The Hill Articles: December 28, 2012

Senate votes in favor of $60B Hurricane Sandy emergency-spending bill DAY’S END ROUNDUP After meeting, Obama urges leaders to take ‘immediate action’ Landry: ‘I’m available if an opportunity comes’ Senate rejects Paul amendment to offset Sandy recovery by cutting foreign aid Bipartisan Senate group supports plan to avoid ‘nuclear option’ in filibuster reform Obama scheduled to address ‘cliff’ after meeting at White House IRS moves forward with health law’s employer mandate Pelosi: Senate must act following ‘constructive’ White House meeting Democrats line up behind Markey in bid for Senate in Mass. S&P ‘does not expect’ to lower the US credit rating further Wildman named chief economist at FCC Baucus tells Obama, Congress to ‘get it done’ Report: Iranian missiles reach Syrian battlefield Lawmakers divided on whether a ‘fiscal cliff’ deal will be reached Despite majority, Senate rejects competitive bidding for disaster contracts Baucus: Cliff talks ‘starting to gel’ ‘Milk cliff’ worries prompt pivot to one-year farm bill extension Leading proponent of filibuster reform claims he has 51 votes Senate passes amendment allowing State Department to beef up embassy security Report: $51 million spent on Montana senate race Congress, federal workers to get raise Eyeing debt ceiling, Corker, Alexander offer entitlement-reform plan Electronic Arts reportedly pulls links to weapons makers on ‘Medal of Honor Warfighter’ site The UN doesn’t like Israel very much Senate rejects Coburn amendments to pare back Sandy bill costs CBC to Obama: Protect Medicaid funds in fiscal deal Dockworkers, shippers agree to deal in principle to avert massive port strike Bipartisan group seeks compromise on Senate filibuster reform Optimism for ‘fiscal cliff’ agreement grows ahead of White House meeting George H.W. Bush aide: ‘Put the harps back in the closet’ Report: State Sen.Trotter to drop bid for Jesse Jackson Jr.’s Ill. seat Incoming Republican congressman signals openness to gun control Senate votes to block Hurricane Sandy relief for tax cheats, dead people The year of the settler: Israel, before the revolution Ron Paul and Frank Luntz are right: Kill the NRA gun plan Report: Dewhurst campaign manager allegedly embezzled funds Chevron CEO: Nations pursuing fossil fuels over emissions reduction is ‘not my call’ Snowe floats revising Senate tax bill to extend cuts on incomes under $400,000 Senate approves bill to reauthorize foreign surveillance programs NRA says it will fight UN arms treaty Congressman really digs his college sports team State Department calls Russian adoption ban ‘politically motivated’ Warren makes push to retire debt News bites: China passes controversial Internet law GOP senators slam Putin for banning US adoptions of children This is getting crazier and crazier News bites: Inching closer Schumer ‘getting more optimistic’ Obama, Congress will get deal News bites: Jackson’s EPA successor to inherit fracking fight Friday: FISA, Sandy in the Senate; House not in session Gallup poll finds 54 percent hold favorable opinion of NRA ‘Fiscal cliff’ focus shifts to Senate; estate tax extension emerges as key in talks Obama pressed to act as dockworker unions threaten massive port strike Budget writers at Pentagon move forward despite spending threat Five ‘ObamaCare’ provisions to watch MORNING READ Senate passes bill honoring Hutchison by naming tax measure after her ‘Stormin’ Norman Schwarzkopf dies House eyes Sunday return as 11th hour work on fiscal cliff begins Obama, leaders to meet at White House Friday