The Hill Articles: February 15, 2012

House accepts just one Dem amendment to energy bill OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Congress closes in on another short-term ‘doc fix’ Actress apologizes for controversial Hoekstra Super Bowl ad Senate adjourns with highway bill still in neutral The revolving door Weyants World: February 16, 2012 OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Secretary Chu to defend energy budget LightSquared vows to fight FCC decision OVERNIGHT MONEY: Negotiators working toward final agreement on payroll tax bill Boxer sees ‘no path forward’ on $109B Senate transportation bill Blue collar vs. blue blood The GOP death march OVERNIGHT TECH: Cybersecurity bill headed straight to Senate floor Iran says it’s ready to resume nuclear talks Dem congressmen shouts in defense of landowners, against Keystone Mortgage applications drop slightly last week, refinancing hits six-month high DAY’S END ROUNDUP Massachusetts Republicans try to tie Elizabeth Warren to Martha Coakley RFK grandson to run for Rep. Frank’s seat House Dems push for oversight hearing on campaign finance Homeland Security secretary: ‘We aren’t sitting there monitoring social media’ ‘Hardball’ host shares laugh with Rep. Clyburn Poll: Romney clings to lead over Santorum in Arizona Waters: Banks ‘shaking in their boots’ at thought of me as chairwoman Santorum: North Dakota could be terrorist target Obama jokes industrial locks could ‘come in handy’ for daughters in high school Builders’ confidence rises for fifth straight month A legacy of giving our children a Head Start Senate Dem leaders claim progress on foundering highway bill Santorum for Pope GOP protests idea of steep nuclear cuts Democrats catching ‘Linsanity’ over basketball star Jeremy Lin President’s plan for entitlement spending misses mark Dems say GOP energy bill would generate ‘fake’ revenues for transportation bill Federal investigators probe drug agency’s crackdown on whistleblowers Critz encouraged by latest poll, despite still trailing Altmire by double digits Auto union backs Rep. Peters over Rep. Clark Rep. Allen West channels Roy Orbison, sings ‘Oh, Pretty Woman’ Democratic Rep. Waters calls GOP leadership ‘demons’ Rep. Upton pushed for loan to now-bankrupt solar company Spectrum allocation is not a short-term budget matter Bill Gates jumps into fray over SEC oil transparency rule Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine endorses Santorum Don’t raise taxes on American wind power Obama’s debt-busting budget FCC cracks down on robocalls Issa wants talk with ex-Countrywide CEO Schumer blasts Rand Paul for hold on bill to ban ‘bath salts’ drugs House GOP pounces after Obama budget director says health mandate ‘not a tax’ Rep. Lummis promotes criticism of year-old budget plan Watchdog: Gingrich should direct DOJ to release ethics records House names three post offices Obama to put his imprint on World Bank House Dems want answers from Apple on Path privacy breach Homeowners get additional three months to ask for foreclosure review House advances controversial transportation, energy bills House GOP looks to subpoena White House officials over Solyndra Missouri House candidate overlooks primary opponent House might vote on highway bill’s energy piece this week GOP largely ignores birth-control furor in hearing with Sebelius President Obama ‘very impressed’ with breakout basketball star Jeremy Lin Senators question Twitter’s censorship Obama budget cuts funding for DC’s Metro GOP: Lawmakers have ‘agreement in principle’ on payroll tax cut Energy working group to assess nuclear waste recommendations Republican freshman scolds GOP leaders for poor communication Health agency chief urged to sit out Obama fundraisers App-alling feminist technology President Obama touts US manufacturing in Milwaukee Grassley refuses to lift hold on FCC nominees despite agency backtracking on LightSquared Poll: Santorum opens up double-digit lead nationally Santorum makes major campaign ad buy Obama’s Iran moment Consumer bureau’s budget faces GOP scrutiny Dems, GOP characterize unemployment reforms differently GOP questions Obama proposal to fund transportation projects with war savings Obama Girl’s love wanes in new video Price at the pump Senate confirms Obama nominee following extended GOP filibuster President Obama and Bishops should keep talking Romney: No way will I go on ‘Dancing With the Stars!’ GOP demands apology for Obama campaign manager’s ‘chimichanga’ tweet Geithner says in House hearing that the GOP ‘not ready’ for tax code overhaul Rep. Bachmann will not compete on ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Former Treasury Secretary Paulson: Recent jobs data an ‘anomaly’ Payroll tax deal would take first real bite from Obama’s health law Reid ridicules House highway bill as ‘obnoxious’, mocks GOP for delaying vote Santorum: Obama White House full of ‘elite snobs’ Paul Ryan has ‘problem’ with GOP payroll tax cut deal Sen. Alexander: Don’t extend wind energy tax credit in payroll package Armed Services Chairman McKeon blasts Panetta over defense budget cuts Sebelius didn’t consult with bishops on birth-control revision Salazar hits GOP plan to fund highway bill with drilling Rep. West says GOP planning to respond to #40dollar campaign Spectrum auctions included in tentative tax deal Scott Walker has friendly chat with Obama at Wis. airport Watchdog asks Justice Department to investigate Obama and Romney super-PACs Dems warn passing payroll tax deal is ‘a long ways’ off White House pleased with cybersecurity bill’s approach Boehner defends decision to drop payroll tax offsets Adopting the DISCLOSE Act will help voters ‘Full Metal Jacket’ actor urges supporters to ‘trigger the vote’ in NRA campaign Iran announces new nuclear advances House transportation bill bad for for infrastructure, economy, jobs Obama administration estimates 86 million people benefited from health law’s prevention benefits last year Dem lawmaker blasts GOP effort to end ‘Safe Routes to School’ program Santorum aide: Romney’s money focus ‘deeply offensive’ Sarah Palin, Andrew Jackson and the ‘nostalgico’ political elements An era of no more religion Obama Girl’s love wanes in new video Report: Adelson considering additional Gingrich donation to slow Santorum Paul Ryan confronts Obama budget chief on broken debt promise Reid blames GOP for crippling the Senate Boehner delays highway bill vote Texas primary date up in the air Poll: Ohio latest Super Tuesday state to show Santorum surge Armed Services Chairman McKeon takes tough line on ‘hidden earmarks’ Bachmann slams payroll tax cut extension as a ‘temporary gimmick’ News bites: What’s next for LightSquared? News bites: TransCanada hopes to finish work on Keystone by 2015 News bites: Good year Gov. Christie, Sen. McCain dismiss possibility of brokered convention Romney dismisses Palin claim he’s not ‘conservative enough’ LA Mayor Villaraigosa named chairman of Democratic National Convention News bites: One of a kind Santorum’s ‘Rombo’ ad accuses Romney of launching ‘ugly attacks’ Axelrod: Santorum’s stances on social issues ‘quite divisive’ House must pass transportation bill News bites: Fake cancer drug found in US Holland & Knight expands PR services President to kiss, make up to Hollywood Democrats in tough races turn critical of Obama’s 2013 budget Female voters could be a problem for Santorum in general-election contest MORNING READ Wednesday: House, Senate start real work on energy, transportation bill(s) Lawmakers close in on payroll deal McConnell staying at arm’s length GOP senators assail new budget director From a referendum to a choice Campaign costs will keep rising Facing objections from left and right, Boehner splits up transportation bill FCC moves to kill LightSquared over GPS interference concerns Losing credibility with Catholics House GOP tries a new way House approves journal, delays votes to name post offices Will Durst