The Hill Articles: May 14, 2013

Top House Democrat demands more information on national security leaks What Congress should do about IRS Tea Party bias Obama’s rough run Lobbying World Take action to promote animal welfare Congress should close spectator loophole in animal-fighting laws OVERNIGHT ENERGY: DOE, EPA nominees in focus Strain shows between Rubio, Gang of Eight on immigration reform legislation House unanimously votes for government-free Internet Nominations for most beautiful list open through end of May 50 Most Beautiful nominee all beauty, no bite Conspiracy trumps facts in scandals US, Europe being pushed together OVERNIGHT HEALTH: GOP pounces on Sebelius’s fundraising OVERNIGHT MONEY: House Agriculture takes up farm bill Beth Behrs wants Obama to support the arts OVERNIGHT TECH: Pelosi aide to lobby for Facebook Senate Judiciary panel wraps up debate on H-1B visa measures Lawmakers skeptical of Kerry peace plan OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Pentagon cuts furloughs to 11 days Obama losing control No focus on real scandal Senate advances amendments to water infrastructure bill Rubio: Recent controversies ‘things you typically see in the third world’ Navy dodges furlough bullet, secures waiver for shipbuilders IRS watchdog finds ‘insufficient oversight’ allowed targeting Russia orders expulsion of US ‘spy’ Finance chairman meets with embattled acting IRS chief Hagel announces Pentagon furloughs Feds tout Medicare fraud bust Prince Harry praises Christie for Sandy leadership Dems propose expansion of work flexibilities for nursing mothers DAY’S END ROUND-UP GOP senators join Sebelius investigation Same-sex marriage opponents to file suit against IRS Weyants World: May 15, 2013 Gibbs blasts ‘passive’ White House response to IRS controversy Opponents of US gas exports wrong Organic industry finds support from lawmakers, regulators President’s Guantánamo dilemma Sarah Palin – the next talk show queen? FCC’s McDowell to join Hudson Institute Tea Party group endorses McConnell for response to IRS scandal Camp, Levin ask IRS for all IRS documents on targeting Don’t underestimate the power of the presidency McCain eyes Pentagon budget to change counterterrorism rules Grassley calls for select committee to be appointed for Justice probe Sen. Mikulski ‘ready to go’ on nuclear option for filibuster reform Lockheed Martin looks overseas to recoup sequester losses Senate reaches agreement to hold final vote on water bill Drones are useful, but not the solution or the problem Sen. Warner fires warning shot at broadcasters over Aereo dispute CBO cuts estimates for health law’s mandates Boeing resumes delivery of ‘Dreamliner’ planes to airlines Manchin ‘very hopeful’ about gun control Justice Department launches IRS probe Shape up or we cut the cash Obama’s tough week Unions mobilize as labor board faces paralysis in Obama’s second term Holder recused himself from DOJ decision to seize AP records Reports: Turkey, ExxonMobil strike Iraqi oil deal Reid urges Congress to crack down on ‘masquerading’ political groups Senate panel clears ambassador to Libya Senate energy chief seeks May floor action for efficiency bill ‘Jeopardy!’ host honored to be among the most trusted in the US Court: ‘No merit’ to environmental challenge of nuclear plant In defense of prevention, and the prevention fund White House: GOP fabricated leaked Benghazi email House GOP accuses administration of ‘lies,’ ‘misstatements of truth’ Reid: No way to justify Justice Department’s seizure of phone records Holder: ‘I recused myself’ from investigation involving AP records Freedom of the press Senators clash over H-1B visa measures for skilled workers in immigration bill McCain: Consumers shouldn’t pay for TV they don’t watch CBO says deficit shrinking at faster rate Hoyer: Dems fear ObamaCare glitches Report: IRS leaked confidential documents to investigative media Rep. Steve King: Senate immigration reform bill worse than ObamaCare Carney: Obama believes the press ‘needs to be unfettered’ Spokesman rules out any White House role in IRS political