The Hill Articles: January 31, 2013

OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Vulnerable Dem Begich lays down markers on Alaskan energy OVERNIGHT TECH: Wyden wants hearing on hacking law in wake of Swartz’s death OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Hagel gets a grilling Republican National Committee starts off year with $4.7M Hagel delivers shaky performance HHS: ‘We will be ready’ with federal exchange Cooper’s road show focuses on guns Business group backs Pritzker, Zients for Cabinet slots Carper: Expect White House cyber security order after State of the Union Enviros praise LaHood as ‘unexpected champion of green policies’ Biofuel-blending battle rages on as EPA releases new projections DAY’S END ROUNDUP Lawmaker presses Treasury not to unwind ‘extraordinary measures’ during debt-ceiling suspension Clinton: Last days at State Dep’t ‘have been bittersweet’ Nevada Republican Party endorses pathway to citizenship for immigrants Grassley threatens to hold up ATF nominee over separate dispute The GOP’s immigration imbroglio Achieving greater transparency in government The rise of the second generation U.S. Latinos Panetta to testify on Benghazi Lautenberg calls Menendez ethics accusations ‘too bad’ Senate approves debt-ceiling bill in 64-34 vote Tackling Azerbaijan’s corruption Senate bill would greenlight natural gas exports to US allies Christian Armenia’s government and Islamic Iran’s mullah’s: The strategic partnership upclose Beyoncé admits lip synching at inaugural Lynch touts union support, dismisses Markey endorsements in primary fight GOP senators look to freeze work at agencies after court rejection of recess appointments Biden says new gun laws should be ‘no-brainer’ for Congress after Newtown Hagel must stand up to tawdry tactics Chu mum on his future, but chatty on electric cars Idaho lawmaker compares insurance exchange to Holocaust No Budget, No Pay Act: A small step on the deficit, a giant leap toward accountability Device-makers slam Medicare competitive bidding expansion Clancy to step down at AHRQ Carney mum on Iranian regime’s legitimacy White House adviser: Obama willing to cut Medicare, but not Medicaid Klobuchar takes over antitrust panel Poll: Hillary Clinton could win Texas Bipartisan group of senators re-introduce start-up tax credit bill NRA president: ‘Anyone’s guess’ what Reid will do on gun control Hagel faces fire from ex-friends Geraldo contemplating run for Senate Roundtable chief: Obama might back move to territorial taxation Scalia’s dead Constitution Carney: ‘Ridiculous’ to criticize defunct White House jobs council Freshman says new members better at compromise than Obama, congressional leaders Van Hollen’s father, former diplomat, dead at 90 Reid fends off questions about Menendez allegations Report: Japanese airline may seek compensation for ‘Dreamliner’ grounding Report: First lady posing for Vogue Reps. Van Hollen, Blackburn mourn loss of their fathers Hagel vows focus on alt-fuels, energy efficiency if confirmed Blumenthal to lead oversight subcommittee on regulations A modest fiscal proposal Senate rejects dollar-for-dollar offsets to debt ceiling increases Tester already fundraising for 2018 GOP seeks to force Obama to estimate date for balanced budget Justice Department opposes big brewers merger, sues to keep beer prices down Poll: Majority see current Congress, not political system, as hindrance to progress Tina Fey has ‘nooooo’ plans to enter politics Romney beats Santa, Roseanne Barr in presidential votes Rubio says he will vote against Hagel Dems ask NFL, NBA for suggestions on how to battle climate change Rubio says Obama no longer portraying himself as a centrist Sen. Carper plans renewed push for offshore wind credit legislation McCain, Hagel spar over Iraq war surge Former Rep. Largent: Government should let NFL address head injuries Republican lawmaker launches website to help small businesses track onerous regs Jordanian Ambassador Alia Bouran: On the path to greater democracy Boston Globe editor to join Kerry at State Department Hatch: Senate must start work now to avoid next debt ceiling cliff House Republicans look to warn small business about regulations HHS says it ditched ‘exchanges’ because word doesn’t translate into Spanish Rendell rules out serving Obama in Transportation post White House to shut down jobs council The ‘party of no’ should say ‘yes’ to Hagel The New York Times reports it was subject of Chinese hacker attack Warren, Cummings launch probe into Fed foreclosure settlement Hagel: ‘My overall worldview has never changed’ Congressman trades lawmaker for baker Ex-Sen. Hagel defends his Senate record: ‘No individual vote defines me’ ‘Medicare for all,’ Stabenow says Finance sector expects profits and regulatory headaches in 2013 Dem leader Reid: ‘We are in a recovery’ Medicare cliff looms: Status quo isn’t sustainable Gitmo judge bans outside censors from 9/11 terror tribunals Sen. Baldwin: Healthcare is a right Rep. Braley meeting with Harry Reid, DSCC Chairman Bennet about Iowa Senate race Dem super-PAC launching early attacks on 10 House Republicans News bites: Keeping calm Grassley skeptical of background checks Women in transportation group thanks LaHood for DOT work Civil rights 2013: From invisible to victimized WATCH LIVE: Hagel confirmation hearing Thursday’s global agenda: Hagel returns to the Senate Teddy Turner says Obama would ‘fail’ economic class in second ad News bites: RIM changes name, unveils new phones Perfect could be enemy of the good on immigration First-time unemployment benefit applications increase by 38,000 DCCC outraises NRCC in 2012 election cycle News bites: Snack time Hagel’s views on Cuba are in sync with leading democracy advocates News bites: Here comes the individual mandate Thursday: Senate to pass No Budget, No Pay Act Kelly ‘proud’ of Giffords’s Senate testimony Obama to push gun control during visit Monday to Minneapolis Biden defends Hagel, Kerry, dismisses GOP critics as ‘ridiculous’ News bites: Green energy companies seek new financing options, Conoco’s profits fall, and more EMILY’s List endorses Hagan, Shaheen for reelection Reports: Menendez reimbursed donor $58,500 for two flights Hagel to confront critics in make-or-break confirmation hearing Fix the Debt registers to lobby Corker praises FHA’s policy changes Lagerfeld doesn’t ‘get’ Michelle Obama’s new hairdo Surprise decline in GDP fails to shift debate over ending sequestration