The following is a roundup of political activity going on in Washington and across the nation. It is courtesy of Scott Wilk, Community Organizer, and Anchor Consulting group. The Beacon will be posting these daily as they become available.

IN THE HOUSE

• The House convenes at 12:00 p.m. for pro forma business and will recess immediately.
• Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.
• One Minutes
• Quorum Call at 6:30 p.m. – Establishing a quorum in the House of Representatives for the Second Session of the 111th Congress.
• Special Orders
• House Lawmakers Return to Focus on Jobs, Health Care  -  The second session of the 111th Congress opens this week as the House returns to begin what promises to be an intense and partisan year. (NY Times)

IN THE SENATE

• The Senate is not in session.
• Senate liberals defend healthcare votes  -  From an editorial board meeting in Ohio to scheduled town halls in Vermont, Senate liberals are spending January’s early days defending the healthcare reform bill they helped pass. (The Hill)

OTHER NEWS

• Obama weighing new levy on banks  -  President Barack Obama is weighing a levy on financial institutions to help recover shortfalls in a $700 billion bank bailout fund and to help balance a budget that is looking increasingly grim amid an ongoing economic crisis. (AP)
• Energy Department to Offer Funding for Vehicle Fuel-Efficiency  -  The Obama administration on Monday announced more than $187 million in grants for nine projects to improve fuel efficiency in heavy-duty trucks and passenger cars, the latest in a series of efforts to create jobs through clean-energy investments. (WSJ)
• Federal Reserve earned $45 billion in 2009  -  Wall Street firms aren’t the only banks that had a banner year. The Federal Reserve made record profits in 2009, as its unconventional efforts to prop up the economy created a windfall for the government. (Wash Post)
• Even in a Recovery, Some Jobs Won’t Return  -  Even when the U.S. labor market finally starts adding more workers than it loses, many of the unemployed will find that the types of jobs they once had simply don’t exist anymore. (WSJ)
• SEC expands charges against BofA  -  Federal regulators have expanded their charges against Bank of America Corp. over billions in bonuses paid at Merrill Lynch, accusing the bank of failing to disclose mounting losses at Merrill before a shareholder vote approving the combination of the two firms. (AP)

 FEDERAL GRANT OF THE DAY

• Public Telecommunications Facilities Program- The Public Telecommunications Facilities Program (PTFP) assists, through matching grants, in the planning and construction of public telecommunications facilities in order to:

(1) extend delivery of service to as many citizens as possible by the most cost-effective means, including the use of broadcast and non-broadcast technologies;

(2) increase public telecommunications services and facilities available to, operated by, and controlled by minorities and women; and

(3) strengthen the capability of existing public TV and radio stations to provide public telecommunications services to the public.

Issuance of grants is subject to the availability of FY 2010 funds.  Eligible applicants include public, state and private controlled institutions of higher education, as well as nonprofits; for more information see NTIA. Application deadline: 2/4/10

TODAY IN HISTORY

• January 12, 1969- On this day at the Orange Bowl in Miami, the American Football League’s New York Jets defeated the National Football League’s Baltimore Colts 16-7 in Super Bowl III.

Source and thanks to at www.anchor-consult.com / For more information or to opt-out of this list, contact Anchor Consulting at 703-333-6013 or beacon@anchor-consult.com