The Hill Articles: February 7, 2013

Colbert to address Dems on Friday Pro-gun-control PAC extends ad buy against Democrat Halvorson OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Brennan, Panetta on defensive over drones, Benghazi Report: Obama headed to North Carolina after State of the Union House offices get heart-healthy before Valentine’s Day OVERNIGHT TECH: FCC’s Pai calls for looser media ownership rules Brennan defends Obama use of drones, counter-terrorism program OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Tavenner tapped for CMS (again) Former Romney legal counsel launches Mass. Senate campaign OVERNIGHT MONEY: The economic picture OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Kerry to confront Keystone (or is it the other way around?) Senior Dem: Obama vows to tackle climate – eventually Boeing defends 787 ‘Dreamliner’ battery testing Marketing firm fined $1.6M over fake news sites Reps. to HHS: What of 2007 mental health recommendations? Energy chief plays along with report of ‘carousing’ in The Onion DAY’S END ROUND-UP Obama renominates Tavenner to lead Medicare, Medicaid agency Insurer: No talk of seeking ‘ObamaCare’ delay Trump: Karl Rove is ‘a total loser’ DOE considers furloughs as part of sequestration plan Senate rejects GOP alternative to VAWA Broun trades heated rhetoric for restraint as he begins Ga. Senate campaign Report: Caroline Kennedy ‘leading contender’ to be ambassador to Canada House Dems unveil gun-control proposals Biden to push gun control at event in Philadelphia on Monday Egypt slams Inhofe’s ‘Morsi is our enemy’ comments Poll: Majority prefers climate change regulations over taxes Lawmakers renew push to bar bosses from asking for Facebook passwords Lawmaker: Port labor disputes about job security, not wages ‘Girls’ star Lena Dunham refutes report suggesting she didn’t vote NJ Dems push Christie to expand Medicaid Steve King fundraises off Karl Rove’s ‘crusade’ against him CBO: January deficit shrinks as new taxes kick in Sessions warns Lew’s nomination to Treasury at risk over Medicare trigger Protesters interrupt Brennan CIA hearing, Feinstein clears room Feinstein clears protesters from Brennan hearing after repeated interruptions Tech associations raise concerns with EU’s proposed cybersecurity rules FCC looks into rural call completion problems CIA nominee defends drones Catholic Bishops oppose revisions to contraception mandate Grassley offers GOP alternative to VAWA, striking tribal jurisdiction language Poll: Rubio and Clinton top 2016 contenders in Iowa, nationally Senators, film director unveil mental health bill California senators serve ‘real crab,’ humility in Super Bowl bet payoff Keystone pipeline on agenda as Kerry, Canadian minister to meet Justice Sotomayor no longer backs television cameras in Supreme Court Levin: Hagel demands unprecedented WATCH LIVE: Brennan confirmation hearing Obama ready to propose ‘big package’ on sequester fight Business-labor talks on immigration are ‘going well,’ says AFL-CIO chief Poll: Greenhouse gas regulation favored over carbon taxes Dems call for 12 weeks off from work to mourn for lost child Cowan sworn in as interim Massachusetts senator Tax hikes you may have forgotten about Grassley demands wider release of secret DOJ drone memos First lady to attend funeral of Chicago teen Obama ‘prepared, eager and anxious’ for sequester fight with Republicans White House: Daily Show ‘more substantive’ than other media outlets Biden swears in Sen. Cowan GOP Rep. Labrador spokesman fired over Super Bowl tweet Reid: Postal Service move would be ‘crippling blow’ Economist Zandi sees more moderate effects of spending sequester Safety regulator questions FAA’s certification of Boeing 787 batteries House Republicans push for long-term ‘doc fix’ Pentagon leaders backed plan to arm Syrian rebels Menendez: Nothing improper in Medicare calls for donor ‘Chasing the Hill’ creator seeks to find the bright side in politics Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff ‘bothered’ by lack of security in Benghazi EPA to issue climate change plan Friday Private equity group defends carried interest break White House decries Boehner’s ‘list of demands’ on sequester Breastfeeding on the rise, says CDC Biden swears in Sen. William Cowan Liberals introduce bill to end tax deferral on foreign income Head of White House Faith-based office to depart this week Rep. Braley launches bid for Iowa Senate seat Karl Rove: The biggest loser FDA releases guidance for new Alzheimer’s drugs LISTEN LIVE: Obama addresses House Democratic retreat The sin of normalization GOP, Dems call for repeal of $30 billion medical device tax Rubio downplays Time cover: ‘There is only one savior’ CMS: Obama health law yielded billions in Rx savings Poll: Plurality say drone strikes on US citizens are illegal Poll: Strong support for women in combat, universal background checks Waters: Government needs to get tougher with Wall Street Microsoft blasts Google over email privacy In defense of Congress GOP to Obama: Keystone ‘can no longer be put on hold’ Colbert touts his sister’s House bid Dems renew call for new FHFA head Panetta on Benghazi: ‘Not enough time’ for Pentagon to respond to attack Immigration reform: Renewing the promise of America McConnell: Replacing sequester with tax increases is ‘definition of dysfunction’ Iran rebuffs Biden’s offer of direct talks Reid: I will hold Cantor to his word to work on VAWA Obama: Lincoln and MLK were on my mind as I took the oath Thursday’s global agenda: CIA drone strikes in the spotlight TransCanada CEO treks to State for closed-door meeting on Keystone News bites: Federal regulators are vying to punish trader Obama plans more than a dozen fundraisers for congressional Dems Sen. Fischer to oppose Hagel FAA allows Boeing to fly 787 Dreamliner ‘special flight’ NRCC ties eight Democrats to Obama News bites: ‘Good pick’ Give law enforcement the power to enforce current gun laws News bites: EU releases proposed cybercrime reporting rules Scott Walker will keynote NRCC’s largest annual fundraiser Thursday: Violence Against Women reauthorization in the Senate News bites: Device tax Failure to confirm judges goes far beyond Senate, Court chambers Rep. Issa revives plan to name US coastal waters after Reagan Wyden ‘encouraged’ by White House response on drones News bites: India defends solar program against US complaint Report: Menendez pressed officials over donor’s federal audit News bites: Co-dependent DCCC targets House Republicans on sequestration President all in for gay rights in second term Foreign governments lobbying hard in favor of immigration reform Liberals to interrogate Obama’s CIA pick Members won’t talk about Scout ban Strom Thurmond’s mixed-race daughter’s passing Lawmakers yuk it up at annual Washington Press Club dinner Clyburn slams brakes on Cabinet talk White House to brief members of Congress on drone memo Biden delivers impassioned plea to House Democrats on gun control Obama schmoozes Dems at retreat Lobby firm cuts ties with Taiwan after probe Lew confirmation hearing set for Feb. 13 Postmaster general takes lashing over move to five-day mail Lawmakers prod officials on openness House Democrats unimpressed by Cantor’s support of DREAM Act principles