Tax experts say the "innocent mistakes" that have sunk two Cabinet candidacies "were not cases of something really esoteric" and could have been avoided. (Washington Post)
Nancy Killefer, President Obama's nominee for White House deputy budget director and chief performance officer, withdrew her candidacy, citing unpaid taxes. (AP)
Leon Panetta, Obama's choice for CIA director, earned more than $1 million last year from speaking and consulting fees and board directorships. (Politico)
While calling for a "more narrowly focused Afghanistan policy," the Obama administration has been disappointed to find the situation on the ground worse than they previously realized. (Washington Post)
After being sworn in Tuesday, Attorney General Eric Holder pledged to restore the credibility of the Justice Department, "which has been so badly shaken by allegations of improper political interference." (Politico)
Gene Robinson, an openly gay Episcopal bishop, says that after meeting Obama, he had no doubts the president was "right where I wanted him to be" on gay issues. (The Advocate)
All Daschle, All The Time
After watching Tom Daschle withdraw his candidacy for Health and Human Services secretary, some observers think the former majority leader pulled out too soon. (Time)
"I screwed up," Obama admitted Tuesday night in an interview with NBC after Daschle dropped out. (Wall Street Journal)
The founders of two nonprofits linked to Daschle sprinkled campaign contributions around town. (Wall Street Journal)
While the White House insisted that health care reform is "bigger than one person", Daschle's abrupt departure puts a kink in Obama's plan to ram legislation through early in his term. (New York Times)
The Obama administration is unsure how to proceed without Daschle, aides confess, saying "there were no other names" for the HHS post. (Washington Post)
Indeed, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., called the withdrawal a "major blow" in the health care reform efforts on the Hill. (CongressDailyAM -- subscription)
This Judd In
White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., pushed Obama to consider Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., for the top job at the Commerce Department. (Politico)
Gregg will likely be tasked with winning over Republican lawmakers, but some say he could have been more valuable to Obama as a senator than as a Cabinet member. (Roll Call -- subscription)
The Congressional Black Caucus is calling for a "detailed examination" of Gregg to ensure, among other things, that minority-owned businesses are "fully integrated" into the country's economic recovery. (CongressDailyAM -- subscription)
Gregg owns between $1 million and $5 million worth of Bank of America stock -- and voted in favor of the $700 billion rescue package last fall to pump billions into the bank. (Los Angeles Times)
President Obama promised to stamp out lobbyist influence in his administration, but "what he did not talk much about were the asterisks." (New York Times)
Top military brass are pushing Obama to shift course in Afghanistan to prioritize safety and stability over democratic and economic achievements. (Politico)
The Senate confirmed Eric Holder for attorney general by a 75-21 vote, freeing Obama up to lobby for Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Tom Daschle. (Washington Times)
Hillary Rodham Clinton was sworn in as secretary of state Monday by Vice President Joe Biden, with her husband, daughter and mother in attendance. (Washington Post)
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., "will no longer hold up" the nomination of former lobbyist William Lynn for the number two job at the Pentagon. (Boston Globe)
A growing number of former journalists are joining the ranks of the Obama administration, which, conservatives say, is yet further proof of a liberal media bias. (New York Times)
Name Games
Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., is set to be named Commerce secretary today, while the governor of the Granite State has promised to appoint a Republican to take his seat, denying Democrats their shot at 60 seats in the Senate. (Boston Globe)
Obama has nominated Christopher Hill, a career diplomat who tried to persuade North Korea to end its nuclear program, as the next ambassador to Iraq. (Washington Post)
Ron Sims, a county executive from Washington state, has been nominated to be deputy secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. (NationalJournal.com)
The Obama administration may be tipping its hand by retaining the services of Stuart Levey, the Treasury Department undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence who guided the Bush administration's policy of economic sanctions against Iran. (Los Angeles Times)
All Daschle, All The Time
Daschle's record since leaving office "looks, smells and tastes" like that of a lobbyist, but the Obama administration argued that he's not -- because he never registered. (Time)
Daschle spent most of Monday apologizing to senators for not paying more than $120,000 in taxes. (AP)
Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga., isn't buying Daschle's mea culpa and wants his nomination pulled. (The Hill)
Daschle pushed a former client for the Commerce secretary and U.S. Trade Representative jobs, sources say. (Politico)
Daschle also "received speaking fees last year from two organizations that are aligned with health industry groups that opposed strong patient privacy protections in the health care section of the stimulus bill." (NextGov)
The nomination of Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., for Commerce secretary is "nearly a done deal," but the final sticking point is making sure he's replaced by a Republican to avoid giving the Democrats a super-majority. (Politico)
President Obama's executive orders banning lobbyists, closing secret prisons and ending torture are littered with asterisks, and that has watchdog groups calling foul. (Washington Times)
Obama is keeping the controversial tactic of rendition, even as he closes Guantanamo Bay prison and bans torture. (Los Angeles Times)
Richard Holbrooke's appointment as South Asia envoy is ruffling some feathers in the region. (Los Angeles Times)
Obama won't push for an end to the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the military, instead opting for a review of it before he makes the case for gays to be allowed to serve openly. (Boston Globe)
Obama is "dialing back the ceremonial glitz" in light of the recession, cutting back on his use of the Marine Band and considering more modest fare at formal dinners. (Politico)
