The Hill Articles: May 17, 2013

Watchdog: Senior Obama administration officials were told of IRS probe last year Jobless rates drop in 40 states Ryan: We have more questions for IRS IRS official to testify before House Oversight next week NRSC raises $3.56M in April GOP lawmakers liken EPA info tactics to IRS targeting of Tea Party Green group taps new chief for political arm A closer look at next week … Keystone, student loans and the farm bill Eyes on Rand DAY’S END ROUNDUP FCC scraps 126 telecom regulations DCCC tops NRCC fundraising in April Rep. Peterson: Pelosi supports farm bill push DOD: Russian missiles in Syria could trigger ‘miscalculation’ by Assad The inconvenient truth about budget cuts Poll: Fliers prefer sitting next to crying babies than smelly adults Gen. Dempsey: ‘Game changers’ needed to address sexual assault Senate Finance Committee will probe IRS’s tax-exempt status policy GOP Rep. Franks to offer late-term abortion ban following Gosnell case CBO: Obama budget would cut $364 billion in Medicare spending Rep. Issa subpoenas Benghazi auditor Thomas Pickering Sanctions lifted on Iraqi bank ‘Superman’ actor: Obama administration puts up ‘an iron curtain’ Jimmy Carter, in apparent reversal, voices opposition to pot legalization EMILY’s List raises record amount in first four months of 2013 MetroPCS drops challenge to net neutrality rules Federal judge blocks Arkansas’s 12-week abortion ban 24 million reasons to protect immigrant whistle-blowers Gillibrand urges more leadership from Hagel in sex assault cases Becerra is holdout on House immigration group’s ‘agreement in principle’ NRCC raises $5.1 million in April Next week’s hearings: Education, health, immigration … and going to Mars In Baltimore, Obama tells Congress to focus on economy CBO: Obama budget for fiscal 2014 adds $5.2 trillion in deficits Michelle Obama criticizes the worship of celebrities, sports stars House votes to rein in SEC regulations Lew asks Congress for debt increase, says it’s ‘not open to debate’ DOE gives green light to controversial natural gas export project Sen. Flake: Bloomberg ads wrong, ‘I did vote’ for background checks How should the FCC allocate the broadcasters’ spectrum? Mustache group: Critics of Eric Holder fear his facial hair GOP senators question pre-sequester FAA employee bonuses Holder urged to investigate price-fixing by oil companies WWE wrestler ‘Kane’ reportedly weighs Senate challenge to Lamar Alexander OFA launches new video series to promote immigration reform Ousted IRS chief defends targeting of Tea Party as ‘obnoxious,’ not illegal Michelle Obama ditches her bangs FCC nominee to dump AT&T, Verizon holdings OFA kicks off immigration reform video series with focus on tech Amid scandal, Republicans file bills to stop IRS from enforcing ObamaCare DCCC targets Republicans who backed ObamaCare repeal House Dems outraged after learning of cuts in GOP spending plan Safety commission wants stroller protections Federal judge denies rehearing on mining ban Report: Russia sends advanced anti-ship missiles to Syria The FBI’s surveillance power in the aftermath of Boston Carole King to be honored at White House with Gershwin Prize State Dept. security officers union endorses Benghazi select committee House closer to requiring more oversight of SEC regulations Pope Francis condemns the cult of greed, Ted Cruz and Paul Ryan support it Bloomberg-backed group goes after Flake on gun control Obama’s ‘New Superior Man’ Question that revealed IRS scandal was planted, chief admits Poll: 69 percent think Benghazi needs to be investigated Former Susan G. Komen exec Karen Handel enters Georgia Senate race Monday’s meeting announcements: Tropical fishing Baucus on IRS: ‘I have a hunch that a lot more is going to come out’ Poll: 83 percent oppose allowing knives on airplanes IRS head: ‘Foolish mistakes’ behind Tea Party targeting New regs for Monday: Raising blueberry fees WATCH LIVE: Hearing on IRS scandal Obama taps Giffords to join Fulbright scholarship board House bill requires court order for phone record seizures GOP decries ‘culture of cover-ups’ News bites: DOT picture day Poll finds younger people expect their costs to rise under ObamaCare News bites: Yahoo exploring deal with Tumblr House to vote on Keystone next week Woodward: IRS scandal ‘a big mess’ but ‘not yet’ Watergate News bites: ‘Serious perils’ Friday: Putting a check on SEC regulations Former Rep. West lands Fox News gig News bites: Fracking pollution debated, refinery strike called off, and more News bites: Top of the charts Gallup: GOP voters more interested in IRS, Benghazi than Dems News bites: Long-awaited fracking rules sow concern Obama to streamline permits for infrastructure projects Ousted IRS official to face House panel as GOP bears down House Republicans: We won’t repeat Lewinsky-era missteps Press secretary says he’s ‘enjoyed’ challenging week at the White House Report: Leader of IRS office that targeted Tea Party now runs ObamaCare office PETA wants IRS investigation extended to Bush administration