Today’s Times
- For decades, the words “gay†and “Congress†were usually seen together only in stories of scandal and shame, but as the number of openly gay members of Congress gradually increases, there is a sense among the newcomers that they are forcing some of their colleagues to rethink gay rights and homosexuality, Jeremy W. Peters writes.
- Wary of introducing new personalities after a few unsuccessful experiments, President Obama is heading into his second term with a new team that looks much like the old one, Peter Baker writes. His reluctance to bring in outsiders suggests that he feels no need to inject new energy into a team that brought him through a tough re-election campaign.
- Both Mr. Obama and a bipartisan group of senators will begin separate but nea simultaneous efforts to build support for immigration overhaul next week, Ashley Parker writes. Though all members of the Senate group broadly agree on some pathway to legal residency, they are still divided on exactly what that route should be.
- While some Republican leaders are encouraging the party to temper its tone and appeal to a broader set of voters, its conservative base continues to punish the members who do just that, Jeff Zeleny and Jonathan Weisman report.
Weekly Address
- In this week’s address, President Obama said that it was not enough to pass laws protecting consumers and shielding the financial system from abuse:“We also need! cops on the beat to enforce the law.†On Thursday, he nominated Mary Jo White to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission and Richard Cordray to stay on at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “As president, my top priority is simple: to do everything in my power to fight for middle-class families and give every American the tools they need to reach the middle class,†he said. “That means bringing in people like Mary Jo and Richard whose job it is to stand up for you.â€
Happenings in Washington
- Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, who represents the District of Columbia in Congress, and Mayor Vincent C. Gray will be joined by families from Newtown, Conn., as they march for gun control on the Washington Monument.
