The Hill Articles: December 30, 2012

Senate inches toward fiscal deal Manchin introduces bill to ‘soften the landing’ if nation goes over ‘fiscal cliff’ Senators told not to make New Year’s Eve plans as talks continue Spending sequester emerges as key to deal Senate confirms two executive branch nominations GOP senators backing away from Social Security demand Reid: ‘Not going to have any Social Security cuts’ in fiscal deal House gavels out, back at 4:30 for suspension bill work Reid: Senate at ‘cliff’ stalemate after GOP Social Security demand Obama: GOP’s ‘only priority’ is protecting tax breaks for wealthy Boxer likens cliff talks to fighting over how to save a man stuck on a cliff Obama says ‘pressure is on Congress,’ blames GOP as fiscal deadline nears Boehner: Obama should ‘lead, not cast blame’ in fiscal talks Graham: Panetta says deal likely won’t prevent sequester cuts Obama: Investigation into Benghazi attack has ‘very good leads’ Sen. Graham vows to oppose new federal assault weapons ban Sen. Durbin sees ‘chasm’ in fiscal talks Sen. Feinstein: US has to ‘bite the bullet’ and enact new gun-control restrictions Schumer: Better than even odds Congress reaches fiscal deal Obama praises Hagel as a ‘patriot’ House to pass bill offering federal aid to investigate mass shootings House prepares three ‘milk cliff’ bills Obama hopes to enact new gun-control measures in 2013 Barrasso: Obama has ‘addiction’ to spending Fiscal talks continue in Senate with agreement far from certain With Markey in, Brown weighs his move EPA nominee would face uncertain path Hagel plays waiting game as White House sits on nomination Report: Obama calls on Ill. lawmakers to approve gay marriage