The Hill Articles: December 9, 2013

White House taps former Bill Clinton adviser In-flight cell calls? No way, say lawmakers Lawmakers ready budget to jam through House of Representatives this week Lawmakers hurry to sign up for O-Care Rep. Stockman to primary Sen. Cornyn Obama calls for calm in Central African Republic John Feehery: What are we for? Bill Press: The new leisure class Reid sets up votes on nominees Gillibrand amendment is right way OVERNIGHT MONEY: Watt set for Senate confirmation Player of the Week: Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) Criticism of Federal Trade Commission was dishonest OVERNIGHT ENERGY: EPA climate regs head to court Liberals cry foul on potential budget deal Treasury loses $10.5 billion on GM bailout OVERNIGHT TECH: Lawmakers strike deal on FCC process OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Congress pushes quick work on Defense bill OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Congress races to sign up for ObamaCare Dems: Minimum wage shouldn’t be ‘political fight’ Cheney on Christie: He’s a ‘promising figure’ President Obama: ‘Auto industry is back’ Lawmakers probe FDA hack Poll: 30 percent delay costly medical treatment Greens plead case against pipeline at State Rep. Grayson loses $18 million in fraud scheme ‘Star Trek’ actor endorses Hanabusa House passes child abuse bill in quick Monday work Top Democratic recruit drops out of Nebraska House race EPA sued over bees House bill aims to boost government spectrum sales Financial regulators warn of cyber-threat Sen. Graham pledges to forgo employer contribution on healthcare ‘Mitt’ the documentary to debut on Netflix Levin, Inhofe urge quick action on Defense bill Senate approves bill banning plastic guns Clock is ticking on $607B defense bill Super-PAC pushes back on Clinton attacks House GOP presses IRS on healthcare credits Mandating higher minimum wage will hurt employees and economy Reid postpones vote due to weather Heritage Action warns on budget deal Obama to speak at Mandela memorial Hagel orders US troops to airlift to Central African Republic Kerry to travel back to Middle East When it comes to Iranian nuclear program: Verify but never trust Gillibrand proposal not in Defense bill’s final cut Poll: Plurality opposes Iran nuclear deal Biden voices concern on Ukraine unrest Watt set to get housing regulator nod while in South Africa Reid warns of long days, weekend work Iran: ‘Deal is dead’ if sanctions are passed Sen. Kirk has his gallbladder removed Palin to host ‘Amazing America’ TV show Poll: Huckabee leads GOP presidential field in South Carolina White House deputy on environmental council to step down Proposed OSHA standards on silica fail to promote worker health Kerry’s new pooch makes DC debut Clinton criticizes NSA’s reported collection of company data More than 100,000 New Yorkers enroll in O-Care Congressional inertia puts our food supply at risk Former Rep. Filner gets three years’ probation Rubio: US should keep trade embargo on Cuba Netanyahu: Israel not close to final peace deal Alleged White House crasher running for DC mayor Study: GM bailout saved 1.2M jobs Are you subsidizing another state’s air pollution? Gun control advocates see state gains Manufacturers pinched by health costs McCain: Forces agreement needed Dozens of world leaders to attend Mandela memorial events GOP demands IRS explain ObamaCare fraud prevention This Week in Tech: FCC to vote on in-flight cellphone use proposal EPA chief visiting China amid record air pollution Rep. Rokita Instagrams his sons with Santa Biden to lead Mandela memorial in DC The case for Mitt Romney and Nikki Haley Rove: Emanuel puts bad face on ObamaCare Congress is weakening patents and threatening to kill the innovation economy Cheney: Obama ‘deliberately’ lied Cheney: Obama doesn’t believe in American exceptionalism US Air, American Airlines complete their merger Cell carriers reveal 1.1M police requests MSNBC host: O-Care a derogatory term Cheney on O-Care promise: ‘It was a lie. It was deliberate’ Rove weighs in on Zeke Emanuel US grabbing lower share of foreign investment GOP senator tells Obama to stop violence in Africa Poll: 68 percent skeptical lawmakers will strike budget deal SNL spoofs Sharpton, O-Care Retailers have themselves to thank for lower Christmas sales NSA spied through online video games Biden to fill in for Obama at Congress Holiday Ball Tuesday’s meeting announcements: Trade panel talks bricks Northeastern states call on Midwest to tighten air regs Peter King ready to take on Christie in presidential fight US Air CEO: Merger good for airline industry New regs for Tuesday: Fishing and finance Battling deadline, Congress to unveil Defense bill agreement Passenger locked in plane McCain: No Afghan security agreement would be ‘huge setback’ Fed taper not expected until next year Amtrak CEO named ‘railroader of the year’ Commercial drones face major regulatory hurdles Obama travels to South Africa Week ahead: Merger finalized Doctors say medical transfer provision necessary in Defense bill WH: Hersh report on Syria ‘simply false’ Jackson: ‘Apartheid remains’ in US Monday: Defense, nominations and firearms Obama and Cruz on short list for Time’s ‘Person of the Year’ Week ahead: EPA in crosshairs of federal courts Obama departs White House for Mandela memorial service As clock ticks on Keystone XL, Canada OKs oil-sands expansion Hagel arrives in Pakistan amid ‘friction’ Obama greets Kennedy Center Honorees Obama jokes about Area 51 Kenya will offer 31 coal blocks after deal with China’s Fenxi Obama to kids: Study computing Supreme Court to hear cross-state air pollution rule Former Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.): Congress Should Not Weaken US Law on Military Coups This week: Budget talks go down to the wire 2013: A year of living dismally Juan Williams: Sen. Jeff Merkley is the man of the year in Congress Judd Gregg: Democrats do not understand risk’s benefits Frankel adapts to new life on Capitol Hill Tech giants unite against NSA Obama pleads with kids to study computing