The Hill Articles: December 31, 2012

Biden, Senate nearing ‘cliff’ deal, but no House vote before midnight House passes intel authorization act in last vote series of the year McConnell: Agreement reached to postpone sequester two months House GOP remains in the dark on ‘fiscal cliff’ Judge: Texas can defund Planned Parenthood House might split Sandy aid for votes Treasury says US has reached $16.4 trillion borrowing limit Republican lawmakers seek to block $900-a-year congressional salary hike Obama: Let’s reduce Medicare costs Hillary Clinton making ‘excellent progress,’ clot behind right ear DAY’S END ROUNDUP Barney Frank ‘strongly opposes’ nomination of Hagel for Defense chief GOP says House won’t vote on a tax deal until at least Tuesday 2012: A year in ITK gossip Stocks rally with ‘fiscal cliff’ deal in sight Rep. John Lewis’s wife passes away FCC adopts rules to promote rollout of broadband Internet service on flights Emerging Senate fiscal-cliff plan throws lifeline to wind projects McConnell: Agreement struck on tax portion of fiscal-cliff negotiations A black leader for all the people? Graham: Obama won ‘hollow victory,’ debt ceiling is real test Both sides get wins in tax deal McCain to Obama: ‘That’s not the way presidents should lead’ Huntsman says Republican Party is ‘devoid of a soul’ GOP outraged by Obama comments Federal judge halts Obama birth-control policy for Domino’s Pizza founder McCain wishes Clinton ‘speedy recovery’ Obama says fiscal-cliff deal on taxes ‘in sight’ but not done yet House calls on Egypt to return children to US father Reps. Kingston, Aderholt to lead approps subpanels on HHS, FDA Obama to press lawmakers to hit deadline on fiscal cliff Rep. Young gets waiver to remain Defense Appropriations chairman With no deal in hand, lawmakers spend New Year’s Eve on the cliff Sen. Paul says lawmakers will ‘feel good’ for ‘sticking it to rich people’ Rep. Markey joins lawsuit in defense of SEC oil payments rule Gas prices hit record high in 2012 Thune: Fate of country rests on Biden, McConnell while Congress ‘twiddled our thumbs’ President signs foreign surveillance reauthorization bill into law House votes to ease rules for TV, movie extras who are filmed with their pets Fox News’s Greta Van Susteren keeping up with Kim Kardashian’s pregnancy Top doc group counts down to ‘fiscal cliff’ Dem Sen. Harkin criticizes possible tax compromise in ‘fiscal cliff’ talks Tea Party Patriots launching PAC in new year Intel chairman: Reports of civilian deaths from US drone strikes ‘wildly wrong’ Reid: Fiscal talks continue but sides ‘still apart’ on key issues Norquist: Fiscal deal won’t raise taxes Blood clot not Clinton’s first New Year’s beverage for Rep. Cohen? Glass of water Rep. Price: House could approve ‘cliff’ bill with tax increase House Dem: Members of Congress are with the people they love today — themselves News bites: Huawei partner reportedly offered to sell HP equipment to Iranian mobile company Udall warns Senate majority at risk in fundraising plea News bites: Waiting Rep. Van Hollen: Better than ’50-50 chance’ of deal before midnight House Dem proposes bill to delay sequester Monday: More suspensions in the House, no sign of cliff, farm bill Barrasso: Obama ‘slowing down’ fiscal talks Senate report faults Pentagon, State Dept. over Benghazi deaths News bites: Railroads propel US oil boom, the latest on Chesapeake Energy, and more Observers ponder impact of Markey’s Senate bid on Energy and Commerce Top 10 news stories of 2012 House Republicans play waiting game on ‘fiscal cliff’ negotiations House GOP eyes smaller Sandy bill Support grows in House for farm-bill extension to prevent ‘milk cliff’ Hillary Clinton admitted to hospital after doctors discover blood clot House Democrats urge GOP to allow vote on Obama’s $250K tax-break threshold Senate passes bill giving states grants for conducting audits on DNA backlogs Senate adjourns to Monday with no deal House approves foreign aid, veterans bills