The Hill Articles: August 2, 2012

Geithner meets Murray amid fears lawmakers might not stop fiscal cliff Reid blocks another GOP attempt to vote on repealing healthcare law Senate panel’s clearing of tax breaks package show tough road for reform Romney: Harry Reid needs to ‘put up or shut up’ on charges about taxes Romney stumps with GOP governors, including VP candidates House Republican leadership pledges vote on Russia trade bill House urges Obama to fight UN web regulation OVERNIGHT TECH: Senators head home with cybersecurity on the ropes OVERNIGHT MONEY: July jobs report hits Friday OVERNIGHT CAMPAIGN: Rocky Mountain Romney OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Congress heads home OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Interior’s ex-drilling chief in focus DCCC apologizes to Adelson for ‘Chinese prostitution’ comments Pelosi stands by KFC in Chick-fil-A controversy Rural lawmakers launch effort to force vote in House on five-year farm bill OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Liberal group touts plan to curb health spending New Nelson attack ads blast Mack’s ‘history of barroom brawls, altercations, and road rage’ Obama weighs in on Tim Tebow, Penn State punishment Va. Republicans: Obama using sequestration to force tax increases Lawmakers ask State to refocus anti-terror efforts on Iran, Pakistan House votes 150-265 against adjourning for August recess Pentagon considers bulking up Pacific fleet Obama has 10-point lead in new national poll Reid: Let Romney ‘prove that he has paid taxes, because he hasn’t’ House passes drought aid bill 223-197 Murkowski, Wyden plan Alaska visit with energy gavel uncertain Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity plan $24M swing-state ad buy Union applauds Senate committee approval of commuter tax benefit Casey calls for creation of special envoy for Syria Poll: Romney’s 5-point NC advantage largest in more than a month House passes plan for tax reform in 2013 Study: Most cellphone users get marketing calls, despite ban Obama wants Florida for a birthday present Air Force general tapped to head F-35 program HHS grants to help veterans become physician assistants GOP Rep. Mica: Amtrak concession losses ‘staggering’ Decades of farmland conservation gains at risk Senate appropriators sink GOP plan to mandate layoff notices Speaker Boehner: Obama has ‘never even had a real job, for God’s sake’ Ethanol groups to Congress: Try not to ‘out-guess’ markets Chaffetz: I look at the election ‘with Mitt Romney goggles on’ Dem lawmaker proposes carbon tax legislation Planned Parenthood officials greet Obama in Orlando Experience teaches Romney offers ‘report card’ for Obama’s first term in return to campaign trail Senate approves judicial nomination Morocco charts its own course for reform LaHood: Planes at DC airport were never in danger of colliding Romney visits Colo. shooting victim Romney declares war: Not qualified to command Sen. Cornyn lifts hold on Air Force chief nomination Senators hold out hope that cybersecurity bill can be revived Iran: A threat to West and its neighbors Democrats fight GOP report on Solyndra, ask how much investigation cost White House blames Annan’s failure in Syria on China, Russia Palin will campaign in Missouri for Steelman Rep. Hayworth’s opponent slightly trails her in Dem poll Republicans cast tax-reform bill as job-creation bill Lautenberg calls Romney’s comment on Israel ‘terrible’ and ‘political’ Donovan urges DeMarco to reconsider decision on principal reduction Carney takes son to sleepaway camp Romney adviser compares Reid’s tax claims to McCarthyism Dem Rep. Waxman criticizes White House for lack of transparency IRS defends against GOP charges of ‘illegal’ healthcare tax credits Airport advocates lament hold on Obama FAA nominee US Afghan commander visits Pakistan Job creation depends on a stable, pro-growth tax policy Strengthening trade relations with Africa Report: White House authorizes intel support for Syrian rebels White House: GOP sided with special interests over national security on cyber vote Boehner: Voters are ‘too smart’ for Reid’s ploy on Romney taxes Pelosi: Ag disaster bill is a sign of GOP’s inability to govern GOP probe: Solyndra a ‘cautionary tale’ Study: Generic drugs have saved US $1 trillion Liberal group unveils blueprint for second healthcare reform law Boehner, Kerry congratulate first American to win judo gold Boehner ‘feeling better’ about GOP retaining majority in the House Union announces TSA labor deal Poll: Washingtonians most likely to swear at the office Congress passes Africa trade bill Lawmakers push EPA to waive corn ethanol requirement House advances $383 million drought aid bill Outside counsel for Rep. Waters case may cost taxpayers $1.3M Cybersecurity Act fails Senate vote Rand Paul: Right to privacy predates the Constitution, comes from God Romney TV ad hits Obama for Florida’s economic woes Getting housing right Annan quits envoy role in Syria New deficit plan to be unveiled day after the November elections House Dem defends Obama, says business owners ‘didn’t do it alone’ Head of Romney VP search on hand for rally with Jindal, McDonnell Axelrod: ‘Yes, I’m concerned about money’ Extreme weather from climate change increaes urgency of pollution reductions In Colo., Romney to hit Obama for lack of vision, economy ‘shifting into reverse’ No room for complacency on al Qaeda Why is it OK for reporters to shout at Romney on sacred ground, but not at Obama in the Rose Garden? House votes to extend Africa trade preferences Conservative group demands vote against drought bill Congress caves on climate legislation – again House GOP slams administration for limiting federal drilling Taxmageddon demands corrective action, not corrosive rhetoric Romney adviser: Obama’s campaign chief appears to have broken the law Reid: GOP is running from cybersecurity bill like a pack of scared cats Caroline Kennedy and pals pick pantsuits for D.C. dinner Palestinian freedom counts for nothing – or so it seems Rep. Laura Richardson reprimanded by House for ethics violations MoveOn speaks for ‘pampered’ Romney horse Rafalca in TV ad FAA investigating near-collision at DC’s National airport Wind-energy credit resurfaces in Senate tax plan Ann Romney ‘thrilled’ to watch horse Rafalca perform at Olympics Massive government growth News bites: Tea leaves Jobless claims tick up to 365,000 News bites: No T-SPLOST do-over in Georgia Dem group up with new Senate ads in North Dakota, Missouri News bites: Twitter unveils political index Obama, Romney campaigns continue attacking each other on economy, taxes Senators: Arab Spring shows need for strong oil-disclosure rule Reid stands by Bain Capital investor story News bites: Romney, on healthcare, in detail Thursday: Richardson ethics report, taxes, drought relief, Africa trade, cybersecurity Sen. Coburn explains strong criticism of Reid Thursday’s global agenda: Clinton vs. Kony Report: White House budget analysts feared Solyndra loan risks Possible VP pick Rob Portman was ‘frustrated’ at Bush budget office Auto bailout helps Obama hold lead in swing-state Ohio Tough primaries in August could be career-enders for some lawmakers The Hill policy breakfast livestream: Five key issues that will decide the 2012 election News bites: Energy sanctions bite Iran, funding woes hinder gas drilling research, and more MORNING READ Bipartisan group urges presidential candidates to debate national debt House to vote on Richardson ethics report Thursday House approves slew of suspension bills in late debate Richardson guilty, says House Ethics panel House extends all Bush-era tax rates Cybersecurity Act expected to fail