The Hill Articles: September 20, 2012

Dems ask to extend House session House approves transparency amendments to coal bill Cantor: Romney ‘s 47 percent comments a ‘distraction’ Romney intensifies swing-state campaign schedule, attacks on Obama Poll: Obama posts significant leads in Iowa, Wisc., Colorado GOP hammers Obama on election promise to bankrupt coal industry OVERNIGHT MONEY: Senate vote on CR on hold OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Administration briefs Congress on Libya attack OVERNIGHT TECH: Smith blames Dems for defeat of visa bill Latest Obama ad says Romney welfare plan raises costs for seniors OVERNIGHT HEALTH: House votes to block Obama welfare waivers GOP blocks vote on treaty recognizing rights for people with disabilities OVERNIGHT CAMPAIGN: Romney 2.0 Romney finance report shows cash crunch before convention House Democrat meets Uggie, ‘The Artist’ dog Clinton fails to convince Republicans on administration’s account of Libya attack OVERNIGHT ENERGY: House votes on coal package on tap Dems unload on furniture movers for price hikes US buys air time in Pakistan to denounce anti-Islamic video Poll shows GOP Rep. Rivera leading Garcia in Florida Boehner helps Pelosi hammer nail at congressional ceremony Thompson blames Romney for his poor poll numbers in Wisconsin Bill to overhaul visa system fails in House; 30 Democrats defect Senators accuse HP, Microsoft of avoiding billions in taxes House Dems to Senate brokers: Use revenue to make ‘down payment’ DAY’S END ROUNDUP House votes to block Obama’s change to welfare requirement GOP chairmen implore White House not to release blind sheikh Obama: Extremists used film ‘as an excuse’ to harm US interests Romney agrees: Obama ‘can’t change Washington’ Romney pounces on Obama’s remark about changing Washington Menendez outraged over proposal to raise mortgage guarantee fees Cleaver: Smith’s high-skilled immigration bill ‘a political talking point’ House Republicans demand shake-up at DOJ after Fast and Furious report Dave Matthews ‘slightly heartbroken’ about voting for Obama Reid says no continuing resolution vote without a vote on sportsman bill Pelosi: Romney either uninformed or untruthful in attacks on welfare waivers Port labor negotiators agree to extend talks Paralyzed by elections, tax-writers unable to act on fiscal abyss Carmona to visit Washington for fundraising, meetings Reid cancels Senate floor votes to force Scott Brown to debate Elizabeth Warren Fed official: Commit to low rates until 5.5 percent unemployment Malawi’s president thanks US for renewing textile trade deal with Africa Inouye blames GOP obstructionism for continuing resolution votes Poll: Most doubt US will lead on science, tech in 2020 Shell gets green light for first stage of drilling in Beaufort Sea Gallup: Enthusiasm among Democratic voters spikes in swing states Fighting to end President Obama’s war on coal Not just a farm bill, but a food bill – Let’s get it right Nigerian ambassador Adebowale Adefuye: Radical Islamists cannot be defeated by military means alone DOD: Sequestration should be averted, not fixed ACLU demands disclosure of details on CIA drone strikes Reid, Senate Dems oppose Social Security cuts in debt deal Criminal justice reform is a national economic issue – Stop ignoring it Senate inches toward completing votes on spending resolution For Romney and Obama: It IS all about the arithmetic Sen. Manchin mum on Obama support Obama campaign continues to raise debate expectations for Romney Federal workers’ healthcare premiums to rise 3.4 percent Michelle Obama featured in ‘How to Look Hot in a Minivan’ book House advances welfare, coal bills Jindal ‘can’t speak to’ Romney’s ‘ObamaCare’ joke Libya attack shows effort to close Gitmo should be abandoned, says Inhofe In Senate debate, Kaine says he’d be open to minimum tax level Lautenberg rips Romney on ’47 percent’ comment Electric grid regulator creates cybersecurity office Obama can’t work iPhone but claims he got intel briefings on iPad? Lawmakers face hard choices on taxing capital gains The FTC needs to butt out on cookies White House calls US Consulate assault in Benghazi, Libya, a ‘terrorist attack’ House panel passes bill to ease rules on insurers, brokers Senate Dems: GOP will deal on tax hikes after Tea Party setbacks in November Republican war on the environment Obama: ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal ‘strengthened’ national security House panel to hold public ethics hearing Friday for Rep. Waters Senate