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GOV JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS are posted
at www.usdemocrats.com/ticker/jobs/
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Book meeting conference hotels and travel
accommodations at www.usdemocrats.com/travel
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adsense
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Specter
Maintains Lead Over Sestak
A new Rasmussen Reports survey of likely Pennsylvania Democratic
primary voters finds Sen. Arlen Specter (D) beating Rep. Joe
Sestak (D), 48% to 35%.
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Liberal
Unrest A Myth
A new Public Policy Polling survey concludes that "liberal
unhappiness with Barack Obama is still largely anecdotal and
not very widespread" after finding that 95% of liberal Democrats
approve of the president and 3% disapprove.
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Citi
plans $20 bln offering to repay TARP: report
from MarketWatch.com - Top Stories
Bank of America paid $45 billion to extricate itself from the
government and rival Citigroup could be next, according to a
media report.
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GE
wins $1.4 billion deal for massive wind farm
from MarketWatch.com - Top Stories
General Electric wins a $1.4 billion contract to build giant
wind turbines for Oregon’s Shepherds Flat generating station,
expected to tip the scales as the largest in the U.S. .
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Obama
to pick up Nobel Prize
from CBC | Ticker
Just over a week after announcing an increase in U.S. troop strength
for the war in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama is in Norway
on Thursday to pick up his Nobel Peace Prize.
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What's
the difference between a winter storm watch and a warning?
Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:06:05 -0600
A winter storm watch means that a storm is possible; a winter
storm warning means that one is occuring in your area. Visit
the FAQ at USA.gov for a link to a list of terms to help identify
a winter storm hazard, plus information on cold weather safety.
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FLOOR SCHEDULE FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER
10, 2009
House Meets At… First Vote Predicted… Last Vote Predicted
10:00 a.m.: Legislative Business 11:00
a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Evening
“One Minutes” (10 per side)
Conference Report on H.R.
3288 – Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (Rep. Obey
– Appropriations) (Subject to a Rule)
H.Res.
962 - Same Day Consideration Rule - Waiving a requirement
of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of
certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules (Rep.
Slaughter – Rules)
Continue Consideration of H.R.
4173 – Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
of 2009 (Rep. Frank – Financial Services) (Subject to a
Rule)
Postponed Suspension Votes (3 Bills):
H.R.
4017 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 43 Maple Avenue in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts,
as the "Ann Marie Blute Post Office" (Rep. McGovern
- Oversight and Government Reform)
H.Res.
35 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives
that Congress should provide increased Federal funding for continued
type 1 diabetes research (Rep. Gene Green - Energy and Commerce)
H.Res.
55 - Expressing support for the designation of a National
Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month to raise awareness of and
promote research into this challenging disorder (Rep. Royce -
Energy and Commerce)
* Conference Reports may be brought up at any time.
* Motions to go to Conference should they become available.
* Possible Motions to Instruct Conferees.
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Solar
power coming to a store near you
from AP Top Science News At 5:42 a.m. EST by By CHRIS KAHN
NEW YORK (AP) -- Solar technology is going where it has never
gone before: onto the shelves at retail stores where do-it-yourselfers
can now plunk a panel into a shopping cart and bring it home
to install....
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TARP:
Last Bank Out Is a Rotten Egg
from BusinessWeek.com --
Citi, the only major bank left with "exceptional" federal
aid, is racing to arrange payback terms
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US
Envoy in South Korea on Way to Pyongyang
by VOA News
During his three-day stay in North Korea, Stephen Bosworth is
expected to meet with Pyongyang's top nuclear strategist, First
Vice Foreign Minister Kang Sok Ju
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US
and Russian Officials Work on New Arms Control Treaty
by André de Nesnera
US, Russian negotiators expect an agreement on a new follow-on
treaty to the 1991 START-1 pact by the end of the month
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Israel
Denies EU Parliament Members Access to Gaza
European delegation issued a statement saying Israeli authorities
cited 'security grounds' when they revoked permission for Wednesday's
visit to Gaza.
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US
House Takes Up Financial Reform Bill
After dozens of congressional hearings in the wake of the U.S.
financial system collapse, the U.S. House of Representatives
has begun to begin debate on major legislation supported by President
Barack Obama designed to overhaul the financial system and provide
more security for and boost the confidence of investors through
tighter regulation.
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National
Strategy for Countering Biological Threats
The National Security Strategy MiPAL has been updated with the
National Strategy for Countering Biological Threats, released
today by the White House. Please see the Recently Added Documents
section for the latest on this topic - the newest updates are
in bold.
