The Hill Articles: December 21, 2012

Gingrich: GOP faces ‘bleak future’ without a major political overhaul Obama budget office insists ‘no regulatory tsunami’ on the way Obama: ‘We’re going to have to find some common ground’ House Republicans urge Obama not to issue cybersecurity order Despite defeat, Boehner’s grip on Speaker’s gavel appears secure U.S. Marine to be released from Mexican custody Northeast senators confident Sandy relief bill will pass Congress forces DOD to cut ties with Russian arms company West Virginia lawmaker giving Obama coal for Christmas In defense of Susan Rice: A conservative perspective Senate advances emergency spending bill for Hurricane Sandy relief Senior House Republican: Expect a cliff dive Senators demand review of intelligence operations on Benghazi Petition against Obama birth control rules reaches the Supreme Court Dems propose turning mortgage deduction into tax credit for smaller loans Farewell to a friend and colleague Living in a mobile world Baucus, Hatch call for greater oversight of Medicaid payments Mental health is a national priority Hillary Clinton, Susan Rice congratulate Kerry on State nomination The last trump card for conservatives: Helping the fatherless child Senate sends $633B defense authorization to Obama’s desk John Kerry, statesman Reid: Boehner wasted a week on a ‘futile political stunt’ with ‘Plan B’ Mica touts achievements as House Transportation Committee chairman With coal in hand, Santa makes return visit to Capitol Hill A radicalized GOP seems incapable of bipartisanship We must improve programs to help mentally ill Michelle Obama pens letter to Newtown parents McCain presses White House nominee Kerry on Syrian no-fly zones Scramble is on for Kerry’s Senate seat Watchdog group calls on Reps. Emerson, Shuler to step aside Let’s talk to each other about STEM Lawmakers praise passage of Medicare ID-theft bill The importance of giving back Celebrities make anti-gun-violence video The cliff looms Sen. Boxer idea for National Guard protecting kids a good start! Obama calls Kerry ‘perfect choice’ to succeed Clinton McConnell demands Senate Democrats now move legislation on fiscal cliff Washington VIPs get glam at fashion event Giffords’s husband rips NRA for defiance in response to killings Driving a hard bargain for healthcare NRA calls for armed guards at every school after Sandy Hook shooting AFL-CIO chief to Obama: ‘Slate is clean,’ take back Social Security offer Hagel apologizes for calling diplomatic nominee ‘aggressively gay’ in 1998 Amtrak names new marketing director Senate resolution tells Village Voice to take down ‘adult entertainment’ section Obama calls Inouye an ‘inspiration’ Mayor Bloomberg should give $100 million to support gun-control advocates Top Democrat calls on Obama to leave the tax threshold at $400,000 Obama downsizes inauguration celebration: Only two officials balls Democrats condemn NRA proposal for armed guards in schools Judge dismisses lawsuit from Dems challenging filibuster Critics compare NRA proposal for armed school guards to TSA Crumbling, gridlocked transportation infrastructure needs help Health law to boost data management companies Housing market crosses halfway mark back to normal Sen. McCain demos ‘wackiest’ Christmas card from House colleague House, Senate speaking at each other, not with each other, on taxes Instagram reverses course on ad-focused changes to terms of service agreement EPA finalizes boiler emissions rules What the immigration reformers are missing Poll: 56 percent back carbon tax to help slash deficit Boehner: ‘God only knows’ how we reach a deal Human Rights Campaign demands Hagel repudiate remark about gay ambassador Boehner not worried about losing Speaker’s gavel after scrapped vote Report: Sales of HGH skyrocketing despite strict rules Democrats press Boehner to return to deficit negotiations Bill to allow Facebook users to share Netflix videos heads to president’s desk Staffers surprise Lieberman with ‘cup of Joe’ Time for Senator Harry Reid to take a stand on gun control Wyden bill would protect Internet users from data cap abuse Poll: Boehner now less popular than Pelosi Markets tumble after ‘Plan B’ collapses News bites: Now what? Obama observes moment of silence for Sandy Hook victims Catholic bishops call for gun control, mental health reforms Boehner meets his Brutus The beginning of the end Winners, losers from ‘Plan B’s’ demise News bites: Apple appeals ruling denying Samsung ban House Republican: Boehner doing ‘the best he can’ News bites: What happened? News bites: Aloha, rail Zero Dark Thirty: Good movie, bad facts Friday: World ends (?), Senate to pass NDAA, House in pro forma Huelskamp holds heated exchange with Scarborough on guns Report: Mark Sanford likely to run for Tim Scott’s seat Boehner to discuss next steps on fiscal cliff News bites: Oil prices drop amid fears of ‘cliff’ dive Obama responds to gun-control petitions Axelrod: Boehner’s ‘Plan B’ failure an ’embarrassment’ Booker eyes Lautenberg’s Senate seat After Sandy Hook shootings, NRA faces a defining moment Business frets about lack of GOP member on labor board Cabinet contender Chenault is frequent Obama guest at White House Obama likely to issue executive order on cybersecurity as early as January MORNING READ Speaker offered a prayer before announcing the defeat of ‘Plan B’ Boehner cancels vote on ‘Plan B’, says cliff solution up to Democrats Senate passes bill aimed at saving billions in improper federal payments, among others White House: ‘We will work with Congress to get this done’ No jitters yet on Wall Street as deficit talks veer off course House recesses for Christmas after collapse of ‘Plan B’ GOP delays debate on ‘Plan B’ tax bill Reid move on ‘Plan B’ shielded centrists from a tough vote OVERNIGHT MONEY: Fate of ‘Plan B’ in doubt Under contract OVERNIGHT TECH: Wyden unveils data cap bill State Dept. focusing on ‘deteriorating security’ at diplomatic posts