Heard on the Hill: Overheard on the Hill By Neda Toloui-Semnani Posted July 12, 2011 at 7:52pm Facebook Twitter Email Reddit “It doesn’t have to be pleasant for it to be essential.” — White House press secretary Jay Carney on the tone of the ongoing debt ceiling negotiations. Recent Stories Newsom sets special election for LaMalfa’s seat for Aug. 4 Senate Republicans detail farm aid package components Joke detector — Congressional Hits and Misses Virginia voters set to decide on new House map for the midterms The facts on the vaccines the CDC no longer recommends for all kids Venezuela is a lesson — Africa is a test of whether we learned from it