Lawrence Summers, director of the National Economic Council, is carving out a big niche for himself in the White House -- and setting up the possibility of conflict with other departments and agencies down the line. (Wall Street Journal)
Even after going to bat for Obama during the general election, Hollywood will need to lobby if it wants the new president to support its causes, which range from stem cell research to action in Darfur. (Politico)
Jill Biden, who has been identified as "doctor" in most White House press releases, is thought to be the first second lady to hold a paying job while her husband is in office. (Los Angeles Times)
Former Education Secretary Margaret Spellings is out of a job, but she's still plugging for No Child Left Behind. (USA Today)
Confirmation Wrangling
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., may be holding up the nomination of Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Tom Daschle, with whom he has a long-running feud. (Politico)
The tax woes clouding Daschle's nomination offer a peek into the world of Washington business and lobbying that is populated by former lawmakers trading on their names and knowledge of the town. (New York Times)
Unpaid taxes aren't the only hurdle facing Daschle's nomination: The former Senate majority leader is also being scrutinized for overseas trips he took on a nonprofit's dime. (Wall Street Journal)
Attorney General-designate Eric Holder will likely be confirmed and sworn in today, clearing the way for the Justice Department to begin drafting a new detention policy for terrorism suspects. (New York Times)
President Obama knocked as "shameful" Wall Street's decision to hand out $20 billion in bonuses as the government continued to bail out leading financial institutions. (New York Times)
Michelle Obama's fingerprints were all over the fair-pay legislation Obama signed into law Thursday -- a sign that the first lady could play an influential role in policy matters when she chooses to. (Washington Post)
Obama has stocked the White House with a coterie of prominent, left-leaning lawyers, part of an effort to roll back the legal doctrines cooked up under President Bush. (Washington Post)
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., is asking Obama to renominate three Bush judicial nominees as a sign of bipartisanship. (Roll Call -- subscription)
Some donors with access to Obama have expressed concerns that security around him is too lax. (Washington Post)
Despite blasting the power former Vice President Dick Cheney wielded as "dangerous," Vice President Joe Biden has made it clear that he still wants a seat at the table and a robust portfolio of responsibilities. (Wall Street Journal)
Newly minted Delaware Sen. Ted Kaufman (D), whom some deride as "D-Biden" for being seen as holding the seat for the vice president's son, already has his eyes on the finish line. (New York Times)
Name Games
The Congressional Black Caucus wants Obama to name John Thompson, CEO of Symantec and an African American, as the next Commerce secretary. (The Hill)
Meanwhile, Obama is considering Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., for the post, an appointment that would likely net the Democrats a Senate seat and dramatically shift the balance of power in Congress. (New York Times)
Obama has named Citigroup executive and friend Michael Froman to an "unusual, joint position with the National Security Council and the National Economic Council." (Wall Street Journal)
Confirmation Wrangling
Labor Secretary-designate Hilda Solis' nomination is in limbo after she failed to impress Republican senators with her answers about controversial pro-labor legislation, such as right-to-work laws and the Employee Free Choice Act. (Los Angeles Times)
The Senate Finance Committee will schedule a hearing for Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Tom Daschle in the next few days, according to ranking member Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. (CongressDaily -- subscription)
Daschle's chief of staff, former lobbyist Mark B. Childress, adds another exception to the new administration's strict new ethics rules. (Politico)
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Grassley aren't happy with William Lynn, Obama's choice for deputy Defense secretary and are demanding more details about his record at the Pentagon and his lobbying background. (CongressDailyAM -- subscription)
Republicans are still uneasy about Attorney General-designate Eric Holder's refusal to rule out prosecuting intelligence agents for allegations of torture. (Politico)
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)
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, will support the nomination of Attorney General-designate Eric Holder, despite being initially critical of his involvement in the pardon of fugitive financier Marc Rich. (New York Times)
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is considering rolling back oil shale drilling, made possible under President Bush, and strengthening a host of environmental laws. (Los Angeles Times)
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the world was breathing "a collective sigh of relief" now that President Obama's administration is beginning to dismantle Bush's foreign policies. (Los Angeles Times)
Despite Obama's initial outreach to the Muslim world, he still has a ways to go: American leadership is supported by just 15 percent of Middle Eastern and North African respondents in a Gallup poll released Tuesday. (NationalJournal.com)
Unhappy parents are threatening to sue a Virginia company that promised thousands of teens special access to inauguration events but ended up leaving some kids on buses or unsupervised during the big event. (Washington Post)
Under The Influence
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner tapped Mark Patterson, a former lobbyist for Goldman Sachs, to be his chief of staff Tuesday. (Politico)
Geithner's move comes after Obama's administration issued new rules limiting contact with lobbyists. (AP)
Bill Clinton earned more than $4.7 million in speaking fees abroad last year, making his wife one of several Cabinet members who will have to "navigate potential conflicts in their new posts." (Wall Street Journal)
Dennis Blair, Obama's pick for director of national intelligence, took significant sums from companies doing defense business, the Senate intelligence committee revealed at his hearing Tuesday. (Washington Post)
William Lynn, Obama's pick for deputy Defense secretary, has deeper ties to Raytheon than originally thought, including an impending payout of as much as $1.25 million. (Politico)
Read more of National Journal's coverage of the lobbying industry in the blog Under The Influence.
