Senator Sanders

Home Heating U.S. senators from New England asked President Obama to release emergency heat aid. Sen. Bernie Sanders says the release would add to the $25.6 million already allocated to Vermonters who need help warming their homes this winter, The Associated Press, The Burlington Free Press, WCAX, WPTZ, Fox 44 and WNYT in Albany reported. LINK , LINK, LINK, VIDEO, VIDEO and VIDEO

Credit Rates A bill that would create a national cap on credit card interest rates is set for a House Rules Committee hearing on January 27. The bill Reps. Slaughter and Tierney would forbid any financial institution that issues a credit card from levying interest rates higher than 16 percent. Forbes said the Senate last year rejected a similar bill by Sen. Sanders. LINK

Health Care The Senate included $10 billion for community health centers and primary care physicians around the country. The House bill includes $14 billion. Sen. Sanders said the additional funding would expand primary care, dental care and other benefits to up to 25 million more Americans, the Valley News reported. LINK

Correction "In a report about the ongoing health care negotiations, I said Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders received $10 billion for community health centers in his state. That's not true. I misspoke. The money is for community health centers across the country, and I regret the error," Anderson Cooper said on CNN. VIDEO

International

Iraq Blocks Saddam Party An Iraqi parliamentary committee moved Thursday to bar a Sunni Muslim lawmaker from national elections in March, outraging his supporters. The lawmaker, a prominent Sunni politician, and his group, the National Dialogue Front, were among those disqualified on the grounds of promoting the banned Baath Party of former President Saddam Hussein. LINK

China Passes US in Car Sales China overtook the United States as the biggest auto market in 2009 and automakers should see more strong growth this year, The Associated Press said an industry group reported Friday. LINK

National

Unemployment Stuck at 10 percent U.S. employers cut 85,000 jobs in December. The unemployment rate held steady at 10 percent, according to a Labor Department report on Friday. November payrolls were revised to a gain of 4,000 from a loss of 11,000, but the November unemployment rate was unrevised, The Wall Street Journal reported. LINK

Obama Orders Security Fix President Obama on Thursday ordered intelligence agencies to take a series of steps to streamline how terrorism threats are pursued and analyzed. He also directed the Homeland Security Department to speed the installation of $1 billion in advanced-technology equipment for the screening of passengers, The New York Times reported. LINK

E.P.A. Seeks Stricter Rules to Curb Smog The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday proposed a stricter standard for smog-causing pollutants that would bring substantial health benefits to millions of Americans while imposing large costs on industry and local governments, The New York Times reported. LINK

Financial Crisis Panel The commission appointed by Congress to examine the causes of the financial crisis is to hear testimony Wednesday from the heads of four of the nation's largest banks, as the panel begins a year-long investigation that its chairman described as an effort to figure out "what the heck happened," The Washington Post reported. LINK

Senate Democrats Look at Jobs Bill Senate Democrats are crafting a job creation bill that would boost funding for small businesses, public services, infrastructure projects and energy efficiency programs, The Hill reported. LINK

Vermont

Dairy Panel Dairy farmer Paul C. Bourbeau of Swanton has been chosen to join the newly created U.S. Department of Agriculture Dairy Industry Advisory Committee. Bourbeau was nominated by Sen. Patrick Leahy and endorsed by Rep. Peter Welch, The Burlington Free Press reported. LINK

Douglas: Cut Schools The bipartisan mood that dominated the first few days of the legislative session seemed to vanish as Gov. Douglas presented details of his school funding proposal. In his last state of the state address, Douglas said he wants to cut spending and reduce the number of teachers, Vermont Public Radio reported. LINK