The Hill Articles: December 15, 2014

Biden phones Ukraine President Poroshenko Senate has end of 113th Congress in sight Senate passes bill to punish those who lie on background checks GOP senator blocks veterans’ suicide prevention bill 110,000 sign Warren petition OVERNIGHT HEALTH: Dems earn victory over NRA with new surgeon general Cruz refuses to stand down Identity theft going for $30 on black market Virginia Democrat: War vote will wait until next year Ryan keeps top Ways and Means staffers Gun control groups declare ‘huge victory’ in surgeon general vote Not among Senate confirmations — US ambassador to Norway Senate confirms surgeon general despite opposition of National Rifle Association Booker makes himself at home on AF1 OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Iraq vets join Armed Services panel OVERNIGHT TECH: Tech giants help Microsoft in DOJ fight Senate Republicans add three to Finance panel GAO faults nuke regulator’s cost-benefit analysis Obama spokesman: What Dem rift? Hatch says trade an area where GOP, Obama can work together US oil falls to new lows Kirk retires from Navy after 23 years Katie Pavlich: The glaring government shutdown double standard Justice still wanting in Serbia Singer arrested for opening airplane door Second state delays insurance deadlines New faces for VA panel Manchin sides with NRA against Obama’s surgeon general nominee GOP Sen. Coburn holding up terrorism bill McConnell adds budget expert to Senate team GOP lawmaker ‘blacklisted’ after blocking DC pot law Bill would increase early warning reporting on faulty cars Black is white and up is down in the anti-semantics of the news Senate sends Obama electronic duck stamp bill Fewer colleges marketing credit cards could signal shift to prepaid cards Cyber-friendly senator gets Homeland chair GOP accuses feds of bad science in endangered species studies Patent office issues new guidelines after court ruling In data security we (lost) trust Cassidy, Gardner appointed to Senate Energy Committee Obama, Christie back together again Cotton, Ernst to join Armed Services panel Republican votes against spending bill due to time constraints Tim Scott, Tom Cotton to join Banking panel Senate GOP announces new committee assignments Warren’s Friday speech changes everything New GOP faces on Senate tech committees King: Sydney calls for ‘heavy surveillance’ Cassidy given HELP Committee seat US government vs. small business Poll: Majority says CIA methods justified CDC calls 2014 ‘unprecedented’ for public health challenges White House: Cheney is wrong Intel figures downplay spy provision Kerry turns to Vatican for help with Guantanamo Bay detainees North American energy leaders agree to data exchanges Conservative poll: Mike Lee not vulnerable in primary Poll: Dems want Hillary primary challenge Conservative group likens EPA regs to CIA torture Sen. Lee defends budget vote delay with Cruz Four nominees Dems are pushing through Senators vow new push to outlaw an Internet tax Obama looks like ‘The Rock?’ President sees ‘resemblance’ Is a major file-sharing hub gone for good? Menendez: Sanctions bill a ‘victory’ for Ukraine Once at odds, pharma companies and insurers are learning to collaborate Google facing $18.6 million fine over Dutch privacy violations Homeland Security chief slams Congress over lack of new funding No decision from White House on Russian sanctions bill Pentagon gears up to track Santa Inventors will pay less to apply for trademarks online WH to healthcare providers: Prepare for climate impacts House Dem questions WH public housing relief program Tax extenders bill a tale of corporate influence West Coast port labor strife worries retailers Federal buildings hit by string of outages US coalition hits ISIS with weekend barrage Tech heads call for digital privacy law Bill would require data on police killings Homebuilder confidence fell in December Distance learning is revolutionizing education Clinton joins with Bloomberg to promote women’s rights Legislation aimed at eliminating costly regs introduced in Senate Poll: Most say CIA interrogation tactics provided reliable intel Holder praises NBA stars for ‘I can’t breathe’ shirts Tennessee governor strikes deal on Medicaid Senators spar over surgeon general nomination New regs for Tuesday: Organic produce, perennials, wine coolers and endangered species Police storm Sydney cafe, freeing hostages Conservative super-PAC ads rip GOP leaders over spending bill Obama channels Mariah with Seacrest President’s rhetoric of protecting civilians doesn’t match reality Surgeon general nominee to get long-awaited vote Coal demand to grow through 2019 Norm, Darth Vader star at GOP party Boehner presses Obama to sign Russia sanctions bill Spending bill bans schools from serving Chinese chicken Marine accused of drowning transgender woman in toilet Reid in final push to clear Obama nominees, close Congress Sandy Hook families sue gunmaker Wyden: Don’t let FBI weaken Americans’ security Cost of Afghanistan War nears $1T SCOTUS declines to take abortion drug case Jeb Bush defends business dealings Reid: Senate could be in session until Thursday Ex-CIA official: Lone wolf attacks coming to US within ‘next year’ FBI: Iranian hackers targeting major US companies Don’t drill in the Arctic Keystone builder tells landowners it is still committed to pipeline Reid cancels vote on controversial nomination Sen. Schumer wants airfare investigation HealthCare.gov faces crucial deadline Gas prices have little effect on car travel, feds say Labor board gives unions new leverage to organize workers Bush visits 9/11 museum Longtime rep mulling run for Boxer’s seat Senate turns to nominations marathon Happy Holidays becomes ‘Happy Data Breaches’ Sony warns media: Don’t publish hacked docs Greens disappointed in Peru climate talks Warren insists she’s not running for WH Poll: Congress’s job approval rating stuck near record low Meeting the GOP branding challenge US officials focused on Sydney hostage siege US consulate near hostage siege evacuated Congress’s hostile takeover of endangered species efforts ‘Serial’ and the slow and possibly vain search for truth Cromnibus a sneak preview for regulation wars to come Hostages seen fleeing Australian cafe Clinton and Warren — Facts, not labels Sen. Thune: Not closing door on 2016 run Juan Williams: Democrats must fight or lose young voters What does Warren want?