The Hill Articles: February 12, 2012

White House steps up pressure for Fannie, Freddie mortgage write-downs Romney backers in Congress second-guessing campaign China’s Xi arrives Monday for high-level policy meetings Obama administration defends budget against early Republican attacks Police investigate death near Lincoln Memorial Arizona lawmaker who replaced Giffords in state Senate to run for her House seat Lieberman wants US aid for ‘brave Syrian freedom fighters’ McConnell warns Obama birth-control issue ‘will not go away’ Paul Ryan: Dems ‘not engaging’ GOP in payroll tax talks Rep. Ron Paul not conceding Maine vote McConnell: Birth-control debate will continue until Obama ‘backs down’ Rep. Ryan: Birth-control rule change a ‘distinction without a difference’ Santorum hits Romney: ‘I don’t try to rig straw polls’ Ryan: Obama revised birth-control rule an ‘accounting trick’ Lieberman: US should arm Syrian opposition Lew: Obama’s latest stance on birth-control mandate final, puts issue to rest Santorum suggests Romney rigged CPAC straw poll victory Palin ‘not convinced’ Romney a conservative Poll finds Santorum surging in Gingrich’s home state Georgia Local TV stations stand to profit from boom in super-PAC spending Calls grow for ticker-tape parade to honor veterans from Iraq War