The Hill Articles: March 19, 2013

Lobbying World Demand a change on access to firearms Don’t bring gun bill to floor without majority’s support Crucial stretch for Obama Paul filibuster kept presiding officers in the chair after midnight Pentagon can bear cuts, but Congress must fix entitlements ObamaCare backlash Grand ‘Old’ Party House budget debate solves nothing, but sets up Wednesday votes Feinstein: ‘I’m not gong to lay down and play dead’ Three steps to spark hiring in the US Austerity only weakens the economy Gallup: Economic confidence inching back after sequester Economy needs progressive approach Shifting regulatory sand hurts small business, delays economic recovery Reid schedules votes to advance the CR as it slowly moves toward final passage America’s serious growth gap and how to close it OVERNIGHT MONEY: All eyes on Bernanke OVERNIGHT TECH: House to consider rewrite of copyright law OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senators reveal offshore revenue-sharing bill Feinstein, Rogers: Assad appears to have used chemical weapon Mandiant: Chinese hacker unit attempted to clean up online presence Obama, Netanyahu are best buds in embassy cartoon OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Medicare showdown set for Wednesday Table is set for deal on budget OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Syrian chemical attack stokes concerns in Congress Weyants World: March 20, 2013 Supreme Court to release same-day audio of marriage arguments Paul: ‘Thousands of exceptions’ to ban on abortion Insurance reform meets ‘love fest’ on the Hill Obama promotes Jill Biden’s chief of staff to ambassador Rubio not among those awaiting new Justin Timberlake album Regular dust monitoring can help prevent silicosis – not more regulation Murray, other Dems pressure GOP to start budget debate 78 senators call on Obama to stand by Israel ahead of trip Harrison Ford brings star power to aviation caucus meeting Shuster: Gas tax increases could be included in broad reform package Level the playing field between retailers and e-tailers House dismisses challenge to Rep. Cuellar’s election DAY’S END ROUND-UP Concerns over North Korea restart debate on East Coast missile shield McDonough: ‘We’re going to find the votes’ for an assault weapons ban Water infrastructure bill could hit Senate floor in April Rep. Shuster wary of Senate approach to waterways bill Immigration system fails to serve justice Michael Steele dubs Reince Priebus ‘numbnuts’ in war of RNC heads House votes to chop committee budgets by 11 percent MEADS could get last-minute reprieve in Senate bill Musician would talk 76ers with Obama Solutions for controlling healthcare fraud and abuse The intolerant far left Background checks spiked after Sandy Hook shooting, says FBI director Patient groups criticize Dem calls for Medicare price negotiations Avid runner Sen. Thune sports medical boot Senators may push online sales tax measure in budget House GOP grills top Obama immigration official over release of illegal detainees House ready to act quickly on Senate spending bill Moran blocks Reid from advancing CR, starting budget debate Ryan’s 2014 budget advances in the House Immigration reform should fix harsh, inflexible court system Hatch criticizes Democrats’ budget for doing ‘nothing’ on entitlement reform Consensus builds for requiring warrant for email searches Colorado marijuana legalization plan at risk from federal tax, banking rules GOP doctors vow to push healthcare repeal, warn of rationing Rep. Cummings: Staff members are already taking furlough days Supreme Court weighs limits on lawsuits over dangerous drugs OMB nominee has positive meeting with key Senate Republican GOP balks at LGBT protections in immigration reform Housing chief urges Congress to take action on Fannie, Freddie Manufacturers sue EPA over soot rule Roberts’s health law decision was ‘sleight of hand,’ says GOP lawmaker Lawmakers pressure merging airlines not to cut flights to mid-sized cities Supreme Court: Copyrighted goods can be resold in the US Paul fuels presidential hype with trip to Iowa Senate bill would require warrant for email searches Release of ICE detainees a positive step forward Neiman Marcus settles charges of misleading ‘fake-fur’ labels Former Defense chief Rumsfeld’s Iraq war tweet sparks support and backlash Hoyer: House group ‘very close’ to deal including path to citizenship House Dem calls for penny-a-gallon increase in the gas tax Senator urges UN probe of Cuban dissident’s death White House warns of ‘consequences’ if Syria has used a chemical weapon GOP senators introduce bill to repeal Obama health law’s insurance tax Ethics Committee investigating Dem leader, Alaskan Republican Obama reaching out Day in the Life: Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) Turkey’s strategic pivot Seven Marines killed in Nevada training incident Bill would raise feds’ contribution to DC Medicaid Sessions says GOP won’t yield budget debate time, suggests taking it up after recess Former Rep. Bono Mack heads to K Street Boehner won’t back conservative budget alternative Boehner voices support for emerging House immigration deal Kerry: Policymakers ‘toy’ with oceans by not addressing climate Lawmakers must reevaluate immigration detention system Sens. Rubio, Casey step into Syria fray with bipartisan sanctions bill Reid wants to start the 50-hour clock on budget while still considering CR NRCC launches ‘Liberal Madness’ bracket targeting Dems For farmers and ranchers, everyday is ‘Ag. Day’ Paul: CPAC win, response ‘invigorating’ Senate Banking panel approves financial regulatory nominees US Chamber wants flexibility on Obama health law’s employer mandate Harrison Ford to talk aviation on Capitol Hill Rand Paul: CPAC straw poll win was ‘invigorating, exciting’ Nuclear non-proliferation obligations must be honored Rove, RNC and GOP bigwigs rig the rules against the right Biden meets Pope Francis Van Hollen: Boehner will be ‘pressured’ to allow immigration vote Rep. Blumenauer ‘not interested’ in being Transportation Secretary Poll: On 10th anniversary, Americans oppose and have few connections to Iraq war Biofuels cuts harmful to energy security Conservative poll shows Pryor in trouble in Arkansas House bill would prohibit drone killings of Americans on US soil Tuesday’s global agenda: Ireland Day on the Hill News bites: All eyes on Nicosia Billionaire targets Dem on Keystone XL in Mass. Senate race Business groups ask IRS to delay health law’s employer mandate Bill seeks to ease Medicare audit burden News bites: Cruise control? Unintended consequences of raising minimum wage World Vision US President Richard Stearns: A moral view of trimming the budget Senate committee schedules Thursday vote for Interior nominee GOP Rep. Broun: Paul Ryan budget ‘fails to seriously’ cut spending News bites: New regs require timely health coverage Tuesday: Senate stuck on 2013 spending, House starts 2014 budget News bites: ‘At conception’ US must apply lessons of Iraq war to today’s world House Dem’s bill would extend gun ban in domestic abuse cases News bites: Electronic Arts CEO resigns News bites: Climate change could mean more Hurricane Katrina-style events Anti-immigration-reform group targets McCain in new ad Senate budget is a bad choice for America Rand Paul to endorse path to citizenship for illegal immigrants Obama in Israel: Tourism or opportunity Senate’s Gang of 8: We’ll have bill in April House Republicans rebound after disastrous start, find new leverage Obama looks to woo suspicious Israelis on three-day Mideast trip A decade later, Iraq war continues to cast long shadow over US role in Syria, Iran Obama court appointee likely to decide contempt battle between Issa, Holder Obama group Organizing for Action courts unions as cash grab accelerates Alan Simpson: A gadfly amid the gridlock MORNING READ Few confident in value of future Medicare benefits, survey finds Panel urges caution in testing kids’ anthrax vaccines Leaders stop budget defections