The Hill Articles: February 14, 2013

OVERNIGHT MONEY: Obama takes economic message home OVERNIGHT TECH: Privacy groups prepare to hit back on cybersecurity bill OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Senate Republicans stonewall Hagel nomination OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Decision day on exchanges Pelosi: Congressional pay cut undermines dignity of the job Reid: I’m going to call Hagel to say ‘I’m sorry’ Obama seeks to allay fears: ‘I actually don’t think we should ban handguns’ OVERNIGHT ENERGY: House hearing looks at fracking, regulations FAA vows to address privacy concerns with drone flights Obama says his is ‘most transparent administration’ ever Senate GOP threatens to pull plug on Brennan nomination Move to freeze NLRB heats up following Obama re-nominations White House, Congress call for UN human rights probe on North Korea Health groups push FDA to crack down on sugary drinks Senate Republicans block Hagel nomination for Defense secretary NLRB isn’t dead yet, but GOP trying to kill it Insurance lobby huddles with White House on ‘reasonable rates’ requirement CBO numbers tell the story Obama favors sacking the expensive penny Former Bush official launching bid for Republican nomination in Mass. special White House endorses Senate sequester plan, urges House Republicans to act Stranded cruise ship’s tow temporarily interrupted Politics, not reality, dominate Obama’s preschool appeal DAY’S END ROUNDUP Lautenberg to retire from Senate, opening a path for Cory Booker House Dems propose $120 billion deficit bill to avoid sequester Head Start leading in early education Dem sequester bill contains billions in new farm spending Libya applauds Obama for renewing sanctions on Gadhafi loyalists House Intelligence Committee leaders defend aim of cybersecurity bill Legislation would raise business lending caps for credit unions Lawmakers claim momentum in push for Internet sales tax Dems reintroduce bill granting universal, no-cost health coverage Megyn Kelly pregnant with baby No. 3 Drinking the ‘fracking’ Kool-Aid in Colorado WATCH LIVE: NRA’s LaPierre responds to Obama’s State of the Union address GOP senators introduce bill to repeal Medicare cost-cutting panel Private sector’s role in higher education must continue Ron Paul to tape podcast, regular radio spots Senate Dems’ sequester-replacement plan ends tar sands exemption World Peace coming to Congress Lawmakers voice support for Oscar-nominated film House advances federal pay freeze, vote set for Friday Outsourcing Light Air Support program unwise GOP bills target ‘overreaching’ EPA Liberals hope to push Obama away from chained CPI Senate sets up vote on cloture motion on Hagel’s nomination Thursday Senate to vote on Hagel Thursday; Dems lack 60 votes to end debate Federal pay freeze bill paves way for reduced spending Slain ambassador’s sister helps launch health partnership with Libya Bringing the troops home, but not soon enough White House: American people won’t ‘begrudge’ Obama’s Florida vacation Obama pushes for universal access to pre-K programs National dialogue central to Bahrain’s long-term stability Democratic lawmaker wants review of stranded cruise ship State of the Union is ratings flop; fewest viewers since 2000 Official: Obama didn’t call Libya’s president on night of attack Bill would allow studies of organ transplants for HIV patients Congressman loses voice, jests State of the Union to blame Graham postpones confirmation vote on CENTCOM nominee WATCH LIVE: Obama holds ‘Google+ Hangout’ to discuss State of the Union FDA extends consideration of disputed ‘Frankenfish’ plan Poll: Democrats prefer Booker to Lautenberg by wide margin Obama campaigns for universal pre-K Senate Dems hold the line on consumer bureau Senate Dems unveil $110 billion sequester-replacement package Obama: It’s ‘romantic’ to spend Valentine’s Day with the press Levin vows not to allow GOP to hold Hagel to a new disclosure standard WATCH LIVE: Obama unveils plans to expand preschool education USPS poll: Public backs five-day delivery MedPAC chief warns of Medicare payment crisis Kerry to make the case for ‘strong foreign policy’ in UVA speech, his first Lawmakers file bill to limit US drones, citing privacy concerns Boehner blows