Senator Sanders

Too Big to Exist Senator Bernie Sanders unveiled legislation requiring Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner to name banks whose collapse may shake the economy and break up the firms in a year, fueling efforts to end taxpayers bailouts, according to The Washington Times, Truthout, Politico and Canada's Business News Network. More than 7,000 people signed an online petition over the weekend supporting Sanders' bill. LINK, LINK, LINK and VIDEO

Too Big to Exist "Sanders's philosophy seems sensible. Breaking up the biggest financial firms would remove unfair subsidies in the form of implicit government backing, sharply reduce systemic risk, and perhaps foster greater competition. Given the poor performance of some of the biggest financial conglomerates, it might even benefit shareholders," according to The New York Times. LINK

International

World Markets Get Boost World stock markets rose Monday after the Group of 20 leading rich and developing countries agreed to maintain their stimulus measures in the wake of weak U.S. employment figures. At a meeting in Scotland, the countries' finance ministers pledged to "continue to provide support for the economy until the recovery is assured," according to The Associated Press. LINK

Obama Heads to Asia With unemployment topping 10 percent and his healthcare plan still facing Senate action, President Obama has plenty to keep him busy at home. But on Thursday, he will head to Asia for more than a week, a trip that the Los Angeles Times said underscores the White House's conviction that a close partnership with China and other Pacific Rim nations is crucial to American interests. LINK

National

Obama Presses Senate on Health Care The White House, growing concerned that the Congressional timetable for passing a health care overhaul could slip into next year, is stepping up pressure on the Senate for quick action, with President Obama appearing Sunday in the Rose Garden to call on senators to "take up the baton and bring this effort to the finish line," The New York Times reported. LINK

Wall Street Record Bonuses Return Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s investment bank, survivors of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, are set to pay record bonuses this year, according to Bloomberg. LINK

Senate to Probe Army Shootings The chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee says he plans to begin a congressional investigation of the shootings at Fort Hood. An Army major, Nidal Malik Hasan, is suspected of killing 13 people and wounding 29 others at the Army post in Texas, AP reported. LINK

Vermont

Welch Votes for Health Reform Vermont's only member in the U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. Rep. Peter Welch voted Saturday night in support of what he called a "momentous step" toward providing health security and stability to all Americans. After the U.S. House narrowly passed the Affordable Health Care for America Act by a vote of 220 to 215, Welch said the landmark legislation will extend access to 36 million Americans, the Bennington Banner reported. LINK

Leahy Touts Funds for Ag Center A new program set up to develop new Vermont farm products has won a $469,000 federal grant. Sen. Patrick Leahy says the money will go to the Vermont Agricultural Innovation Demonstration Center. Housed at the state Agency of Agriculture, the center will try to help farmers and food businesses connect with untapped markets, The Associated Press reported. LINK

Wind Energy A proposal for a large-scale wind energy project is bringing out strong emotions in the Northeast Kingdom. The project - 16 to 24 turbines on Lowell Mountain - would be a windfall for town taxpayers. Developers have promised to pay Lowell up to $535,000 a year - or about a third of the town's entire tax burden. But some of the 200 residents who packed the Lowell Graded School were more concerned about environmental impacts, and the potential harm to property values, Vermont Public Radio reported. LINK

Primary Election The Vermont Legislature will consider moving up the date of next year's primary, a move that Gov. Douglas says is motivated by politics, to give political candidates more time to campaign. Democratic Secretary of State Deb Markowitz, who is running for governor, says the reason is to make sure Vermont soldiers serving overseas can vote. Congress has passed a law that says states must send out absentee ballots to overseas voters at least 45 days before the November election, according to Vermont Public Radio. LINK