The Hill Articles: February 29, 2012

OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Controversy swirls around Blunt birth-control measure House approves California water rights bill OVERNIGHT MONEY: Obama swings into New Hampshire Obama campaign fires back, dares Koch brothers to reveal group’s donors Santorum blew it Oil vs. ‘Morning in America’ OVERNIGHT TECH: GOP cyber bill takes light regulatory touch Weyants World: March 1, 2012 Santorum gets big boost, takes $9 million haul in February House rejects all Dem amendments to California water bill Dem lawmaker tells DC Metro to remove ad that profanes Obama Tommy Thompson releases first TV ad as poll shows him strong Campaign: Romney would support Blunt birth-control measure Changes to search algorithm worsen Santorum’s Google problem Tommy Thompson releases first TV ad as poll shows him strong Santorum, Romney evenly split Michigan’s delegates after Romney win DAY’S END ROUNDUP Republican leaders say their meeting with Obama was ‘very positive’ Nadler urges DeMarco to consider principal reductions Report: Son of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood allowed to leave Egypt Romney says he now owns guns, but won’t ‘tell you where they are’ Sen. Manchin will vote for Blunt amendment on contraceptive care Sen. Boxer reproves Sen. Ayotte for invoking memory of Sen. Kennedy Sports fans: No ‘economic rationale’ for blackout rule Out of touch: GOP candidates choose political posturing over smart policy in Iran Boxer: Contraception amendment a ‘radical departure’ White House: North Korea nuke agreement is a ‘positive step’ Rep. Mica: Supporters of spending more than original GOP highway bill ‘smoking the funny weed’ Bristol Palin to star in new reality show Sen. Murkowski: Focus should be energy, not on contraception Club for Growth urges lawmakers to oppose countervailing duties bill Poll: Big lead for Santorum in Tennessee Appropriator says Obama budget puts border at risk DNC chairwoman: Romney should have ‘blown doors off’ in Michigan White House: Obama has been ‘very specific and direct’ with Israel on Iran Climate control: A moral issue Gallup: Romney’s national lead widens Rogers rips EPA chief over coal permits Rhode Island Senate candidate uses son to teach economics lesson in new campaign ad Boehner describes Obama meeting with congressional leaders as constructive Bill would identify safe online pharmacies Sen. Sanders unveils report on nation’s ‘dental crisis’ Kerrey makes it official; will run for Nebraska’s open Senate seat Bernanke: Policymakers have few short-term options to lower gas prices Boehner calls for passage of California water rights bill Immigration detention is no hospitality suite Kirk: Joining Asia-Pacific trade talks up to Japan Book: Tiger Woods considered becoming a Navy SEAL Dem senator claims Facebook is using loophole to avoid taxes Santorum campaign expects Michigan delegate tally to be a tie Retiring Sen. Snowe: Washington suffering from ‘political paralysis’ Brewer: GOP has ‘had plenty of venting,’ time to coalesce around Romney Santorum claims support of Sen. Inhofe, who hasn’t endorsed him Audit: IRS dropped the ball on oversight of homebuyer credit Obama’s misguided energy policy Clinton: North Korea nuclear testing halt ‘a modest first step’ Welcome to the Twilight Zone Bernanke warns lawmakers country headed for ‘massive fiscal cliff’ Rep. Michaud takes steps toward run for Sen. Snowe’s seat Kirk: White House will ask Congress for fast-track authority this year New Iran sanctions go into effect; Obama administration touts efforts Bingaman to unveil ‘clean energy standard’ Thursday Lawmakers defend safety of US cruise industry at hearing on Italian crash Abandon failed Middle East foreign policy strategies Pentagon to brief 9/11 victims’ families about mishandled remains Gingrich super-PAC spokesman says Santorum could have won ‘if he could speak English’ Rasmussen: Obama leads GOP field in Wisconsin Salazar: No study yet on proposed NOAA move Former Sen. Feingold: Super-PACs making Supreme Court ‘squeamish’ Paul returns to DC to assail Bernanke Sen. Schumer: Blunt amendment amounts to contraception ban North Korea deal won’t be popular on Capitol Hill