The Hill Articles: December 3, 2012

OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Defense bill heads to the finish HUD extends support for ‘flipping’ homes Bottom Line OVERNIGHT TECH: Senate to examine FTC, FCC picks OVERNIGHT MONEY: Another ‘fiscal cliff’ proposal dismissed Senate votes to advance defense bill, final passage expected Tuesday Obama: Russia is ‘equal partner’ in arms reduction effort Democratic lawmakers refocus on gun control in wake of NFL tragedy Jerry Finkelstein, 1916-2012 OVERNIGHT CAMPAIGN: Second lawmaker to resign Biofuels group hits back against criticism on high-ethanol fuel Obama must show leadership in fiscal-cliff talks Senate votes to confirm US district judge for Maryland Weyant’s World: December 4, 2012 OVERNIGHT HEALTH: GOP debt plan includes Medicare cuts Collecting political losers Reinvent the safety net An organic Capitol in miniature Making bad assumptions Reid: Boehner’s proposal ‘flunks the test of balance’ Obama: ‘There will be consequences’ for using chemical weapons Obama issues stern warning to Syria on chemical weapons Manufacturers press for passage of tariff suspension bill House sets up vote on rules for banks’ privacy policy White House rejects GOP offer as ‘nothing new,’ unbalanced OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Greens, key Dem press climate agenda Report: Medical PACs abandon DesJarlais for future bid DAY’S END ROUNDUP Defense chiefs prod GOP to accept higher tax revenues McCain: Hold lifted on NDAA, after three hours wasted Rep. Wasserman Schultz thanks Obama for show of support Grassley: Debt deal ‘must gain control of healthcare spending’ Retailers press Obama to intervene in West Coast port strike Congressman Steve King fails to advance in ‘sexiest person’ contest Kerry, McCain kid each other about higher aspirations McConnell: Reid filibuster rule change would do ‘irreparable damage’ Schweikert dropped from Financial Services panel Corker rallies opposition to Pandora-backed royalty bill Defense spending critics bullish on sequestration’s outcome Mitt Romney joins Marriott International board Majority of Senate Democrats back federal unemployment extension Liquefied natural gas exports will help, not harm economy, environment Dems: Federal health programs should cover DREAMers Website run by former Ron Paul staffer criticizes Rand Paul Obama takes questions about tax rate extension in Twitter Q&A McCain apologizes to Democrats for Paul’s block on defense bill Rep. Filner resigns from Congress White House: Time for Republicans to make counteroffer to Obama Reid to GOP negotiators: ‘You’re doing it wrong’ Carney: GOP ‘doomsday’ plan ‘entirely unacceptable’ Budget gurus to debt negotiators: Get off the Sunday talk shows Rob Lowe: Newt Gingrich on set of ‘Parks & Rec’ Sen. Alexander: Double DOE research funding, end wind credit to grow revenues White House warns Syria it will be ‘held accountable’ for chemical weapon use Frank Keating is wrong about credit unions State Dept. slams new Israeli settlement plan as ‘especially damaging’ to peace House members propose lifetime Secret Service protection for former presidents FTC brings 100th ‘Do Not Call’ case Former House member: Democrats will do anything for a drink Senate Dems press for GOP support for UN disabled rights treaty Democrats: Corzine not only to blame for MF Global collapse Gov. Cuomo to press Boehner, White House for more Sandy disaster funding Hands off charitable deductions Obama offers congrats to Kate, William Senate votes to require sexual harassment prevention programs in military Health groups tell Nickelodeon to stop hawking junk food Let wind power tax credit expire Business groups suggest punting debt deal to next Congress Minority demographic changes in Georgia could spell trouble for GOP Petition: Obama should build Death Star DOT just says no to changing drug policy for new state marijuana laws Santorum launches column for ‘birther’ website House members warn carbon tax would increase unemployment rate Internet ‘founding father’ sounds alarm as closed-door UN treaty talks begin Missing the point on Benghazi Rep. Jo Ann Emerson to resign, sets off GOP frenzy for her seat Sen. Wyden welcomes baby girl Poll: Voters don’t want nursing homes cut in cliff deal Penalizing Palestinians will not help peace process Capito: Diversity needed in the GOP Congressman-elect’s father-in-law officiates his wedding Manufacturing sector slows to three-year low There’s only one VAWA for a changing nation HHS: Obama health law saved seniors $5B on prescription drug costs House to follow Senate, vote to strike ‘lunatic’ from US law Poll: Sandy response boosts Cuomo favorability Ford CEO urges Washington to quickly reach deficit deal Alaska lieutenant governor considering challenge to Sen. Begich Healthcare sector tops list of most-trusted professions Poll: Members of Congress barely edge car salesmen in honesty Supreme Court takes no action on challenges to same-sex marriage This Week in Tech: Nations meet to rewrite UN Internet treaty News bites: AT&T CEO says ‘fiscal cliff’ deal will require tax hikes Obama wants to keep Wasserman Schultz as chairwoman of DNC Fiscal-crash blame: Grover Norquist is the GOP Matt Drudge of tax policy Week ahead: Senate aims to finish defense bill Sen. Grassley welcomes Pope Benedict to Twitter The Kennedy Center awards and the crisis of the times Easy Monday: NDAA in the Senate, one suspension bill in the House Murder in the first degree News bites: Home for the holidays News bites: Dangers from Sandy Rep.-elect Duckworth: ‘At least in combat they gave me body armor and bullets’ Clinton: US will ‘take action’ if Syria uses chemical weapons News bites: Scientists fear global temperature goal becoming unattainable NY Gov. Cuomo meeting with Boehner, Reid to discuss hurricane aid The week ahead: Wind-credit supporters clamor for action Monday’s global agenda: Obama, Clinton talk NATO Blumenthal remains ‘encouraged’ US can avoid cliff Kid Rock: ‘No hard feelings’ with Obama Obama team urges supporters to pressure Congress on tax rates The week ahead: Medicare proposals emerging in ‘cliff’ talks This week in transportation: Lawmakers eye Sandy impact This week: It’s not only about taxes and spending cuts on Capitol Hill Opinion: With debt talks foundering, Simpson-Bowles suddenly in vogue Obama wins praise from left with his initial negotiating moves on cliff