The Hill Articles: March 20, 2012

Senate has path for transportation bill Let’s get serious on transportation funding Nation on hold while congressional gridlock continues on highway bill Cut red tape to protect conduits of commerce Democratic tax-writers blast GOP tax reform plan Working together is to everyone’s benefit Economy improving, not yet better Will Obama take a bite of Apple? Obama has options for lowering US gas prices Pelosi’s hand Charlotte Ross US commander says Afghan war is ‘on track’ despite recent turmoil US needs long-term transportation bill to create jobs, stimulate economy Obama tells secrets to Russia GOP’s Latino problem Weyants World: March 21, 2012 OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Obama heads west on energy road trip OVERNIGHT HEALTH: IPAB repeal hits House floor Q&A with Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist and author Illinois voters have ‘reservations’ about GOP candidates OVERNIGHT TECH: Comcast to defend Verizon deal in Senate hearing Repeal vote could help GOP with physicians’ lobby OVERNIGHT MONEY: House GOP budget gets airing at markup Energy Department hits back at Issa over ‘false and misleading’ SUV jab Senate shoots down amendment to reauthorize Export-Import Bank Ryan budget plan appears more costly than status quo House passes Virginia land-use bill DAY’S END ROUNDUP Senate defeats Ex-Im reauthorization after McConnell urges no vote Senators push Air Force on cuts to Air Guard Democrats ‘skeptical’ about FCC’s political ad rule Report: Buffett Rule would raise less than $50 billion over decade The bishops’ contraceptive problem Turnout light for Illinois primary Thune: Ryan plan would likely divide Senate Republicans Senate kills Dem amendment to ‘fix’ and replace House GOP jobs bill Reid moves to adopt House-passed version of lawmaker insider-trading bill Wyden: GOP ‘hurting senior citizens’ with spin about bipartisan support for Medicare overhaul Democrats ramp up attacks on House GOP budget proposal Poll: Majority says Romney’s dog-on-the-roof story won’t affect vote; 68 percent say it was inhumane Reid dodges potential filibuster by abandoning Senate version of STOCK Act No laughing matter: The cutting of UNESCO funding Santorum raises $9M, has $2.6M on hand Romney emphasizes his family’s support on the campaign trail US imposes tariffs on Chinese solar imports Obama: ‘We like to prolong’ the St. Patrick’s Day party White House: Malia Obama ‘safe’ following Mexico earthquake House calls on administration to sell off excess properties GOP lawmaker entertains Obama ‘birther’ notions Santorum criticizes Obama for letting daughter visit Mexico with friends Reid does not plan Senate vote on House short-term highway bill Congress is in need of strong medicine House advances Virginia land-use bill over Dem objections House Approps chief endorses spending levels in Ryan budget Rep. McMorris Rodgers doesn’t rule out VP bid Reid: Sen. Wyden against Medicare reforms in Ryan budget Ask A.B.: Ryan doubles down with new budget Cantor launches ‘Citizen CoSponsor’ Facebook app In Iraq, mission not yet accomplished Santorum: Romney public sector record ‘pathetic’ Ryan budget to cut $5.3 trillion in spending over the next decade Rep. Issa attacks Chu for ‘not practicing what he preaches’ on energy Report: Classified war game paints bleak outcome for US in Iranian conflict House rejects Dem point of order against Virginia land-use bill Energy Secretary gives himself ‘A+’ on efforts to control gas prices Nebraska GOP challenging Bob Kerrey’s voter registration Son of ‘Superman’ pushes for paralysis research Gen. Allen testifies ‘last couple months have been trying’ in Afghanistan Santorum counters Romney’s delegate argument, says race is closer than it looks Transportation supporters ‘rally for roads’ amid highway bill debate Khamenei: Iran will attack to defend itself Gingrich quick to praise Ryan budget Fed reaps $77 billion profit in 2011 Obama energy chief says he deserves high marks for trying to lower gas prices Schweich won’t join crowded GOP Senate field in Missouri Unions swarm Congress in push against Verizon-cable deals Rep. Ryan: GOP presidential candidates say new budget ‘going in the right direction’ Arkansas airport to be renamed for Bill and Hillary Clinton GOP Agriculture chairman resists Ryan plan Goldman op-ed not representative of industry Hoyer: GOP ‘can’t keep a deal’ CBO: Ryan policies would cut Medicare