The Hill Articles: February 17, 2012

Dem lawmakers rip Santorum backer over ‘aspirin’ birth-control joke Payroll tax cut extension a tricky vote for members squeezed by redistricting Ron Paul earns first place for social media use GOP war veteran preparing to challenge Klobuchar Holder: Justice Department will not defend DOMA over military benefits Liberal group chides Boeing on taxes DAY’S END ROUNDUP Maryland Democrats reverse course, vote against payroll tax bill Media groups warn cybersecurity bill could lead to more secrecy White House sends House GOP more Solyndra documents Energy Department rejects GOP claims about solar loan project Baucus headed to Russia to talk trade Transparency should bring clarity, not confusion Romney surrogates downplay Santorum endorsement Reid, Boxer claim clear path forward on highway bill Obama buries NLRB hatchet in tour of Boeing plant White House predicts ‘moderate’ recovery through election Military can’t afford to take any more cuts No Child Left Behind’s success was overstated Attack on Koch brothers was partisan, misleading Congress approves payroll tax cut extension, sending bill to Obama Obama: Congress ‘did the right thing’ passing payroll tax bill Dem senator says Sen. Santorum was ‘uncompromising’ Mitt’s in trouble now; Santorum will be later Obama takes victory lap on payroll tax holiday Ohio attorney general ditches Romney, backs Santorum Sen. Kirk ‘adapting well’ to rehab program Why Obama should have vetoed FAA Reauthorization Act Reid threatens to recommend recess appointments House GOP: Chu pushed for solar loan to help Solyndra Reid threatens recess appointment of all outstanding Obama nominees Clinton’s UNESCO faux pas Addressing the challenge and consequences of obesity It’s time to turn down the heat GOP freshman proposes discretionary-spending freeze Anthony Shadid: God bless you, and a free press thanks you Google caught tracking Apple users Polls: Romney and Santorum tight in Arizona and Michigan Authorities foil planned suicide bombing attack on Capitol building Congress approves payroll tax cut bill Democrats set aggressive pace with January fundraising All politics is social Senate approves payroll tax cut in 60-36 vote after GOP gives up filibuster House agrees to aid prosecutors in Roger Clemens perjury trial Shell one step closer to drilling in Arctic This time it’s different: A transportation bill for America’s future Services echo Panetta on threat of sequestration cuts Fans of facial hair uniting at Capitol Congress clears payroll tax cut deal Romney campaign opens fire on Santorum with first Michigan attack ad White House GOP hopefuls mum on payroll tax bill Six lawmakers recuse themselves from Rep. Waters ethics case Liberal group parodies Romney road trip with fake dog video Follow Friday: @GOPoversight Conservatives see free market at work in dropping healthcare costs Santorum to make ‘major announcement’ in Ohio Rove: Obama acting like ‘third-world’ ‘dictator’ with contraception rule We must work to counter Iran’s influence in our own neighborhood Female Democratic senators blast all-male, GOP-led birth-control panel AFL-CIO opposes payroll tax cut deal Anonymous hacks FTC websites Veterans group wants more than White House dinner for Iraq vets First female Air Force pilot to fly in combat says she wants to kick Santorum ‘in the jimmy’ Van Hollen to vote against payroll tax deal Hoyer slams payroll tax cut bill Mick Jagger, B.B. King to perform at White House concert GOP candidate says she wants to kick Santorum ‘in the jimmy’ A highway bill should be a two-way street, not road to nowhere Reid: Payroll deal was made possible because Republicans learned meaning of compromise Obama camp pulls in $29 million in January GM soars, Obama rises, Romney sweats, Ron Paul talks about Austrian economists House advances payroll tax deal; GOP signals opposition Gingrich targets Hispanic voters in latest Web ad Adele: The world begins again Michelle Obama surprises tourists at White House Paul Ryan says under no circumstance would he emerge as GOP nominee News bites: LightSquared lawyers up Santorum donor Friess apologizes for ‘aspirin joke’ Mandates could cause irreversible harm Dem resolution honors Whitney Houston News bites: Nuke industry looks to Southern Co. New DNC ad hits Romney over Olympic leadership CBO: Payroll deal adds $89.3B to deficit RNC launches Web campaign to knock Obama on third anniversary of stimulus Santorum accuses media of double standard on Obama and Jeremiah Wright Friday: Finishing the payroll tax extension Michigan Gov. Snyder defends auto bailouts, Romney opposition News bites: Tug-of-war News bites: Santorum repudiates birth control ‘joke,’ cancer treatment for 9/11 responders, and more Poll: Scott Brown opens up 9-point lead over Elizabeth Warren Obama cashes in on West Coast swing Pelosi endorsement of gay marriage plank raises stakes for Democrats MORNING READ Lobbyists decertify after Obama ban Obama and Al Green stay together but the president won’t sing NRCC puts 22 House recruits ‘on the radar’ Georgia debate canceled after all but Gingrich decline Senate poised for up to four votes on Friday All-male picture tells 1,000 words, say backers of birth control policy Boehner in no mood for celebration Payroll tax vote divides GOP Obama endorses tax deal’s spectrum provisions Rick Santorum shifts gear in Motown Mounting nuclear tensions with Iran mobilize Congress for potential strikes Sen. Harkin rips Obama for ‘unraveling Social Security’ with tax cut GOP senators push for Medicare cuts