SPB News for Tuesday

Obama Making Trip To NV In Feb -- Will Appear With Reid

Gibbs: Obama Will Attend Biden's Mother's Funeral

Cuomo Seeks 2009 Bonus Data From Wall Street

Obama Administration Considers Fee on Banks to Recoup Bailout Funds

Portions of Mark McGwire's testimony to Congress on March 17, 2005

X-Mas Bomber's Dad Asked To Testify In U.S.

Major Powers May Meet On Iran This Week

Treasury: $68.5 billion vanishes

$700 billion bailout program started by Bush loses big on AIG, autos.

Obama Establishes Council of Governors to Advise DoD, DHS on 'Civil Support Missions' --'The President shall establish a bipartisan Council of Governors to advise the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the White House Homeland Security Council on matters related to the National Guard and civil support missions.' The President today signed an Executive Order establishing a Council of Governors to strengthen further the partnership between the Federal Government and State Governments to protect our Nation against all types of hazards. When appointed, the Council will be reviewing such matters as involving the National Guard of the various States; homeland defense; civil support; synchronization and integration of State and Federal military activities in the United States; and other matters of mutual interest pertaining to National Guard, homeland defense, and civil support activities.

Sec. 2. Functions. The Council shall meet at the call of the Secretary of Defense or the Co-Chairs of the Council to exchange views, information, or advice with the Secretary of Defense; the Secretary of Homeland Security; the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism; the Assistant to the President for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Engagement; the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas' Security Affairs; the Commander, United States Northern Command; the Chief, National Guard Bureau; the Commandant of the Coast Guard; and other appropriate officials of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense, and appropriate officials of other executive departments or agencies as may be designated by the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Homeland Security.
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Iran diplomat says was tortured in US custody An Iranian diplomat who was detained by the US military in Iraq and held for more than two years, says that he was tortured while in American custody. Majid Qaemi-Heydari was among the five Iranian diplomats who were abducted by American forces in a raid on Iran's consulate in Arbil on January 11, 2007. In an interview with Fars News Agency, Heydari said the behavior of his American captors was worse than the violence they showed against Iraqis. "They had put covers on our heads, they cuffed our hands," he said adding that the soldiers were later criticized for not cuffing the diplomat's hands behind them.

Federal Reserve earned $45 billion in 2009 Wall Street firms aren't the only banks that had a banner year. The Federal Reserve made record profits in 2009, as its unconventional efforts to prop up the economy created a windfall for the government. The Fed will return about $45 billion to the U.S. Treasury for 2009, according to calculations by The Washington Post based on public documents. That reflects the highest earnings in the 96-year history of the central bank.

AP: Obama weighing new levy on banks President Barack Obama is weighing a levy on financial institutions to help recover shortfalls in a $700 billion bank bailout fund and to help balance a budget that is looking increasingly grim amid an ongoing economic crisis. A senior administration official said Monday that Obama would seek modifications to the law that sent billions in bailout money in 2008 and 2009 to a flailing Wall Street that was approaching collapse.

Last week's poll had asked:

Can UK and US stop extremism in Yemen? There was tie with answers:
No and I don’t know. This week's poll is now up.