The Hill Articles: August 4, 2011

Report: Agencies should track environmental performance Mortgage rates drop to record lows but might not fuel housing market recovery Obama administration sanctions Syrian businessman Top Dem uses Salmonella outbreak to hammer GOP over food-safety cuts Reid announces deal to end FAA furloughs Rep. Mack outlines plan to freeze spending, cut 1 percent a year Sharis Pozen named acting antitrust chief House Republican narrowly avoids bathroom blooper Google and Microsoft trade barbs over patent claims DAY’S END ROUNDUP Senators offer legislation to harshen penalties for drug-smuggling in ultralight craft Dow Jones plunges 512 points amid fears about the global economy Pentagon wary of spending cuts ‘trigger’ NRCC lays out ‘staying on offense’ game plan Waxman wants biologic drugs kept out of trade talks GOP senator to propose auction of federal properties to pay down deficit Interior backs Shell’s Arctic drilling plan Biden tweets Obama ‘Happy birthday’ AP: Kerry to seek reelection in ’14 FCC trumpets new call center jobs Most delayed flights originate at Newark Airport California stakeholders urge feds to reject Gov. Brown’s Medicaid cuts Congressman doubles as bed bug expert D.C. advocates reflect on GOP rider strategy Former GOP appropriations staffer moves to Podesta Group Sen. Durbin: ‘Supercommittee’ members will have to consider opposing side’s sticking points Obama to unveil truck efficiency standards next week Obama, Boehner in talks over FAA impasse Franken calls on FCC to enforce merger conditions on Comcast Watchdogs, liberal groups: Deficit committee should disclose meetings with lobbyists White House: Obama didn’t ‘cave’ in debt deal We demand a decision on the Keystone pipeline extension Rep. Campbell: Obama lacks ability to negotiate with opponents Rep. LaTourette: ‘I’d be shocked’ if FAA shutdown continues into next week GOP wants transparent ‘supercommittee’ Ending starvation in the Horn of Africa, and worldwide Gas ‘fracking’ foes weigh toxics lawsuit if EPA petition fails Special-election date set to fill former Rep. Wu’s seat Tech group lobbies for trade agreements IMF backs Lagarde in wake of possible court probe Mysterious photo cracks up McCain and Kerry Rep. Black says ‘supercommittee’ will work transparently DCCC aims to make August ‘very hot’ for House Republicans over debt, Medicare McCain: Rep. Flake is ‘my choice’ to replace Kyl GOP senators voice support for AT&T/T-Mobile Union promises to spend recess campaigning for robust highway bill House Republican: Debt deal contains ‘fantasy cuts’ Healthcare law has saved seniors $460M on drugs, HHS says Michelle Obama mentions president’s gray hairs McCain: Obama was ‘bystander’ in debt deal ACLU might sue over law limiting teachers’ Facebook use Congestion keeps congresswoman from casting debt vote The world is sending the wrong message to Syria US Chamber warns of growing energy security risk Conservatives, cronyism and cowardice Opinion: Rep. Connie Mack’s penny plan for spending cuts worth another look Green the Capitol program comes under new management Critics say restrictions on food marketing would block ads for popular, healthy foods Biden to give keynote speech at energy summit Domestic trade agreements should be a priority for Congress after recess House forces pro-forma sessions to avoid recess appointments MORNING VIDEOS: FAA furloughs and the jobs debate EPA seeks to ease carbon storage barriers News bites: White House picks new chief information officer White House says it ‘forced Republicans to back down’ in debt fight Washington going through ‘pizza boom’ Path for three trade agreements emerges after Senate deal Obama to supporters: Don’t get ‘bogged down’ on war, taxes Putting in work Tea Party wins … Who is Nick Gillespie? Pawlenty: Most global warming is natural Steven VanRoekel, new US chief information officer Hatch, Scott seek secret ballots on union decisions, limits on union political spending Pawlenty to pull Iowa ads ahead of straw poll First-time jobless claims drop to 400,000 Dem senator predicts ‘supercommittee’ members will compromise News bites: Behavior detection News bites: Geithner’s fate Seventeen states fall short on appeals processes, HHS says Dem lawmaker: Republicans would have rejected Obama offering cancer cure News bites: Cantor says entitlement promises will be broken Poll: Romney tied with Obama in Florida News bites: Giuliani might head campaign to save nuke plant, Japan fires energy officials, and more Republicans trap Obama on economy Obama, Boehner: Two kinds of cool DeMint’s leadership PAC battles leaders in fight for future of Senate GOP caucus Lawmakers call on for-profit organization to remove them from its board Telecom vet answers call to join CFPB Obama: ‘The future is going to be determined’ by the 2012 election Senate leaders reach deal paving way for passage of trade deals David Wu resigns from House amid scandal The economy and 2012 loom over Obama’s bus tour of the Midwest