The Hill Articles: December 8, 2014

Obama jokes: Pentagon turnover ‘boosted’ job numbers US, EU plan trade talks for February Senate passes bill to boost federal information security Water under the bridge Circus set for Gruber at Capitol Senate looks to move on DHS cyber bill Senate sanctions Venezuelan human rights violators Promoting diversity isn’t trying to stifle free speech Keep patient safety paramount with biosimilars Senate passes bill to secure federal data Time is now for a new force authorization McConnell: ‘Almost certainly’ backing Rand Paul in 2016 Jonathan Gruber and the future of ObamaCare Bottom Line John Feehery: The usual suspects Bill Press: Release CIA report now McCain deep-sixes Defense nominee High-ranking Dem: Senate could take up defense bill Tuesday Obama: Protests necessary to trigger nation’s ‘conscience’ Younger taxpayers trust IRS more House Republican to introduce bill to lift crude export ban Cheney: CIA report ‘is just a crock’ EU sees big U.S. tech investment post Snowden OVERNIGHT HEALTH: GOP ready for Gruber OVERNIGHT TECH: Groups cheer as FOIA update heads to House Leaders race to set up votes on trillion-dollar spending bill Senate Dems confirm NLRB nominee before GOP take over Financial officers expect best growth since 2008 Clinton to give paid speech in March OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Pentagon braces for CIA report Congress clashes over ‘torture report’ Lawmakers pay tribute to Rep. Latham Liberals release opposition research on Republican presidential hopefuls Obama approval on race relations drops Senior Dem withdraws opposition to FOIA update Departing TSA chief touts ‘risk-based’ security approach White House defends Treasury nominee Calif. drought mainly due to natural patterns, federal study finds Democrats quietly backed Kansas independent Rep. Van Hollen to co-chair bicameral climate task force Little to show after the yearlong talks with Iran House members debate naming post offices, attend WH party Dem senator calls on Congress to address racial profiling SEC fines bitcoin stock exchange owner Obama to talk immigration reform on Telemundo, Univision Manufacturers remain upbeat about growth Ousted Dem senator leaves a ‘broken’ body Not ‘Ready for Hillary’? Taxpayers shortchanged by bloated Defense bill NSA data program back in federal court Justice Department sues Deutsche Bank for tax evasion scheme Obama: No regrets for failed raid White House: No sanctions on Israel Senate GOP Whip says goodbye to Dr. No Coal firm warns hundreds of layoffs Pharmacists push for healthcare provider status Transforming healthcare one patient at a time Longest serving GOP senator: Obama’s immigration order shows ‘shocking arrogance’ Prince William visits DC Brent oil falls $2 to five-year low Reid says farewell to Armed Services Chairman Prince William: I forgot to ask gender of first child Dem senator pushes back on criticism of CIA report release White House: CIA report due out Tuesday Not broken, don’t fix it: Why Congress should refrain from RFS reform GOP lawmaker to grill CMS chief on surprise ObamaCare tax bills Dems pick witness for ‘stupidity’ hearing Did a fake name make it onto NASA’s Mars capsule? Obama renews NSA spying program after reform bill fails Liberal group to GOP: No dynamic scoring DOJ rolls out expanded racial profiling rules Pentagon ramps up security for CIA report Liberals up pressure on key Dems over Treasury nominee Marketplace Fairness Act is not fair to the marketplace Poll: Americans say they are ‘better informed’ thanks to Internet GOP rep: Obama immigration order like ignoring environmental laws Housing regulator releases 3 percent down payment guidelines Prince William, Obama chat in Oval Office Rx Innovation Continuing Conversation Greens ask Obama to go big on coal ash House GOP’s $1.1T spending package expected late Monday DOJ works to improve education at juvenile detention centers Some Republicans still have no clue why they were elected Will GOP donors clear field for Romney, Bush or Christie? Trucker fight revived in funding bill Survey: Homeownership still seen as enviable goal Pelosi: Schumer’s ObamaCare remarks ‘beyond comprehension’ Ebola czar plans return to private sector House GOP floats vote on terrorism insurance New regs for Tuesday: greenhouse gases, equal employment opportunity and renewable fuel standards McCaskill: CIA report ‘would never happen in North Korea or China’ FBI digs deeper into hate crime motivations McConnell: ObamaCare repeal could be first vote in Senate GOP lawmaker: Ted Cruz doesn’t have votes to derail spending bill More pressure for surgeon general confirmation Warning: The absence of a surgeon general is harmful to our health India to reveal climate plan by June Hackers take down Sony PlayStation online store EPA urges homeowners to cut greenhouse gas emissions McConnell: Cassidy will be key in authorizing Keystone GOP boasts of improved ground game James Franco gets ahead of Sony hack on ‘Saturday Night Live’ Supreme Court won’t take BP oil spill case Fossil fuel companies use scare tactics at UN climate negotiations Hiring the long-term unemployed Bill Gates, Google open checkbooks for new White House initiative Fossil fuel lobbyists take aim at environmental regs North Korea denies hacking Sony over James Franco movie Week ahead: Highway safety pick faces first test Hillary trouncing potential GOP contenders Fuel exports grow under Obama, adding to carbon emissions Arkansas Republican defends special forces raid in Yemen Monday: Nominations, California drought relief Ash Carter must make every defense dollar count ‘Critical’ member of Obama team leaving Will violence follow ‘torture’ report’s release? Iran to US: End racism An hour of code can inspire a future of opportunity DOJ to unveil expansion of profiling guidelines A renewed focus on Obama’s foreign policy failures National security is not the reason we are fighting ISIS The US-China climate agreement hangover Hollywood meets Washington at Kennedy Center Honors FTC pressed to get involved in net neutrality This week: Lawmakers aim to pass big bills, leave town Gunnison sage-grouse gets a measure of federal protection For 2016, who will jump in first? Judd Gregg: The GOP must tread carefully Juan Williams: Racial politics in plain sight Week ahead: Lawmakers face budget, tax deadlines Week ahead: House puts spotlight on crude exports Week ahead: National security to dominate lame-duck’s final days This Week in Tech: Patent pick heads to Congress Week ahead: House weighs drone regulations Week ahead: Gruber to testify before House Oversight