EARLYBIRD

Tuesday, January 27, 2009 8:30 AM

Top Transition News - 1/27

Defense Secretary Robert Gates will testify before Congress today and try to explain how the Obama administration will solidify security gains in Iraq, make strides in Afghanistan and close the prison facility at Guantanamo Bay. (AP)

Key Senate Republicans won't delay the nomination of William Lynn for deputy Defense secretary, despite extensive lobbying contacts that fly in the face of Obama administration ethics rules. (CongressDaily)

President Obama dispatched his new special Middle East envoy George Mitchell to the region Monday in search of "progress, not just photo ops." (Los Angeles Times)

After Julius Genachowski reportedly turned down the chief technology officer position in favor of leading the Federal Communications Commission, questions are swirling about just how prestigious (and powerful) the CTO post will be. (Federal Computer Week)

Outgoing Symantec CEO John W. Thompson is on Obama's short list for Commerce secretary, a pick that would give Silicon Valley an ally in the White House. (Los Angeles Times)

The Senate has approved a bill that would delay the digital television transition by four months, a move Obama supports. (AP)

Obama isn't actually keeping his BlackBerry, but upgrading to a military-strength Sectéra Edge made by General Dynamics. (Federal Computer Week)

A congressional vote for D.C. "may not be a slam-dunk, but" Obama's one-on-one basketball games "with Mayor Adrian Fenty (D) suggest it is no longer a long shot, either." (The Hill)

Stimulus Wrangling

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are launching another charm offensive to win over GOP lawmakers on the stimulus package, but so far they aren't budging. (Roll Call -- subscription)

GOP lawmakers are expected to make the argument to Obama today that the stimulus is packed chock full of earmarks that he pledged to keep out of the spending bill. (Politico)

Critics allege that Obama's stimulus package won't work because it doesn't pump enough money into failing industries and sends money into ones not associated with the current meltdown. (Washington Times)

Rep. David Obey, D-Wisc., refuses to apologize for the stimulus package, which critics say he's using to pour money into his favorite programs. (New York Times)

The Energy Executive

Obama's aggressive energy policy is being undermined by geographic splits among Democrats, with lawmakers from California and the East Coast pushing renewables and politicians from the Midwest and Plains defending coal. (New York Times)

Obama's executive order allowing states like California to set their own emissions standards drew immediate fire from Republicans and the auto industry. (Wall Street Journal)

Mr. Geithner's Wild Ride

The Senate approved Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's nomination by a slim 60-34 margin, despite furor over his failure to pay past payroll taxes. (New York Times)

The administration is distancing itself from Geithner's statement that China is manipulating its currency, after the jab drew fire from the Chinese. (Wall Street Journal)