The morning line, Dec. 14, 2008

Obama has selected Shaun Donovan, housing commissioner for New York City, as his nominee for secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Donovan was acting federal housing commissioner and deputy assistant secretary for multifamily housing in the Clinton administration. He took a leave of absence from his New York City duties to work on the Obama campaign. [New York Times  Washington Post] (More after the jump.)

Obama announced his selection of Donovan during his weekly radio address, in which he also said that he has asked his economic team to develop a "bold plan" to make sure more Americans can stay in their homes.

Also from New York, the Washington Post reports that Bronx Burough President Adolfo Carrión Jr. is going to lead the White House Office of Urban Policy, a newly created position. Obama pledged to create the office during the campaign, saying it was needed "to ensure that all federal dollars targeted to urban areas are effectively spent on the highest-impact programs."

The Wall Street Journal reports that Obama's anticipated stimulus plan is growing bigger and bigger, with figures as high as $1 trillion over two years being dangled. The Washington Post says that the first stimulus dollars will go for routine repairs.

Politico reports that the portfolio of the vice president is shrinking smaller and smaller, with the vice president-elect seemingly just fine with the downsizing.

The Wall Street Journal has a piece on the Transition's efforts to reach out to Republicans, and of Republicans' favorable early reviews. But the piece notes previous incoming administrations have made similar pledges only to see the good will break down.

The New York Times has an interesting piece on the efforts by the Obamas and their Chicago friends to make sure they stay close during the presidency.