The Hill Articles: December 14, 2012

President Obama signs Russia trade bill GOP to business: Don’t let Obama divide you Gun control petition to White House gets large and immediate support online Republican lawmaker urges caution in addressing gun laws in wake of shooting Ethics panel probing allegations against Reps. Aaron Schock and Bill Owens Michelle Obama takes Bo to visit children’s hospital Obama cancels Maine trip in deference to shooting victims Rockefeller defends Inouye from ‘cowardly’ colleague’s criticism Flags at half-staff following shooting Giffords’s husband: Gun control ‘can no longer wait’ Senate to convene hearing on US voting laws Tearful president: ‘Our hearts are broken’ HHS approves three more state-based exchanges Rep. Chaffetz asks for more details on Menendez intern Top savers well-poised for future runs Top wind industry lobbyist to resign House Democrats urge debate on gun violence following Conn. shooting Abortion-rights groups praise, slam Jindal after birth-control proposal House hearings: Clinton (maybe) to testify on Benghazi Democrat lawmakers, gun control advocates call for new restrictions Koch-backed group lauds governors for rejecting health marts Carney on school shootings: ‘Today is not the day’ to discuss gun policy ‘Downton Abbey’ cast invades British Embassy Senate bill would ease loan requirements for Sandy victims Report: More than a dozen dead in elementary school shooting NRCC targets Democrats on spending and ‘fiscal cliff’ Commerce panel Dems ‘deeply concerned’ with FCC plan to weaken media rules EPA orders tougher limits on soot Advocates: Fiscal cliff threatens childhood cancer research Ros-Lehtinen proposes conditioning foreign aid to Egypt Report: Solar firms under investigation for stimulus swindle Death Star petition earns enough signatures for White House response Connecticut lawmakers: Praying for Newtown GOP report: Consumer bureau looks to be ‘run-away regulator’ Carl Levin: Corporate revenues must be in debt deal Inauguration work enters home stretch Spotlight shifts to Sen. Kerry Court: Calif. can cut Medicaid payments Albright defends Rice, says she would have been ‘great’ secretary of State House Dem’s bill requires Treasury to study taxing cars by the mile Haley: DeMint wrong; no appointment yet US to send 400 
troops and Patriot 
missiles to the Syrian border Senate resolution allows committee to share evidence with law enforcement News bites: Back to Medicaid News bites: UN agency surprised US rejected telecom treaty News bites: Unfriendly skies Poll: 4 out of 5 call climate change a serious US problem Palestinian ambassador warns Congress against retaliating for UN statehood vote News bites: Middle ground Obama urges resolution to NHL lockout ‘We’ve got bigger fish to fry’ than pot smokers, President Obama says Jindal endorses over-the-counter birth control to fight Dems on contraception Obama says he’d be seen as moderate Republican in 1980s Colbert super-PAC to give to charities Drone-makers push feds on test flights Inouye is pressed to give up his gavel News bites: Poll shows public wants regulation of ‘fracking’ MORNING READ Amtrak to purchase new rail cars for Acela service Obama displays menorah rescued from Sandy destruction in Hanukkah ceremony Rice abandons bid for State Department Rice: ‘I don’t regret’ talk show appearances discussing Benghazi House Republicans made scarce during ‘fiscal cliff’ talks Reg Watch Small businesses becoming loath to invest Under Contract Obama, Boehner closer to cliff’s edge OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: White House targets Hagel for top job at Pentagon Appointments