The Note's Must-Reads for Thursday February 7, 2013 PRESIENT OBAMA AND HIS ADMINISTRATION The Boston Globe: "Obama picks REI chief executive to lead Interior" The White House on Wednesday directed the Justice Department to release to the two congressional intelligence committees classified documents discussing the legal justification for killing, by drone strikes and other means, US citizens abroad who are considered terrorists. The White House announcement appears to refer to a long, detailed 2010 memo from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel justifying the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki, a US-born cleric who had joined Al Qaeda in Yemen. The Washington Post's Juliet Eilperin: "Obama nominates REI chief executive as interior secretary" When colleagues want to conduct business with Sally Jewell, they have a better chance getting her to schedule a lengthy hike than a coffee date. President Obama's unconventional pick to lead the Interior Department - a former oil engineer and commercial banker who heads the consumer co-op Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) - represents an effort by the administration to defuse the partisan fight over conservation and energy. SPENDING CUTS USA Today's Tom Vanden Brook and Sisan Davis: "Military services outline their spending cut plans" Military services have outlined a series of spending cuts that will reduce planned raises for military personnel, curtail aircraft maintenance, delay new equipment for soldiers and the movements of aircraft carriers around the globe, documents obtained by USA TODAY show. These and other cuts will go into effect unless the White House and Congress reach a deal on long-term spending to avoid the process known as sequestration, which calls for $1.2 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade. The cuts will start March 1 if no deal is reached. Bloomberg's James Rowley and Roxana Tiron: "Boehner Opposes Delay in Spending Cuts Without Changes" House Speaker John Boehner said he will oppose any delay of $1.2 trillion in automatic U.S. spending reductions set to begin March 1 unless Congress replaces them with other "cuts and reforms." Boehner said it is time for Senate Democrats and President Barack Obama to come up with a plan to replace the spending cuts. He said he is "more than willing" to work with them, as he reiterated his opposition to tax-revenue increases in such a proposal. DRONES The Washington Times" Susan Crabtree: "Congress gets Obama data on use of drones" With the fate of his pick to head the CIA in danger, President Obama reversed course Wednesday night and released to Congress the classified legal advice that the Justice Department has given the White House on using drones to execute American citizens in the war on terrorism. The about-face came less than a day before John O. Brennan, Mr. Obama's homeland security adviser and his pick to be CIA director, was to face a Senate confirmation hearing, and hours after Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon Democrat, threatened to hold up the appointment unless more information was forthcoming.LINK The New York Times" Michael D. Shear and Scott Shane: "Congress to See Memo Backing Drone Attacks on Americans" The White House on Wednesday directed the Justice Department to release to the two Congressional Intelligence Committees classified documents discussing the legal justification for killing, by drone strikes and other means, American citizens abroad who are considered terrorists. The White House announcement appears to refer to a long, detailed 2010 memo from the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel justifying the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born cleric who had joined Al Qaeda in Yemen. Politico's Jennifer Epstein and Josh Gerstein: "Obama reverses course, approves providing legal advice on drones to Congress" President Obama has reversed course and agreed to provide the congressional intelligence committees with classified Justice Department legal advice authorizing the use of drones to kill U.S. citizens abroad, two administration officials said Wednesday evening. The sharing of the information, which lawmakers had long sought, comes on the eve of a Senate hearing on John Brennan's nomination to serve as the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency. HAGEL CONFIRMATION The Hill's Jeremy Herb: "Panel vote on Hagel delayed" A vote on former Sen. Chuck Hagel's (R-Neb.) confirmation in the Senate Armed Services Committee has been delayed after Republicans demanded more information from the nominee on his paid speeches and financial disclosures. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich.) had hoped to hold the committee vote on President Obama's Defense secretary on Thursday, but 25 GOP senators - including all of the 12 Republicans on the committee - sent Hagel a letter saying they opposed a vote until he provided the information they were calling for. GUN CONTROL The Los Angeles Times" Paul West: "Senate control may hinge on fights over guns, immigration, budget" Action in Washington over the next few months on gun control, immigration and fiscal policy will set the stage for a fierce midterm election battle next year, with control of Congress the ultimate prize. Republicans are expected to keep their majority in the House, and history would suggest they might expand their numbers in the sixth year of a two-term presidency. ABC NEWS VIDEO "Chris Christie Blasts Critics of His Weight" LINK "Joe Biden Swears in John Kerry" LINK