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Food
Assistance and Nutrition Research Program, Final Report: Fiscal
2009 Activities
This report summarizes ERS's Food Assistance and Nutrition Research
Program (FANRP) activities and accomplishments in fiscal 2009,
including newly awarded projects and recent publications. FANRP
supports intramural and extramural research on a wide range of
policy-relevant food assistance and nutrition topics. The three
perennial program themes are (1) Program Outcomes and Economic
Well-Being of Participants, (2) Program Access and Economic Determinants
of Participation, and (3) Program Dynamics and Efficiency. The
core food and nutrition assistance programs include the Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—formerly the Food Stamp
Program—the child nutrition programs, and the Special Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
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The
Consumer Data and Information Program: Sowing The Seeds of Research
Changes in the American public’s food consumption and purchases
in recent decades, together with advances in medical knowledge
of dietary effects on health, have heightened awareness of the
importance of understanding what people eat and where and why
they eat it. Most U.S. consumers have diets that do not meet
dietary guidelines’ recommendations, and rates of obesity
and overweight are rising for all consumers. American food markets
are dynamic in offering new products and retail outlets to consumers,
changing the food choices available. At the same time, food firms
have been challenged by food safety recalls, adverse consumer
reactions to new technologies, and increasing mandates for nutritional
quality and information.
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UN
Secretary-General, in Message for International Anti-Corruption
Day, Cites Convention as Strongest Way to Fight Graft, Build
Integrity
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UN
Secretary-General Spells Out Priorities for 2010-2011 Biennium
in Remarks to Administrative and Budgetary Committee
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Security
Council Press Statement on African Union-United Nations Hybrid
Operation in Darfur
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UN
Security Council Presidential Statement Calls for Stronger International
Cooperation with Global, Regional Bodies against Drug Trafficking
|
UN
Legal Committee Debates Texts on Observer Status for Council
of Presidents of the General Assembly, Parliamentary Assembly
of the Mediterranean
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UN
Second Committee Approves Text Urging Elimination of Unilateral
Economic, Political Coercion against Developing Countries
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United
Nations Television Joins Livestation
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Treasury
Releases Letter from Geithner to Hill Leadership
To view or print the PDF content on this page, download the free
Adobe® Acrobat® Reader®.
December 9, 2009
TG-433
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Treasury
Announces Open Government Plan
December 9, 2009
TG-434
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Michael
Barr Remarks to the New Markets Tax Credit Coalition 8th Annual
Conference
December 9, 2009
TG-435
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Treasury
Receives $45 Billion Payment from Bank of America
December 9, 2009
TG-436
Treasury Receives $45 Billion Payment from
Bank of America
Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury
received full repayment on its Troubled Asset Relief Program
(TARP) investments in Bank of America in the sum of $45 billion,
bringing the total amount of repaid TARP funds to $118 billion.
Treasury now estimates that total bank repayments could reach
up to $175 billion by the end of 2010, cutting total taxpayer
exposure to the banks by almost three-quarters from the peak.
Treasury currently estimates that every one of its programs aimed
at stabilizing the banking system – the Capital Purchase
Program, the Targeted Investment Program, the Asset Guarantee
Program, and the Consumer and Business Lending Initiative --
will earn a profit thanks to dividends, interest, early repayments,
and the sale of warrants. Total bank investments of $245 billion
in FY2009 that were initially projected to cost $76 billion are
now projected to bring a profit of $19 billion. Taxpayers have
already received about $15 billion in revenue through interest,
dividends, and the sale of warrants, and that profit could be
considerably higher as Treasury sells additional warrants in
the weeks ahead.
###
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Democrats:
Private Medicare plans waste billions
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Private health insurance companies that
offer alternative Medicare coverage funnel billions of dollars
toward company profits and marketing efforts rather than to patient
care, U.S. Democrats said in a report released on Wednesday.
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Financial
reform bill debate begins in House
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives began preliminary
debate on sweeping legislation to give the government new powers
over large financial firms and tighten bank and market regulation
late on Wednesday.
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Obama
praises Senate healthcare deal
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Wednesday praised
a Senate compromise on a public insurance option, and Senate
Democrats said the proposals moved them one step closer to passage
of a sweeping healthcare overhaul.
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U.S.
House to debate financial regulation overhaul
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives will
debate on Thursday the most sweeping changes to financial regulation
proposed since the Great Depression, including broad new government
powers over large banks and tighter regulation of capital markets.
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Obama
to urge banks to lend more
by Eamon Javers
Obama will meet with bank CEOs next week.
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Obama
to take peace prize, talk war
by Nia-Malika Henderson
POTUS heads to Oslo to accept the Nobel Peace Prize and acknowledge
he is a wartime president.
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Suite
Talk, Dec. 9, 2009
by Anne Marson,Becca Milfeld
Luis Mejia joins DLA Piper’s securities enforcement and
litigation practices as a Washington partner.