Stimulus Wrangling
In an unusual move, Obama traveled to Capitol Hill Tuesday to meet with lawmakers and spoke to reporters from a Senate corridor, all of which made it seem like he was still a senator himself. (New York Times)
GOP lawmakers lauded Obama's conciliatory talk about the stimulus package Tuesday, but Republican votes are still lacking, with one aide saying his quest for GOP support is "like asking a lion to be a vegetarian." (Roll Call -- subscription)
A number of congressional Republicans used Twitter to blog about Obama's closed-door meeting with GOP lawmakers Tuesday. (The Hill)
The bill pours $150 billion into education, which would "more than double" the department's current budget. (New York Times)
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)
President Obama's White House is increasingly looking like the "West Wing on steroids," with policy power placed in the hands of a half-dozen key advisers -- not in the Cabinet. (Politico)
Obama will direct the Environmental Protection Agency to review California's application to enforce stricter auto emission standards, a clear break from the Bush administration. (New York Times)
Obama aides have created the group "Organizing for America" to tap the Web activism that helped elect him president. (New York Times)
Vice President Joe Biden admitted that his new role means he'll need to hold his tongue more than he has in the past. (Politico)
Richard Holbrooke, Obama's envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, earned the nickname the "Balkans Bulldozer" while hammering out the Dayton Peace Accords, but solving the Pakistan problem may be an even tougher challenge. (Time)
Dennis Blair, Obama's nominee for director of national intelligence, said that intelligence agencies ought to look for ways to help install or support leaders friendly to American interests. (Washington Post)
The president and first lady appear determined not to let life at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue impede their tradition of Friday night dates. (AP)
Confirmation Games
While he chose his Cabinet in record time, Obama begins his second week as president without Treasury, Labor, Health and Human Services or Commerce secretaries -- or an attorney general. (Wall Street Journal)
Treasury Secretary-designate Timothy Geithner's delayed confirmation has also slowed his ability to put together a "crisis team." (Wall Street Journal)
Labor and environmental activists aren't too keen on Cass Sunstein, Obama's pick for regulatory czar, whose academic work has been "dedicated to calculating the dollar value of every regulation." (Los Angeles Times)
Stimulus Wrangling
Obama's $825 billion stimulus package is facing real resistance from congressional Republicans, who want to see more tax cuts and less spending. (New York Times)
Republicans fear that tens of billions of dollars in education funding in the stimulus package will become permanent fixture in the budget. (AP)
The National Endowment for the Arts is hoping to get an infusion of funds as part of the bailout package, with one lobbyist arguing that "the artist's paycheck is every bit as important as the steelworker's paycheck or the autoworker's paycheck." (New York Times)
Obama has been a "one-man stimulus" package for Washington already, and city institutions from Howard University to Ben's Chili Bowl hopes it continues. (Politico)
Lobbying 44
Lobbyists aren't getting much love from the new administration, whose strict ethics guidelines will keep most K Street players out of public service. (Roll Call -- subscription)
Meanwhile, William Lynn, a former lobbyist for Raytheon, has skirted those new ethics guidelines, but for good reason, his supporters say. (Politico)
With a few strokes of his pen, President Obama effectively ended the "war on terror" Thursday by sweeping away many of George Bush's hallmark (and controversial) programs. (Washington Post)
Obama tapped former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell Thursday as his Mideast envoy, while Ambassador Richard Holbrooke will become the president's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan. (NationalJournal.com)
Obama is toeing the Bush administration line in a controversial wireless eavesdropping case. (Wired)
After eight years of watching their stature decline, career hands at the State Department hope Hillary Rodham Clinton and her new team can turn things around. (Time)
The White House press corps' frustration at the administration's opacity took up a large chunk of Press Secretary Robert Gibbs' first briefing Thursday. (Politico)
Obama will be able to keep his beloved BlackBerry, Gibbs also announced Thursday. (Los Angeles Times)
Nomination Wrangling
