The Hill Articles: December 20, 2012

OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: House passes defense authorization Ethics panel: Berkley violated rules Holiday happenings House approves $633B defense policy bill Weyants World: December 21, 2012 House narrowly passes sequester replacement Media unfair to Tim Scott No reason to fear NRA Carney: White House, Congress must cooperate on embassy security reform Overhaul of US foreign aid is overdue OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Facing the cliff OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Clock ticking on wind credit Dodd: Film studios ready to ‘do our part’ after shooting Rep. Duckworth, 8 Dems named to Armed Services panel President needs to get serious about spending cuts Comprehensive approach to end gun violence OVERNIGHT CAMPAIGN: Sen. Booker? Wanted: Balance in defense cuts Bloomberg says NRA deserves blame for Newtown shooting Benchmarks on small, large banks to start ABC’s Jake Tapper jumps to CNN, to anchor new show GOP defections pile up on Plan B DAY’S END ROUNDUP Lawmakers fight for release of jailed Marine in Mexico Hobby Lobby denied relief from Obama birth control rules Gallup: Obama’s approval at 56 percent Ryan defends ‘Plan B’ from GOP opposition Saluting Senator Daniel Inouye Green, labor coalition urges Obama to tackle climate change Sen. Portman open to range of approaches to reduce gun violence Warner breaks with some Dems, says he’s fine with chained CPI in deficit deal Dems name new members of House Transportation Committee Report: Romney transition effort cost $8.9 million Stuck in DC, Midwestern lawmakers tweet about snow back home Sen. Blunt: Reauthorize US mental health agency Meningitis outbreak: Playing political football when disaster strikes Administration official details $12B Sandy transportation recovery request Ryan objects to Dems’ Hurricane Sandy bill Half of Congress have received NRA donations House Natural Resources subcommittee to sharpen focus on environmental reviews Biden convenes gun violence task force Rep. Sanchez, Affleck butt heads over US mission in Congo NDAA one step closer to House passage Chamber offers support for Boehner’s tax bill House advances Boehner’s ‘Plan B’, sets up Thursday night vote Red-state Democrat senators cautious in gun-control debate Don’t enact financial transaction taxes Mayor Castro spotted cheering on ‘The X-Factor’ Schumer threatens Sandy bill naysayers Court won’t revisit greenhouse gas ruling Cottle tapped as Senate Finance staff director Sen. Casey says he will vote for ban on assault weapons Supreme Court justice grabs midweek meal Patty Murray quips about Boehner, ‘Plan B’ birth control Public wants a deal, but politicians appear not to Civil liberties groups urge Senate to debate surveillance bill Liberal Democrats say chained CPI is a deficit deal breaker – almost White House mum on defense bill veto threat Boehner calls Senate Democrats’ bluff FreedomWorks flip-flops on ‘Plan B’ Boehner suggests Democrats are bluffing on ‘Plan B’ tax legislation Boehner: Will consider gun-control legislation Hagel not a shoo-in for Pentagon job just yet Boxer bill would allow National Guard to protect schools Health advocates applaud Obama for gun comments Conservative groups urge lawmakers to end wind credit Leader Reid rules out Senate vote on ‘Plan B’ Officials: Boehner moved to Plan B because his proposal lacked support Dems accuses GOP of hiding Dodd-Frank cuts in ‘Plan B’ push Ben Affleck on Senate bid: ‘One never knows’ Agencies warn federal employees to prepare for ‘fiscal cliff’ cuts Existing-home sales hit three-year high Leader Reid rules out Senate vote on ‘Plan B’ Capitol office gets decked out for the holidays DeMint: ‘Not leaving the fight,’ despite leaving the Senate Cantor: ‘We’re going to have the votes’ for ‘Plan B’ President Obama must veto defense bill to close Gitmo Cantor vows ‘Plan B’ will pass House Two Dems cleared of ethics charges HHS approves healthcare exchanges in 3 states Senate makes plans to return Thursday after Christmas for cliff McConnell: Best outcome for Obama is ‘for taxes to go up on everybody’ At arrival ceremony, Biden says Inouye ‘made me proud to be a senator’ Sen. Feinstein no longer has concealed weapon permit Census: Oil-and-gas heavy North Dakota is fastest-growing state Reid: Senate will return to work next week Poll: Concerns about economy declining, but still dominant Video game lobby breaks silence after Newtown shooting Paul knocks McCain after detainee provision stripped from defense bill Cory Booker to explore Senate run Frank calls for criminal charges on Wall Street’s bad actors Sen. McCain feels reassured Putin knows when world will end Senate bill would grant portions of DC statehood as New Columbia Congresswoman sends out fiscal cliff holiday card Travel advocates applaud expansion of TSA ‘Pre-Check’ program Intellectual property protections must be part of trade deal Rep. King urges consequences in ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ investigation Gun murders: Conservatives should talk to the NRA; liberals should talk to Hollywood Boehner scrambles for votes on tax bill Schumer: Gun-control advocates not against ‘law-abiding’ owners News bites: Sky high Wi-Fi New ‘essential benefit’ rules need to empower doctors, patients Poll: Majority support assault weapons ban Barrasso: Boehner ‘Plan B’ shows ‘real leadership’ Harkin passes on Approps gavel to continue at HELP Claims for first-time unemployment benefits rose by 17,000 Poll: Brown leads likely competition to replace Kerry in Senate News bites: Cliff blues Thursday: Plan B in the House, plus the NDAA conference Sens. Kerry, Lugar warn against State Dept. cuts in Benghazi hearing Economic growth picks up to 3.1 percent News bites: Buy-in Who will heed the cry? News bites: Apple’s ‘pinch to zoom’ patent rejected News bites: Senate GOP seeks smaller Hurricane Sandy aid package Christie says he ‘wasn’t ready’ for presidential bid $3.3 billion: The cost of advertising in next presidential race Kerry: Sandy emergency-funding bill must include fisheries to pass Poll: Majority say GOP should compromise more MORNING READ Ryan tiptoes along fiscal cliff’s edge Video game lobby silent through post-shooting scrutiny by lawmakers Advocates for mental health have momentum after Conn. massacre Critical Benghazi report intensifies pressure for Hillary Clinton to testify Race to fill Jackson’s seat highlights new challenges for the Black Caucus Senate passes bill allowing State Department to go after transnational criminals, among others House to vote on bill replacing sequester spending cuts Obama: Task force on gun violence to offer ‘real reforms’ by January Obama thanks diplomats, nations for support in wake of Sandy Hook shooting OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Scrambling for ‘doc fix’ Reg Watch Q&A with Architect of the Capitol Stephen Ayers OVERNIGHT MONEY: House readies tax-bill vote House won’t vote on Dem tax bill, will add sequester replacement Inauguration planners seek to avoid repeat of ‘purple tunnel of doom’ OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Feds tally 2012’s extreme weather