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Video:
Vermont Produces the Greatest Number of Peace Corps Volunteers
Per Capita (article)
|
New
York Fed and Puerto Rico Bankers Association Cosponsor First-Ever
Financial Awareness Video Competition for College Students in
Puerto Rico
|
GAO-10-68,
Drug Safety: FDA Has Begun Efforts to Enhance Postmarket Safety,
but Additional Actions Are Needed, November 9, 2009
|
GAO-10-219T,
Intellectual Property: Enhancements to Coordinating U.S. Enforcement
Efforts, December 9, 2009
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GAO-10-21,
Surface Coal Mining: Characteristics of Mining in Mountainous
Areas of Kentucky and West Virginia, December 9, 2009
|
GAO-10-290T,
State Department: Challenges Facing the Bureau of Diplomatic
Security, December 9, 2009
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GAO-10-301,
Financial Audit: Office of Financial Stability (Troubled Asset
Relief Program) Fiscal Year 2009 Financial Statements, December
9, 2009
|
GAO-10-310T,
International Trade: Observations on U.S. and Foreign Countries'
Export Promotion Activities, December 9, 2009
|
FRB
Duke, Keys to Successful Neighborhood Stabilization
Speech at the Community Stabilization Symposium, NeighborWorks
Training Institute, National Harbor, Maryland
|
FTC
Testifies on Aggressive Efforts Against Deceptive Marketing of
Prepaid Phone Cards
The Federal Trade Commission today told the U.S. House Subcommittee
on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection of the Committee on
Energy and Commerce that the FTC has cracked down on the deceptive
marketing of prepaid phone cards, and that pending legislation
would benefit consumers by giving the agency stronger tools to
combat the problem.
|
FTC
Renews Call to Entertainment Industry to Curb Marketing of Violent
Entertainment to Children
Marketers of violent music, movies, and video games can do more
to restrict the promotion of these products to children, according
to the seventh in a series of Federal Trade Commission reports
on marketing violent entertainment to children.
|
FTC
To Host Privacy Roundtable
The Federal Trade Commission will host the first of three public
Roundtables to explore the privacy challenges posed by technology
and business practices that collect and use consumer data.
|
FTC
Sues to Stop Robocalls With Deceptive Credit Card Interest-Rate
Reduction Claims
Commission Also Issues National Do Not Call Registry Data Book
for 2009
|
World
Leaders - Updates for 30 November - 8 December 2009
December 9, 2009 - Posted updated Chiefs of State and Cabinet
Members of Foreign Governments with updated entries for Argentina,
Australia, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kazakhstan,
Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Moldova. Changes reflect updates
in leadership, positions, or the spelling of officials' names
in the country listings during the period 30 November - 8 December
2009.
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H.R.
4173, Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009
Cost estimate for the bill as amended and reported by the House
Committee on Rules on December 8, 2009
|
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VIDEO:
UK Prime Minister's Questions
In this week’s question time, British Prime Minister Gordon
Brown commented on the UK’s 100th military death in Afghanistan
this year. He answered questions about the future role of British
Troops, and said London will host an international conference
on Afghanistan in January. The Prime Minister also took questions
on the economy, taxes and health care.
Length: 32 min.
Published: Wednesday at 7am (ET)
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VIDEO:
Anna Burger, Service Employees Int'l Union, Secretary-Treasurer
Anna Burger, Secretary-Treasurer of the Service Employees International
Union discussed President Obama's recently announced jobs program.
Length: 26 min.
Published: Wednesday at 8am (ET)
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|
VIDEO:
Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA)
Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA), Chairman of the House Financial Services
Subcommittee on Capital Markets discussed the Wall Street Reform
and Consumer Protection Act. The bill aims to tighten regulation
on the financial services industry and address the financial
problems from the past year.
Length: 33 min.
Published: Wednesday at 8:30am (ET)
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VIDEO:
Pres. Obama Statement on Economy
President Obama met in the White House Cabinet Room with bipartisan
members of Congress to discuss the way forward in growing the
economy and creating jobs. Following the meeting, the president
made a statement to the media from the Diplomatic Reception Room.
Length: 6 min.
Published: Wednesday at 10:50am (ET)
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|
VIDEO:
DHS Sec. Napolitano Testifies on Homeland Security Oversight
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano testified
at this Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of DHS.
Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) chaired the hearing.
Length: 2 hr. 18 min.
Published: Wednesday at 9:30am (ET)
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VIDEO:
Pres. Obama Recovery Act Announcement on Community Health Centers
President Obama made remarks about the Recovery Act and community
health centers from the Old Executive Office Building.
Length: 10 min.
Published: Wednesday at 12:20pm (ET)
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VIDEO:
Democrat and Republican Press Conferences on Jobs and the Economy
After a meeting with President Obama at the White House, members
of the Democratic and Republican leadership from the House and
Senate spoke to reporters about the way forward for the economy
and job creation.
Length:
Published: Wednesday at 12:30pm (ET)
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VIDEO:
White House Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs Wed Dec
9
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs spoke at this White House briefing
about topics which included the President’s public support
for a health care compromise being worked out amongst Senate
Democrats and new efforts at job creation.
