The Hill Articles: May 23, 2013

Senate clears Obama’s pick to replace slain ambassador to Libya Obama to sign bill honoring Birmingham church bombing victims Issa seeks access to 13 State Department officials as part of Benghazi probe OVERNIGHT MONEY: IRS scandal limps into next week OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Obama throttles back counterterrorism strategy Obama seeks to ramp down 9/11-era rules for war on terror Bipartisan group of lawmakers aim for tax help for Sandy victims OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Premiums lower than expected Boy Scouts votes to admit gay members Kerry: clarifying drone policy, closing Gitmo ‘vital’ to building trust in America OVERNIGHT TECH: Judiciary leaders take on patent abuse Report: Holder signed warrant to seize Fox reporter’s private email Sen. Levin: Some tax loopholes are an ’embarrassment’ Bipartisan bill would overhaul regulatory system, target ‘mega-rules’ Businesses share ObamaCare wellness program worries with White House OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Interior chief on the road, efficiency stirrings in Senate, and more Should we give China ‘eyes and ears’ to U.S. communications? Joint Chiefs to testify on sexual assault legislation IRS’s Lerner placed on administrative leave after refusing to testify Sens. McCain, Levin demand Lerner be ousted from IRS job Michelle Obama invites students affected by Sandy to help harvest White House garden Sales of new homes near 5-year high New sanctions target Iranian nuclear and missile programs Boehner: House won’t just ‘take up and accept’ Senate immigration bill DAY’S END ROUNDUP Cantor: Obama will have to answer if ‘pattern of abuse’ emerges Yemen promises to rehabilitate Gitmo detainees Commerce Department has critical role in promoting digital economy Regulators looking at escape bunkers in coal mines GOP Rep. DesJarlais fined for affairs with patients Senate votes 59-33 to reduce subsidies for the wealthiest farmers Issa’s panel inching closer to asking for Hillary Clinton’s testimony on Benghazi ObamaCare plans cheaper than expected in key rate filing GOP cheers as State Department kills counternarcotic aid to leftist Bolivia GOP’s Chambliss: Obama speech will be ‘viewed by terrorists as victory’ Obama: Holder to review DOJ guidelines on leak investigations Why we need a Good Jobs Nation Obama heckled while discussing Guantánamo prison closure Business groups come out in force against ‘Follow the Money Act’ King blames Reagan for Obama presidency Alabama Rep. Jo Bonner to resign CBO lowers bailout price tag to $21 billion House immigration negotiators report progress on healthcare, but no deal yet Weiner’s NYC mayoral campaign website shows… Pittsburgh? Protester interrupts Obama speech on drones, Guantanamo Tesla CEO Musk: ‘Reframe’ climate argument McCain urges FCC to consider security risk of Sprint-Softbank deal Senate rejects amendment to end tobacco farm subsidies Pritzker looking good for Commerce slot Obama: ‘This is a just war’ Auditing the Department of Defense: A case study Drug czar presses treatment over imprisonment, legalization Benghazi auditor to appear for closed-door deposition on June 3 Senate votes 97-0 to clear DC Circuit Court nominee Issa ready to bring IRS official back before Oversight committee Olympia Snowe dishes on book and bipartisanship Senators, green groups spar on fracking Ag chairman defends lawmakers who get subsidies, cut food stamps Administration gives $3.7B to transit agencies for Hurricane Sandy relief Obama defends drone strikes Chamber to argue case against Obama’s recess appointments at Supreme Court GOP playing cynical game with student debt vote Obama condemns attack on man hacked to death in London EU votes to exclude sectors from trade talks with US WATCH LIVE: Obama defends drone policy Ted Cruz is Harry Reid’s best asset, John Cornyn’s worst fear, and Marco Rubio’s biggest nightmare Democratic leaders: Pact that prevented use of the ‘nuclear option’ is dead Local pharmacists caring for your community need your help Levin, Stabenow officially endorse Peters in Michigan GOP lawmakers question nuclear commission’s cost calculus Goodlatte and Issa defend cutting diversity visa program Facing deadline, ‘slaughtered in the U.S.A.’ rule finalized Boehner: ‘The House is going to work its will on immigration’ Study calls for crackdown on ‘reckless’ drug compounders House passes GOP student loan bill, sets up Obama showdown Cruz to McCain: There are ‘more wacko birds in the Senate than suspected’ Report: Afghans say body of US torture victim found Pelosi vows there will be no ObamaCare for illegal immigrants Skin cancer awareness month puts spotlight on benefit of molecular diagnostics Lawmakers seek middle ground with new sexual assault bill Markey returns $500 donation from Chevy Chase FCC: Supreme Court ruling bolsters net neutrality defense Toomey fundraising off IRS scandal Boehner calls rise in military sexual assault ‘a national disgrace’ Hatch-Rubio bill would modify HSA, FSA rules McCain warns GOP: Budget conference obstruction will lead to rule changes Cuomo: ‘Shame on us’ if Weiner elected NYC mayor Breaking down Obama’s speech Coburn: Romney donors fear they were targeted by IRS The false debate Gomez releases tax returns, urges Markey to do the same Keep climate change out of Keystone decision, GOP warns in letter to Obama Dershowitz: IRS official Lerner ‘can be held in contempt’ of Congress Lawmakers form public transit caucus Senate rejects amendment on labeling genetically engineered foods Wal-Mart hires ex-Bush White House aide House moves closer to student loan interest rate fix Obama taps campaign aide Archuleta as next OPM director Rubio, King push for outside review of drone strikes on Americans Author of romance book: Character was inspired by Rep. Bachmann Federally funded front group misleads IRS, taxpayers, lawmakers Friday’s meeting announcements: Neighborhood reinvestment GOP demands Justice explain subpoenaing of AP phone records Seniors satisfied with Medicare Part D preferred network plans McConnell: Dems seeking 51 votes to ‘blow the Senate up’ New regs for Friday: Pet deposits Priebus: Obama, IRS used ‘political guerilla warfare’ Coburn: Constituents linking IRS audits to Mitt Romney donations E-Verify wrong for America Coburn: Talk of tornado aid without offsets is ‘crass political game’ News bites: Watching costs News bites: US mulls role in Sprint’s board News bites: In-flight tablet use taking off Poll: Dems lead by 8 on House ballot Members push flag bills for Memorial Day Classmate reveals Obama prom photo Jobless claims dropped by 23,000 last week News bites: Too many regulators, former Fed chief says Democrats must overcome GOP’s ‘complete obstructionism’ on NLRB Thursday: Student loans, more farm bill News bites: Boxed out Alexander likens Sebelius to Iran-Contra figure Oliver North Sen. Warren lands book deal Carney: ‘Legitimate criticisms about how we’re handling this’ Sound science can protect agriculture and endangered species News bites: McAuliffe likes oil drilling, Colorado’s fracking fight, and more ‘Inconceivable’ Obama didn’t know about IRS sooner, says Boehner MORNING READ Jay Carney: Criticisms legitimate Insurers feel pressure from health group with ties to White House Gang of Eight: Immigration reform bill won’t add to the nation’s deficit Tea Party groups eager, GOP unsure on possible Sarah Palin Senate bid Obama reflects on Okla. tornado victims during tribute to Carole King Tough immigration choice for Pelosi