The Hill Articles: September 19, 2013

OVERNIGHT ENERGY: EPA climate rule arrives, political attacks in tow Postmaster General: Rate increase needed unless Congress acts Iranian president calls for ‘constructive interaction’ with US OVERNIGHT HEALTH: House to vote on CR minus ObamaCare funding House Judiciary chairman readies tougher ‘patent troll’ bill Senate sees a path ahead on government funding bill OVERNIGHT TECH: Zuckerberg lobbies on immigration ‘The Hammer’ makes triumphant return to House floor after his acquittal Sen. Murray sees ‘no deals on the debt ceiling’ OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: House ramps up Benghazi probe OVERNIGHT MONEY: CR fight continues Boehner: Senate GOP needs to ‘pick up the mantle’ and help defund Obamacare Supreme Court asked to rule on ObamaCare birth control mandate House votes to cut food stamps by $39 billion Wendy Davis poised to change history in Texas Dems say GOP funding measure would gut children’s health Government funding battle knocks stalled efficiency bill off Senate floor Produce industry weighs in on draft food import regs Hillary Clinton jokes about a presidential run Radios failed during Navy Yard attack, emergency responders say House Intel panel blasts critics who skipped NSA briefings Obama nominates Goldman Sachs donor for ambassadorship Coalitions offer united front on tax reform Home Depot shifting workers into ObamaCare exchanges Keystone pipeline backers split on GOP’s debt-ceiling maneuver Carney: Boehner has some ‘Putin envy’ Lawmakers want SEC to name names in ‘London Whale’ case DAY’S END ROUNDUP Cassidy donated to Landrieu’s first reelection Orange pound cake will stop Scott from feeling blue on birthday Holder: It’s ‘past time’ for Congress to tackle gun violence Holder orders US attorneys to seek shorter sentences for drug crimes McCain: Cruz is free to filibuster but won’t succeed Sen. Levin announces bill to end the use of offshore tax havens Defense bill likely stalled in Senate until December, aides say Ayotte demands details on Navy Yard shooter’s military record Kerry: UN must force Syria to release chemical weapons next week Boxer praises House committee’s water bill approval Fundamental change needed in Northeast power markets to avoid future ‘energy cliff’ $39B food stamp cut clears procedural hurdle in House Delays, poor satellite management to leave US with data holes House sets up Friday CR vote after angry shutdown debate Kerry demands UN action next week on Syria Food stamp fight breaks out on Twitter Time for Congress to clinch the Farm Bill NRSC Chairman: Democrats are rooting for a government shutdown Senate sees way forward on funding bill Va. man gets 25 years for Family Research Council shooting Cruz open to filibuster to defund Obamacare Dem presses Zuckerberg on privacy Obama would keep sequester, for now, in return for funding deal Disclosure’s unintended consequences Senate votes to get government out of the helium business Obama administration says GOP Benghazi subpoenas could ‘jeopardize’ FBI probe Lawmakers’ pay on the line in House bill Administration takes $53M step toward new tobacco regulations White House: Boehner has ‘Putin envy’ Food stamps helped me succeed and can help others, too White House: Obama ‘willing’ to meet with Iran’s Rouhani (video) GOP senators back linking Keystone to debt-ceiling increase Safety groups criticize changes to federal organic program Tech giants ask 21 countries to release surveillance data NATO launches inquiry into Afghan drone strikes Cruz open to filibuster to defund Obamacare Steve King: Illegal immigrants have killed ‘multiple times the victims of Sept. 11’ How to influence Iran’s Israel policy Karl Rove seen taking on chicken dish at DC’s Teddy & The Bully Bar Bidens to tour Colorado flood damage Senate Democrats call for vote on cyber bullying bill Dems launch food labeling overhaul Obama enlists Clinton for tag-team event touting healthcare law JPMorgan agrees to refunds and fine over improper credit card charges Lawmakers clash over Benghazi ‘whitewash’ Boehner: Obama should negotiate on debt, but not with me Halliburton pleads guilty to destroying evidence in aftermath of BP oil spill Shaheen: Clock may run out on energy efficiency bill Stakeholders: Tax reform doesn’t look good Reid: Senate GOP will share blame for government shutdown Crafting a fact-based spectrum auction