The Hill Articles: February 14, 2012

Warren, Brown spar on spending, contraception Westward ho! OVERNIGHT HEALTH: GOP will get contraception vote Jordan confirmation vote set for Wednesday Panetta: Pentagon has ‘duty’ to help cut deficit OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Chu to tout nuclear in Georgia Election doesn’t mean wasted fiscal year President Obama’s ‘balanced’ budget OVERNIGHT TECH: Cybersecurity debate finally under way President obviously doesn’t grasp the seriousness of fiscal situation Senators outline opposition to base closures Budget simply needs to create jobs Obama’s phony recovery Budget falls way short on fixing debt President’s fiscal plan a statement of our priorities Poll: No swing for Obama among Catholics despite contraception debate Romney’s lost battle White House issues veto threat for House transportation bill Questions mount about Maine caucus results OVERNIGHT MONEY: Lawmakers inching closer to payroll tax cut deal Weyants World: February 15, 2012 Poll: Majority favor payroll tax cut, but support declines from last autumn Sexual harassment case against Dem Rep. Alcee Hastings dismissed Civilian suffers hand injury at White House White House won’t take tapping strategic oil reserve off the table Reid will allow vote on repeal of administration’s birth control mandate Dems’ North Dakota Senate recruit spoofs Chamber ad GOP senators call for delay on cybersecurity bill A salable solution for corporate tax reform Poll: Stabenow’s lead expands in Michigan after controversial Hoekstra ad DAY’S END ROUNDUP Getting a grip on deficit hysterics Ron Paul: Americans should be ‘outraged’ with Obama budget GOP senator to new budget director: If you are incorrect, will you resign? Santorum takes lead in fourth survey but GOP voters still pick Romney as likely nominee Santorum hits Obama, Romney on healthcare Energy groups pressure White House on derivatives rules Obama signs $63B FAA funding bill into law Obama cuts to heating assistance budget again provoke bipartisan opposition GOP senators link support for payroll tax cut package to looser bounds on physician-owned hospitals Filibuster fight escalates in Senate House Dems seek delay in transportation/energy bill after process change Mariel Hemingway on Roseanne Barr’s presidential run: ‘Are you kidding me?’ Obama includes $47B for high-speed rail in 2013 budget Surrogates for Romney paint Rick Santorum as liberal on fiscal issues Volcker joins comment frenzy over his financial rule Ask A.B.: GOP rollback on payroll tax cut McConnell declines to endorse House GOP payroll tax cut proposal Lawmakers add Valentine’s Day theme to tweets Obama’s budget message read in House chamber Protesters rally against Chinese vice president’s White House visit Lobbyist association backs lawsuit against Obama administration Sen. Snowe: No more hospital visits on Feb. 14! Catholics’ approval of Obama virtually unchanged during debate over contraceptive rule Schumer won’t say if Senate Dems will vote on GOP’s stand-alone payroll tax cut Pelosi says House Democrats will support GOP payroll tax extension plan Emergency powers for president dropped from cybersecurity bill Protesters at Westminster dog show criticize Romney’s treatment of pet pooch While touting ‘fracking,’ Salazar confronted by professed victim Obama administration claims record $4.1 billion in Medicare fraud savings CBO: House GOP highway bill would bankrupt trust fund Senators call for long-term flood insurance bill FCC chairman to defend budget at hearing Geithner: Tax hikes must be part of budget Congress tweets for Valentine’s Day How to cut climate change in half Dems rebuke GOP for trying to attach birth-control exemption to highway bill Preventing horse slaughter – a personal evolution Obama’s overreach burdens U.S. recovery Obama’s Valentine’s Day PSA: Gentlemen, ‘do not forget’ Small business index inches up ever so slightly Romney in Detroit with new message: ‘This is personal’ Highway bill stalled in Senate over Paul’s Egypt amendment Report: Herman Cain turns down ‘Dancing with the Stars’ House to debate