The Hill Articles: June 20, 2012

Senate votes on 63 of 73 farm bill amendments Opinion: Shielding privileged executives from consequences of their actions Optimism sparks up as transportation bill talks get a fresh start Dating site users: We want Obama as our sugar daddy M&M’s all the rage among House Republicans Sad news for Kent Conrad’s canine Grassley presses Obama for answers French food for the masses Filmmaker seeks Capitol Hill screening for his new WWII documentary Thief swipes Rep. Dicks’s boat Congressman skips church for KFC Oysters pop up on Hill OVERNIGHT ENERGY: House to advance GOP-led drilling bill Dining out is going digital Good things come in small packages Restaurants help transform Washington Dining table the original social network Legal troubles expand for GOP Reps. Buchanan, Grimm OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Poll finds wide support for cheap birth-control access Pelosi defends Holder, says GOP should move on Dictatorship of dollars The artful dodger OVERNIGHT TECH: Senate set to examine music industry merger Cantor: GOP energy bill will create jobs Weyants World: June 21, 2012 Romney campaign entered June with $17 million cash-on-hand OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Defense heavy-hitters to weigh in on future threats OVERNIGHT MONEY: Russia trade tops agenda OVERNIGHT CAMPAIGN: Eyeing the immigration issue Obama campaign holds $110 million in cash Tommy Thompson leads in primary, general election in Wisconsin Moldova deserves PNTR as well Amendment protecting ‘unnecessary regulations’ on tv, film extras approved in Senate DSCC outraises NRSC for May Al Qaeda embassy bombing plot foiled in Yemen Senior Dem on contempt vote: ‘This did not have to be’ Fast and more furious: The case for contempt GOP Rep. Smith presses Obama on legality of new deportation rules GOP seeks to punish vulnerable Senate Dems on EPA vote Warner amendment targets funding for rural Internet Senate approves amendment requiring report on transportation problems in rural areas DAY’S END ROUND-UP Syria is President Obama’s Kosovo Think tank: Iran cleaning up suspected nuclear facility Holder contempt motion passes panel in party line vote Bernanke says Fed will extend $267B ‘Operation Twist’ to boost economy Sequestration will weaken US in eyes of Iran, say House Republicans House panel votes 23-17 to place Holder in contempt of Congress Marketplaces more popular, accessible than ever Romney remains in the far right corner on immigration Group: Uninsured Americans will die without healthcare law Senate approves grants for maple syrup industry US accused of withholding UN report critical of ally Rwanda Bill limiting SEC funds to enact Dodd-Frank headed to House floor House cheers, approves FDA reform bill Thief swipes Rep. Dicks’ boat Poll: Obama leads in swing-state Wisconsin Issa pledges to look at reordering ATF Pelosi cheers GOP for retreating on FCC’s political ad rule Rep. Cummings accuses Issa of holding Holder to ‘impossible standard’ In voting on dueling amendments, Senate continues food aid to North Korea Military instructor suspended over class against Islam Super-PAC plans to help McCaskill in tough Senate race It should not be this difficult House votes to instruct highway conferees to finish by Friday House Dems press Interior to toughen gas ‘fracking’ rule House advances bill tying oil reserves to domestic energy development Major lobbying ban inserted into House spending legislation House appropriators advance bill slashing EPA funding Software group decries protectionism Determining ‘essential’ health benefits DSCC raises $5.6 million in May No criminal charges for US service members involved in Quran burnings Whatever Supreme Court decides, healthcare must be revisited Senate passes Coburn amendment closing USDA payment loophole for millionaires Info agencies built on paper shift to meet demands of digital age Issa tries to bolster case for placing Holder in contempt Lawmakers laud DOD audit of Afghan taxes on US aid Former GOP presidential hopeful Huntsman moves to Brookings Institution Rio meeting can still produce a key climate outcome Big ad buy targets Obama, health law in swing states Obama asserts executive privilege ahead of Holder contempt vote Olivia Wilde joins ‘Dogs against Romney’ campaign Bernanke to extend effort to boost economy Anti-incumbent Campaign for Primary Accountability spent more than $640,000 in May Rep. Issa: Panel ‘evaluating’ Obama’s executive privilege claim Boxer pledges to meet ‘for hours’ with Mica to jump-start highway bill Romney super-PAC nets $5 million in May Gov. Scott: Florida will comply if health law is upheld Pass the Federal Hen Protection Bill White House move sets off lawmaker questions over ‘Fast and Furious’ Twitter fundraising coming soon to political campaigns House panel votes to limit abortion under Obama’s healthcare law New START is working to enhance US national security Bid to kill EPA coal plant regulations thwarted in Senate Swing-state polls: Obama and Romney tied in Michigan, Iowa Rep. Frank disappointed by Dimon’s ‘failure to recognize’ need for regulation Top Republican, trade official press for clean Russia trade bill Ogilvy Government Relations shakes up leadership Pakistan arrests European al Qaeda operative CEOs lower growth expectations as fiscal cliff approaches Romney campaign cuts press call short after immigration questions Sen. Jack Reed: ‘Austerity is not working in Europe’ Top trade panel Dem splits with Obama, calls for linking Russia trade bill to Syria Obama criticized Bush administration for trying to ‘hide’ behind executive privilege 2012 Farm Bill: Impacting Americans from all walks of life Sen. Manchin expresses support for Inhofe EPA resolution on Senate floor Marco Rubio for VP: Hasta la vista, baby Supreme Court experts predict justices will strike down healthcare mandate HHS touts health law for creating jobs, expanding care House panel urges Obama to fight UN regulation of the Internet Poll: Healthcare reform must stay on Washington’s agenda Rep. King: Hostages at French bank a ‘reminder’ of al Qaeda presence House GOP reverses position, won’t block FCC political ad rule Report: Britney Spears and Mitt Romney share same taste in elevators GOP looks to block EPA from using drones to enforce clean-water rules McConnell voices support for Inhofe EPA resolution Former Sen. LeMieux drops GOP Senate bid NRA to score Holder contempt vote Lawmakers pressure Obama to step up efforts against Iran Top FCC aide steps down Rep. Hoyer expands social-media use Rubio hasn’t spoken to Romney about Obama immigration shift News bites: Google responds to UK investigation News bites: Coming through Discontent with Obama in coal country grows Romney outside group ad hits Obama for private sector ‘doing fine’ comment New Obama ads hit Romney on outsourcing, taxes A first-rate politician with calculated future risk Wednesday: Energy in the House, farm bill amendments in the Senate Poll: Obama holds lead, majority of voters say Romney ‘out of touch’ News bites: Choices ahead News bites: Catholic group defends decision to break with Obama, and more New RNC ad targeting Hispanics focuses on economic message Wednesday’s global agenda: House talks trade with Russia News bites: The EPA spy drone myth, China and India team up, and more New star of deficit talks is Judd Gregg Romney faces pressure from both GOP, Dems on immigration policy Info agencies built on paper shift to meet demands of digital age Romney tries to get voters to blame Obama — not Bush — on the economy Chemical makers bristle at building standards, say new rules will cost jobs MORNING READ Obama: EU crisis could ‘have impact’ on reelection chances Senate votes against DeMint broadband amendment North Dakota redux Congress recognizes wide-ranging issues in ‘Day of,’ ‘Week of,’ ‘Month of’ resolutions Cynical immigration ploy working