leadership debates judicial nomination votes Michelle Obama: DADT repeal made country ‘stronger, freer, and fairer’ House quickly disposes of Dem point of order on welfare resolution GOP promises to keep railing against Amtrak Maryland Gov. O’Malley to attend DC fundraiser for same-sex marriage GOP slams $15 billion in Medicaid overpayments Team Obama releases tongue-in-cheek video taking Romney out of context Ann Romney to appear on ‘Tonight Show’ Tuesday Witnesses dispute White House’s account of consulate attack in Libya Poll: Sen. Brown posts lead on Warren in Mass. Senate race Poll: Obama’s support spikes in swing-state Wisconsin Report: Climate change means taxpayers could pay for more disaster cleanups Rubio: Can’t lump Pakistan, Libya and Egypt together in vote on Paul’s bill McCain clarifies stance on Afghan withdrawal ‘West Wing’ cast reunites in campaign video US warns Americans to avoid travel to Pakistan Harry Reid wants a president for all people; Antoinette Republicans claim Reid victimizes Romney! DCCC launches attack on Bono Mack in California Proposal to require police warrant for email snooping advances in Senate David Letterman: I don’t ‘hate’ Romney Investing in a smarter, more sustainable, more efficient global infrastructure Mitt Romney: The affirmative-action kid GOP lawmaker proposes reducing Egypt, Libya aid to pay for embassy repair, reparations Reid: Republican actions the ‘very definition of chutzpah’ Planned Parenthood targets Romney with online effort House Republicans extend invitation to Netanyahu after snub from Obama Speaker Boehner: Congress will tackle stalled farm bill after the election is over Club for Growth sets sights on Sen. Graham Romney intensifies campaign schedule with Ohio bus tour Renewable Fuel Standard flexibility needed Ryan delivers pep talk to House GOP: ‘We are going to win this thing’ Pawlenty to take over as Financial Services Roundtable CEO Senate GOP hits Reid, Obama for inaction on budget, taxes, deficit Mortgage rates hover near record lows Club for Growth president hopes Romney ‘exceeds expectations’ Boeing wants BAE-EADS merger scrutinized GOP Rep. Bass disagrees with Romney ’47 percent’ remarks Report: US fuel-efficiency standards on trucks stricter than in Europe, Canada The choice facing voters in 2012 Checks stolen from Obama campaign Why we need a new farm bill now Reid: Hispanic voters are better off with Obama than Romney Italy, Switzerland added to congressional anti-piracy watch list Rep. Cicilline poll shows him with double-digit lead Sen. McCain introduced mother to Burma’s Suu Kyi Aerosmith’s Joe Perry: I’m an ‘old-school’ Republican News bites: Dying for transplants News bites: Verizon and unions reach tentative deal Issa: White House pursuing an ‘enemies list’ in Washington Bill would cut Obama, lawmaker pay if sequester isn’t stopped News bites: Approved Romney: ‘I’m not going to be rounding people up and deporting them’ Obama holds big leads in Michigan in two new polls First-time jobless claims down 3,000 Thursday: Welfare policy in the House, spending in the Senate Virtue in an age of hopelessness Panel sets floor votes on climate science, EPA mine veto power Coburn: Veteran job bill another example of Congress’s ‘crap’ Thursday’s global agenda: Clinton on the Hill News bites: 10 figures Starting to tackle climate change How well do you know the Constitution? Flurry of ‘drone’ bills’ shows Congress has much to learn Presidential experience: A look at the data News bites: Lawmakers abroad seek Arctic drilling freeze DNC is HQ for Obama’s debate prep Hillary Clinton to battle Tea Party over foreign aid to Egypt and Libya One year later, ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’ fades as divisive political issue The GOP lawmakers who won’t endorse Romney include Reps. Paul, Jones MORNING READ GOP: More scalps for Fast and Furious Extended tape: Obama touts ‘the marketplace’ and ‘competition’ House votes to label drywall in response to contaminated products from China Library of Congress unveils new bill-tracking site to replace THOMAS Jesse Jackson Jr. puts DC home up for sale Senate GOP leaders dodge questions on Romney’s ’47 percent’ remarks GOP: Reid’s Mitt-bashing broke rules McCain: Early Afghan exit an option because of war’s mishandling Four years later, Congress extends top honor to Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi Justice Department report clears Holder, but faults DOJ, ATF officials Lobbyists to sell merger of defense firms to Washington