transportation bill in pieces Sen. Scott Brown’s Anthem-singing daughter remembers Whitney Houston House Dems call on health agencies to enforce drug-trial reporting laws Obama: ‘Fight is beginning to turn our way’ New Romney ad emphasizes Detroit ties Santorum Michigan ad says he has ‘best chance to beat Obama’ Gingrich Valentine’s Day website argues liberals love Romney Obama uses bully pulpit to press his advantage on payroll tax cut Gingrich: Callista will be ‘quite happy’ on Valentine’s Day Panetta denies trying to send signal about Israel striking Iran Republicans look to require federal workers to pay more for retirement Congressman’s niece is Sports Illustrated’s cover girl Senate Dems hit back against Lieberman’s postal reform bill LightSquared objects to disclosure of records RNC chairman: GOP Valentine’s Day cards ‘meant in good fun’ Gingrich vows to press on despite calls to exit GOP race Lieberman: Pentagon budget is an ‘unacceptable risk’ Dogs Against Romney speak out! Misplaced attention: What is important? Why are Tibet’s nuns self-immolating? Who is the Karmapa? Senators slow to come up with Valentine’s Day dates President Obama to visit Boeing plant in Washington state Club for Growth backs Lugar opponent in Indiana RNC gets personal with Valentine’s Day attacks Panetta challenges lawmakers over opposition to Pentagon cuts From Senate floor, Reid remains quiet on Obama budget Medicare could delay burdensome rules on doctors NRCC adds 3 ‘contender’ candidates Sen. Rand Paul thinks Gingrich will drop out before GOP convention Rep. Mica slams President Obama’s transportation budget Poll: Warren, Brown tied in Massachusetts Senate race Sessions derides Obama budget as ‘tax-and-spend’ plan that won’t cut debt Big Sugar’s Valentine’s Day surprise Panetta says cuts will not weaken military Retail spending picks up in January A hundred groups apply for new domain endings A missed opportunity to lead Obama rallies Twitter users to push for new payroll tax cut extension Lawmakers seek fight over Arctic drilling, oil taxes on highway bill Sen. Feinstein proposes bill to encourage info sharing on cyber threats News bites: AT&T, Verizon to sell 4G iPad White House drug czar says Whitney Houston’s death is a ‘teachable moment’ News bites: Oh, hair Romney defends opposition to auto bailout in Detroit op-ed Three protesters arrested at Santorum campaign event Tuesday: A judge and three post offices Gov. Perry: ‘Absolutely’ will consider running again Third poll shows Santorum edging out Romney for lead in Republican race Toomey: ‘Decency’ calls on Reid to bring budget to Senate floor News bites: EU set for oil sands battle, Exxon Iraq clash, and more News bites: Still not fans News bites: Health budgets edition Democrats split on handling Iran threat Emotional redistricting for California lawmakers on both sides of the aisle Lobbyists sue Obama administration after being booted from boards MORNING READ Pew study: 2 million dead Americans on active voter rolls Failing to consult with stakeholders on Internet gaming is an unacceptable gamble Debate suddenly shifts on birth control GOP revives pipeline push in highway bill Plan for a capital wedding Dating in the District Obama hits GOP with $3.8T budget Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) Make your reception uniquely Washington Spend your V-Day in Georgetown Honeymooning on a budget A plan to save Europe Chelsea Cummings: A year later Five places to keep the flame burning Republicans retreat on payroll tax cut Bottom Line Coming home Senators slow 
to come up with 
Valentine’s Day dates Mariel Hemingway 
on Roseanne Barr’s 
presidential run: ‘Are you kidding me?’ Breaux tries the washboard Sen. Snowe: No more 
hospital visits on Feb. 14! ‘Sex and the City’ star avoids slip at White House Sen. Scott Brown’s 
anthem-singing daughter remembers Whitney Houston Obama budget boosts IRS spending Democratic House candidates haggle over outside cash ban agreement in Illinois OVERNIGHT MONEY: China’s VP Xi in Washington for round of high-level meetings Boxer to GOP: Get out of the way of highway bill