The Hill Articles: March 15, 2013

DOE leaves $51 billion in loan funds unused, oversight body reports Graham will ‘make life difficult’ in Senate if denied Benghazi attack survivors Anthony Weiner spent $100,000 on polling and research in March Will anyone tell CPAC the truth? Trump criticized by Democrat for ‘bigoted’ immigration message McCain apologizes for ‘wacko birds’ comment At CPAC, sparring over a path forward Business-labor talks on immigration reform hit skids at worker visas A closer look at next week… DAY’S END ROUNDUP Rand Paul floats fetal rights bill Obama: Few things ‘more important’ than clean energy US bulking up missile defense amid North Korean threats US armed drones violate Pakistan sovereignty, says UN official Obama renews green push, urges Congress to break ‘cycle of spiking gas prices’ CPAC, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, Paul Ryan, and the conservative crack-up Cornyn urges Obama to oppose UN Arms Treaty Louisiana Lt. Gov. won’t challenge Landrieu for Senate JPMorgan officials: $6.2B in trading losses regrettable, but isolated Lt. Gov. Dardenne won’t challenge Louisiana Sen. Landrieu Jindal: GOP must end ‘obsession with zeros’ Obama cracks joke about sequester Gerard Butler: I’m ‘totally paranoid’ after playing Secret Service agent Family reunification must be part of immigration reform Obama’s sequester choices to be examined in House hearing GOP Rep. Broun now opposes Ryan budget Poll: Majority of voters say White House tours should be resumed Insider-trading fine reaches record $600 million We must bridge rural digital divide in America US threatens to cut off aid to Nigeria over corruption issues Carney swipes at Fox host over tours, Easter Egg Roll State: Only four people wounded at Benghazi Severe intelligence gaps seen in Africa Command, says top general Romney urges GOP to ‘learn from’ mistakes he made in 2012 campaign Court steps into turf war between regulators Carney: NRA executive LaPierre hurting his own cause Dems pounce on McConnell’s ‘Golden Girls’ joke about Clinton FDA weighs tobacco company proposals Tax Policy Center: Ryan tax proposals need $5.7 trillion in offsets Report: EPA climate rules for power plants likely delayed Case moves forward against Marine who videotaped urination incident Hoyer warns GOP to abandon efforts to repeal healthcare law Beat Obama over spending Santorum’s emotional CPAC speech inspired by nephew’s death We waited four years for this budget? Ten years on I want answers for my daughter Rachel Corrie House conservatives to offer their own four-year balanced budget proposal 95 House members protest Medicare Advantage cuts Washington power players seen at Indian eatery The postal union dilemma: Shrink to survive or corporatize Court orders CIA to acknowledge drones Right move on missile defense House passes bill streamlining federal job training programs Republicans target abuse in judicial system House lawmakers flying commercial to papal inauguration House to vote before Memorial Day on Keystone pipeline Lew to press China on cyber spying Hunter wants Congressional medal awarded to slain Benghazi SEALs Pelosi, New Mexico Gov. Martinez joining Biden in delegation to mass for Pope Francis Senate Judiciary to start work on immigration reform next week Axelrod: ‘Hard for me to see’ how Rubio can win GOP nomination and presidency Hero or villain NRA head to gun control advocates: ‘Let them be damned’ Price tag for federal prisoners: $29K per year McCain: If Rand Paul and Ted Cruz ‘want to say that I’m too old, I agree’ Head of software lobby to step down Furloughing federal workers is bad idea; Reform pensions instead Issa jokes Obama, Bo taking advantage of empty White House Franken offers brunch date with Conan in fundraising pitch US warns of rising threat of cyber attacks to national and economic security McConnell at CPAC: ‘It is time to unite’ Pentagon prepares new regs for responses to sexual assault cases McConnell decries ‘crybaby caucus,’ tells conservatives they must unify Lawmakers argue over health law’s effect on premiums Ryan on Dem budget: ‘Vatican is not the only place blowing smoke’ GOP bill aims to protect veterans’ gun rights, even if deemed ‘mentally defective’ For Fred Thompson, acting and serving in Senate ranks behind being a lawyer Romney at CPAC: Left behind Moody’s warns of trouble for hospitals without Medicaid expansion Report: Booker plans eight cross-country fundraisers for Senate bid Afghan minister Wais Ahmad Barmak: A New Deal for Afghanistan? News bites: North Korea accuses US of cyberattacks Trump: Romney didn’t talk about his wealth enough Gingrich: GOP’s ‘old guard’ gets ‘a little too crusty’ Groups welcome bill on Medicare observation stays Cantor unsure ‘what is inside’ Obama’s head after meeting with House GOP News bites: Federal exchanges Inhofe: Obama destroying country, ‘but yes, he’s charming’ House to vote on job development programs Why the truth about ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ matters News bites: What’s next? News bites: Employers blast $63-per-person healthcare provision Obama: Iran more than one year from getting nuclear weapon Portman endorses same-sex marriage in ‘change of heart’ Obama revives green energy sales pitch Obama support group off to sluggish start Ryan’s speech to CPAC will provide clues to his 2016 plans News bites: White House to use climate lens for big project reviews MORNING READ Report: Federal grand jury in Miami investigating Sen. Menendez Senate Budget panel approves first spending blueprint in three years