structure that benefits consumers House Transportation Committee passes water infrastructure bill Yarmuth joins House Commerce; Butterfield to tech subcommittee Military intelligence needs to take ‘a hard look’ at contractor role, says Obama nominee Capitol Police investigating Navy Yard ‘stand down’ claim Vitter accuses Reid of ‘threats, intimidation and bribery’ Tea Party lawmaker: Don’t count Boehner out Boehner: Senate GOP needs to ‘get the job done’ on defunding Pelosi: ‘Across-the-board’ Dem opposition to GOP spending bill Existing-home sales highest since 2007 Cuccinelli ad hits McAuliffe for not being ‘serious’ Obama says health law has helped revive the economy White House: ‘Extreme’ Republicans holding leaders hostage Drescher heading to Capitol Hill Boehner challenges Senate GOP to ‘get the job done’ on defunding Pope Francis dismisses criticism over lack of focus on abortion, gay marriage McConnell says he’ll ‘work to defeat’ Obama’s energy board nominee Toomey chides Senate for not voting on legislation for two weeks Essential role of private lawyers in defending the poor Pelosi: Senate should vote again on gun control legislation Sen. Levin aims at offshore tax loopholes Dems raising funds off House defund-ObamaCare push Biden heading to Mexico to talk trade, economic ties MPAA to have Silicon Valley presence Dem uses steak, caviar to shame members on food stamps Tom DeLay’s conviction overturned Dem report contests political role in Benghazi talking points GOP blames ‘red tape’ for five-year wait on Keystone pipeline Anti-ObamaCare ads show menacing Uncle Sam giving prostate exams Auditors defend Benghazi probe House Dem says extreme weather a sign of climate change How coal can help the president help the middle class Veterans chairman demands all VA records on Navy Yard gunman Karl Rove: ObamaCare strategy is an ‘ill-conceived tactic’ Friday’s meeting announcements: Forest Service panel to hold session President promises veto of House bill defunding ObamaCare Biden visits Navy Yard victims at hospital Reid blocks McConnell’s bill to thwart EPA carbon rules Dem campaign chief: Conservatives come to Congress for ‘the swag’ Obama approval in Va. slips to lowest in two years Kaine proves able in spelling bee showdown New regs for Friday: Regulators pull back controversial endangered species proposal Who’s behind the right-wing attack on worker centers? DSCC launches ‘Shutdown Watch’ campaign Reid: GOP’s self-destruction would be ‘good political theater’ Late-night smash: Government shutdown looms McCain to Russians: You deserve better JPMorgan agrees to $920 million fine for ‘London Whale’ trades Report: Syria may miss first deadline of chemical weapons deal Auditors of Benghazi attack say their report was not a cover-up Terrorism risk insurance: A smart, fiscally responsible, and necessary plan Americans for Prosperity launches $3M anti-ObamaCare ad featuring cancer survivor GOP: Delay ObamaCare exchange enrollment until data privacy tested News bites: ‘Non-owner insurance’ Republican jumps into New Hampshire Senate race News bites: Dish wins another round News bites: ‘Narrow window’ The Lehman collapse: Revisiting our checks and balances The Hill policy briefing: ‘Small Business Voices’ News bites: Keystone debate takes center stage Thursday Cruz seeks to reassure House GOP, vows to fight for defunding Thursday: 2014 spending, food stamp cuts in the House News bites: Whale of a fine The SAFE Act is not safe for immigrants and their families Boehner asks why Obama will negotiate with Putin but not Republicans Assad: Syria is ‘committed’ to US, Russian agreement Americans divided on role of government Former Camp Ashraf commander Thomas Cantwell: Another massacre in the Middle East that nobody is talking about US, Iran now inching toward dialogue GOP fight spreads to the Senate Weak state parties weigh down Senate Democrats in South GOP puts IRS controversy back into focus at hearing Obama blames Boehner for gridlock SEC proposes rules on CEO pay GOP plans ‘one man, one woman’ law in wake of same-sex marriage ruling News bites: Biofuels scam, Germany’s rocky path to green energy and more MORNING READ Broun bashes Gingrey for bemoaning six-figure salary Perry and O’Malley clash on ‘Crossfire’ GOP, Democrats trade blame over taxpayer info leak Boehner bows to conservative demands on ObamaCare defunding Pentagon to review security measures