In Today's Times:
The 113th Congress will convene in a few hours, but lawmakers are already bracing for the next fiscal fight over the debt ceiling. Jackie Calmes and Michael D. Shear write that President Obama has no plans to negotiate with Republicans, who are demanding spending cuts as part of a deal to raise the debt ceiling in February, setting the stage for another standoff that could imperil the economic recovery.
Negotiations over the so-called fiscal cliff may have provided President Obama a new avenue for negotiating with Congress, which begins its 113th session today with several fiscal deadlines approaching. Jonathan Weisman explains that as House Republicans seek to block the president's agenda, Mr. Obama may be able to overcome their opposition by getting party leaders in the Senate to forge bipartisan deals. Mr. Obama is set to begin executing his “game plan†in the coming weeks with a goal of reaching a broad agreement with Congress on revenues and spending.
A relief package for victims of Hurricane Sandy will become a priority for the House, as Speaker John A. Boehner moves to quiet the bitter uproar from Northeast Republicans that followed his decision to quash an existing aid bill. Raymond Hernandez reports that Mr. Boehner plans to bring the aid to a vote in two steps, a $9 billion relief package on Friday and a $51 billion package on Jan. 15.
David Leonhardt writes that the fiscal deal reached this week is full of small victories for President Obama an d his Congressional allies, but that it cost them some leverage in future fiscal battles. While the fight helped Mr. Obama steer federal policies to help the poor and the middle class, it failed to provide the certainty of a long-term agreement, which would have helped him avoid some coming battles.
Gen. John Allen, the top American commander in Afghanistan, has come up with plans to keep as many as 20,000 American troops there after the scheduled troop withdrawal in 2014. Elisabeth Bumiller and Eric Schmitt report that President Obama is expected to discuss a range of options for the American military when he meets with the Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, next week.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is out of the hospital and expected to make a full recovery after receiving treatment for a blood clot in her head. But, as Denise Grady and Mark Landler explain, Mrs. Clinton's history of blood clots has raised questions about whether she can sustain the breakneck pace she has worked at since 2007 and her prospects as a Democratic presidential candidate in 2016.
Happening in Washington:
At 4 a.m., the American Bankers Association will release a report containing third-quarter delinquency data for several consumer loan categories.
Economic reports scheduled for release today include weekly jobless claims at 8:30 a.m., followed at 10 by weekly mortgage rates.
The 113th Congress convenes for the first time at n oon.
Government officials plan to mark the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation with a ceremony at 3 p.m. at President Abraham Lincoln's cottage in northwest Washington.
