The Hill Articles: March 29, 2013

HHS withdraws plan to consider coverage of sex-change operations Senate Dems line up behind worker protection bill Energy Dept.-backed green automaker could go bankrupt France backs off plans to arm Syrian rebels HHS: States need waiver to privatize Medicaid expansion DAY’S END ROUNDUP Shaheen tells the Pentagon to use ‘flexibility’ to avoid furloughs Gift card industry ‘shocked’ by Federal Reserve guidance Harrison Ford, first lady to team up for DC youth workshop Obama reelection chief: GOP’s 2016 nominee won’t back gay marriage Under fire, Young again apologizes Republicans swiftly denounce Rep. Young’s slur on Hispanics Zuckerberg’s new lobbying group hires outside help Lew heading to Europe to discuss financial policies Green groups want Supreme Court to revive power plant rule Rep. Lynch: ‘I will not be a candidate for Mayor’ Rising GOP star Carson defends comments on same-sex marriage Groups want permanent fix to cellphone unlocking ban Senators tell Hagel that VA backlog is ‘simply unacceptable’ Obama running out of time on postwar Afghanistan, says former US ambassador Obama calls on lawmakers to approve $21 billion infrastructure bill Sharon Stone, Tracy Morgan to lobby lawmakers for arts funding Labor Department: Payrolls rise in 42 states White House ‘deeply concerned’ over sexual violence at Egyptian protests Obama administration finalizes key Affordable Care Act rule Senators ask Obama administration to help fund weatherization program Commerce: With income boost, consumers increased spending Report: Army vet accused of joining Islamic militants in Syria Administration actions on gun control GAO report: California high-speed rail estimates ‘reasonable’ Democrats seek to tie House Republicans to Don Young’s racial slur EPA’s low-sulfur gasoline rules fuel fight with GOP over prices Obama makes $21 billion infrastructure funding appeal Fashion designer calls dressing Michelle Obama a ‘life-changing experience’ Study puts total price tag for Iraq, Afghanistan wars at more than $4 trillion Students demand prayer breakfast critic be pulled from commencement Jordin Sparks, Adrian Peterson among celeb guests at Easter Egg Roll Mark Warner will run for reelection Has the ‘Christian’ moment passed in politics? Analyst who helped crafted health law leaves White House budget office Group uses Reagan shooting to push tougher gun laws Brown calls on Senate to raise minimum wage Sen. Inhofe ‘proud’ to be target of climate flick ‘Greedy Lying Bastards’ Former Transportation Committee chairman uses racial epithet Sen. Cornyn slams Young’s ‘ethnic slur’ Texas to pay to keep flight towers open John Edwards’s daughter doubts he’ll seek public office again Rubio continues panderfest; Boehner claims ownership of the sequester President Obama’s masterful Israel visit Drugs cheapest at Costco, priciest at CVS, study finds Study: Obama health law will hike some California premiums by 30 percent News bites: EPA to roll out long-awaited gas regs News bites: New York court upholds online tax Senators urge Army to halt contracts to companies with ties to terrorists News bites: Lost and found News bites: Across the country Rand Paul calls Obama, Bloomberg hypocritical in gun control fight News bites: Going grand? Sanford faces criticism over infidelity in South Carolina GOP primary debate Report: North Korea readies rockets after US military drills US demands vote on United Nations arms trade treaty next week Obama uses executive power to move gun control agenda forward News bites: Quake tied to oil projects, companies’ trading escapes scrutiny, and more MORNING READ Alaska Rep. Young apologizes for calling Hispanics ‘wetbacks’ Biden spends Easter Weekend in SC, prompting presidential speculation