targeting Wasserman Schultz ‘moved’ by Angelina Jolie’s revelation of double mastectomy Senate Agriculture panel approves farm bill Tom Daschle backs Weiland for South Dakota Senate Flake proposes ban on IRS political targeting Transit board pushes to lower threshold for drunken driving Ex-Rep. Sestak announces rematch attempt against Sen. Toomey Hagan continues call to act on ‘totally unacceptable’ military sexual assaults Transit union pushes for passage of internet sales tax bill Bill calls for increased US oil production to displace Iranian oil Reid plans to speak to Bryce Harper’s parents after injury Acting DOE chief: US not backing down on Indian solar practices IRS abuse and leak investigations Cheney: White House ‘lied’ to hide Benghazi ‘incompetence’ Capitol officials order wolf to stay outside Panel rejects stricter caps on immigrants, foreign workers RNC chairman demands Holder resign over DOJ seizure of phone records Assad regime responds to Kerry’s invitation to Syria talks GOP preparing bill to deny funds for IRS ObamaCare agents Visiting Sweden, Kerry offers ‘regret’ that US hasn’t done more on climate Final Afghan fighting season hits full swing Liberal group accuses Rove of ‘misleading’ public on Benghazi Drug smuggler for Los Zetas sanctioned after arrest in Mexico Rubio ‘disappointed’ by Judiciary panel’s rejection of biometric tracking for visas Conditions improving for potential home buyers David Perdue prepares Senate run in Georgia Sen. Paul to Obama: Fire officials tied to IRS scandal Boxer tells GOP to ‘look in the mirror’ on who’s to blame for Benghazi GOP senator escalates Sebelius, Iran-Contra comparison State Department refutes report of $1B in ‘illegitimate’ taxes paid to Afghanistan Rep. Steve King: Obama should praise Tebow, not Collins McConnell: We’ve ‘only started to scratch the surface’ of IRS scandal Kerry: Obama will announce Afghanistan troop withdrawal plans ‘shortly’ Former Rep. Steve Largent: Redskins should keep name Reid: GOP objects to budget conference for ‘nakedly partisan reason’ Report: Obama officials giving wind farms a pass on eagle deaths Carl Bernstein: AP phone subpoena ‘outrageous, totally inexcusable’ Wednesday’s meeting announcements: Reviewing energy companies Warren asks regulators to justify not taking Wall Street to trial Paul: IRS staffers responsible for targeting should be fired New regs for Wednesday: Reducing hospital payments Jindal, Walker call for special prosecutor in IRS investigation House Dem proposes ‘War on Debt’ savings bonds Reports: Russia says it has detained US spy Tea Party leader calls IRS actions something out of a ‘dictatorship’ Pentagon cuts furloughs to 11 days News bites: Pressure cooker NRSC tweaks Senate Dems after recruiting losses Tuesday: Keeping the Internet out of the government’s hands Rep. Issa: ‘How dare’ Obama suggest he can fairly investigate IRS Gomez says he’ll win without Washington help News bites: Hot water News bites: Energy firm lays out shale oil potential in Texas formation News bites: Not just Cincinnati News bites: Activist investor calls for spin off of Sony’s entertainment arm Pelosi: ObamaCare ‘largely responsible’ for bringing down deficit IRS chief: ‘We should have done a better job’ News bites: Regulators probe Bloomberg after alleged data snooping Pelosi: If Boehner were a woman he’d be considered weakest speaker in history Report: IRS officials in Washington involved in targeting Tea Party K Street worries over spread of IRS scandal amid push for tax reform GOP defies Boehner on special Benghazi panel SEC nears decision on requiring businesses to disclose donations Sen. Gillibrand leads charge to change Pentagon sex-assault policy Ex-Marine turned street warrior Businesses fear being blindsided by regs MORNING READ Obama unmasked Camp: IRS actions ‘almost inconceivable’ Thomas Pickering on the chain of command: Ambassador to secretary of State Political storm bursts over IRS Senate faces filibuster reform Senate Democrats: Nuclear option for filibuster is back on the table White House: ‘No knowledge’ of AP phone record seizure