The Hill Articles: February 1, 2012

Hirono’s first ad in Hawaii ties opponents to President Bush OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Bye-bye CLASS Act ’Eye of the Tiger’ co-writer disagrees with bandmate’s beef with Gingrich Weyants World: February 2, 2012 Washington named third rudest US city; lawmakers react to ranking ’Desperate Housewives’ star raises 200K for Obama Hirono’s first ad in Hawaii ties opponents to President Bush Lawmakers slather on some good will for wildfire victims at BBQ fundraiser OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Interior vows ‘major’ step on offshore wind Senators make boozy Super Bowl bet Senators McCain and Harkin seek to kill the dollar bill GOP senators to release plan to stop triggered defense cuts Trump to make ‘major announcement’ on presidential race A tale of two Romneys OVERNIGHT MONEY: Bernanke makes 2012 debut on Capitol Hill to talk economic conditions Newt’s 
long war OVERNIGHT TECH: Franken wants probe of Verizon cable deal California Dems wary of President Obama’s new housing plan Gingrich takes shot at Romney’s ‘concerned about the poor’ comment Romney reiterates support for increasing minimum wage with inflation Facebook files with SEC for $5 billion IPO DAY’S END ROUNDUP Oil shale – A vast resource that can’t be dismissed Obama officials to rework child-labor rule Republicans paint health law’s CLASS Act as obstacle to long-term-care reform Rep. Maxine Waters ‘truly saddened’ by the death of TV host Don Cornelius Homeless in America: 636,017; Homeless veterans: 67,495 Factories grow at fastest pace in seven months Financing Fannie and Freddie’s failures Panetta says US plans to end combat mission in Afghanistan next year Amendment debate gets snippy as prospects for STOCK Act dim Santorum: Gingrich lost Florida because he isn’t a ‘true conservative’ House GOP unveils anti-budget-gimmick bill Obama campaign, former adviser Goolsbee tweak Romney Napolitano tours Super Bowl stadium Planned Parenthood raises $400,000 in 24 hours EPA stands by ‘fracking’ study but calls reach limited Pro-Santorum super-PAC airs first ad in Missouri Regulatory structure harming agricultural innovation Transit union not on board with GOP transportation bill Google to allow censorship of Blogger content Julianne Moore plays a politician, gets political Actor Chris Rock: ‘I’ll pay higher taxes’ Sending a clear message on Egypt Romney glitter-bombed in Minnesota, calls it ‘confetti’ House is cutting committee budgets — some more than others Mitt Romney mentions Obama 12 times in Florida primary speech Romney regains national GOP lead House on track to approve ban on accessing welfare benefits in strip clubs Dems try to force vote on STOCK Act Feds: Public health risks from major nuclear accident ‘very small’ Riffing on Romney, Carney says Obama concerned about poor Actor Chris Rock: ‘I’ll pay higher taxes’ AT&T rebuts spectrum bill criticism from former FCC chief Google+ drone questioner calls Obama response ‘disturbing’ Boehner skeptical of Obama’s housing plan: ‘How many times have we done this?’ DeMint wants term-limit amendment added to insider-trading bill Microsoft looks to capitalize on Google privacy controversy EMILY’s List sees historic win in Oregon special election House approves resolution cutting committee budgets AAA joins opposition to increased truck weights in GOP highway bill ACLU sues Obama administration to release records on drone strikes Santorum picks up key Colorado endorsements GOP blames ‘Obama economy’ in call to extend federal pay freeze Conference committee on some of the same pages on payroll-tax cut WorldNetDaily founder Joseph Farah promotes Rubio ineligibility argument Obama: Homeowners can’t wait for ‘housing market to hit bottom’ Brown amendment would force senators to divest from some individual stock holdings GOP makes it official: No Kochs at Keystone hearing Super-PAC, union launch Spanish-language radio campaign against Romney House considers measure to extend federal pay freeze another year Oscar-nominated director arrested at House hearing Dem lawmakers: No stocks for the Senate Democrat compares Rep. West, Gov. Brewer to hyenas ‘causing trouble’ for ‘Lion King’ Obama Oscar-nominated director arrested at House hearing Eight House Republicans save $1.4 million from office budgets Senate unemployment insurance offer expected Thursday Most attacks by Afghan allies on US and NATO forces are ‘personal,’ officials said New Planned Parenthood ad: Obama ‘stood strong’ on birth-control mandate New budget season, same partisan divide in committee McConnell: Obama will not ‘listen to himself’ on CLASS Act NLRB crucial to protecting workers, employers Cantor says GOP hopes to approve small-business tax cut by April 15 Obama pushes plan to help homeowners with underwater mortgages Sen. Kohl plans hearing on Verizon cable deal Obama targeted on Solyndra in new Crossroads GPS ad Planned Parenthood launches TV ad applauding birth-control mandate Condoleezza Rice to campaign with Dick Lugar in Indianapolis Official: Lack of nuclear waste dump is a ‘serious failure of the American government’ Businessman accused of trying to bribe senator denies wrongdoing Record industry tells Congress to oppose Issa piracy bill Military-focused super-PAC forms in support of Ron Paul Boehner unimpressed with Obama housing proposal Small business polls reject anti-regulation rhetoric Putting jobs in the driver’s seat Senate Dems introduce ‘Buffett Rule’ bill Lee: Obama ‘trampling’ on Constitution with recess appointments Tentative deal reached on $595 million in medical device user fees Speaker Boehner tells Republicans to ‘relax’ over long primary battle Bachmann stomps out Romney endorsement rumors House Dem abandons Susan G. Komen after Planned Parenthood decision US and Egypt should walk back on NGO row US might transfer some Gitmo prisoners to Qatar as part of Taliban negotiations The Sunshine State’s Republican primary New administration figures aim to show health law strengthened private Medicare plans Michelle Obama calls Mitt Romney’s singing ‘beautiful’ Crossroads GPS hits Obama over Solyndra with new ad campaign Retailers applaud GOP highway bill Pawlenty downplays importance of Minnesota caucuses Report: Weiner used campaign funds to hire private investigators GOP leader criticizes Obama for opposing repeal of healthcare act House jobs bills all a ‘subterfuge,’ says Reid Romney super-PAC had more money than campaign at end of year Reid blasts Romney ahead of Nevada caucuses Senate presses TSA to study health risks posed by X-ray scans Obama tours American-made cars at Washington Auto Show News bites: NRC finds earthquake risks at nuke plants News bites: Amazon sales miss expectations Markey to revive oil-lease revenue battle News bites: Ready for some football Gingrich did not call Romney to concede Florida Private sector added 170,000 jobs in January Romney not concerned about ‘very poor’ Pro-Romney super-PAC outraises its rivals Team Romney: Walk like a man Romney’s path forward Wednesday: Pay freeze, strip clubs, committee budgets Romney says Obama campaign will be ‘vitriolic, spiteful’ First lady Michelle Obama cites ‘remarkable progress’ on the economy News bites: Tanning dangers, lifetime limits, and more News bites: Once lost, now found Azerbaijan too important an ally for diplomatic ping pong Our National Cemetery Administration Romney pushes on to next primary fight Romney rivals face tough choices in next stage of GOP fight Dem Bonamici wins Oregon special election MORNING READ Report says Romney set to receive Secret Service protection Ron Paul looks to see Romney ‘soon in the caucus states’ Obama strikes populist tone at high-dollar fundraisers Michelle Obama calls Mitt Romney’s singing ‘beautiful’ Gingrich vows to ‘contest every place’ after Florida loss Gingrich vows to press on after defeat Paul predicts rebound in caucus states Front-runner’s earmark assault splitting GOP Recent missteps preempt White House counter-programming effort Palin: Romney’s $17 million in ads bought ‘some false narrative’ in Florida House GOP seeks to bar the use of welfare funds at strip clubs Claiming victory in Florida primary, Romney takes aim at President Obama Santorum: Gingrich blew chance to be the conservative alternative to Romney Vulnerable Senate Democrats take early fundraising lead over 2012 challengers Romney confident after Florida win: GOP ‘will be a united party’ CBO reports highway trust fund headed for bankruptcy in 2014 Lobbying World Get ready for a Reagan-Clinton pivot from Obama Election-year messages Ask A.B.: An extended GOP primary battle Bill Nye House GOP: No decision yet on Solyndra contempt charges Capitol Police Files DNC chief calls Romney callous, insensitive ahead of Fla. primary Lawmakers close in on FAA funding deal amid pushback from unions The 50 percent problem Mitt should woo Newt voters now