The Hill Articles: December 5, 2011

Issa expands Fast and Furious probe to include alleged money laundering OVERNIGHT TECH: Bill would require cameras in Supreme Court Senate wishes happy birthday to King of Thailand, adjourns OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Report on West Virginia mining disaster coming Senate clears Obama judicial nominee OVERNIGHT HEALTH: SCOTUS under pressure to allow cameras in health law case OVERNIGHT MONEY: Obama heading to Kansas to push payroll tax cut House GOP freshmen push for repatriation Rating agency threatens to downgrade Europe MoveOn.org urges Google to quit Chamber of Commerce Experts: Even with cuts, major weapon programs could avoid guillotine Ryan to unveil budget reform proposals Former VP Quayle to endorse Romney No endorsement coming from Cain, despite reports DAY’S END ROUNDUP LaHood to testify before House panel on rail White House unveils tax cut ‘doomsday’ clock Rep. Tierney’s brother-in-law convicted in illegal gambling case Gingrich: Comments on work ethic of poor were ‘distorted’ US, South Korean officials work on wrapping up trade deal What Ron Paul, Occupy Wall Street, Lech Walesa, Tahrir Square, Tiananmen Square and many Tea Party people have in common House sets up Tuesday suspension votes, adjourns GOP senators raise concerns with drug benefit merger Supporters of online piracy bill slam cost, prospects of alternate proposal EMILY’s List ups support for Warren Steward of healthcare, Wall Street reform legislation to leave White House Bill would require TV cameras in Supreme Court Trump impressed by Gingrich’s brain following meeting Gingrich: I ‘automatically said yes’ to Trump debate McCain calls F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program a ‘tragedy’ FTC gives tips on how to avoid Facebook’s fate Video of Romney’s Senate campaign surfaces Santorum says he, not Gingrich, is responsible for 1994 GOP House takeover TSA denies elderly female passenger was strip-searched Romney admits he flips…pancakes, that is America needs a health care ruling Analyst says F-35’s testing is ‘well ahead of the plan’ Report: Paul Ryan to endorse ‘bold conservatives’ over timid incumbents Obama: ‘Irresponsible’ to cut social programs for tax relief Gingrich fires back at Pelosi over threat Pelosi: I’ll reveal information on Gingrich ‘when the time is right’ Obama challenges GOP on demand that payroll tax cut be paid for Reid: GOP rejects latest payroll tax plan ‘at their own peril’ The demise of Herman Cain The preseason does not count: Why the FCC staff paper won’t impact the ATT/TMobile merger trial Redefining rape Cellphone companies accused of violating wiretap law Santorum will attend Trump debate Former Googler, White House staffer McLaughlin joins Tumblr NLRB watchdog ‘concerned’ by claim that Republican had incentive to quit Rep. Bachus proposes blind trust for lawmakers’ stock holdings Obama’s campaign adviser calls Gingrich the ‘godfather of gridlock’ GOP candidate: Rep. Tim Bishop wants horses killed for dinner meat Rep. Kucinich: Downed drone plane ‘a step’ toward war with Iran Controversial journalist to produce Trump debate Trump: ‘I do not want to run as a third party candidate’ Deficit groups demand supercommittee secrets Senate Democrats shrink payroll tax cut to lure GOP support USPS seeks to move away from next-day delivery Kirk calls for ban on of regs costing more than $100 million Correction from White House: President didn’t say he’s ‘mad living here’ Obama adviser Axelrod dubs Gingrich the ‘godfather of gridlock’ Holiday hiring looking merriest in four years FAA chief Babbitt placed on leave after drunk driving arrest Colorado court rules for Democrats in redistricting battle Former Public Printer Robert Houk dead at 84 ‘Real Housewives’ star to host fundraiser for West challenger Gingrich, Trump to team up on apprentice program for New York youth Greens bash GOP bid to kill EPA rule through payroll tax cut bill Capitol Hill Agenda: December 5, 2011 House Dem calls for firing postmaster general; blames Obama, GOP Congress Labor Dept. targets fraudulent insurance plans GOP freshmen form joint fundraising committee FCC credits Cablevision for improvement in broadband speed Possible Sen. Casey challenger decides against campaign Rubio signs deal to publish memoir Gingrich reverses his position that life begins at ‘implantation’ Ron Paul ad calls GOP opponents ‘little shih tzus’ DC waterfront development plans to get boost with House vote Service sector continues expansion at a slower pace Weathering the challenges ahead for renewable energy The Pentagon’s ever-growing budget-cut estimate now at $492 billion Study: Drug benefit managers save billions Study confirms people go online ‘for no particular reason’ Biden jokes Gingrich inflates his importance Report urges Congress to funnel oil-spill penalty money to Gulf AFL-CIO running ads for Sen. Casey Rep. Pelosi doesn’t want to be featured on the big screen Huntsman on Trump: ‘I’m not going to kiss his ring’ or anything else House to vote on synthetic marijuana ban this week Resolution of legal battle provides opportunity to get reform right Biden jokes about US bailing out Greece with hundreds of millions Donald Trump: ‘I would certainly think about running as an independent’ Leaders propose EU treaty changes Iraqi prime minister: ‘Durable’ relationship with US is ‘vital’ Veteran Dem strategist joins White House communications shop Shoppers spend $6B during ‘Cyber Week’ This Week in Tech: House gets down to business on cybersecurity Reid: Defeat of payroll tax cut bills an ‘absolute disaster’ for Republicans Three Tenn. House members back Romney News bites: Summit time Returning to basic work principles Week Ahead: Conferees begin work on final Pentagon policy bill This week: Rail plans probed by House ‘Twilight’ of the Republicans; Jon Huntsman, Rick Perry to rise News bites: Greenhouse gas emissions increase by record amount Schwarzenegger to GOP 2012 field: Move green-energy debate past Solyndra First post-Cain poll finds Gingrich holding double-digit lead GOP leaders courting Gov. Heineman to run against Nelson Automatic cuts could drive smaller defense-industry firms out of business Rove says RNC should ‘discourage’ Trump-moderated debate News bites: Facebook buys Gowalla Social conservative Schlafly endorses Bachmann Clyburn: Gingrich ‘tends to fly off the handle,’ can’t ‘envision’ working with him Easy Monday: Land-use bills and judicial nominations The week ahead: Keystone pipeline, EPA rules in focus Gingrich’s first Iowa TV ad: ‘We can rebuild America’ News bites: Health law standing, abortion insurrection and more Perry, Bachmann vie for Cain’s votes Gingrich airs first TV ad in Iowa Oil-industry executives tell Romney: Life was better under President Bush Gingrich breaks from campaign trail to attend Kennedy Center Honors This week: Geithner heads to Europe as debt crisis boils Week ahead: Deadline for ‘doc fix’ closing in Hill Poll: Pessimism deepens for many voters on personal finances Hill Poll: Voters want to cut lawmaker pay and make them work longer Signs of turning tide lift Obama’s hopes Denying mandate support won’t work Time for Congress to step up on debt Rep. Lankford looks to not just change what Hill does, but how it does it The Week Ahead: Holiday crunch time Romney has déjà vu all over again MORNING READ Report says Cain will endorse Gingrich White House opens offensive to confirm consumer agency head