The Hill Articles: May 22, 2013

House passes bills to boost educational info, electrical grid Scandals reveal an aloof president Wasted wealth – The ongoing foreclosure crisis that never had to happen New York Democrats tread cautiously as Weiner enters NYC mayoral race Report: Obama to restart Gitmo transfers House votes to override Obama on Keystone OVERNIGHT MONEY: Pritzker heads to Capitol Hill Senate passes a bill criminalizing lies about earning military metals Green billionaire Steyer plans to get involved in Massachusetts Senate race OVERNIGHT HEALTH: House panel weighs DC abortion bill OVERNIGHT TECH: Tech visa debate heads to House Scandal of dysfunction Weyants World: May 23, 2013 OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Administration says Americans killed in drone strikes Memorial Day proposals The president’s legacy on energy OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Senate spotlight on natural gas ‘fracking’ Under Contract OMB deputy nominee heads to full Senate OSHA moves to delay new crane operator rules Regulatory loopholes create profit for scammers Former US officials recommend penalties for foreign companies using stolen American IP Issa may haul IRS’s Lerner back Bad days on the Romney campaign Hagel orders Pentagon to buy new health records system Christie tells NJ delegation to support emergency aid package for Oklahoma Is Obamaphone good for the poor? Maybe not. Senate rejects amendment to reform the sugar program DOT nominee rides smoothly through confirmation hearing DAY’S END ROUND-UP Senate votes 99-0 on a resolution calling for tougher Iran sanctions Poll: Alexander positioned to stave off primary challenger In letter to Congress, Holder discloses drone attacks killed four Americans Ohio Republican: IRS targeted constituents who complained about Obama EPA proposes pulp mill rules IRS official pleads the Fifth during House hearing Biden: Global warming, oil transport will challenge Coast Guard Sebelius touts ObamaCare benefits for graduates Iran sanctions bill clears key panel Potential 2016 candidate dines at Lincoln-themed restaurant Elizabeth Warren, Angus King among freshmen in Senate ‘millionaires’ club’ Internet sales tax is easy, because it’s on the Internet Sen. Cornyn targets patent trolls with new bill White House says it would veto GOP’s student loan bill Lawmakers seize on farm bill for fresh assault on genetically engineered food CBO: Carbon tax an option to avoid ‘catastrophic’ outcomes Bipartisan coalition launches social media campaign on immigration reform HHS: Health IT use rising sharply GOP lifts subpoena after Benghazi auditor agrees to be deposed Lawmakers demand TSA rule out knives on planes Fed warns of risk from ending stimulus New IRS head vows to restore trust in agency Freedom on the run Michelle Obama tops Hillary Clinton in powerful women list Hagan slips to dead heat against possible GOP opponent in NC Toxic chemical deal met with mixed reactions from greens Virginia’s Dem senators press for Atlantic offshore drilling Senate Dems push for stronger international swaps rules Ways and Means seeks more IRS tales Health IT: Make sure the policy umbrella is big enough for everyone House panel approves homeland bill, bars Brazilian immigrants Pelosi joins in call to fix VA backlog House advances Keystone bill in bipartisan vote Trend toward part-time work, cuts in health coverage predate ObamaCare Lawmakers go crazy for Cookie Monster House pushes judicial oversight of DOJ in wake of Associated Press leaks case Sales of existing homes hit highest level since 2009 Obama to survey Okla. tornado damage Dem: Susan Rice owed an apology Tempers flare as GOP questions Lew over IRS targeting timetable Sen. Ted Cruz: ‘I don’t trust Republicans’ Issa immigration bill to boost high-skilled visas Former IRS chief receives congressional tongue-lashing Coburn: Don’t ‘saddle’ child victims of tornado with cost of federal aid Rubio’s net worth stays in the red Obama’s inspired choice for US Trade Representative USO sticker prompts warning about flair on House floor Lawmakers seek to bar bosses from asking for Facebook passwords Paul Ryan writing a book Senate rejects amendment to turn food stamps into a block grant program GAO: Government not cutting waste GOP lawmaker says White House has ‘lack of outrage’ on IRS House GOP chastise equal employment chair for hurting businesses Oversight grills IRS Commissioner on past political activities House bans funds for base closures Airline crash relatives to attend DOT nominee hearing Bringing facts to bear in discussing the patent system House panel seeks to block Global Hawk retirement GOP lawmaker: Scandals show federal government is too big to manage NRSC ramps up attacks on Dems over IRS scandal Scandals combine to form perfect storm Obama’s new Energy chief: Climate change ‘not debatable’ Sen. Shaheen tackles Middle East and North Africa WMDs House blocks funding for Pentagon intelligence service Rand Paul for president (or Ted Cruz) McConnell: Dems are trying to ‘stack the court’ with D.C. Circuit nominee Bernanke: Fed can’t stave off economic slowdown this year Thursday’s meeting announcements: Protecting veterans’ rights Facebook agrees to human rights standards IRS’s Lerner pleads Fifth, insists she’s done nothing wrong The IRS: Too eager to please? Reid: House GOP bill on student loan rates is worse than doing nothing Palin: Obama either ‘a liar or a hugely incompetent CEO’ Kansas base selected to host Air Force tankers Report: Utilities slacking on cyber defenses New regs for Thursday: Potatoes and avocados McAuliffe touts work with McDonnell in new ad Rob Lowe dines out with DC power couples Former sportscaster Pat O’Brien suggests interest in run for South Dakota office RNC FOIAs IRS documents Celebs slam GOP on abortion rights, birth control access News bites: Europe looks to combat tax avoidance Amtrak bill would let trains go to the dogs News bites: Singles-only subway Wednesday: Keystone approval, farm bill, Iran sanctions News bites: Deeper cuts North Korea, Iran threats demand military readiness News bites: Tesla pays off DOE loan, Shell on oil price probe and more FBI kills man linked to Boston suspects News bites: Immigration overhaul heads to Senate floor News bites: Dimon holds on Rep. Cole: No ‘funding fights’ over tornado aid Weiner seeks ‘second chance’ in New York City mayoral bid House lawmakers: We’re in the dark on Justice investigation of Associated Press Republicans advise Rogers: Pick Senate bid over FBI post Obama, lawmakers ready to renew push to shutter Guantánamo Bay prison Here comes Sequester: Part 2 Immigration push is bonanza for lobbyists Ten House Dems endorse Aguilar over Baca in Calif. House race Biden needles Obama on teleprompter Unions rip Schumer’s deal on H-1B visas In tornado’s wake, Capitol Hill lawmakers grapple with questions about aid IRS official to plead the Fifth before House Oversight Committee White House, Treasury discussed how to handle disclosure of IRS story Senate Judiciary Committee advances immigration reform bill in 13-5 vote