The Hill Articles: February 26, 2013

Boehner: Sequester deal before deadline unlikely Reid files cloture on Democrats’ sequestration alternative OVERNIGHT ENERGY: White House climate, energy aide Zichal looks ahead OVERNIGHT MONEY: Lew on track for Treasury McCain, Graham report ‘excellent’ meeting with Obama on immigration OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Senate confirms Hagel OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Governor Christie will expand Medicaid GOP blasts decision to release illegal immigrants due to sequester Sri Lanka finds a champion on Capitol Hill amid human rights accusations Biden meets with retired military for help on gun control Regs roundup: Pentagon to help service members kick smoking habit Dems seek high-level climate meeting with White House Mikulski: Lawmakers’ paychecks should be docked same as furloughed workers New Jersey GOPers withhold judgment on Christie’s Medicaid move Republicans: CIA nominee involved in Benghazi talking points Anti-McConnell group takes heat over racial tweet directed at senator’s wife DAY’S END ROUNDUP Senate votes to confirm Hagel House freshmen cancel bipartisan bowling Retailer lobbyist to take charge at hotel trade group Dem leaders urge vote on Senate VAWA bill Community bankers want out from under ‘crippling regulatory burdens’ White House defends progress of Afghan forces Mike Shields named RNC chief of staff Poll: Republicans less interested in unity than Obama FCC delays vote on media ownership rules Banks post near-record earnings as sequester looms Device makers to ‘double down’ against health law’s tax House passes resolution creating STEM competition for students Hillary Clinton, Christie surge ahead in 2016 merchandise contest Reid: Sequester should go forward unless GOP gives ground on taxes Labor Dept. broadens authority to probe pay discrimination claims House lawmaker sees slippery slope in Afghanistan Obama: Sequester cuts are ‘a self-inflicted wound’ GAO: Health law will increase deficit if cost-cutting steps stop Bernanke warns $85B spending cuts to slow economic recovery Obama group selling White House access to rich donors, says watchdog Cardin calls on US to take leadership role to stop Syria’s Assad Reid clashes with Boehner, accuses House GOP of ‘sitting on their posterior’ Lawmaker: Administration sounding ‘false alarm’ on budget cuts to FAA Obama warns of ‘self-inflicted’ wound NRCC announces regional vice-chairs, DCCC launches effort to recruit women Also on the sequester chopping block: IRS audits Source: Former Rep. Mark Critz wants to run again Holder warns sequester will make country ‘less safe’ Grassley tells Holder to save money by cutting back on ‘executive jets’ Centrist Dem: Link Keystone pipeline to efficiency boost Weather satellites: A critical piece of our nation’s infrastructure Lawmakers fear American, US Airways merger will lead to hub closures Electric car executive rules out heading DOE Lynch wins nurses union endorsement in Mass. Senate race Hoyer: Dems underestimated ‘irresponsibility’ of GOP on sequester Former ambassador: Time for US-Pakistan ‘breakup’ Biden names former Hillary Clinton aide as national security adviser Gov. Christie backs Obama healthcare law Medicaid expansion Santorum heading to Iowa to speak to past supporters Senators push Kerry for quick Keystone decision Making immigration reform work for children Justice Department can be smarter about sequester AHIP study: Medicare Advantage cuts will drive up premiums Senate moves to final vote on confirming Hagel for Defense Supreme Court blocks challenge to federal wiretapping program US must bring STEM education up to par with overseas competitors Boehner blames Obama’s ‘non-stop’ campaign for failure to stop sequester Kerry: ‘In America you have a right to be stupid — if you want to be’ Holder promises marijuana verdict coming ‘soon’ Launch date set for first ‘inside account’ of Clinton’s tenure at State Advocates urge US to maintain global health funds Boxer calls GOP ‘the austerity party,’ says sequester dangers are real Congressman Daniel Webster gets a lot of dictionary-related questions Progressive groups renew attacks on House Republicans over VAWA Napolitano warns ‘core critical mission’ of DHS will suffer from sequester Holder defends Obama gun-control measures to state attorneys general ‘Gluten-free’ labeling rules head to White House Senate panel drops ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ investigation Biden to address pro-Israel AIPAC Sessions: Healthcare law will add $6.2 trillion to deficit over 75 years Boehner: Senate needs to ‘get off their ass’ McConnell: Obama is breaking his word on spending cuts Sanford touts fiscal record, opponent mocks his past in new ads Democratic leaders reject more White House power to steer sequester cuts Senate panel approves nominee for HHS general counsel Boehner tells Senate to ‘get off their ass;’ Reid says GOP ‘sitting on their posterior’ Kerry defends Americans’ ‘right to be stupid’ in speech to students in Germany Consumer confidence on the rise despite sequester battle White House official: Power grid upgrades needed to mitigate extreme weather Home prices, new-home sales make big gains Senate panel votes to approve Jack Lew’s nomination to Treasury Reid says GOP wasted 12 days by delaying Hagel’s confirmation Analysis ties local pharmacies to Medicare savings Michelle Obama credits Let’s Move with declining childhood obesity rates Oil industry, at White House, makes case against EPA fuels rule Sen. Johnson warns Boehner could lose speakership over agreeing to tax hikes Dems pitch Department of Peacebuilding Tuesday’s global agenda: Another chance for Iran CPAC as Sister Souljah: Honors Ted Cruz, insults Chris Christie Group hits Lindsey Graham on immigration in TV ads Blind loyalty to political party Rep. Kennedy in sling after surgery News bites: Oh, Italy News bites: Apple settles lawsuit over kids’ app purchases News bites: Transportation funding envy Michelle Obama: President’s gray hair comes from daughters News bites: Federal regulators probe Ford’s stalling problem Gallup: More than half of Hispanics identify as Democrats News bites: Sequester watch Tuesday: Hagel’s second chance Top Republicans file Supreme Court brief backing gay marriage GOP Rep. Price downplays sequester effects McMorris Rodgers: Obama should ‘get off the campaign trail’ Economists press for corporate tax reform WATCH LIVE: Obama warns of sequester job losses Poll: Majority says cuts will have major effect on economy, military GOP lawmaker says Cheney will go to hell Congressional Leadership Fund again targets Democrats on Medicare cuts News bites: The latest on BP’s oil spill trial Obama to warn of sequester job losses in visit to Newport News In your heart, you know Hagel is wrong for Pentagon job Web anonymity battle starts anew Rival sequester bills teed up in Senate A new chairman at helm, New Dems seek more influence in this Congress Lobbyists fear shakedown if Supreme Court lifts campaign contributions cap Profile: Melissa Lavinson works the middle ground MORNING READ Emily’s List endorses Buono for New Jersey Gov. Syrian opposition leader agrees to attend summit in Rome Unprecedented role for celebrity first lady Blame and fear as sequester looms Race for Jackson Jr.’s seat becomes proxy for gun control debate Lessons learned on immigration Bottom Line House votes to rename NASA center after Neil Armstrong Dems schedule votes this week on assault weapons ban, other gun reforms Player of the Week: The sequester Taxing times for GOP