Length: 45 min.
Published: Wednesday at 1pm (ET)
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VIDEO:
State Department Press Briefing Wed Dec 9
Spokesman Ian Kelly conducts a daily briefing at the State Department.
Length: 23 min.
Published: Wednesday at 2:15pm (ET)
|
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VIDEO:
House Financial Services Subcmte. Hearing on Madoff Ponzi Scheme
Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA) chaired a House Financial Services
Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises
Subcommittee hearing on the Madoff ponzi scheme. Witnesses included
investors, financial services industry experts, SEC officials
and others.
Length: 3 hr. 21 min.
Published: Wednesday at 10am (ET)
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VIDEO:
Senate Homeland Security Hearing on Stopping Terrorist Travel
Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) chaired a Senate Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing on stopping terrorist
travel. Witnesses included officals from the Departments of Homeland
Security, State, and Justice.
Length: 2 hr.
Published: Wednesday at 9:30am (ET)
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|
VIDEO:
Senate Foreign Relations Cmte. Examines Pres. Obama's Afghanistan
Strategy
Gen. David Petraeus, head of U.S. Central Command, and Karl Eikenberry,
Ambassador to Afghanistan, testified before the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee about the new strategy for the war in Afghanistan,
which President Obama announced last week. The plan includes
sending 30,000 additional U.S. troops to that country. Gen. Petraeus
was the U.S. commander during the 2007 troop “surge”
in Iraq.
Length: 2 hr. 34 min.
Published: Wednesday at 10am (ET)
|
|
VIDEO:
Senate Floor Debate -- Senate Debate Dorgan (D-ND) - McCain (R-AZ)
Senate Floor Debate -- Senate Debate Dorgan (D-ND) - McCain (R-AZ)
Length:
Published: Today at 12am (ET)
|
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VIDEO:
Senate Floor Debate on Health Care Bill - Day 10
Debate on health care reform legislation H.R. 3590 continued
for the tenth day on the Senate Floor on Capitol Hill.
Length:
Published: Wednesday at 9:30am (ET)
|
|
VIDEO:
Senate Homeland Security Subcmte. Hearing on Diplomatic Security
Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) chaired a Senate Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs Subcommittee hearing titled "The Diplomat's
Shield: Diplomatic Security in Today's World."
Length: 2 hr. 11 min.
Published: Wednesday at 2:30pm (ET)
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Obama
still hopes for bipartisan support on jobs
by By JULIE PACE
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Despite Republican opposition on Capitol Hill,
President Barack Obama said Wednesday that he's still hoping
for bipartisan support for his efforts to use financial bailout
money to help small businesses and bring down double-digit unemployment....
|
Gates:
US to be Afghan partner for long time
by By ANNE FLAHERTY
KABUL (AP) -- Defense Secretary Robert Gates has told a group
of Afghan soldiers that the U.S. will be their partner for a
long time despite plans to begin pulling troops out in 2011....
|
Fighting
for Real Reform on Capitol Hill and Across the Country
by Seth Michaels
|
Jobs
Now: States and Cities Need Our Help
by Seth Michaels
During an economic crisis like the one we’re in now, the
squeeze on state and local budgets is brutal. Even as the revenues
that are coming in from citizens and businesses decline, residents’
demands for services and assistance increase.
|
Executive
Order: Creating Labor-Management Forums To Improve Delivery of
Government Services
Posted in Executive Orders
|
President
Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 12/9/09
|
President
Obama Announces Recovery Act Awards to Build, Renovate Community
Health Centers in More Than 30 States
|
President
Obama Releases National Strategy for Countering Biological Threats
|
Statement
by the President After Bipartisan Leadership Meeting on Jobs
|
Press
Briefing By Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 12/9/2009
|
Remarks
by the President on Community Health Centers
|
Remarks
by the President on Job Creation and Economic Growth
|
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Progress
in the Senate on Health Reform
Posted by Dan Pfeiffer on December 8, 2009 at 10:48 PM EST
Senators are making great progress and
we're pleased that they're working together to find common ground
toward options that increase choice and competition.
|
The
Bottom Line on Health Reform and Jobs
Posted by Christina Romer on December 9, 2009 at 1:56 PM EST
|
Why
an Open Government Matters
Posted by Norm Eisen, Beth Noveck on December 9, 2009 at 3:16
PM EST
|
President
Obama: Three New Initiatives to Help Community Health Centers
Posted by Molly Fedick on December 9, 2009 at 5:11 PM EST
|
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TARP
bailout extended 10 months
Posted: December 9th, 2009 02:30 PM ET
From CNNMoney.com Senior Writer Jennifer
Liberto
WASHINGTON (CNNMoney.com) - The controversial
$700 billion federal bailout program will be extended through
Oct. 3, 2010, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said Wednesday.
|
|
Bank
of America: Paid in full
Posted: December 9th, 2009 04:05 PM ET
From CNNMoney.com's David Ellis
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Billions of dollars
in bailout money received by Bank of America over the past year
is now officially back in government hands.
|
House
committee votes to subpoena White House party crashers
Posted: December 9th, 2009 04:23 PM ET
|
Obama
calls for bipartisan effort to create jobs
Posted: December 9th, 2009 05:18 PM ET
Congressional leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, met Wednesday at the White
House with the president.
Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama called Wednesday for
Republicans to work with his administration and Democrats in
Congress on winding down the federal economic bailout program
and creating jobs.
|
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Dean
Changes Tune on Health Care Bill
Just a week ago, Howard Dean said that Congress "isn't going
to pass a bill that reforms health care," and that "If
we don't have a choice, this bill is worthless and should be
defeated."
However, Dean hit the airwaves this morning
telling CBS News that last night's deal represents "real
reform" adding, "This is what should have been done
in the first place."
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Gonzales
Regrets Getting Caught
In an interview with the Esquire, former Attorney General Alberto
Gonzales reflects on the Bush years.
Said Gonzales: "We should have abandoned
the idea of removing the U.S. attorneys once the Democrats took
the Senate. Because at that point we could really not count on
Republicans to cut off investigations or help us at all with
investigations. We didn't see that at the Department of Justice.
Nor did the White House see that. Karl didn't see it. If we could
do something over again, that would be it."
|
|
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who had previously
indicated he would oppose a weak health care bill, told Rachel
Maddow last night that the new components of the emerging deal
"may be stronger than the weak public option."
These and similar remarks by Howard Dean
and Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) are sending signals that liberals
are happy with the tradeoffs made by the "Gang of Ten,"
and may even view the Medicare buy-in as a "path to a single-payer
model."
|
NEW GOV JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS have
been posted at www.usdemocrats.com/ticker/jobs/
|
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s
Board of Directors will meet in open session at 10:00 a.m. on
Tuesday, December 15, 2009.
Visit for agenda and location: http://www.fdic.gov/news/board/notice15DEC2009.html
|
Recovery
Act Information: Financial and Activity Report Weekly Update:
December 7, 2009
Wed, 09 Dec 2009 06:13:32 -0600
|
CJCS
at Foreign Press Center
Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:50:49 -0600
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ADM Michael Mullen speaks
to the media at the Foreign Press Center in Washington, DC, about
the way forward in Afghanistan.
|
December
9, 2009 - DHS Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report, (PDF, 22 pages - 161 KB)
|
|
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Merrigan
to Visit Arkansas
Will Deliver National Funding Announcement
at Keynote Address
WASHINGTON, December 9, 2009 - Later today,
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan will visit Pine
Bluff, Ark., to give the keynote address at the South Central
Regional Small Business Conference, the second in a series of
small business conferences being held as part of USDA's Food
Commodity Contracting Opportunities for Rural America initiative.
She will also announce national funding that will provide training
and assistance to socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
The initiative is designed to enable rural
economic growth by increasing small business contracting participation
in rural areas of the country. USDA intends to help small farmer-owned
cooperatives and small rural businesses to better compete for
government and commercial contracts.
The USDA provides leadership on food, agriculture
and natural resources and touches the life of every American.
Secretary Vilsack and the USDA are working to promote a sustainable,
safe, sufficient and nutritious food supply, and ensure that
America revitalizes rural communities by expanding economic opportunities.
WHAT:
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan gives keynote
address at
USDA's Food Commodity Contracting Opportunities for Rural America
initiative and delivers national funding announcement to assist
socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers
WHEN:
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
12:30 p.m.
WHERE:
University of Arkansas - Pine Bluff
S.J. Parker 1890 Extension Complex
2101 Oliver Road
Pine Bluff, AR 71611
#
|
Air
Traffic Bulletin November 2009 - Special
|
CDC's
Vaccines for Children (VFC) Coordinators List. This message is to notify you that the state
of Nebraska's contact information has changed and is now available.
|
GEN
McChrystal Testifies
Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:04:18 -0600
|
FDA
Warning Letters for U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). This information has recently been updated, and
is now available.
|
|
US-CERT Current Activity
Adobe Releases Security Updates for
Flash Player and AIR
Original release date: December 9, 2009
at 9:03 am
Last revised: December 9, 2009 at 9:03 am
Adobe has released a security bulletin
to address multiple
vulnerabilities in Adobe Flash Player 10.0.32.18 and earlier
and Adobe
AIR1.5.2 and earlier. These vulnerabilities may allow an attacker
to
execute arbitrary code, cause a denial-of-service condition,
or obtain
sensitive information.