Here are the women Big squeeze at the pump hurts middle class Congress can ensure U.S. remains world’s most entrepreneurial nation Sen. Hatch: Obama energy policy puts hipsters above blue-collar workers Panetta meets with Israeli defense minister Legislation would allow Commerce to impose countervailing duties Arizona: Romney’s model for immigration policy Republicans to introduce cybersecurity alternative Thursday Olympia Snowe: A red-meat Republican after all? Romney’s new Web ad says Obama’s ‘Kill Romney’ strategy failed Florida man accused of threatening through Facebook, Twitter to assassinate Obama Book: Tiger Woods considered becoming a Navy SEAL Rep. Dreier: Congress ‘as great as it has ever been’ House subcommittee votes to repeal healthcare reform law’s ‘death panel’ Gas group taps former Senate aide for lobbying role Santorum campaign portrays Michigan loss as success DNC chairwoman spats with Fox host over rising gas prices Obama betrayed blue-collar workers for urbanite hipsters, says Sen. Hatch Santorum moves on to Super Tuesday states Obama, I’ll ‘cling to my religion and guns’ Interpol arrests alleged Anonymous hackers Rules Chairman Dreier announces retirement after 16 House terms McConnell accuses Obama of imposing his own ‘idea of fairness’ on the American people Poll finds Obama ahead of Romney-Christie ticket in NJ President Newt Gingrich Rep. Clarke picks up primary challenge in NY Clinton: SEC should go ‘as far as possible’ on transparency rule Frustration mounts as Senate begins third week on highway bill Rep. Issa blames Obama administration for slacking on food stamp fraud North Korea agrees to cease nuclear tests Standing up for the Farm Bill White House defends IPAB ahead of repeal vote Ad blitz aimed at lifting Azerbaijan aid ban Poll: Even with Christie as VP, Romney would lose New Jersey Nation’s economy grew 3 percent in last quarter of 2011, data show News bites: Google’s Schmidt warns against ‘digital caste system’ House bill would stop ‘subsidizing’ ex-presidents rich from speaking fees Rep. Issa: Obama administration not fighting food stamp fraud Ron Paul calls Romney a ‘flip-flopper’ in new ad News bites: Gas prices up 8 percent in February EPA won’t finish refinery rules in 2012 Bipartisan House group calls on Boehner, Pelosi to look again at Afghanistan News bites: Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on the horn RNC chairman: Not a ‘fan’ of Santorum robocall tactic Sen. Inhofe: Climate change science relies on ‘rigged’ data Obama directive waters down military custody for terror detainees DNC chairwoman denies encouraging Dems to vote in Michigan primary Wednesday: Water rights, Iran resolution in the House Obama broke promise to Senate on Defense spending Poll: Santorum up by double digits in Ohio News bites: Put away the handcuffs Evangelical Franklin Graham apologizes to Obama for questioning his faith News bites: HHS boosts subsidies spending, Maine holds down rate hike, and more Analysis: Romney looks to carry momentum, capitalize on Super Tuesday Boehner ally, critic Rep. LaTourette holds keys to House transportation bill President Obama runs with the bulls MORNING READ A relieved Romney pumps up crowd Santorum focuses attacks on President Obama in Michigan concession speech After tough race, Romney beats Santorum in Michigan primary NFL reschedules kickoff to avoid conflict with Obama DNC speech Liberal group launches effort to draft Rep. Pingree into race to replace Snowe Ron Paul: Santorum an ‘addict of conspiracies’ Worried Dems pressing Obama on gas prices Rubio backs Adam Hasner for Florida House seat Obama, Biden to meet with House, Senate leaders to find ‘common ground’ Pass a budget and embrace tax reform Government, private partnership will ensure our competitive edge A three-pronged plan for job creation Small business helps push the economy forward Romney wins Arizona Panetta to Congress: Don’t balance budget with added cuts to defense Greens and Gulf Coast officials push Congress for fund for oil spill cleanup Lobbying World Words matter in pollsters’ questions Wall Street’s predictive power The bond between Camp and Baucus US must protect privacy better Capitol Police Files Penn Jillette