Liberal, environmental and labor groups will spend $5 million lobbying Congress for an economic stimulus package for new jobs, middle-class tax cuts and infrastructure spending. (Washington Times)
Under fire from gay rights activists for selecting Christian evangelist Rick Warren for his invocation, President-elect Obama defended the pick, saying, "It is important for America to come together, even though we may have disagreements on certain social issues." (Washington Post)
Conservative evangelicals remain worried about Obama on issues ranging from regulation of the airwaves to the selection of left-leaning Supreme Court justices. (Los Angeles Times)
American military commanders in Iraq have outlined a troop withdrawal plan that doesn't quite square with what Obama has pledged. (Los Angeles Times)
Obama called for a "shift in ethics on Wall Street" while introducing his financial regulators. (NationalJournal.com)
Roads, rail, mass transit -- or something entirely different? Obama will face competing pressures for how to spend the expected $50 billion in transportation funds next year. (Boston Globe)
Vinton Cerf, the "father of the Internet," said the incoming chief technology officer could help create jobs through his or her work. (NationalJournal.com)
Federal agencies are preparing to increase transparency and collaboration under the next administration, including more "public reporting of spending" through sites like USAspending.gov. (Federal Computer Week)
President Clinton released the names of 200,000 donors to his presidential library, revealing money from governments in the Middle East and business titans from Canada, Nigeria, India and Ukraine. (New York Times)
Stocking The Cabinet
Obama is expected to choose Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Calif., for his Labor secretary and former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk for U.S. trade representative, though the nominees disagree over free trade. (New York Times)
Obama is set to tap retired Adm. Dennis C. Blair to become the nation's third director of national intelligence. (Washington Post)
By picking so many sitting Democratic senators and representatives for top administration positions, Obama has opened the door for the GOP to make up some ground in Congress. (USA Today)
Obama's top science advisers are strong advocates for action on climate change. (Washington Post)
Grading The Picks
Solis is the home run unions and labor advocates were looking for, with AFL-CIO President John Sweeney saying his group is "thrilled." (Politico)
But Big Labor is less happy with Kirk as U.S. trade representative. (CongressDaily -- subscription)
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Responded on April 9, 2011 7:53 AM
John Green
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