US-CERT encourages users and administrators
to review Adobe security
bulletin APSB09-19 and update to Adobe Flash Player 10.0.42.34
and
Adobe AIR 1.5.3.
Relevant Url(s):
<http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb09-19.html>
====
This entry is available at
http://www.us-cert.gov/current/index.html#adobe_releases_security_updates_for4
|
Treasury
Releases Letter from Geithner to Hill Leadership
|
Economic
Recovery Act of 2009 for U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This information has recently been updated, and
is now available.
Weekly Recovery Act data now available for December 8, 2009.
|
Mullen
at Foreign Press Center
Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:01:54 -0600
Complete commitment from the U.S. as well as its NATO allies
and the Afghan government is required to succeed in the war against
the Taliban.
|
DoD
Highlights Open Government Initiatives
Wed, 09 Dec 2009 09:32:00 -0600
|
President Obama Announces More Key Administration
Posts
Pat Hoffman Nominated as DOE Assistant Secretary for Electricity
Delivery and Energy Reliability
WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his
intent to nominate the following individuals to key administration
posts:
· Patricia A. Hoffman, Assistant Secretary for Electricity
Delivery and Energy Reliability, Department of Energy
· Mari Del Carmen Aponte, Ambassador to the Republic of
El Salvador, Department of State
· Donald E. Booth, Ambassador to the Federal Democratic
Republic of Ethiopia, Department of State
· Larry Persily, Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural
Gas Transportation Projects
President Obama said, “The depth of experience these individuals
bring to their roles will be valuable to my administration as
we work to bring about real change for the American people. I
look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”
President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following
individuals today:
Patricia A. Hoffman, Nominee for Assistant Secretary for Electricity
Delivery and Energy Reliability, Department of Energy
Patricia A. Hoffman was named Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
for the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability
at the United States Department of Energy in November 2007. The
focus of her responsibility is to provide leadership on a national
level to modernize the electric grid, enhance the security and
reliability of the energy infrastructure and facilitate recovery
from disruptions to the energy supply both domestically and internationally.
Patricia has 14 years of experience at the Energy Department
developing and managing technology research programs critical
to the electric sector for the Office of Electricity Delivery
and Energy Reliability as well as the Office of Energy Efficiency
and Renewable Energy. During her tenure, she managed efforts
that resulted in the longest demonstration of ceramic components
operating in an industrial gas turbine. Additionally, under her
leadership, the Department demonstrated the first recuperated,
industrial gas turbine for distributed generation applications.
Ms. Hoffman holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science
in Ceramic Science and Engineering from the Pennsylvania State
University.
Mari Del Carmen Aponte, Nominee for Ambassador to the Republic
of El Salvador, Department of State
Mari Del Carmen Aponte is currently an attorney and independent
consultant with Aponte Consulting. From 2001-2004, Ms. Aponte
was the Executive Director of the Puerto Rican Federal Affairs
Administration (PRFAA). Prior to that, she practiced law for
nearly twenty years with Washington D.C. based law firms. Ms.
Aponte also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the
National Council of La Raza and the Puerto Rican Legal Defense
and Education Fund. She is also a member of the Board of the
University of the District of Columbia and Rosemont College.
She served as president of the Hispanic National Bar Association;
the Hispanic Bar Association of the District of Columbia; and
is a member of the District of Columbia Judicial Nominations
Commission. In 2005, she was also elected to the Board of Directors
of Oriental Financial Group (NYSE-OFG). In 1979, as a White House
Fellow, Ms. Aponte was Special Assistant to the United States
Housing and Urban Development Secretary Moon Landrieu. Ms. Aponte
has a B.A. in Political Science from Rosemont College, a M.A.
in Theatre from Villanova University, and a J.D. from Temple
University.
Donald E. Booth, Nominee for Ambassador to the Federal Democratic
Republic of Ethiopia, Department of State
Donald E. Booth is currently the United States Ambassador to
the Republic of Zambia. Prior to that, Ambassador Booth served
three years as Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia. Ambassador
Booth previously served as Director of the Office of Technical
and Specialized Agencies at the State Department’s Bureau
of International Organization Affairs. Prior to this position,
he served as Director of the Office of West African Affairs.
He has also served in other positions at the State Department
including Deputy Director of the Office of Southern African Affairs,
the Economic Counselor in Athens, and the Division Chief for
Bilateral Trade Affairs; desk officer in the Office of Egyptian
Affairs and the Office of East African Affairs; and various roles
while stationed at embassies in Bucharest, Brussels and Libreville.
Ambassador Booth earned a B.A. from Georgetown University, an
M.A. from Boston University and an M.A. in National Security
Studies from the National War College.
Larry Persily, Nominee for Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural
Gas Transportation Projects
Larry Persily has worked for more than a decade on oil and gas
issues for three Alaska governors and the Alaska State Legislature.
