In Today's Times:
- Many Americans are troubled by the conviction that they are paying more and more to finance the expansion of the federal government. But in 2010, most Americans actually paid less in taxes than they would have 30 years ago, Binyamin Appelbaum and Robert Gebeloff report.
- Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner delivered a proposal to avert the potential fiscal crisis to the House speaker, John A. Boehner, on Thursday - but with the plan lacking detailed cuts and packed with Democratic priorities, Republicans offered strong resistance, Jonathan Weisman reports.
- As Republicans take aim at Susan E. Rice, they seem to be amassing their support behind a familiar alternative: their colleague Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts, Jennifer Steinhauer reports. But their support adds a measure of intrigue, as Mr. Kerry's vacant seat could offer an opportunity for Senate Republicans to bolster their numbers.
- < li>Language slipped into a Coast Guard reauthorization bill to protect an old, ash-dumping ferry in Lake Michigan has raised questions about what exactly constitutes an earmark, Jonathan Weisman reports.
Washington Happenings:
- President Obama will continue advocating for action to prevent the year-end fiscal crisis, on Friday at a toy factory in Hatfield, Pa.
- Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. travels to Mexico, where he will attend a dinner given by President Felipe Calderón on Friday. Mr. Calderón will leave office on Saturday.
