In This Issue:

Energy and Climate Debate; Congress; Administration; Department of Commerce; Department of Energy; Department of Interior; Environmental Protection Agency; Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Personnel; International; States; and Miscellaneous.

Excerpt from Energy and Climate Debate -

After the House failed to move forward with Speaker of the House John Boehner’s (R-OH) Plan B proposal to avoiding the fiscal cliff, President Obama called on Congress December 21 to pass a basic agreement on the fiscal cliff that would preserve middle class tax cuts and unemployment insurance funding, while laying the groundwork for growth and deficit reduction. However, the Administration has since expressed a willingness to settle for a less comprehensive package after a short Christmas recess, but doing so will still require bipartisan cooperation.