In This Issue:

Energy and Climate Debate; Congress; Administration; Department of Energy; Environmental Protection Agency; Interior Department; Department of Agriculture; Department of State; Treasury Department; Department of Homeland Security; International; State; and Miscellaneous.

Excerpt from Energy and Climate Debate -

This week Congress rejected both Democratic and Republican proposals to avert the so-called budget sequestration cuts that took effect March 1. The Senate failed on a procedural vote (51-49) to pass a Democratic package (S. 388) to delay the sequester with a combination of spending cuts, a surtax on wealthy taxpayers, and elimination of two so-called tax loopholes for business. The Senate also failed to pass (38-62) a Republican proposal to give President Obama more flexibility on where to cut spending while prohibiting any tax increases. Both measures needed 60 votes for passage.