Mr. Persily currently is an aide handling oil and gas issues
for to Alaska State House Finance Committee Co-Chair Mike Hawker.
Mr. Persily previously served as Deputy Commissioner at the Alaska
Department of Revenue until 2003 and returned in 2004 to assist
the state and North Slope oil and gas producers with developing
a natural gas pipeline to serve North American consumers. He
later worked in the Office of the Governor of Alaska in Washington,
D.C., assisting with oil and gas, Arctic, commerce, transportation
and tax issues. Mr. Persily has represented the state at oil
and gas conferences and presented on Alaska oil and gas and fiscal
issues. Mr. Persily is known statewide for his bipartisan credentials
— he has worked for Democrats and Republicans — and
his knowledge on oil and gas matters, particularly the history
of the 40-year effort to develop a North Slope natural gas pipeline.
Mr. Persily served as editor of the Department of Revenue’s
2002 report, “State Financial Participation in an Alaska
Natural Gas Pipeline.” Mr. Persily earned a B.A. from Purdue
University.
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Supreme
Court Criticizes 'Vague' Anti-fraud Law
Posted: 08 Dec 2009 04:00 PM PST
By Joan Biskupic
WASHINGTON -- Supreme Court justices across the ideological spectrum
on Tuesday criticized an anti-fraud law that U.S. prosecutors
have regularly used in high-profile cases of alleged corruption.
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Progress
in Senate Democratic Health Care Talks
Posted: 08 Dec 2009 04:00 PM PST
By ERICA WERNER
WASHINGTON - After agreeing tentatively to jettison a key liberal
priority - a full-blown government-run insurance option - Democrats
say they are getting close to pushing President Barack Obama's
health care bill through the Senate.
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House
Considers Extending $31B in Tax Breaks
Posted: 08 Dec 2009 04:00 PM PST
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
WASHINGTON - Lawmakers want to extend $31 billion in popular
tax breaks, including an income tax deduction for sales and property
taxes. The problem: how to pay for it.
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Lawmakers
Criticize Office Overseeing Afghan Rebuilding
Posted: 08 Dec 2009 04:00 PM PST
By RICHARD LARDNER
WASHINGTON - The U.S. office overseeing billions of dollars for
Afghanistan's rebuilding lacks leadership and focus at a time
when aggressive, independent oversight of the country's reconstruction
is more important than ever, three senators told President Barack
Obama on Tuesday.
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Pres.
Obama Urges Major New Stimulus, Jobs Spending
Posted: 08 Dec 2009 04:00 PM PST
By TOM RAUM
WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama called for a major new burst
of federal spending Tuesday, perhaps $150 billion or more, aiming
to jolt the wobbly economy into a stronger recovery and reduce
painfully persistent double-digit unemployment.
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Reporting
Dates for Federal Election Commission.
This information has recently been updated to reflect 2010 reporting
deadlines, and is now available.
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Top Five Ways Wall Street Reform &
Consumer Protection Helps Our Economic Recovery
As we have worked to bring our economy
back from the brink of collapse, we are also working to ensure
that such a collapse cannot happen in the future. Today, the
House will begin consideration of the Wall Street Reform and
Consumer Protection Act. This legislation will prevent the irresponsible
behaviors that contributed to the crisis last Fall, putting in
place common-sense rules to ensure that Wall Street banks can’t
jeopardize our economy and hurt small businesses. It is also
focused on protecting Main Street by ensuring that bank loans,
mortgages, and credit cards are fair and transparent; and it
helps ensure that taxpayers won’t have to bail out Wall
Street banks by putting an end to “too big to fail”
financial firms.
1) Restores and Strengthens the Economy By Demanding Accountability
from Wall Street and Washington
This legislation will put responsibility and accountability into
our financial system so that Americans have confidence that there
are rules in place that work for and protect them – not
big banks, hedge funds, and the mortgage industry. Wall Street
reform will strengthen and enforce laws that protect consumers
from abuse by the financial industry, which has cost millions
of jobs and the life savings of millions of Americans.
2) Restores and Strengthens the Economy By Ensuring Taxpayers
Will Not Foot The Bill For Wall Street’s Failures
This legislation puts an end to “too big to fail” financial
firms so that risky behavior cannot threaten the economy and
lead to a collapse. It also helps to ensure that taxpayers won’t
have to bailout irresponsible Wall Street banks by adding new
procedures to dissolve failing companies that threaten the economy
using financial industry money – not taxpayer money.
3) Restores the Economy by Ending the Era of Irresponsibility
and Recklessness on Wall Street
For years, Wall Street took on risky and reckless investments
at the expense of our economy. This legislation will stop institutions
from taking risks that threaten the financial system and ensure
that we do not go back to the kinds of abuse and irresponsibility
that helped to cause this crisis.
