After President Obama offered the Muslim world an olive branch on Arab television earlier this week, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad demanded the U.S. apologize for its treatment of Iran over the past 60 years. (New York Times)
On Wednesday, House Republicans delayed a vote on extending the digital television transition deadline, a postponement Obama supports. (Washington Times)
With less than two weeks in office, Obama is bringing an "Aloha Zen" to the White House -- relaxing the West Wing dress code, keeping later hours and running meetings with less concern for time constraints. (New York Times)
Obama joked Wednesday that Washingtonians need to develop "some flinty Chicago toughness" after the city shut down schools on account of light snow and ice. (NationalJournal.com)
Obama's pledge to limit lobbyist influence in his administration is clashing with the need to hire the best and brightest. (The Hill)
Since Jan. 20, Obama hasn't strayed more than four miles from the White House. With plenty to do in the capital, he'll likely continue to send his emissaries around the world in his place. (Washington Post)
Tech industry insiders say they're feeling the love as Obama "has shown he understands that innovation and technology can drive the economy." (Roll Call -- subscription)
Name Games
Attorney General-designate Eric Holder's nomination cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday with a 17-2 vote. (CongressDaily)
Obama will name Josh DuBois, a 26-year-old Pentecostal pastor and political strategist, to lead an office of faith-based initiatives with even broader influence than in the Bush administration. (New York Times)
Labor groups and Democrats are battling with Republicans over the confirmation of Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Calif., for Labor secretary. (CongressDailyAM -- subscription)
Adm. Dennis Blair, approved Wednesday by the Senate Intelligence Committee to be national intelligence director, has "substantial financial interests in Tyco International." (Politico)
Securities and Exchange Committee Chairwoman Mary Schapiro is taking a payout valued between $5 million and $25 million from her former employer, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. (Wall Street Journal)
Stimulus Wrangling
After Obama reached out to Republican lawmakers and made concessions in the bill, the stimulus package passed the House without a single GOP vote. (Wall Street Journal)
Just 5 percent of the $819 billion stimulus package will go towards infrastructure improvements such as highway, mass transit and rail projects. (Boston Globe)
Tech industry CEOs, a handful of whom met with Obama Wednesday, support the stimulus package after calling the nation's economic predicament "dire." (Wall Street Journal)
California was one of the big winners Wednesday: The Golden State will pocket as much as $63 billion in federal funds. (Los Angeles Times)
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Responded on January 29, 2009 10:37 AM
cactusmitch
Of the five hits on the Google search for "cost benefit analysis" and "economic recovery projects," only the National Journal, seemed slightly relevant to the world economic situation. PORKers might fear prioritizing projects according to their payoffs, but long term faith in the economy requires it. Perhaps the NJ should seize the high ground here and propose the first project be the development of a system for estimating the returns to citizens on various proposals...isn't that what the CBO is supposed to do?