The Hill Articles: January 13, 2012

Fed official: Unemployment rate could tick up in 2012 Dem senator drops opposition to Obama court nominee Warren, Brown to hold summit on banning outside group spending Rep. Cantor: US allies have doubts about policies trying to control Iran White House sends GOP another batch of Solyndra documents A closer look at next week … Standard & Poor’s downgrades several European nations DAY’S END ROUNDUP Regulators reach agreement on drug industry fees Poll: Romney pulling away nationally Controversial provision to block websites dropped from online piracy bill First court challenge filed against Obama’s recess appointments Union seizes on report Chamber wants ‘clean’ FAA bill Poll: Romney leads, Paul gains in SC Gingrich, Santorum pick up House endorsements White House reorganization proposal raises concerns among trade advocates AMA: Permanent ‘doc fix’ is only acceptable option Wyden: Radioactive tsunami debris threatens the West Coast Gingrich, Huntsman, Perry, Santorum won’t make Va. ballot Issa welcomes MC Hammer to effort to stop SOPA America’s first lady stands up for military families, and is attacked by the Republican right! Newt’s strategy backfiring Underestimate Obama at ‘own peril,’ says GOP Gov. Chris Christie Former opponent endorses Warren in Massachusetts FCC might end sports blackout rule Rep. McKeon: US military cutbacks like the British Top Dem appropriator in House predicts agreement to avoid automatic cuts Report: John Edwards gets trial delay for ‘life-threatening heart condition’ Spike Lee to host fundraiser for President Obama Colbert begins buying ad time in South Carolina Report: Staff rivalries, migraines played into Bachmann’s demise Report: Rick Perry calls on a mannequin at SC town hall Oprah: I’m a ‘100 percent supporter’ of President Obama Comedian gets serious as Colbert announces that he will form exploratory committee Santorum: Romney’s a boss who shouldn’t be president Obama: Moving NOAA corrects a Nixon mistake Santorum compares Romney to Dukakis, Gore, Kerry and McCain Republicans say administration’s approach to health law benefits leaves taxpayers in the dark Sen. Paul returns $500,000 of his unspent office budget to Treasury Co-generation system planned to upgrade Capitol campus Bob Kerrey returns fire on Karl Rove ‘Date night’ returns for State of the Union Oprah: I’m a ‘100 percent supporter’ of President Obama GOP lawmaker unveils bill to fight recess appointments US restores diplomatic relations with Burma after prisoner release US will appoint an ambassador to Burma Poll: Republicans in Congress at risk We must change course on defense cuts Sen. Nelson: Iraq should pay to provide protection for US diplomats Gingrich calls on his super-PAC to correct inaccuracies or pull anti-Bain ads NRDC threatens legal action if Obama approves Keystone pipeline Club for Growth ad hits GOP Rep. Murphy as ‘liberal’ Boehner’s office: Is Obama’s agency merger just for show? Obama announces plan to make government ‘leaner, smarter and more consumer-friendly’ AT&T: Congress, not the FCC, should set spectrum auction rules Passenger defends cupcake confiscated by TSA Gen. McCaffrey: Iran will have ‘a dozen’ nukes within 5 years Colbert cannot appear as write-in candidate in South Carolina White House plan would move NOAA to Interior More than 100,000 have already voted in Florida primary Sen. McCain: ‘I on occasion have said not-so-smart things’ Obama tries to seize the mantle of small government from Republicans Report: US warns Iran not to close vital strait in the Persian Gulf We need a Commander-in-Chief who understands complexities of war GOP again shuts down Rep. Moran from speaking on House floor EPA seeks outside review of ‘fracking’ pollution report Sen. Manchin wants to extend State of the Union ‘date night’ to committees Poll: Paul, Perry on move in SC Gingrich wins endorsement of Tim LaHaye, evangelical author of ‘Left Behind’ series Ex-congressman played baseball with new Hall of Famer New defense strategy builds on success of past two years Army withdrawing two brigades from Europe GOP House freshmen urge WH hopefuls to lay off Bain attacks Trade deficit widened in November What do abused dogs and laid-off workers have in common? RNC outraises DNC for final stretch of 2011 News bites: Apple suspends iPhone sales in China Sen. McCain: ‘I on occasion have said not-so-smart things’ Leahy chief of staff moving to White House Alaska senators cheer as Shell moves closer to Arctic drilling Court filing claims 17 million young adults would lose coverage without health law Perry again flubs government agencies on chopping block Obama campaign piles on with criticism of Romney, Bain Capital Club for Growth continues attacks on Tim Murphy Rep. King encouraged that American Muslims helped foil plot against US military Pro-Romney group slams Santorum on earmarks in Florida ad Issa: Obama ignoring Occupy DC to avoid ‘political embarrassment’ Pro-Romney group takes first shot at Santorum News bites: Tased House GOP puts Solyndra in cross hairs Party-switching Griffith will seek GOP primary rematch against Rep. Brooks News bites: Chu defends auto loan decisions, EPA pushes New York on ‘fracking,’ and more Democrats help Gingrich promote old Romney gaffes News bites: Behind the curtain New Gingrich ad mocks Romney for speaking French Romney goes negative: New ad says GOP opponents ‘taking the Obama line’ News bites: Experts reject quality measures, Mitt and Newt fight over abortion, and more GOP hopes to seize momentum by attacking Obama on Keystone Rand Paul blocking tax treaties over fears of government snooping Romney to hammer Gingrich, Perry on immigration in SC MORNING READ No joke? Stephen Colbert exploring a presidential run Some expected more from team Obama’s fundraising haul House plans Wednesday vote on debt-limit disapproval