The Hill Articles: August 27, 2013

Obama administration dispatches envoy to North Korea to secure American’s release Rival calls Booker’s ‘gay’ comments ‘weird’ WH releases list of foreign leader calls on Syria Ports: Earmark ban sinking projects Obama promises mayors he’ll use executive actions to combat gun violence Top Republican: Congress cannot be ‘brushed aside’ on Syria Rick Perry returns to Iowa to headline Polk County GOP fundraising dinner Dems urge improved humanitarian aid to Syrian conflict victims White House huddles with caregiver group on minimum wage rule Energy Department lands new coal, oil-and-gas officials Former George W. Bush official launches challenge to Rep. Rigell Report: Fiscal issues weighing on consumer confidence Norquist has Boehner’s back on spending bill plan Report: New York Times website goes down, ‘likely’ hacked Former Giffords intern delivers gun violence victims’ request to meet with Flake Kucinich: Syria strike would turn US into ‘al Qaeda’s air force’ Dem says budget cuts making Oregon fires worse Sen. Warner backs plan for 2024 Olympics Wal-Mart will offer health coverage to workers’ partners starting in 2014 Raytheon stock rockets amid news of Syria strike Democratic Whip Hoyer met with Facebook’s Sandberg Older people more likely to duck ObamaCare mandate, survey finds White House battle plan exclusively targeting military sites in Syria A Nelson Mandela statue for Washington, DC Coons joins other lawmakers in call to end foreign aid to Egypt Biden says an ‘essential international norm has been violated’ in Syria 22 House lawmakers demand say in approving Syria military strike Former bank executive admits using TARP funds to buy luxury condo Conservative group ratchets up ObamaCare feud with Sen. Flake Border security is a misnomer Lawmakers, journalists to compete in spelling bee Former Romney adviser Hamm: Keystone isn’t needed for US oil McCain: Next few weeks a ‘critical time in the life or death’ of immigration reform British fighters, cargo aircraft arrive in Mediterranean Obama officials consult with key lawmakers on actions against Syria The Congressional process is broken: We can fix it Report: Capital gains rates could play crucial role in tax reform Celebs endorse Bill de Blasio for NYC mayor White House: We’re not seeking ‘regime change’ as goal in Syria Cardin: ‘Political dysfunction’ of sequestration is harming families Former bank official heads to consumer finance watchdog Spotted: Tucker Carlson, Jesse Jackson Weiner launches last-ditch healthcare ad blitz to save his campaign Gov. Perry reverses course on Obamacare Coburn: ‘I am a global warming denier’ Report: Top economic adviser Sperling might soon depart White House Report: British fighters, cargo aircraft arrive in Mediterranean MSNBC host Matthews: Can a Syria attack deter Iran on nukes? GOP senators want to reverse healthcare rule for congressional staff Report: Housing market continues showing improvement IRS finalizes penalty for ObamaCare mandate Hagel discusses Syria battle plan with French, British defense chiefs Boehner vows ‘whale of a fight’ over debt ceiling DOT solicits online feedback on 2014-2018 plans French president says France ‘ready to punish’ Assad The value of public-private partnerships in driving innovation Rep. Broun says Snowden’s leak was a ‘proper thing to do’ Booker: ‘So what’ if people think I’m gay Oil jumps as White House weighs Syria strike US requested data on at least 20,000 Facebook users CMS touts progress against antipsychotic overuse King: Obama doesn’t need approval from Congress to strike Syria Arab League joins call for UN action against ‘heinous’ Assad Obama ‘teared up’ at screening of ‘The Butler’ Detroit, Labor Day and a Hard Day’s Night Napolitano warns large-scale cyberattack on US is inevitable (Video) Obama: MLK ‘would like’ ObamaCare Blumenthal calls on Congress to combat dog fighting ‘scourge’ Rep. Connolly ready for spelling bee Fix the Debt aide joins hotel trade group Steve King headed to New Hampshire Wednesday’s meeting announcements: Spiny dogfish takes center stage Late-night smash: Batman fans petition the WH, Weiner’s sleep texting problem Report: Cruz, Rubio, Paul heading to help Cuccinelli in Virginia Ex-UN official warns of rush to war Consumer confidence rises in August New regs for Wednesday: EPA looks at ozone compounds Boxer pushes for $10 minimum wage Georgia judge moves primary date up to May Palin backs shutdown showdown over ObamaCare defunding Home prices continue climb, but boost shows signs of slowing Radio ad from right hits Mitch McConnell on ObamaCare defunding Hagel: US is ‘ready to go’ on Syria News bites: Judge approves Facebook privacy settlement News bites: Does it? Five reasons for optimism about unions this Labor Day GOP lawmaker says Senate immigration bill ‘really bad,’ but sees chance for progress Booker to meet with Obama on youth violence New York Times: Obama no better than Clinton on gender balance News bites: A shift from Canada on Keystone XL impact? News bites: Five years later News bites: Texas legislators balk at added regulations after deadly blast British Parliament recalled to debate, vote on Syria military action Energy Dept. may revive auto industry loan program Syrian Coalition media director Khalid Saleh: Crime with no consequence, the story of Assad and the international community Conservative blacks irritated with liberal flavor of MLK march anniversary Report: Obama considers limited strike Sebelius’s father, former Rep. John Gilligan, dead at 92 Immigration activists pressure GOP’s Goodlatte in Virginia