Valentine’s Day kiss at reporters Report: Kerry could make massive profit from Heinz deal Filling the Tenth Circuit vacancies Sen. Boxer hopes to bring climate legislation to floor by summer Congressman lunches with singing executive Keystone key to energy independence At first hearing, Sen. Warren presses regulators to take firmer line with banks Boehner blows Valentine’s Day kiss to his wife — and Luke Russert Report: Justin Amash mulling Senate run Texas Dems say Voting Rights Act still needed to counter racial discrimination Talks continue between AFL-CIO, Chamber on immigration reform Rep. Wolf criticizes Obama for ignoring mental health, media violence in State of the Union Reid: ‘It’s time to put aside this political theater’ on Hagel votes Levers for small business success in 2013 Watchdog: ‘Job killing’ regulations have been anything but Boehner declines to weigh in on Hagel nomination fight Administration wrong on oil and natural gas tax provisions Lawmakers scold administration for ‘tepid’ action in Mali Hagel: Time to confirm and move on Major report adds climate change to ‘high risks’ facing US government Planning a Washington wedding Bill would require free access to federally funded research Fashion tips for the groom Erick Erickson endorses Mark Sanford in South Carolina Senate Democrats air grievances with rollout of healthcare law Boehner challenges Senate Dems to take lead, pass Obama second-term agenda Pact to limit outside spending reemerges in Massachusetts special election Hoyer: House GOP fiddling while sequester threatens to burn the economy Paul fears ‘Pandora’s box’ with drones Democrats volley back with Valentine’s Day cards mocking GOP US reaffirms diamond sanctions on Valentine’s Day Poll: Voters say Clinton or Rice would be a good president Senators urge regulators to scrap down payment rule Airline merger draws Hill scrutiny Drone warfare campaign strikes at heart of Constitution US, Switzerland sign tax evasion agreement NFL players get schooled by members of Congress Jobless claims drop by 27,000 Thursday’s global agenda: Senate marks up North Korea bill Ambassador: US wants more Canadian ‘progress’ on climate CDC finds rise in use of ‘morning-after’ pill Gallup: Americans support ending Saturday mail delivery New Jersey members look to bring sports gambling to their state Paul Broun brags he was first member of Congress to call Obama ‘a socialist’ in fundraising email Liberal groups push for lower Medicare drug prices News bites: Coming together for Valentine’s Day Ensuring a strong manufacturing future News bites: Transatlanticism Scott Brown cites ‘dysfunctional’ Congress in decision not to run for Senate Poll: Two-thirds of Jersey voters unlikely to support Geraldo Thursday: House to start work on federal pay freeze News bites: Fact-check The politics of Valentine’s Day News bites: Europol disrupts cybercrime ring RNC back with new slate of virtual Valentine’s Day cards News bites: Senate Dems float bill to end oil-and-gas incentives Obama, Japan PM Abe discuss North Korea nuclear test US Airways, American Airlines announce $11B merger GOP Rep. Amash: Effort to blame Obama for sequester cuts ‘disingenuous’ News bites: US financial regulators set to defend Dodd-Frank progress Report: Gen. Allen likely to decline top NATO post Obama to unveil plans to expand preschool programs in Ga. speech Rubio PAC sells water bottles after State of the Union moment Dems skirmish over Reid’s sequester plan GOP leaders waver on tax reform Illegal immigrant, conservative congressman get in heated exchange Experts dispute value of Obama’s proposal to hike minimum wage MORNING READ Obama hits the road to sell his agenda Reid challenges GOP to filibuster Hagel House Republicans tell the Senate: You must stop sequester Obama allies rally against gun-rights Democrat in Illinois special election Capitol’s storied halls make for memorable proposal moments Sen. Feinstein delays Brennan confirmation vote until after recess White House opposes, but will not veto, bill to extend pay freeze Napolitano at immigration hearing: US borders have ‘never been stronger’ OVERNIGHT TECH: House to restart cybersecurity debate President, top Senate Democrats huddle on immigration reform Union chief: Silica delay ‘heartless’