The Hill Articles: December 19, 2012

OVERNIGHT TECH: Industry groups pan FTC’s online privacy rules OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Senators tee off on new bin Laden film Weyants World: December 20, 2012 Democrats decline to take ‘Plan B’ bait Farewell to Secretary Clinton — public servant and friend Closing in on compromise The NRA and the USA Faith community must be heard on guns OVERNIGHT CAMPAIGN: Jackson Jr.’s seat highlights new Black Caucus challenges Fiscal responsibility, national security are linked Coats to introduce $24 billion alternative Sandy emergency-funding package Sen. Brown: ‘I support a federal assault weapons ban’ Spielberg, Day-Lewis at Capitol for screening of ‘Lincoln’ for senators Senators want GAO to examine perks of ‘too big to fail’ Leak allegations against DOD on Bin Laden raid are ‘irresponsible’, says top House Dem Senators: ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ film a ‘dangerous’ mix of fact, fiction Senate breaks from work on Sandy relief package for screening of ‘Lincoln’ Obama energy chief backs effort to encourage renewable investments GOP lawmaker tweets about empty offices on Capitol Hill Lugar to join German Marshall Fund GSA revenge: House votes for option of firing officials who waste money Pelosi calls Plan B an ‘act of desperation’ Mikulski will take gavel of powerful Senate Appropriations Committee IRS: Two-thirds of returns could face delay without ‘cliff’ deal Pelosi calls Plan B an ‘act of desperation’ Dems file brief urging court to dismiss Issa’s contempt suit against Holder Poll: Sen. Levin in strong shape for reelection — if he runs Sen. McCain tweets 6 book recommendations for 2012 GOP lawmaker: Boehner to hold ‘Plan B’ vote whether he has the votes or not Sanders: Shouldn’t let GOP balance budget on the backs of veterans, elderly Poll: Americans see police, mental health care more effective than assault weapons ban WHIP COUNT: House lawmakers’ positions on GOP’s ‘Plan B’ Dems seek climate vote on post-Sandy aid bill Industry poll: Majority of Americans want more infrastructure funding Sensing political shift, Pelosi, Dems call for ban on high-capacity gun clips Schumer: Still a chance for grand bargain Sen. Manchin: I’m not supporting gun ban, I’m supporting ‘conversation’ on guns Ryan to vote yes on ‘Plan B’ tax plan Gun control to get State of the Union spotlight for first time in a decade Poll: Majority upset with White House handling of Benghazi Looking ahead to 2013 Rep. Speier hosts reddit Q&A between House votes Boehner hopes ‘the president will get serious soon’ House reauthorizes bio-threat readiness program, other health laws Poll: More voters want action on mental health than guns HHS touts health law grants for school clinics Kramer: U.S. ‘disappointed’ Internet was swept into treaty talks FTC expands rules protecting online privacy of children to cover apps, games Sen. Conrad: ‘Cliff’ talks lack ‘sense of perspective’ Book on Emanuel brothers coming out in March Labor to Obama: Back off Social Security Numbers matter Corporate tax breaks in the mix Military will seek death penalty in Afghan massacre case Stabenow says she’s ‘appalled’ the House hasn’t taken up a farm bill Conservative groups urge ‘no’ vote on Boehner’s ‘Plan B’ Obama: Complexity can ‘no longer be an excuse for doing nothing’ Obama urges GOP to ‘take the deal,’ work with him on deficit New York City subway chief makes resignation official Resigning right after an election shouldn’t be an option Ben Affleck visits Capitol to testify on Congo House Dem: ‘Turn in your guns’ Mikulski: ‘Clock is ticking’ on emergency-spending bill for Sandy victims Norquist: Vote for Boehner’s ‘Plan B’ won’t break tax pledge Plan B is Plan Nowhere Members of Congress excited to meet Ben Affleck Nickelodeon plans to resubmit “SpongeBob” game app to App Store Obama: Climate change among top three priorities for second term Obama likes ‘Gangnam’; kids don’t ‘Wire’ star spotted at Justice Department holiday party Report: Three State Department officials resign over Benghazi Why a tax on alcohol and soda makes sense Interior urges ‘safety culture’ among offshore drillers Conrad: Obama isn’t asking for enough tax revenue in ‘cliff’ talks EIA: Threat of losing tax credit drives wind installations UBS agrees to $1.5 billion fine in Libor scandal Rep. Quayle warns next Congress against ‘petty politics’ Rep. Scott: Haley went through ‘detailed process’ to pick next senator GOP blasts SEC for slow responses to oversight requests Jackson Jr.’s brother won’t run for his old House seat Rep. Cole: Report reveals White House ‘failed’ on Benghazi security NATO needs a makeover Sen. Rockefeller introduces bill to study effect of video-game violence on children Rep. Rokita reminds McCarthy of his birthday Pentagon pushing back against ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ leak allegations White House threatens veto of GOP’s ‘Plan B’ Lieberman mum on going-away party Judge Robert Bork dead at 85 McConnell tells Dems not to ‘sit on their hands’ while taxes go up New EPA rules signal stronger scientific backbone from Obama Former first daughter shares Christmas memories from the White House Appeals court says it will hold Obama to his word on new birth-control mandate Reid urges swift action of emergency-spending bill for Sandy victims Emotional, ineffective gun legislation Fitch warns ‘fiscal cliff’ failure could cost nation ‘AAA’ rating News bites: Samsung ends push for Apple sales ban in Europe News bites: The airport worm turns Job creation policies matter to Latinos Rep. Markey raises concerns about Instagram House GOP sets up fiscal-cliff ‘Plan B’ vote for Thursday News bites: Care shortage News bites: Open your wallet Treasury announces plans to end GM bailout Obama is Time’s ‘Person of the Year’ News bites: California issues proposed fracking rules Wednesday: Firing federal workers, NDAA in the House Van Hollen holds ‘serious reservations’ about Obama’s deficit proposal Obama to announce gun violence task force headed by VP Biden Unions liken Boehner to Mr. Potter in ‘cliff’ drama Reports: New York City subway chief resigning to consider run for mayor Benghazi report could tarnish Clinton’s legacy Feinstein to take over Judiciary Clock running out for passing big bills Mike Sommers, Boehner’s point man in talks, keeps a cool head in a difficult job For 2016 prospects, guns may matter Jewish Democrats divided on supporting Hagel for Defense secretary MORNING READ Benghazi probe faults ‘systemic failures’ at State Department Boehner begins sales pitch for ‘Plan B’ Lawmakers say optimism is fading for postal reform measure this year Boehner’s ‘Plan B’ takes Dem flak and friendly fire from GOP lawmakers Pelosi and Hoyer keeping an open mind to cuts to entitlement programs Obama puts new heft behind gun controls following Conn. shooting Senate votes to allow rotunda use for Inouye service Reg Watch Lobbying World Hawaii’s Dems move to draft shortlist for Inouye’s Senate seat Newtown demands a response Democrats turn up pressure on extending long-term jobless aid Inouye’s body to lie in state in Capitol Was reading this column worth it? Newtown might change a few minds Phase in debt-limit hikes NRA can’t hide forever Obama swearing-in to be more low-key affair than 2009 ceremony ‘Twilight’ actor would ask Obama to make helping the homeless a priority House passes bills on small business, patents, economic espionage Freshman South Carolina lawmaker gains clout with Iran sanctions bill Weyants World: December 19, 2012 House votes to squeeze Iran’s Western Hemisphere activities