The Hill Articles: December 12, 2012

OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Wind industry floats tax phaseout plan Senate votes to approve authorization for the Coast Guard OVERNIGHT TECH: Carper, McCaul to meet on cybersecurity Pelosi compares Boehner’s tax dilemma to her handling of Iraq war OVERNIGHT CAMPAIGN: The politics of committee assignments OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Digging in on Medicare OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Committee shake-ups begin to shake out Capitol Police Files Clinton too ill to speak with leaders on North Korea Senate agrees to tweak NDAA bill to allow conference with House Report: US-backed Syrian opposition wants rebel group off US terror list Christie: I didn’t help the president win Berman foreign aid reforms tackle climate change Outgoing Rep. Critz: Job search to play a ‘big factor’ in whether he runs again Les GOP Misérables A president’s legacy Frank apologizes to Rep. Hensarling for March floor fight Real entitlement reform Sen. Lieberman reflects on tweeting in farewell speech Sen.-elect Warren to serve on influential Banking Committee Poll: Obama support mirrors Bush after reelection House passes rule allowing suspension bills through December DAY’S END ROUND-UP White House vows ‘consequences’ for N. Korea missile launch Democrats play musical chairs on Senate foreign affairs panel Canada begins search for Joint Strike Fighter replacement Christie: Weight concerns ‘ridiculous’ Santa Claus to Boehner: Pass Obama’s tax cut bill or you’re on the naughty list US backs United Nations measure in favor of universal health coverage Corker introduces bill trading nearly $1T in entitlement cuts for debt-ceiling hike Senate unveils Hurricane Sandy bill Hatch questions Obama’s decision not to consult Congress on trade negotiations with Tajikistan Powerful committee seats rewarded to Dems who survived tough races Inaugural committee offers sneak peek of platform Sens.-elect Heinrich, Hirono to join Energy committee Bernanke warns fiscal standoff already taking toll on the economy GOP’s Solyndra point man says Romney dropped ball Carper replacing Lieberman as Homeland Security Committee chairman Blumenthal joins Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Warren, Baldwin to join HELP panel King, Kaine, Donnelly to join Armed Services panel Syrian missile strikes a ‘desperate act’ by Assad regime, says White House Affordable Care Act proving unaffordable for states Immigration officials arrest Menendez intern Report: Liberal senators united against raising Medicare age House votes to force Homeland Security to obtain a clean audit Campaign aide Cutter explains gap in support for Obama among married, single women House conservatives demand offsets for Hurricane Sandy aid Shuster names new GOP members of House Transportation Committee Mortgage applications rise, loan rates fall GOP lawmakers spotlight children to make point on debt Environmental group names new executive director Climate change is a human rights issue too Hoyer borrows joke from former Sen. Sarbanes Rep. Mulvaney won’t run against Graham or his House colleagues for Senate Treasury confirms 2013 deficit at $292 billion US officially expands terror list into West Africa Republicans worried airwave auction won’t raise enough money Getting smart about our security Sen. Rubio: ‘Sadly true’ he’s losing his hair Pennsylvania rejects state-run insurance exchange Watchdogs plead with Boehner and Pelosi for ethics appointments Facebook unveils new privacy features Sen. Bennet ‘more optimistic today’ about passing bipartisan immigration reform Military officials prep for inauguration ceremonies Paul Ryan’s ‘compassionate conservatism’ Poll: Strong majority favors balanced deficit-reduction deal Crisis in Syria calls for Obama’s leadership Pelosi calls on GOP to bring up middle-class tax bill under suspension Van Hollen concerned Boehner is ‘stringing’ talks along to save his job Amash: Boehner won’t receive ‘much welcome’ in my district