As the Senate returned from the holiday recess, Sen. Bernie Sanders saw a change in focus on Capitol Hill.   Sanders said. "There is a growing understanding that our economy is in severe distress, a greater appreciation that people are disgusted with the never-ending greed on Wall Street, and a better recognition that we need a new direction at the Fed."  By the end of the week, it appeared that momentum in the Senate had indeed begun to shift against the Bernanke nomination.  The Wall Street Journal wrote that the nomination "will go down to the wire and could be a closer vote than seemed likely just a few weeks ago."  Meanwhile, the Vermont congressional delegation welcomed home heating support for Vermont while asking for more emergency support for cold-weather states.  They also announced major funding for a biomass energy project in Montpelier.  The Supreme Court opened a flood gate of corporate spending on elections, giving control of the political process in the United States to the wealthiest and most powerful institutions in the world and the candidates who support their agenda.

The Fed Amid growing doubts that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke could survive a Senate confirmation vote, Sen. Bernie Sanders said, "The defeat of Ben Bernanke would give President Obama a golden opportunity to nominate someone who will move the Fed in a new direction and put an end to the Fed's relationship with big banks and Wall Street."   Saying that Bernanke has presided over a financial system that "has not been as unsafe, unsound, and unstable since the Great Depression," Sanders has led the charge against Senate confirmation of the former top economic advisor to President Bush.  To read the Wall Street Journal's article on the gaining momentum against Bernanke, click here.

Home Heating The White House released about $1.8 million in emergency home heating assistance for Vermont.  The Vermont congressional delegation expressed disappointment with Vermont's share of the $490 million distributed nationwide today, sending a letter to ask the president to immediately distribute another $100 million in remaining emergency funds to hard-hit, cold-weather states like Vermont. "We're glad to see the emergency funds released but very disappointed that the distribution fails to adequately recognize the crisis for families and seniors trying to make it though a cold winter with rising fuel prices," Sanders said.  To read the Brattleboro Reformer article, click here.

Energy Future Vermont's capital city will receive an $8 million grant for a wood-chip-fueled renewable energy project for the Statehouse and 175 other buildings.  The congressional delegation announced this economic stimulus funding for Montpelier on Thursday.  "This district energy project will make Vermont more energy independent, lower greenhouse gas emissions and create local jobs. It is a win-win situation," Sanders said.  Meanwhile, the senator continued to work to bring a national energy research satellite lab to Vermont.  A delegation of Vermont leaders, including members of the senator's staff, visited the Sandia National Laboratories' headquarters in New Mexico this week to discuss this opportunity for Vermont. To read more about the energy grant, click here.  To read the Burlington Free Press article on the research lab, click here.

Corporate Influence The Supreme Court Thursday overturned decisions that had curbed corporate campaign contributions. "The ruling is going to open the flood gates for the largest corporations to spend unlimited resources electing those candidates who represent their interests," Sen. Sanders said. In the 5-to-4 decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, justices overruled a 1990 decision that upheld restrictions on corporate spending to support or oppose political candidates. The ruling also junked part of a 2003 decision that upheld the central provisions of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law.  To read more, click here.

Firefighters A survey of the National Fire Protection Association showed that at least two-thirds of the nation's fire departments are understaffed. The situation was worse in rural communities.  Sen. Bernie Sanders announced federal funding to recruit, train and retain firefighters and emergency medical services personnel throughout Vermont.  "Vermont is deeply indebted to our volunteer first-responder community, and we've got to do everything we can to maintain their ranks," Sanders said in announcing the funding for the Vermont Fire Academy to support vocational training and to increase recruitment and retention efforts.  To watch the press conference, click here.