spending, increase number of uninsured Dems bring last-minute fight to stop GOP ‘jobs’ bill in the Senate Dem poll: Donnelly leads Mourdock in Indiana McCain says US could be ‘on the ground’ in Afghanistan past 2014 Geithner: Taxpayers not on the hook for Europe’s woes Ryan: GOP presidential candidates are on board with budget Senate Democrats’ fundraising email warns GOP control could repeal voting rights Nuclear Weapons policy: It’s 2012, not 1992 Brunner ad knocks Obama, McCaskill on jobs Obama campaign says ‘white first lady’ joke was ‘inappropriate’ Ryan defers on tax-reform details House Republican blasts EPA regs that will shutter Pa. power plant It’s time to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve Scott Brown: Move on from gay marriage RNC chairman: ‘Santorum’s right’ about unemployment rate White House says GOP budget would ‘shower’ rich with tax breaks House GOP budget takes aim at Obama’s energy agenda Warren opens small lead over Brown in latest Mass. poll Calif. temps invade DC ahead of movie premiere about former governor Removing bureaucratic barriers to higher education DC delegate: Republican budget could lead to shutdown Santorum: Voters need to focus on ‘root cause’ of jobless rate Santorum confirms Secret Service codename Limbaugh only reminded women of their power New study confirms PSA screening saves lives Senate Dems officially set 2013 spending levels Key GOP chairman backs boosting programs that could be used against Iran House GOP to unveil small-business tax break For American jobs, Ex-Im Bank should be reauthorized First lady says Obama ‘always upbeat, particularly about Congress’ Ros-Lehtinen calls on Pope Benedict to meet with Cuban dissidents next week Boehner sees ‘strong vote of support’ for Ryan budget proposal Gingrich says actor Robert De Niro’s racially themed first lady joke ‘inexcusable’ Reid slams Cantor for ‘picking a fight’ over Ex-Im amendment Karen Santorum says husband ‘will do nothing’ on issue of contraception GOP Maine governor urges Snowe and Collins to support online sales tax Reid plans March showdown on oil-industry tax breaks Reid moves Senate votes back to 4 p.m. due to ‘violent storms’ Top Democrat says GOP tax plan hurts the middle class CNN’s Burnett ‘annoyed’ by appearance in RNC ad Latest Gingrich ad hopes to draw White House further into tussle over gas prices McCain plans to offer Snooki some words of wisdom on pregnancy GOP budget steers clear of Dodd-Frank repeal Michelle Obama tells Letterman: Bo ‘is my son’ GOP budget boosts defense spending Ryan budget cuts Medicaid by $810 billion White House press briefing March 20, 2012 Why would any woman vote Republican? Facebook hires former Boehner aide Government: A charitable organization Homebuilding slows but permits hit their highest level in three years Flake challenger launches attacks on immigration, term-limit pledge Eminem parody takes jabs at Mitt Romney News bites: French regulator questions Google on privacy DCCC chairman: Dems ‘will not negotiate’ over Ryan Medicare plan RNC campaigns against Obama on healthcare in six battleground states House members call for new labels warning against ‘violent’ video games Rep. Ryan says budget plan addresses government’s ’empty promises’ News bites: Handicapped pat-down Poll: Obama, Kaine lead GOP opponents in Virginia Ryan rips Dem ‘scare tactics’ ahead of GOP budget release Tuesday: JOBS Act in the Senate, property use in the House Michelle Obama tells Letterman: Bo ‘is my son’ News bites: Conflict minerals Romney hits Santorum over ‘I don’t care’ about jobless rate comment News bites: State mandate bans, Tea Party revolt, and more DOJ to investigate Trayvon Martin shooting News bites: 2010, not 1998, called hottest on record Romney poised for key Illinois win Durbin, Dem colleagues at odds over House bill to ease corporate regulations Pelosi looms over contest for top slot on House Appropriations Committee Federal investigation of Iran dissident group bypasses K Street firms MORNING READ Insider-trading bill grinds to halt Player of the Week: Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) Newt won’t exit, thought others should No better time to invest in Ireland Pinning politics Bottom Line Seller of the week: President Obama McCain plans to offer Snooki some words of wisdom on pregnancy Son of ‘Superman’ pushes for paralysis research Rodents take a liking to congressman’s office Federal court draws NY congressional map