In Today’s Times
- President Obama proposed a compromise on contraceptive coverage on Friday that would allow women employed by religious organizations that do not want to provide birth control coverage to obtain it separately from their insurers. But Robert Pear writes that the proposal did not end the political and legal battles in a tug of war over birth control that has left Mr. Obama struggling to balance women’s rights, health care and religious freedom.
- Binyamin Appelbaum looks at the deliberations among the monetary policy makers at the Federal Reserve over how to manage the economy in the face of stagnant employment and dropping inflation.
- Jennifer Steinhauer points out how the testy Senate hearings on the nomination of Chuck Hagel, a former Republican senator, to be secretary of defense revealed to a striking degree the erosion of decorum in the upper chamber. The phenomenon has set veterans from both parties on edge. And while Democrats expect to confirm Mr. Hagel, the discord is only expected to grow as Republicans face competitive primaries and add to their ranks more new and deeply conservative members who have less regard for the old rules of comity and respect for elders.
- Energy Secretary Steven Chu’s decision to leave the Obama administration soon will add to a slate of vacancies at departments dealing with energy and the environment. Matthew L. Wald reviews Dr. Chu’s science-focused tenure and runs through a shortlist of ! possible successors topped by former Gov. Christine O. Gregoire of Washington State.
- Former Senator Scott P. Brown’s decision to stay out of the June 25 special election for the Senate seat John Kerry vacated to become secretary of state leaves Massachusetts Republicans without a prize horse in the race. But Katharine Q. Seelye writes that Mr. Brown is privately flirting with a run for governor in 2014 and has the campaign money to back himself up. While Republicans scout a viable Senate candidate, two Democratic congressmen, Edward J. Markey and Stephen F. Lynch, are headed for a primary on April 30.
- A century and a half after Charles Darwin published “The Origin of Species,†evolution continues to be politically divisive among Christians. Using the opposing vies of Representative Rush D. Holt, Democrat of New Jersey, and Paul Broun, Republican of Georgia, Mark Oppenheimer looks at the role Darwin and his theories have played in Christian politics.
The Weekly Address
- President Obama used his weekly address to call for a balanced approach to the federal budget. Citing a recent falloff in economic growth attributed to inaction in Washington, Mr. Obama called for investments in education and infrastructure and an overhaul of entitlement programs like Medicare as part of a deal to reduce the federal deficit. He said that “2013 can be a year of solid growth, more jobs, and higher wages. But that will only happen if we put a stop to self-inflicted wounds in Washington.â€
Happenings in Washington
- Among the guests on the Sunday television talk shows are Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committ! ee, and L! eon E. Panetta, the departing secretary of defense. The topics include gun control, immigration, the war in Afghanistan and Super Bowl XLVII.
