-business tax cut in the House, postal reform in the Senate Report: Former Democratic senator’s wife pressed to resign insurance co. board over political spending on health law foes Polls: Rice, Christie top GOP voters’ choices for Romney running mate Romney’s cookie joke prompts ‘Cookie Gate’ attack News bites: In the cross hairs News bites: New FDA mission, health reform jobs at risk and more Dem senator: Romney in 1 percent on wealth and 3 percent on climate change News bites: Loans for gas-giant CEO under scrutiny Romney: Rosen comments ‘extraordinarily unknowledgeable’ ‘War’ of words returns to party campaign messaging post Giffords shooting Altmire ads unfair, say Dem colleagues Key Dem senator warns Obama, Karzai on post-war Afghanistan spending Trade bill raises fight over earmarks for GOP MORNING READ Carmona earnings close to $1 million News bites: Strip search Rep. West misses recent CBC meetings House GOP leaders rebuff White House push on cybersecurity mandates