The Hill Articles: March 7, 2013

Obama chooses lawmaker accused of corrupt ties with Chavez to attend funeral OVERNIGHT MONEY: February jobs forecast about 190,000 Johanns: Farmers should be exempt from costly EPA fuel regs Senators vow action on cybersecurity, but divisions remain OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Senate sends Brennan to CIA OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Interior pick survives hearing, but questions remain Senate votes to confirm Brennan as CIA director Regulators to tighten rules for stock trades blamed in ‘flash crash’ Democrats want hearing on ‘Obama phone’ program Levin retirement leaves Dems defending fourth open seat in 2014 cycle Don’t allow medical device taxation on smartphones, tablets and apps GOP lawmakers decry FAA sequester furlough notices Coons report urges stronger trade relations with Africa DAY’S END ROUNDUP Obama and GOP senators agree on lobster Yearly deficit estimate remains below $1 trillion Regulations expected in March on carbon emissions, stress tests The Voting Rights Act revisited NTSB worried daylight saving time could increase fatigued driving White House upbeat after ‘good exchange’ with Ryan on deficit Sen. Flake on being confused for Sen. Heller: ‘I guess all Mormons look alike?’ Brennan wins Senate confirmation to become next director of the CIA Feuding senators McCain, Paul share awkward elevator ride State Department withholds award from alleged terrorism supporter Washington can learn a lot from Richmond Paul fires back: Sens. McCain, Graham think the ‘whole world is a battlefield’ Women’s History Month: How much progress have we made? Senate Dems unveil changes to House bill funding government Consumers push borrowing up to all-time high Rand Paul’s message to Obama: Don’t drone me bro Obama signs VAWA, hails law as ‘victory’ for violence victims Senate reaches deal to vote on CIA pick today Progressive group: Republicans unconcerned with sequestration’s effects Congressman reveals the secret behind his wacky signature Senate bill would legalize cellphone unlocking Carney: White House Easter Egg Roll still on ‘as of now’ Feinstein calls for Brennan vote in light of letter to Paul Carney: Obama heartened by talks with congressional GOP First furlough notices hit Customs and Border Protection Interest rates are too low Rice: UN resolution ‘strongly’ condemns North Korea’s nuclear test Senate Foreign Relations chief Menendez plans Keystone pipeline hearing McCain blasts Sen. Paul over ‘ridiculous tone’ of filibuster Holder: US has no authority to kill Americans with drones on US soil Reid praises Paul’s ‘convictions’ and ‘bladder’ during filibuster Mr. T calls congressman his ‘hero’ Carney says White House tour shutdown ‘very unfortunate’ Members reintroduce bill making English official US language White House brushes off North Korea’s nuclear threat Rice: New sanctions against North Korea will ‘bite, and bite hard’ House Republicans accuse SEC of delaying JOBS Act rollout Former Mexican ambassador to head up new firm for Podesta Group Interior Dept. nominee defends company’s health law waiver Bank regulator signals crackdown on law-breaking executives Report: US captures Osama bin Laden’s son-in-law in Jordan Groups urge White House to reconsider ‘borderline discriminatory’ healthcare rule Boehner to Senate Dems: Don’t ‘get greedy’ Pelosi: ‘Life is too short’ to watch Rand Paul filibuster FTC cracks down on spam text messages Boehner: ‘I’m optimistic’ about Obama’s outreach to GOP Senators blast financial regulators over ‘prosecution-free zone for large banks’ Poll: Markey has solid lead on Lynch in Mass. Senate race Boehner dismisses Ney criticism Boehner ‘optimistic’ about new Obama outreach to GOP Judiciary panel approves bill to crack down on illegal firearms trafficking WATCH LIVE: Obama signs the Violence Against Women Act DC mayor sees Hill allies in campaign for Washington Redskins name change Sens. McCain and Graham lambast ‘ridiculous’ drone filibuster by Paul Liberals fret over Obama-GOP talks Pelosi urges minimum-wage hike Sen. Sherrod Brown: My wife likes my gravelly voice Hoeven presses Obama for ‘definitive timeline’ on Keystone decision Republicans slam TSA for spending $50M on uniforms in run-up to sequester Challenges for Ernest Moniz at Energy Department HHS approves 4 more exchange under Obama’s health law NFIB: Small businesses want simpler code, lower taxes Feds raise fine for lost luggage to $3,400 Homeland Security beefs up worker verification efforts Senate should view Jewell’s blended background with caution Sebelius: Health law has slowed growth in medical costs DC mayor takes credit for ensuring snow was ‘gone in a flash’ Report finds global patchwork of laws could hinder growth of cloud businesses Canadian official to talk Keystone with State Department, Sen. Wyden Obama administration to run gun-safety ads on 1,700 TV stations Al Gore sued over sale of Current to Al Jazeera Sen. Murkowski fires shot across Interior pick’s bow Reid warns Saturday vote possible on CIA nominee Brennan ‘Young bucks’ and ‘old guard’ during Paul filibuster — which side are you on? ‘Perverse regulations’ from health law raising drug costs, study finds Lawmaker unveils US economic engagement plan with Africa to counter China Coburn: Obama finally reaches out House Dems winning press release war Rand Paul is right about drones and liberals should join him Ex-Rep. Ose mulling comeback bid against Rep. Bera Trade deficit widens to $44.4 billion Poll finds disapproval of Obama’s job performance, weakness on guns News bites: Operation woo News bites: Lost and found Colbert Busch touts job creation in first ad News bites: Housing finance regulator envisions post-Fannie, Freddie world Poll: Clinton leads top 2016 GOP challengers Thursday: After Paul’s filibuster, Senate takes up Brennan nomination Jobless claims fall to 340,000 News bites: Study finds movie rentals, sales rose after shuttering of Megaupload North Korea threatens US with ‘preemptive’ nuclear attack Corker: Dinner with Obama ‘very constructive’ News bites: Medicare cuts Congress must end ‘too big to jail’ Messina: Pro-Obama advocacy group won’t take corporate money Obama invites Ryan, Van Hollen to Thursday lunch at White House Rand Paul ends nearly 13-hour filibuster News bites: Interior pick’s green thoughts, what’s next for Keystone XL, and more Kerry’s bumpy foreign tour raises stakes for Obama’s first official visit to Israel K St. ready for cybersercurity cash grab Sen. Paul ends nearly 13-hour filibuster of Brennan nomination McConnell: Paul’s questions on drones are ‘entirely appropriate’ Sen. Paul passes 10-hour mark in talking filibuster Republicans emerge from Obama dinner with new hopes for deficit deal Paul’s filibuster seizes the day Rep. Paul Ryan’s new Medicare cutoff: 56 Schumer moves ahead with background-check bill as discussions stall Obama takes GOP lawmakers out on a deficit dinner date in downtown DC Conference organizers stressing ‘diversity’ after Republican losses Dems reject Paul’s offer to end filibuster Watchdog fights to keep milk labels The wax room Under Contract