The Hill Articles: April 9, 2012

Report finds 26 top corporations paid subzero tax rate Flake challenger drops another $250,000 on immigration ads US, Brazil leaders push expansion of visa waiver program Norquist confident Romney won’t flip despite pressure over ‘Buffett Rule’ Poll: Three-quarters of GOP say Romney will become nominee Dems use Reagan to push ‘Buffett Rule’ Lawmakers praise Pentagon on sexual assault prevention progress Fundraising wrap-up: Candidates reach for the half-million mark Consumer group urges lawmakers to probe Apple and e-book publishers Pentagon: Night raid deal won’t give Afghans ‘veto’ over special ops Memo highlights Obama strategy on making government data usable Rep. Marino undergoes surgery on kidney Maryland bans employers from asking for Facebook passwords Issa to target ‘culture of wasteful spending’ in GSA hearing Maine Senate candidate asks for FEC permission to use federal contractor services ‘pro bono’ Poll shows majority support for carbon controls, but partisan split persists DAY’S END ROUNDUP Lugar says primary foe ‘has already sold out to DC outsiders’ Space shuttle to fly over DC landmarks next Tuesday Lobbyists push Congress to toughen rules for their industry Study recommends coverage of lung cancer screening Rubio calls for visa reform as Brazil’s president meets with Obama Obama campaign: Romney ‘looks out for people just like him’ Sen. Kerry’s daughter delivers Easter gift: a grandson White House: Senate vote next week on Buffett Rule is no empty gesture Schumer on taxes: ‘High-end people are not the whole answer to the problem’ Rothman edges out Pascrell in money race for NJ seat US steps up intelligence, sabotage missions in Iran White House: ‘No signs yet’ that Syria will end violence on refugees Finding infrastructure solutions, big and small Playing politics with food stamps Hackers strike over cybersecurity bill McConnell calls GOP’s ‘war on women’ a ‘manufactured’ issue Gas industry presses White House on ‘fracking’ rules Deb Fischer launches first Senate ad in Nebraska Clooney to attend White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner FLOTUS and daughters bright as can be at Easter egg roll Poll shows GOP voters see Romney as their presidential nominee HHS delays new billing system unpopular with doctors Kids, Obamas play games at annual White House Easter Egg Roll Holmes Norton to convene commission Tuesday to discuss Trayvon Martin case Greens blast industry ‘misinformation’ on EPA ‘fracking’ rules Herman Cain: Freshman Rep. Allen West would be an ‘excellent choice’ for VP Romney says he speaks regularly with Gingrich, less so with Santorum Grassley not satisfied with FCC documents, will keep hold on nominees Facebook buys Instagram Marines eye larger presence in the Philippines US, Brazil to sign new air travel deal Tough issues require resolute leadership Sustainable solutions for water infrastructure without soaking taxpayers U.S., Brazil begin talks on distilled spirts Leader of construction trade union dies NM Gov. Martinez insists she’d reject GOP VP offer FDA launches expedited approval for kidney-disease devices Images reportedly show North Korea preparing for third nuclear test What new Passenger Name Record agreement means for U.S. travelers Warren raises $6.9M, doubling Scott Brown Schumer rejects GOP’s ‘class warfare’ argument against Obama’s Buffett Rule Santorum’s daughter Bella could be released from the hospital on Monday Achieving affordability: A smarter approach to the Pentagon budget Rep. Issa knocks video showing GSA employees singing for President Obama Netflix forms PAC for donating to candidates Chinese Navy goes unmanned for the first time Stocks slide as investors process meager jobs numbers Pressure? What pressure? Cliff-hanger end to 2012 awaits March was warmest on record in lower 48 states Grassley gets LightSquared documents Iran floats compromise ahead of nuclear talks Why Annan’s Syria plan is doomed to fail Obama gets new bioethics chief Romney pulls Pa. attack ad after Santorum’s daughter is hospitalized Axelrod calls out Sen. Grassley for calling Obama ‘stupid’ Protest targets Rubio for supporting ‘Stand Your Ground’ law News bites: Microsoft buys AOL patents for $1 billion Obama campaign reboots, personalizes Biden on Twitter News bites: Gas prices moving toward $4 per gallon Democrats land recruit to challenge Rep. Rivera News bites: Drier well GOP Rep. Hartzler ‘doubts’ Obama’s birth certificate is real NRA, Club for Growth bombard GOP Sen. Lugar in new ads ahead of primary News bites: Alzheimer’s detection, Medicaid expansion and more RNC video previews strategy against Obama campaign ‘hypocrisy’ President Obama’s job approval numbers continue upward trend New buzzwords: ‘States’ rights and sound money’ — potential for Rand Paul or Rick Perry to be Mitt Romney’s VP Inviting Bill Clinton on campaign trail carries risk, reward for Obama Obama administration diverts $500M to IRS to implement healthcare reform law Opinion: Four cases will determine high court’s standing before the public MORNING READ