The Hill Articles: January 17, 2012

Conservative group urges lawmakers to oppose anti-piracy bills House approves rule allowing Wednesday vote on debt ceiling resolution OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Assault on CLASS Act resumes OVERNIGHT TECH: Leahy: Anti-piracy bill critics ‘flatly wrong’ Gingrich says his tax plan would allow every American to pay at Romney’s rate OVERNIGHT MONEY: Debt-ceiling debate returns with a vengeance Newt is finally Newt again Iran to return drone to Obama — a toy version Enthusiasm gap OVERNIGHT ENERGY: White House knocks GOP Keystone ‘fallacy’ DNC hits Romney for ‘hiding’ tax returns Weyants World: January 18, 2012 Money race: Stabenow tops $1.2 million in last quarter of 2011 Rick Perry stands by comments on Turkey Obama tweets first lady: ‘Happy birthday’ Anti-piracy bill markup to continue next month US most litigious country in the world, suggests GOP senator Lawmakers support move to cut pay of Fannie, Freddie executives DAY’S END ROUNDUP NRCC makes first investment in Oregon special House race Former Frank challenger to run again for House Gingrich’s ‘food stamps’ answer becomes new South Carolina ad Fox News’ John Roberts discloses his doppelganger Ron Paul to pause campaign to vote against debt-ceiling increase Ex-Marine charged in deaths of four LA homeless men Economist Alice Rivlin: Congress shouldn’t dwell on raising the debt ceiling Pennsylvania GOP Rep. Todd Platts to retire Upton challenger officially enters race Obama’s jobs council report says ‘drill’ Rasmussen poll: Romney spikes in SC Court rejects Perry appeal for inclusion on Virginia ballot Tensions with Iran are a reminder that we must break our addiction to foreign oil Sponsor of online piracy bill calls Wikipedia blackout a ‘publicity stunt’ Hospital trade group issues alert on looming cuts Hoyer: GOP debt-ceiling vote a ‘charade’ Schumer says US military should only use US steel SEC inspector general departs Jeffrey Zients named acting White House budget director Gingrich doubles down on promise to follow Obama around the country to force debates GOP using Solyndra to parry attacks on Mitt Romney’s record Rep. Bono Mack slams FDA over drug recalls Obama to unveil travel, tourism industry jobs plan at Disney World Rep. Wolf continues push for study group on Afghanistan and Pakistan Poll: Colbert would steal votes from Obama running as an independent Union targets vulnerable GOP freshmen on FAA bill House in, House out Federal watchdog launches campaign to nix Citizens United Gingrich on Romney: Why nominate the ‘guy who lost to the guy who lost to Obama?’ Democrats shorten 2012 convention from four days to three Santorum optimistic he won Iowa in final vote tally Begich suggests troops could be out of Afghanistan ahead of schedule Google joins protest of anti-piracy bill House leaders pledge to open data to public Gingrich suggests Santorum, Perry should exit race Carney: ‘Crazy’ for Gingrich to call Obama ‘food stamp president’ Top House Democrat presses Republicans for plans to investigate VIP loans Banks ordered to provide ‘living wills’ to regulators Poll: Perry support plummeting in Texas Former Romney adviser predicts he’ll lose South Carolina Marriage mission not impossible for ‘Tom Cruise of Congress’ Stephen Colbert is right on the money Turkey condemns Perry, questions his grasp of foreign affairs Mitt Romney says he ‘probably’ pays a tax rate close to 15 percent Bill Kristol: ‘Better for the Republican Party’ if Ron Paul left GOP Democratic lawmaker says cruise ship accident shows need for more regulation Pharmacy benefit managers launch new ad campaign GOP looks to formally terminate healthcare law’s CLASS program Poll: Obama, Romney in statistical dead heat A theory about Feehery’s (bogus) theory Netanyahu: Current US sanctions won’t stop Iran’s nuclear program Minority group says spectrum is a civil-rights issue Pelosi says GOP field is not ‘first string’ Report: Italian coast guard ordered cruise ship captain to return to wrecked ship Santorum wins endorsement of conservative activist Richard Viguerie GOP ad spoofs MSNBC host Rachel Maddow for opposing Keystone pipeline House launches new website to make legislation more transparent Pelosi says Democrats aim to win 35 House seats in 2012 elections Gingrich shines with ‘food stamp president’ line, according to Twitter The Hill’s Bob Cusack says voting down increase to debt ceiling is at top of House GOP’s agenda ‘Cut the pious baloney’ about the NLRB Teaching hospitals fight Medicare cuts ASPCA, PETA criticize Romney for dog on top of car during roadtrip Dem Rep. Ellison: Let 16-year-olds vote Club for Growth slams GOP Rep. Upton as challenger prepares to enter race Gingrich earns support of SC lieutenant governor Rep. Scott praises Gingrich’s debate performance Club for Growth: GOP ‘hypocrisy’ upcoming on debt-limit vote New Republican pipeline ad spoofs MSNBC news host Rachel Maddow Black Caucus chairman: People who approve of Congress ‘need therapy’ Bakery offers ‘TSA compliant’ cupcakes News bites: Hackers steal customer information from Zappos Former surgeon general raises half-million in 6 weeks for Ariz. Senate bid Obama takes on Florida snakes Senator introduces bill to honor ‘courageous and meritorious’ conduct of war dogs Newt returns to civility and logic HHS rewards use of technology to boost health Obama adviser Jarrett defends church pulpit criticism of GOP News bites: Employees gripe about Obama’s NOAA plan Poll: Romney holding 15-point edge in Florida News bites: Missing Dems wait on Sestak in Pennsylvania Tuesday: They’re back … Gingrich pushes Romney to release tax returns before South Carolina primary Canadian PM plays Iran card in Keystone push Poll: Romney holds double-digit lead, looks poised for easy SC win Paul intensifies criticism of GOP field in latest ad Gingrich says Obama ‘failed’ blacks on jobs Outgoing Sen. Conrad no-comments speculation over OMB appointment News bites: Overhaul Santorum releases first ad attacking Romney News bites: IRS refunds, CER studies, and more Ask A.B.: The end of the Tea Party? Opinion: Paying for the payroll tax cut ASPCA, PETA criticize Romney for dog on top of car during roadtrip Once hot, Tea Party goes cold GOP returns with New Year’s hangover Obama warns left: You won’t like budget Industry groups to President Obama: Leave federal trade agency alone The Dirty Dozen: Twelve thorns in Speaker Boehner’s side RNC Web video flips original meaning of Obama quote MORNING READ Rivals attack Romney in testy debate Ad from Colbert PAC urges supporters to vote for Herman Cain Romney for killing, not talking to, the Taliban Romney: Pro-Gingrich group’s attacks ‘the biggest hoax since bigfoot’ Romney booed for support of indefinite detentions GOP debate: Crowd gets rowdy when candidates talk foreign policy Romney: I would not sign DREAM Act Paul: Bring troops and money home Romney walks tightrope on immigration during GOP debate GOP debate: Romney agrees to turn over his tax returns in April Santorum hits Romney over voting rights attack ads Santorum sandbags Romney on voting rights for ex-cons President Obama’s new two-step Bottom Line US and Iran inch closer to military conflict Legislating for Nov. Waiting in the wings Meet the Lawmaker Rep. Mark Amodei (R-Nev.), 2nd District Fox News’s John Roberts
 discloses his doppelganger Marriage mission not 
impossible for the ‘Tom Cruise of Congress’ First lady’s superpower 
of choice: Flying