The Hill Articles: January 17, 2013

OVERNIGHT TECH: Activists celebrate SOPA blackout anniversary OVERNIGHT HEALTH: HHS touts states’ progress on exchanges OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Departing EPA chief says ‘Be Green’ OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Fate of Americans in Algeria remains unclear OVERNIGHT MONEY: House GOP seeks unity on agenda Feds finalize rules on tax evasion measure Former NYC subway chief makes mayoral run official Christie denounces NRA’s ad about Obama’s daughters as ‘reprehensible’ Dem lawmakers probe energy drinks’ safety White House publishes YouTube videos of children advocating gun reform Poll: Hillary Clinton retiring with 69 percent job approval Biden tells mayors he has ‘no illusions’ about gun-control fight The NRA is mentally unbalanced — no, just plain crazy NRA fundraising email says Obama wants to ‘reduce your freedom to ashes’ Ryan: House GOP discussing short-term hike to debt ceiling On first lady’s birthday, new poll shows strong support Amb. Kramer: US and allies eliminated ’80 to 90 percent’ of objectionable proposals for UN treaty Rank and file tell GOP leaders to keep sequester, shutdown ‘on the table’ NY, Idaho lawmakers urge USDA to reclassify Greek yogurt as a protein Twitter has 100 percent participation by new Senate Rove signs multi-year deal to stay with Fox Immigration advocates promise to put ‘muscle’ behind reform push Clinton: Hostage situation in Algeria is ‘very fluid’ Algerian hostage drama ends with air strike, unknown casualties Audit: More work needed to keep refunds from prisoners NRCC chairman refuses to back Mark Sanford for House House to investigate wasteful technology spending Mine safety rule prompted by deadly explosion faces industry blowback Rep. Brady says Obama gave ‘free pass’ to Hollywood on gun violence She bangs — new hairdo for Michelle Obama? HELP panel to hold hearing on mental health The Second Amendment is a fundamental right Manti Te’o saga reached House floor Obama administration warns of Mali violence spillover across western Africa Inhofe, Panetta trade shots over gridlock on sequestration cuts Biden tells US Conference of Mayors that it is time to act on gun control White House ‘seeking clarity’ on Algerian hostage situation Coburn says he won’t filibuster gun bills, wants an open debate Spirit Airlines invokes Manti T’eo girlfriend controversy Carney: White House to pursue separate gun control bills in Congress Treasury battles another Mexican drug cartel Key to the perfect Inaugural bow tie: Imperfection Obama campaign urging supporters to back gun control push Hospitals push White House to back change in healthcare law Don’t wait for President Obama to act on immigration reform DOE names new Bonneville Power Administration chief Report: US drones deployed to Algeria to monitor hostage crisis Carney: White House ‘condemns in the strongest terms’ Algerian attack GOP governors, Canadian leader press Obama to approve Keystone pipeline Mediator: Dockworkers, East Coast ports making ‘progress’ in labor negotiations Carney: Te’o girlfriend hoax story ‘fascinating’ President’s overreach on guns must be stopped Dem lawmaker introduces bill to ban sales of violent video games to minors Vulnerable Senate Democrats balk at Obama’s gun control measures Housing construction hits nearly five-year high in December Obama gathering online support for gun violence plan McDonough expected to be named White House chief of staff IMF head urges swift hike to debt ceiling GOP Rep. King: Gun-control advocates likely ‘disappointed’ in Obama Groups battle on Keystone XL pipeline Partisanship perverts the NLRB Senators: Dodd-Frank lawsuit ‘fundamentally’ threatens Congress’s power Plastic surgeon: I have ‘no doubt’ lawmakers use Botox DC Metro Silver Line extension 87 percent complete HHS announces $1.5B for state exchanges First lady’s office launches new Twitter account @FLOTUS Imaging industry touts drop in cancer rates Conservatives demand balanced budget as part of debt limit deal A modest proposal: Bill fine-tunes nation’s anti-trafficking tools Peter King calls Obama’s executive directives on gun violence ‘hype’ Nancy Pelosi losing key political aide Bank economists see ‘fiscal cliff’ deal slowing economy in 2013 Mass. Democratic Party: Scott Brown would ‘cancel out’ Warren in Senate Puerto Rican Alliance VP José L. Arbona: Congress must step in to resolve Puerto Rico’s future status Congress must step in to resolve Puerto Rico’s future status Militants claim dozens of hostages dead after Algerian air attack Craigslist, eBay agree to stop sale of scalped tickets to Inauguration Calif. leader to pitch feds on $10B mental health overhaul Vitter: I ‘won’t miss’ Salazar at Interior Flight attendants’ union hopes new American Airlines color scheme signals US Air merger Demand Progress rallies for reforms in the wake of Swartz’s death News bites: FAA grounds Boeing Dreamliner Panetta backs weapons ban, says only military needs ‘armor-piercing bullets’ Congressman delivers $4,700 check to Treasury Dept. Inaugural committee posts official playlist Congress must pass a budget Rubio will speak at CPAC 2013 Jeff Sessions will seek reelection Bloomberg: Gun-control fight unlikely to be resolved this Congress Justice defends prosecution of Swartz Kerry confirmation hearing set for next week Sen. Rockefeller backs FAA grounding 787s, has ‘serious concerns’ Jobless claims fall to five-year low Rep. Forbes proposes cutting members’ salaries as spending increases News bites: At least 22 News bites: Shuster’s first Transportation Committee meeting In new video, DCCC asks if Republicans can ‘Kumbaya’ In op-ed, Obama urges lawmakers to ‘act soon’ against gun violence News bites: Left behind News bites: AT&T considering merger deal in Europe NRA chief ‘generally supportive’ of strong background checks Soothing the liberal conscience News bites: Some hostages escape from Algerian gas plant Rubio: Obama doesn’t have ‘guts to admit’ he opposes Second Amendment Report: 20 hostages escape from Islamist captors in Algeria Report: Obama likely to name McDonough as next chief of staff Vitter: ‘Political purposes’ behind EPA fracking study MORNING READ Obama push on gun control puts Reid in tough political spot Experts skeptical of GOP plan to avoid default by prioritizing federal payments Republicans worry they’ll lose the House to Dems if they botch fiscal talks Sanford checked with ex-wife before entering race for SC House seat Rep. Paul Ryan maneuvers for position ahead of immigration-reform fight New mortgage rules designed to protect struggling homeowners The problem with ‘assault weapons’ President: Executive orders not enough Obama initiates fight with NRA Regulators slam POM Wonderful over ads Under Contract Kerry, Hagel — Vietnam’s lessons and legacies Kerry, Powell and Hagel McConnell free to deal Weyants World: January 17, 2013