Mass. Sen. Brown to colleagues: ‘We may obviously meet again’ Sen. Corker says he had ‘eureka moment’ on debt ceiling Bloomberg joins group pressing for ‘fiscal cliff’ grand bargain Fed vows to keep rates low until unemployment falls to 6.5 percent Sen. Coons predicts GOP support for bill to boost renewable-energy investment Conservative leaders warn GOP lawmakers on dealing with Dems NOAA chief Lubchenco to depart in early 2013 Outgoing Sen. Hutchison gets emotional on Senate floor Bishop returns to Armed Services panel LaHood touts DC Silver Line as a ‘gold star’ project GOP lawmaker’s bill would repeal Obama’s Medicare cost board Windy assumptions Camp: Tax reform needs to go beyond corporate ZTE bulks up lobbying forces in Washington Corker bill would trade $900B in entitlement cuts for hike to debt ceiling Cantor: GOP ‘committed to staying here’ until deal reached Michigan joins the race to the bottom Hillary Clinton: ‘Really don’t believe’ I’ll run in 2016 Sen. Lugar shakes up gas-export battle House Dems adding three new members to Ways and Means Tea Party Caucus member says he’ll accept defense cuts Obama pollster: GOP has ‘tolerance problem’ AAA: Protect privacy in ‘black box’ mandate for autos ‘Matrix’ actor returns to DC restaurant Our energy policy doesn’t match our energy needs Big Bird is Google’s gaffe of the year; Paul Ryan tops political search Panetta reiterates veto threat of defense bill House GOP leaders: ‘Serious differences’ remain, talks may extend past Christmas McConnell: Only thing left on the negotiating table ‘is the varnish’ FCC approves Dish’s plan for cellphone network ‘Fiscal cliff’ political fight heats up as NRCC enters fray Poll: NYC voters against Hillary Clinton bid for mayor Interior Secretary Salazar ‘thinking hard’ about second term Ron Paul to hit paid-speaking circuit Reid: Nation will fall off ‘cliff’ unless GOP agrees to rate hikes Unintended consequences of higher investment tax rates Poll: Nearly half of Republicans agree with Obama on raising tax rates Study: Healthcare costs rising faster than wages Obama Sunday swearing-in to get press coverage Jesse Jackson Jr.’s wife rules out run for his former seat Priebus sets top priorities: Va., NJ gubernatorial races Politifact calls Romney Jeep ad ‘Lie of the Year’ News bites: 49 percent Negotiating the fiscal crisis Bush ‘fired up’ about becoming grandfather Conservative groups press lawmakers to oppose wind credit News bites: Compromise draft floated for UN telecom treaty House to allow quick passage of bills through Dec. 28, but not for ‘fiscal cliff’ Obama, Romney, Ryan, Santorum are 2012’s most-talked-about political figures on Facebook News bites: OPEC keeps output ceiling, the climate change-pasta nexus, and more Separation of powers News bites: Decisions, decisions Poll: Boehner gets low marks on fiscal talks Wednesday: NDAA (maybe) and suspensions in the House Pelosi ‘optimistic’ on deal, praises Boehner as ‘well-intentioned’ Wednesday’s global agenda: Syrians unite Carter: ‘I’m in favor of’ legalizing marijuana Report: Panetta visits Afghanistan to discuss future troop levels White House slams ‘provocative’ North Korean rocket launch Bernanke to make last ‘fiscal cliff’ plea Obama lags Bush, Clinton in nominating second-term Cabinet They may not be home for holidays Paul Ryan faces post-election future Republican slams Obama over North Korean rocket launch Both sides edging toward deficit deal GOP bloc: Block tax-rate hike CEOs break with GOP on rate hikes Weyants World: December 12, 2012 Catch limit proposed for Pacific bluefin Republicans question need for $60.4 billion in Hurricane Sandy aid OVERNIGHT MONEY: All eyes on Bernanke Liberals: Leave Medicaid out of talks New marijuana laws cause confusion Obama ‘confident’ debt deal will come together US recognizes rebel group as legitimate authority in Syria Political shift of Asian Americans Mich. governor signs right-to-work bills Don’t take secession seriously Signs of a deal Senate Democrat dismisses warnings about post-war Afghanistan