What You Need to Know: 03.13.09

Obama Defends Agenda as More Than Recession "President Obama rejected on Thursday criticism that he is trying to do too much at once by advancing ambitious plans on health care, energy and education at the same time that he is struggling with perhaps the worst economic crisis in generations.

As many in both parties question his approach, Mr. Obama insisted that the only way to build a strong economy that will truly last was to address underlying problems in American society like unaffordable health care, dependence on foreign oil and underperforming schools."

Texas rejects stimulus unemployment money
"Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Thursday rejected $555 million in federal stimulus money that would expand state unemployment benefits, saying the money would have required the state to keep funding the expanded benefits after the stimulus money ran out.

Perry, an outspoken critic of President Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus bill, did accept most of the roughly $17 billion slated for Texas in the plan.

But he said the requirements attached to the federal stimulus money would require a change in the state's definition of unemployment, expanding coverage to more people and placing more of the state's tax burden on employers."

Obama Is on the Spot as Rulings Aid Gay Partners
"Just seven weeks into office, President Obama is being forced to confront one of the most sensitive social and political issues of the day: whether the government must provide health insurance benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees."

GOP party chief clarifies his abortion stance
"GOP national chairman Michael Steele said Thursday that he's opposed to abortion and that Roe v. Wade should be repealed, commenting a day after a magazine quoted him as saying abortion was "an individual choice."

Steele clarified his stance in a written statement after online publication of the interview with GQ magazine."