Here are today's must read opinion and editorial columns.
WHY IS HE BI? (SIGH) BY MAUREEN DOWDNEW YORK TIMESThis legislative session will be remembered for New York's acceptance of same-sex marriage, a milestone in the national fight for this fundamental freedom. Five other states, along with the District of Columbia, allow same-sex couples to marry. But more than three dozen states define marriage as between a man and a woman. For gays and lesbians, the battle for freedom from discrimination continues.
GAY MARRIAGE: A MILESTONE EDITORIALNEW YORK TIMES
This legislative session will be remembered for New York's acceptance of same-sex marriage, a milestone in the national fight for this fundamental freedom. Five other states, along with the District of Columbia, allow same-sex couples to marry. But more than three dozen states define marriage as between a man and a woman. For gays and lesbians, the battle for freedom from discrimination continues.
OUR UNTRANSPARENT PRESIDENT BY GEOFFREY STONENEW YORK TIMES
The record of the Obama administration on this fundamental issue of American democracy has surely fallen short of expectations. This is a lesson in “trust us.” Those in power are always certain that they themselves will act reasonably, and they resist limits on their own discretion. The problem is, “trust us” is no way to run a self-governing society.
RICK PERRY: A TEXAN'S 'EXCEPTIONALISM' BY GEORGE WILLWASHINGTON POST
Perry would rather not run, but his wife, who has a nursing background and is alarmed by Obamacare, says that sometimes desires are secondary to duties. Perry, who sensibly did not watch the Republicans’ recent New Hampshire debate because the Aggies were on ESPN playing Florida State in the NCAA baseball tournament, says, “I’m a long way from being a candidate.”
OBAMA'S PRUDENT POLICY OF AFGHANISTAN BY E.J. DIONNEWASHINGTON POST
There are times when Obama’s obsession with finding some sensible middle ground is deeply frustrating. In the budget talks, he has made a variety of concessions to Republicans only to have them walk out and insist on defining bipartisanship as getting whatever it is they want. Obama’s conflict avoidance has led him to default on making a case for his own domestic policies.
THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSION SQUEEZE BY STEVE MALANGAWALL STREET JOURNAL
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wants the state legislature to raise the retirement age for government workers to 65 from 55, and to calculate retirement pay according to an employee's base pay only, excluding overtime. Images of angry government workers occupying state capitols have made for compelling television. But the compensation monster is a far more serious threat to local budgets, and it has officials desperately fighting back.
SPENDING HIS WAY TO AUSTERITY EDITORIALWALL STREET JOURNAL
It is also true that some government spending can be economically useful—to the extent that it enhances productivity more than it would have in the private economy. But the irony is that it is precisely the spending priorities that Mr. Obama mentions that will be crowded out because of his refusal to cooperate in reforming entitlements like Medicare and Social Security. By trying to protect all federal spending except defense, liberals are guaranteeing that many of their most cherished plans will be squeezed. They're the ones who are spending us into austerity.