The Hill Articles: February 8, 2012

OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Birth-control mandate under attack Conference committee to negotiate more in private Calling wealthy Democrats Bachmann: Tuesday shows GOP nomination still up for grabs Romney 
has no base OVERNIGHT MONEY: House expected to quickly pass STOCK Act Weyants World: February 9, 2012 TSA expands Pre-Check program to 28 airports Lugar’s foes on left and right hit him for living in Washington Obama administration struggles to contain uproar over birth-control rule Treasury, IRS set ground rules for crackdown on tax evasion Lawmakers introduce bills to cut, invest in nuclear weapons OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Feds set to approve first new nuke reactors in decades Civil rights group opposes public transit cut in $260B House GOP transportation bill Romney, on offensive, says rivals led GOP astray with earmarks, debt-ceiling hike Fresh ideas for modernizing global trade rules OVERNIGHT TECH: Senate panel marks up bill to televise Supreme Court House kills an hour debating already-approved motion to instruct House Dem leaders break with Obama on line-item veto Vietnam and Afghanistan: The more things change… DAY’S END ROUNDUP New unemployment numbers do not tell the whole story Dem House hopeful piggybacks on controversy over Eastwood Super Bowl ad A Super Tuesday House Democrats blast housing regulator for stance on reducing mortgage principal Guarantee liberty, support H.R. 3676 In 254-173 vote, House passes ‘expedited line-item veto’ bill to curb spending Parkinson’s mimicry and ‘wackadoodles’ highlight Kasich’s bizarre speech Tester asks Rehberg for outside group ceasefire in Montana Capitol Police request significant FY13 funding boost despite budget cutbacks Gingrich sees ‘a real danger’ of Iranian nuclear attack on American cities Bill to ease Irish immigration to US ‘about to pop’ in the Senate, says Sen. Brown Transportation official: LightSquared ‘not compatible’ with flight-safety devices Santorum reports raising $250k in one night, $400k over two days Giant-foam presidents to run alongside undie-wearing racers Senate GOP pushes to shield faith groups from contraception rule Cutting defense spending responsibly Trump and Huntsman bicker over who said ‘no’ to meeting Santorum shrugs off Romney’s organization, money Shimmer showdown: GOP candidates remain glitter bomb targets It’s Rogers vs. Ryan on line-item bill Smaller cell carriers urge Congress to give FCC flexibility in spectrum auctions Line-item veto bill splits Republicans on Budget, Appropriations committees Rep. Issa goes after Oversight Committee Democrats White House hits House GOP for changes to STOCK Act Religious right bashes green evangelicals for supporting EPA rules Next debate to decide Arizona Gov. Brewer’s endorsement AIDS activists allege discriminatory treatment following Capitol arrest Commander disputes negative portrayal of Afghanistan war House panel to vote on bill repealing Obama contraception rule Gingrich: ‘I liked the Clint Eastwood halftime ad’ Republican senators raise pressure on Obama to withdraw birth-control mandate Federal workers’ union criticizes $260B House GOP transportation plan House advances line-item rescissions bill, STOCK Act House will act to reverse Obama administration attack on religious freedom Trump ‘open’ to position in Romney’s Cabinet Key GOP lawmaker: ‘We don’t have a lot of good options’ on Syria FEMA to forgive debts from Hurricane Katrina Carney: White House will work to allay concerns on contraception rule Boehner: Obama birth-control decision an ‘attack on religious freedom’ Dems blast GOP plans to advance amended STOCK Act Dem follows Rep. Allen West to new district, averts tough primary Rubio: Administration’s contraceptive ruling might lead to ‘scarier results’ Carper will introduce legislation to shed excess federal properties Gingrich leads in Oklahoma poll in good sign for Super Tuesday strategy Line-item veto supporters plan showdown in Senate Music executive: Google and Wikipedia duped users on piracy bills In wake of Proposition 8 ruling, Santorum attacks Obama Union ad targets lawmakers who voted for FAA compromise Kingston: Santorum muscles way into contention, predicts negative Romney campaigning Santorum takes fight to Romney’s backyard in Michigan after sweep Religious groups back birth-control mandate Cybersecurity experts: Major telecom providers are secure Boehner, GOP pledge to reverse Obama birth-control mandate Report draws lessons of states’ experience with sharing health information Judicial Watch sues Energy Dept. for documents related to $529M Fisker loan Obama to sign last bill sponsored by Giffords on Friday House GOP protests HHS decision to require abortion coverage Report: 48 percent of 2011 money to Obama campaign from small donors Company using Mitt Romney to sell condoms Gatekeeper for domain names seeks volunteers to evaluate applicants Why I opposed the FAA reauthorization Top Romney adviser expects prolonged GOP fight Dems knock potential McCaskill rival’s hefty salary amid layoffs House members call on US to leave Afghanistan after whistleblower report House GOP removes political intel-lobbyist rule from STOCK Act First lady takes on Jimmy Fallon in fitness contest Obama administration makes $40 million available to reduce preterm births Report: Chrysler Super Bowl ad had input from Obama supporters Santorum says Romney is too aligned with Obama to win Mortgage applications pick up as rates hit record lows Energy Secretary Chu defends loan program as White House report looms Black Capitol Police staff file new lawsuit claiming discrimination Democrats leapfrog Republicans in latest voter enthusiasm poll Report: US preparing military options in Syria Santorum defends importance of nonbinding caucuses Franken looks to boost courthouse safety Jefferson vs. Obama: The rise of a revolutionary generation at CPAC 2012 News bites: Every dog has his train Conservatism ultimately wins elections News bites: Yahoo shakes up board GOP candidates split on Syria Fresh off victories, Santorum goes on attack against Romney First lady takes on Jimmy Fallon in fitness contest Wednesday: House to pass line-item veto Romney attacks Gingrich following Santorum trifecta Poll shows Obama ahead of Romney in swing-state Virginia Santorum distances himself from Gingrich narrative News bites: Staying put News bites: Presidential budget, birth-control politics, and more Romney spin can’t dent Santorum sweep News bites: Coal strikes back, Santorum hits foes on climate GOP to use Obama budget to unite MORNING READ EMILY’s List eyes three more House candidates Romney dealt punishing blow by three-pronged defeat to Rick Santorum Santorum sweeps, beats Romney in upset Colorado caucuses finish Secret Service breaks up Romney ‘glitter bomb’ Romney gracious to Santorum on tough primary night Paul defiant, upbeat after losing contests in Missouri, Minnesota Santorum goes after Romney and Obama Santorum gets boost with wins in Missouri and Minnesota Former Rep. Titus’s primary opponent drops out STOCK Act embitters the House Alliance of business, labor on infrastructure begins to fray Obama OKs contributing to super-PACs: Game on, say Democratic donors Republican tells Dem and GOP leadership to cool it on tax rhetoric Committee finds $9.6 billion for $109B Senate transportation bill Bottom Line Komen vice president resigns over Planned Parenthood decision Bob Kerrey opts out of Nebraska Senate run Splitting the ticket not so rare Obama’s ‘resurgence’ is temporary After the war: Reaching our at-risk veterans Santorum: Prop. 8 ruling hurts ‘foundation of our society’ Member vs. member Young conservatives come face to face with idols to bond, strategize at annual CPAC conference Jon Huertas New data show health law is helping seniors Cloture vote set in Senate for highway bill Innovation key to fighting ‘super bugs’ Medicaid challenge requires creativity Levin, Conrad target tax breaks OVERNIGHT MONEY: Payroll tax cut conference waits in the bullpen Government must get serious about reforming entitlements GOP lawmakers protest removal of ‘God’ from Air Force unit’s patch