The following is political activity for Monday, April 12, 2010, 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 is not in session.
• Democrats trudge ahead on legislative agenda  -  Despite partisan gridlock in Congress, issues such as jobs and financial regulation may win some GOP support. Still, a Supreme Court debate could overshadow it all. (LA Times)

IN THE SENATE

• The Senate convenes at 2:00pm; morning Business is scheduled until 3:00pm with the time equally divided.
• At 3:00pm the motion to proceed to HR4851, the Continuing Extension Act of 2010, resumes.
• At 5:30pm, a cloture vote is scheduled on the motion to proceed to HR4851.
• Bill to extend jobless benefits faces Senate showdown  -  Congress is poised for another partisan showdown over extending unemployment insurance, as concerns about the growing budget deficit have complicated the path forward for an otherwise popular program. (Washington Post)

OTHER NEWS

• Top officials stress country’s nuclear strength  -  Even as President Obama met Sunday with a succession of global leaders to discuss better control of nuclear materials, his administration highlighted a seemingly dissimilar message: The U.S. nuclear arsenal remains as strong as ever. (Washington Post)
• Lines drawn in Supreme Court succession  -  As President Obama considers a second choice for the Supreme Court, Republican senators are urging him to pick a “mainstream” nominee to avoid a polarizing political battle ahead of the midterm congressional elections. (USA Today)
• Lacking state funding, Census response rates lag  -  State and local governments hammered by the recession have cut spending on outreach for the 2010 U.S. Census, leaving hard-to-reach neighborhoods with response rates that may fall behind the count a decade ago, officials said. (AP)
• From Senate Majority Leader, a Promise to Take Up Immigration Overhaul  –  The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, told an exuberant crowd at an immigration rally Saturday in Las Vegas that Congress would start work on an immigration overhaul as soon as lawmakers return this week from a recess. (New York Times)
• Testing Influence of Tea Party in Kentucky  -  Most any other year, this state’s open Senate seat would be Tred Grayson’s.  This, however, is no ordinary year. (New York Times)

FEDERAL GRANT OF THE DAY

• Conservation Innovation Grants- The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies, while leveraging the Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) into NRCS policy, technical manuals, guides, and references or to the private sector. CIG promotes sharing of skills, knowledge, technologies, and facilities among communities, governments, and other institutions to ensure that scientific and technological developments are accessible to a wider range of users. CIG funds projects targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations. For a list of eligible applicants and more information, see USDA. Application deadline: April 26, 2010

TODAY IN HISTORY

• April 12, 1861- On this day, Confederate forces began firing at Fort Sumter in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina, starting the American Civil War.

Source and thanks to 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