The Hill Articles: December 11, 2012

New public face of the US Capitol Police GOP loses way on fiscal cliff Senate passes bill telling TSA to give unclaimed clothes to homeless vets, other measures Speaker Boehner issues curt reply to conservatives stripped from committees Cumming: Support LGBT with laws Small business pessimism should spur regulatory overhaul: Blanche Lincoln OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: House delayed on defense bill conference OVERNIGHT TECH: Lawmakers to check on FCC’s airwave auctions Corker predicts failure to agree on deficit until 2013 debt-ceiling vote Defense bill conference delayed by revenue measure US ally Rwanda gets bipartisan lashing at hearing on Congolese crisis Reid stands by remarks about GOP infighting Triangulating the fiscal cliff OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Taxes, sequestration in focus The GOP’s catch-22 Boehner, Obama exchange new offers in deficit negotiations Jimmy Carter: ‘I think it’s OK’ to legalize marijuana Michelle Obama drops off gifts at Toys for Tots OVERNIGHT CAMPAIGN: Bleak numbers for McConnell On road to immigration reform, start with language FAA grounds request to add cargo planes to pilot fatigue rules OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Left stands against raising Medicare age Sen. Murray congratulates Heart on Rock and Roll nod Google: Copyright removal requests spike to 2.5 million per week McCain: ‘Fiscal cliff’ debate a ‘game of chicken’ Rand Paul suggests so-called ‘doomsday plan’ would shift blame to Democrats Senate votes to confirm judicial nominations Sen. Rubio: Obama is looking for ‘trophy in his trophy case’ in fiscal talks Akin still working to retire campaign debt Apple, Samsung, RIM push Congress for more airwaves Quote to be removed from MLK Jr. memorial Lawmaker: Ax aid to Tunisia for denying access to suspect House Republican campaign committee lying low on debt crisis GOP senators: Obama out ‘campaigning’ instead of negotiating on deficit Interior delays ‘fracking’ rules Watchdog: Cash not being monitored leaving Kabul airport Lieberman named ‘Orthodox Jewish All-Star’ McCaskill threatens legislation on airplane electronic device rules Israel ready to share Iron Dome technology with US Alexander to Obama: Michigan right-to-work law has to do with jobs, not politics US should establish energy strategy council Israeli ambassador warns of red line if Iran gets close to nuclear capability Lautenberg urges FCC to reconsider plan to ease media ownership rules Former lawmaker says he was pepper-sprayed at Michigan labor protest Casey will stay in Senate, is not mulling run for Pennsylvania governor Reid feigns ignorance of White House ‘fiscal cliff’ plan Pelosi: Keep Medicare age where it is Homeowners deserve a fair chance for foreclosure reviews Sen. Kerry gets birthday shout-out from Republican colleague Reid says it will be ‘extremely difficult’ to reach deal on deficit before Christmas Sierra Club ranks best and worst transportation projects for the environment Senate should act on judicial openings in Central District of California Sen. Boxer announces plans to form ‘climate change caucus’ Ayotte: Obama, Congress need ‘courage’ in talks to avoid sequestration Shame on Scalia California’s reverse alchemy Hoyer: Boehner’s speech was ‘disappointing,’ ‘not particularly helpful’ Poll: Two-thirds believe failure on ‘fiscal cliff’ would hurt their own finances Senate advances bill extending guarantees for small business bank accounts Camp rejects big business backing for raising tax rates on highest earners Poll: Kentucky’s Mitch McConnell ranks as nation’s least popular senator McCain wants Senate report on torture made public Time to incentivize federal prison funding House Democrats press for homeowner help in ‘fiscal cliff’ deal Sen. Nelson demands the release of former Marine being held in Mexican prison Our troops need jobs when they come home Energy groups to Obama: Change in wind credit would boost renewables investment Wealthy group that includes Warren Buffett, Jimmy Carter calls for heftier estate tax South Carolina Gov. Haley finalizes shortlist for Sen. DeMint replacement Energy diversity will power our economy Boehner: Public ‘scratching their heads’ at Obama strategy on fiscal talks Democrats question safety of ‘Brazilian Blowout’ hair treatment Rep. Waters wishes Nelson Mandela a ‘speedy recovery’ Pelosi throws it back at Boehner, asks GOP to clarify tax hikes Poll: Rep. Foxx leads Republican primary field for 2014 Senate Panetta: Assad ‘got the message’ on chemical weapons NJ Gov. Christie gets first Democratic challenger Boehner calls on Obama to ‘get serious’ in talks about federal spending cuts Small-business optimism plummets First lady likes The Wanted Issa demands briefing from FTC as decision looms in Google case Stormy energy history repeats itself Sessions says USDA’s Vilsack dodging questions on food stamp spending Koch brothers postpone retreat to conduct election analysis White House supports extension of bank guarantee program Exxon isn’t pushing for carbon tax Durbin wants amendment vote on his Africa trade bill Easy on the Easy Bake Study: Chronic illness on the rise in Medicare White House won’t back proposals to regulate Internet in UN treaty talks Congressional climate priorities Sen. Graham’s popularity rising with GOP primary voters Obama administration proposes making ‘black boxes’ mandatory in new cars McConnell hails Lugar’s ‘incredible legacy’ in disarming nukes Preserving the social contract Progressive groups pressure House GOP to pass Violence Against Women Act Mourdock email blames ‘liberal media’ for his Senate loss Panetta: Syrian chemical-weapon preparations have slowed McConnell: Democrats can’t be trusted to cut spending Thinking big; thinking small ‘Top Chef’ runner-up says Obama could win TV cooking competition Remember our troops and vets Former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa Rosa Whitaker: Stop the blame game and stabilize the Democratic Republic of the Congo President not serious about averting fiscal cliff Why inequality still exists for a large portion of the US black population Justice Scalia defends comparing laws against homosexuality, murder Sen. Levin: Right-to-work will be ‘frightful legacy’ for Mich. governor Senate-passed resolution honors late Sen. Arlen Specter Childhood obesity rates tick down in major cities News bites: Merger coming in for a landing? Maybe Congress needs a mediator at fiscal cliff talks Barbour would ‘hold my nose’ and raise taxes to get fiscal deal GOP outside groups ramp up fiscal-cliff pressure with new ads Obama: Right-to-work laws about politics, not economics Treasury slaps new sanctions on Islamist fighters in Syria Tuesday: Reid’s transaction account bill in the Senate, NDAA in the House Trade deficit ticks up to $42.2 billion Obama earns tweet of the year Sherman, Berman set California record with combined $11.7M spending News bites: The magic number News bites: Rock, hard place Sen. Sessions urges Boehner, Obama to open up ‘fiscal cliff’ talks News bites: Exxon Mobil sees US as net energy exporter by 2025 Tuesday’s global agenda: Congress considers Congo News bites: Facebook to end user-voting system Crist says he’s ‘much more comfortable’ in Democratic Party Norquist says he won’t punish lawmakers for ‘impure thoughts’ alone Sick Clinton cancels trip to Syria summit Spotlight not pointed at Cantor Rubio, McCain huddle on immigration reform Both White House and GOP deficit plans put nation’s credit rating at risk K Street’s take on House GOP $800B tax revenue offer: ‘In Boehner We Trust’ DeMint could be a force backing candidates in 2014 election Facebook’s chief privacy officer works to keep 1 billion friends in the loop MORNING READ Obama jumps headfirst into fight over Michigan ‘right-to-work’ law Player of the Week: Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) Reg Watch Bottom Line Gallup: More Republicans, independents want cliff compromise Tom Price won’t challenge Boehner Deal should not come at expense of the poor Reinvent the tax code