In This Issue:

Energy and Climate Debate; Congress; Department of Agriculture; Department of Interior; Environmental Protection Agency; Personnel; International; States; and Miscellaneous.

Excerpt from Energy and Climate Debate

With the lame duck session underway, all in Washington are focused on the fiscal cliff. President Obama and congressional party leadership met November 16 to begin laying out a basic framework for negotiations going forward. Though they avoided discussion of particular proposals, the group attempted to demonstrate their willingness to work together in order to prevent the automatic tax increases and spending cuts scheduled to take effect on January 1.