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Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) is picking up political momentum in his effort to save his leadership post and remain in the Democratic caucus. Potentially at stake is not only Lieberman's chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee but also the chairmanship of the Environment and Public Works subcommittee on climate change.

President-elect Obama has told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) that he would like to see Lieberman stay in the caucus and keep his post as chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) have both come to Lieberman’s defense publicly.

Lieberman has already met once with Reid to discuss whether he will able to keep his chairmanship as well as whether he would stay within the Democratic caucus. The caucus is slated to vote a secret ballot next week to determine whether to strip Lieberman of the chairmanship.

Republicans have already said they would welcome Lieberman into their caucus. Lieberman's term runs through 2012.

From Congressional Quarterly

A think tank has called for creating a “National Energy Council” at the White House to offer advice on energy policy and climate change — and this idea probably has a good chance of becoming reality.

The think tank, the Center for American Progress, is headed by John Podesta, who incidentally is co-chairman of President-elect Obama’s transition team.

The proposal, part of a series of policy recommendations issued Wednesday, is to create a White House energy policy group on the model of the National Economic Council, which President Clinton created in 1993; and the National Security Council, created by President Harry Truman.

While Obama has not publicly endorsed the idea, it has been widely discussed among energy policy experts.

The idea is that such a council would set strategy for a disparate group of federal agencies that handle energy and environmental policy. “Just like Congress, the president has a lot of energy turf, and this would provide a coordinating function,” said Daniel Weiss, senior fellow and director of climate strategy at the think tank.

The report said the council would be “developing and implementing global warming strategy and advancing broader approaches to building a green economy.” It said the council should have “direct reporting authority to the president” and “have strong links to economic and national security advisers.”

From Congressional Quarterly

President-elect Obama wants to move legislation addressing global warming as soon as possible, but Sen. Jeff Bingaman says he may have to wait — maybe more than a year.

 “I think the reality is it might take more than the first year to get it all done,” said the New Mexico Democrat, who chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Speaking at a conference earlier today sponsored by Point Carbon, Bingaman said “some factors” exist now, such as current economic crisis and the sheer complexity of the climate change issue, that might prevent Congress from doing anything early on in the Obama administration.

But he said Congress might move more quickly to pass energy legislation that could help, including setting a renewable energy standard, improving transportation and building efficiency and increasing domestic production.

“We can do that early, I believe, in 2009,” he said. “Once that is done, I think our prospects for moving ahead then and seriously considering and enacting cap and trade legislation will be improved.”

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, led by Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., has primary jurisdiction over climate change legislation, but several other committees have signaled they want to play a role next year.

Lame-duck passage of an economic stimulus bill looked increasingly unlikely Wednesday as leading congressional Democrats suggested their top priority was now legislation to help the auto industry. House Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) in separate comments to reporters both cast doubt on Congress and the White House agreeing to a stimulus package. With no deal, anything Democrats could move through Congress might be vetoed by the White House.

“I wouldn't be disappointed because it wouldn't be a surprise," Frank said after a committee hearing on Wednesday. Separately, in a conference call with reporters, Schumer said, “It is the ideological opposition of the Bush administration that is preventing this. I put the odds at smaller than I'd like.”

Both appeared to eye a stimulus bill early next year when President- elect Barack Obama assumes office.

The White House has been cool to provisions Democrats have floated for the stimulus, such as aid to states to help them make up revenue losses. Frank said he gave “zero odds” to the prospect of the Democrat-controlled Congress supporting the lingering Colombia free trade agreement, a longstanding aim of the Bush administration, in order to help pass an economic stimulus package.

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on Wednesday seemed cool to a stimulus bill. He said his focus was on getting credit and lending moving, saying, “I can’t imagine anything else would have a greater stimulative impact.”

Democrats appear to have refocused their efforts next week toward helping American automobile manufacturers with $25 billion in aid under the $700 billion financial rescue package that was passed in October. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) both urged Congress to take immediate action next week and ramped up the pressure on the White House to support the legislation. Meanwhile, the Bush administration has signaled that it is opposed to money from the rescue package going toward the car companies.

From News Watch 12

The next struggle over land use in Oregon may be over a proposal that the Legislature allow more regional control of zoning farm and forest land. Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski appointed the Big Look Task Force to help with statewide land use problems in 2005. Now three years later, the group is proposing a more regional approach to land use. It has recommended allowing regional decisions on rezoning unproductive or compromised farm and forest land in limited situations.

Deval Patrick: How I'll change Mass transit

A SAFE, efficient, and cost-effective transportation system is critical to building a strong Commonwealth. Getting there requires facing big challenges. Our transportation system suffers from a hodgepodge of bureaucratic oversight and a lack of sustainable financing. Previous administrations saddled the Turnpike Authority and the MBTA with nearly $5 billion in Big Dig debt; handed out jobs based on patronage, not merit; diverted capital funds to pay for salaries and benefits rather than infrastructure; and left no viable plan to pay for maintenance or commitments to expand service.

California water shortages could lead to rationing, officials say

State water deliveries could be slashed next year if California continues its dry streak, a move that could lead to widespread rationing. California Department of Water Resources officials Thursday said water agencies could get as little as 15% of their State Water Project allocations, although that figure could go up if Sierra Nevada rain and snowfall return to normal in the coming months.

U.S. urban planning priorities out of whack

From The San Francisco Chronicle

What if we paved over the whole state of Wisconsin? Actually, we already have. According to recent Federal Highway Administration figures, the United States has close to 240 million motor vehicles - almost 40 million more cars than licensed drivers - and just under 4 million miles of paved roads for them to run on. All told, some 61,000 square miles of the United States - an area a little smaller than the Badger State - is solidly paved over, either with roads or with parking. And, of course, there's always more pavement on the way.