4) Restores the Economy by Strengthening Regulation of Wall Street
In addition to ending the actions on Wall Street that put our
economy in danger, this legislation will modernize the outdated
government regulations that failed to recognize and rein in abusive
financial practices. There will now be tougher enforcement and
oversight so that signs of trouble are spotted and dealt with
quickly before threatening the economy.
5) Restores the Economy by Preventing Another Housing Bubble
This legislation will streamline and consolidate responsibility
from 7 federal agencies to one new Consumer Financial Protection
Agency, helping prevent fraud and abuse and ensuring that consumers
get the information they need in order to make informed decisions.
Consumers should not be put into loans and mortgages that are
unclear and that they can't afford to pay back, which helped
cause the housing crisis that led to an economic meltdown.
Click
here to view in pdf.
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SFYD's Holiday Gala at Aventine | Thursday,
12/10, 6-9 pm
Friends,
Tomorrow is shaping up to be a glorious
evening! We look forward to celebrating with friends, food and
fun. We also wanted to send a final reminder to spell out some
of the details and raffle items tomorrow.
Suggested contributions:
Current SFYD members - $5 (or renew @ reduced
rate of $25)
Non-members - $10 (but we encourage you to join & contribute
to our PAC!)
We also welcome you to bring a toy in addition
to, or in lieu of your contribution.
Raffle Items - Admittedly, most of these
items have a similar theme (booze)... can't look a gift horse
in the mouth, and given our club's demographic I doubt there
will be too much grumbling.
* Bottle service for 6 at the Ambassador
($250 value)
* 10 person brewery tour ($150 value) - Chalet Brewery
* Dinner for four - Aventine Restaurant
* Dinner for two - Rex Cafe
* 2 bottles of wine - Donated by Capannina Restaurant
* Obama Beer Gift Basket
Thanks so much to the many businesses for
their generous donations! We're excited to see you tomorrow.
We'll be there with bells ringing.
Happy holidays,
~SFYD
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Contact: Katie Grant
202-225-3130 For Immediate Release
December 09, 2009
Majority Leader Hoyer Statement on White
House Meeting on Job Creation
WASHINGTON, DC - House Majority Leader
Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after
meeting with President Obama and Democratic and Republican leaders
from the House and Senate:
“Today's meeting is further evidence how focused President
Obama and Congress are on taking more action to keep creating
jobs. As the President noted in his speech yesterday, increasing
lending to small businesses remains a top priority, since they
are the engine of job creation in our economy. There are many
other ideas on the table, and we will work quickly to build on
the jobs created and saved by the Recovery Act.
“While we are encouraged by reports showing that the Recovery
Act has kept Americans on the job and the economy is starting
to turn around, we know more must be done. I hope Republicans
will work with us on solutions that will create jobs, rather
than recycling old ideas.”
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HOUSE FLOOR WRAP-UP FOR DECEMBER 9,
2009
Considered and Passed:
H.R.
4213 - Tax Extenders Act of 2009 (Rep. Rangel – Ways
and Means) (241-181)
Bills Adopted Under Suspension of the Rules (3):
H.R.
3603 - To rename the Ocmulgee National Monument (Rep. Marshall
- Natural Resources)
H.R.
86 - To eliminate an unused lighthouse reservation, provide
management consistency by bringing the rocks and small islands
along the coast of Orange County, California, and meet the original
Congressional intent of preserving Orange County's rocks and
small islands (Rep. Campbell - Natural Resources)
H.R.
3951 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 2000 Louisiana Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana,
as the "Roy Rondeno, Sr. Post Office Building" (Rep.
Cao - Oversight and Government Reform)
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Kucinich Resolution to End the War
Dear Friends,
(December 9, 2009) Congressman Dennis Kucinich
is circulating two "privileged resolutions" to trigger
votes to end the wars in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Congressman Kucinich, in a written release,
earlier today stated:
"Today, I will begin circulating two privileged resolutions
which will trigger debate and votes on a timely withdrawal of
U.S. troops from Afghanistan and Pakistan."
"Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution
of the United States makes it Congress' responsibility to determine
whether or not we go to war or stay at war. Consistent with Article
I, Section 8, the privileged resolutions will invoke the War
Powers Resolution of 1973. I ask for your support of these resolutions,
which will be introduced in the House in January."
"Yesterday, with the U.S. Secretary
of Defense at his side, the President of Afghanistan declared
that his country's security forces will need financial and training
assistance from the United States for the next 15-20 years."
"We cannot afford these wars. We cannot
afford the loss of lives. We cannot afford the cost to taxpayers.
We cannot afford to fail to exercise our constitutional right
to end the wars."
"Please sign onto the privileged resolutions
to end the wars and to bring our troops home."
"Stand up for our troops. Stand up
for the truth. Stand up for the Constitution and Congress' responsibility."
Please
Contribute – Together we can help end the war.
Thank you,
The Re-Elect Congressman Kucinich Committee
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