The Hill Articles: March 15, 2012

Rep. Gary Ackerman will not seek reelection Obama shifts healthcare defense Business, conservative groups split on Ex-Im bank Canada considers bailing out on Joint Strike Fighter Axelrod: Limbaugh the ‘de facto boss’ of GOP, ‘Romney was afraid to take him on’ Democrats push alternative to House small-business measure Super-PACs and ‘dark money’: The musical explanation Iranian banks cut off from global financial system DAY’S END ROUNDUP Republican members trade March Madness barbs over Twitter Election-year politics trump investor protection Mr. President: Nominate Jeffrey Sachs Senate Dems offer amendment to ‘fix’ and replace House GOP jobs bill Bankers pressure Senate leaders to avoid credit union bill Majority in US oppose military intervention in Syria, poll finds Rahm Emanuel: If Romney ‘can’t stand up to Rush,’ he won’t ‘stand up to Russia’ ‘Kony 2012’ video dominates Twitter Advisory panel recommends Medicare payment cuts Appropriators warn legislative agencies of further funding cuts George Clooney won’t predict a second term for Obama, hopes for reelection George Clooney won’t predict a second term for President Obama Senate lawmakers unite in blasting potential MF Global bonuses Wasserman Schultz participates in anti-bullying campaign Chamber joins court challenge against NLRB recess appointments Gingrich says two alternative candidates make attacks harder for Romney Dems, Clooney to protest Sudanese embassy Friday TSA to offer seniors ‘modified screening’ Obama stops for barbecue: ‘Hot sauce got to be hot’ Republican bill would enroll seniors in same health plans as lawmakers Grassley slams Dems for Violence Against Women Act strategy House Dems demand meeting with Apple over privacy policy for iPhone, iPad apps Santorum sticks by comment on Puerto Rico statehood and English language Romney: No ‘secret deal’ with Ron Paul Department of Agriculture to offer beef without ‘pink slime’ to schools Senate clears two Obama judicial nominees Candidate field for Snowe seat swells Lugar declared ineligible to vote in Indiana Congressional budget office wants bigger budget McCain March Madness bracket picks Kentucky to win it all Rubio calls for sustained American engagement in global human rights Republican urges LightSquared’s approval as sides make final push Another audience member faints during Obama speech Housing market showing signs of strengthening The DREAM Act: The challenge to get it right Senate Dems snag GOP co-sponsors for Export-Import Bank effort Rep. Issa promotes easy-to-use government site GOP senator dismisses ‘CliffsNotes’ explanation for killing citizens abroad McCain sees another Solyndra in Navy biofuels spending House GOP lawmaker to introduce ‘millionaires tax’ bill Non-religious business sues over contraception mandate Kermit the Frog speculates about a brokered GOP convention Santorum super-PAC airs ad in Illinois attacking Romney on healthcare, economy Addressing rising gas prices Obama: GOP field ‘must have been founding members of the Flat Earth Society’ Durbin: US buying weapons from same Russian manufacturer that is enabling massacre in Syria Obama administration announces 12-week anti-smoking ad campaign Court: SEC likely to win fight over Citigroup settlement Obama hits GOP foes as having ‘flat Earth’ views on energy Gingrich: Political system is ‘methodically and deliberately stupid’ Santorum says, unlike Obama, ‘I don’t have time to do Final Four’ IMF approves $37 billion Greek bailout package despite GOP grumbling Report: Evidence withheld in trial that would have helped former Sen. Stevens Senate to cast vote on GOP’s JOBS Act on Tuesday Report: Britain, US to greenlight release from emergency oil reserve Poll: Obama maintains lead over GOP candidates White House press briefing Thursday, March 15 CBO report says healthcare law could cause as many as 20M to lose coverage Reid promises vote on credit union lending bill House conservatives resist push for GOP compromise on budget Capitol Police make arrest after outburst in Senate gallery Gore occupies, Soros opines Senate should stand firm on JOBS Act Romney: ‘We’re not going to a brokered convention’ Republicans escalate their war against women, and women are winning House Oversight Committee’s new ad: ‘So easy a congressman can do it’ Santorum: Obama DOJ favors ‘pornographers over children’ Romney slams Obama over gas prices Sen. Kyl takes strong stand against top Obama administration trade priority Regulator warns that JOBS Act carries risks for investors Sen. McCain continues push for Syrian intervention House Oversight Committee’s new ad: ‘So easy a congressman can do it’ BBC hit with Iranian cyberattack Revisiting WWII Latin American arrests Boehner commends Obama, Congress on start of South Korea trade deal New commission aims to connect classrooms to the Internet Laura Ingraham warns Rick Santorum not to ‘whine’ over media coverage Sen. Menendez congratulates Sen. Mikulski on becoming longest-serving female legislator Obama campaign paid $20,300 per minute for supportive film Will the wool continue to be pulled over our eyes? Israeli strike on Iran could raise gas prices to $6 per gallon, analysts say Schumer trying to pick a fight out of bipartisan matters, says McConnell Sessions threatens to bring Senate to ‘grinding halt’ over nuke official’s nomination Obama pushes energy plans as gas prices rise Puerto Rico legislator calls Santorum comments ‘narrow’ Mitt Romney/Rick Perry 2012 Jobless claims drop back to four-year low Biden hits road to defend Obama’s economic record Sen. Johanns calls on Boehner to strip Nevada earmark from highway bill Democrats hammer Sherrod Brown challenger over Bahamas fundraising Clinton meets at White House to combat human trafficking Poll: Kinzinger, Manzullo tied White House executive chef says politics divides, but food unites News bites: The friendly movie files News bites: Bush says Keystone approval a ‘no brainer’ Afghanistan president wants US troops to leave more quickly Thursday: JOBS Act, nominations in the Senate More social conservatives apply pressure on Gingrich to drop out of GOP race News bites: Bishops’ contraception crusade, Supreme Court’s critics, and more Report claims Obama, Cameron discussed tapping oil reserves News bites: Taking on the big house News bites: Google prepares to overhaul search formula Gibbs says Obama is ‘comfortable being the underdog’ in 2012 Poll: Half favor faster Afghan exit after shooting deaths Congress must reauthorize VAWA now Obama, Cameron toast ‘essential relationship’ at black-tie state dinner Hatch’s fate on the line in Utah caucuses MORNING READ Romney and Republican rivals face difficult path to gaining 1,144 delegates US, South Korea trade deal goes into effect