Dennis Blair, Obama's pick for director of national intelligence, argued at his confirmation hearing Thursday that some interrogation tactics must be kept secret. (Washington Times)
Still, Blair stressed that torture is "not moral, legal or effective" and vowed to stamp out the use of waterboarding in interrogations. (Washington Post)
The Obama administration will more vigorously oppose China's currency "manipulation," Treasury Secretary-designate Timothy Geithner signaled at his confirmation hearing Thursday. (New York Times)
Name Game
Government watchdogs want Obama to withdraw the nomination of William Lynn, a former Raytheon lobbyist, for deputy secretary of Defense because they believe he is violating the president's new ethics mandate. (Federal Computer Weekly)
Internet-law expert Christine Varney, Obama's pick for Justice Department anti-trust chief, is expected to "file more cases against companies that use market dominance to raise prices than" her predecessor. (Wall Street Journal)
Inauguration Conflagration
Obama is the seventh president to retake the oath of office, and he is also not the first to take the oath without a Bible. (Washington Post)
Move over Milli Vanilli: the sounds coming from Yo-Yo Ma and Itzhak Perlman's instruments Tuesday were pre-recorded -- the classical music version of lip-synching. (New York Times)
Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., sent a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Thursday expressing concern for the thousands of ticket holders who "were kept in the dark -- deprived of information -- as the hours passed and their hopes of seeing history in the making slipped away." (Roll Call -- subscription)
"Out of an abundance of caution," Chief Justice John Roberts administered the oath of office to President Obama for a second time after Roberts botched the wording Tuesday. (Chicago Tribune)
Obama is "ready to issue orders" today to close the prison facility at Guantanamo Bay and "overhaul the treatment of terrorism suspects." (Washington Post)
Obama's $825 billion stimulus package may not provide as much short-term relief as originally planned, leading some GOP lawmakers to call for more tax cuts to be included in the bill. (Wall Street Journal)
Obama began meeting with military brass and civilian officials Wednesday to assess the ground situation in Iraq and contemplate a hastier withdrawal than is currently planned. (Army Times)
While the gay community is elated, some troops are wary of Obama's promise to end the "don't ask, don't tell" policy in the military. (Reuters)
Among his first executive decisions, Obama froze his senior staff's pay, loosened access to government files and tried to limit lobbyist influence on his administration. (NationalJournal.com)
After running the most tech savvy campaign in history, Obama's team entered the White House to discover technology infrastructure so outdated that one staffer compared it to "going from an Xbox to an Atari." (Washington Post)
Settling into their new White House offices is a challenge, and on Wednesday staffers celebrated small victories like new notebooks. (Roll Call -- subscription)
Name Game
Obama has tapped former Sen. George Mitchell as his Mideast envoy, an appointment that follows a round of phone calls to the main players in the region. (New York Times)
Hillary Rodham Clinton was confirmed as secretary of State Wednesday after a one-day delay by Republican lawmakers. (Los Angeles Times)
Republican senators took Timothy Geithner to task Wednesday over his failure to pay payroll taxes, though the Treasury secretary-designate is expected to slip through the confirmation process anyway. (New York Times)
Republicans also stalled a vote on Obama's pick for attorney general, Eric Holder, Wednesday as they seek more detail on his position on torture. (Reuters)
Inauguration Conflagration
Estimates of Tuesday's crowd size are settling on 1.8 million, making it the largest gathering on the Mall in history. (Washington Post)
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies has apologized to the several thousand ticket holders who were shut out of Tuesday's swearing-in ceremony. (Politico)
Those ticket holders aren't the only ones up in arms about their treatment on Jan. 20: after hundreds of Youth Ball attendees were shut out of the main ballroom Tuesday night, the Presidential Inauguration Committee is considering how to compensate them. (NationalJournal.com)
HBO says its failure to broadcast Rev. Gene Robinson's invocation at the Lincoln Memorial concert Sunday was the result of "miscommunication within the Presidential Inauguration Committee." (The Advocate)
Americans gave Obama high marks for the inauguration ceremony and his speech, according to polls released Wednesday. (NationalJournal.com)
