From ALG News’ Capitol Hill Correspondent Derek Baker:

In the Senate, while Reid and Co. begin their secret “non-conference” negotiations with the House, several GOP Senators are taking steps to block the anti-capitalist Consumer Financial Protection Agency from moving on their side.

Bottom Line: Chairman Dodd is proceeding with the bill’s markup, but gathering the necessary 60 votes to overcome a GOP filibuster is now less likely. This is great news for America, since along with ObamaCare and cap-and-trade, the financial regulatory bill is one of the top three economy killers the Dems are pushing.

In the House, Pelosi and other House and Senate leaders announced they will skip the traditional conference procedure of reconciling the two differing health bills, instead opting for their favored secret negotiations beyond the public eye.  Republicans are obviously outraged, but some notable Democrats are as well. Rep. Grijalva, as co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, stated, “I am disappointed that there will be no formal conference process…I and other progressives saw a conference as a means to improve the bill and have a real debate, and now with this behind-the-scenes approach, we’re concerned even more.”

Bottom Line: There are no surprises here. We’ve said all along that Pelosi and her liberal cohorts will continue their pattern of secrecy, corruption, and contempt for the American people. Some liberal rank-and-file members are talking revolt, saying they won’t just swallow what the Senate passed. It’s an interesting — though unlikely — scenario.

At the other end of the Avenue, BO is feeling the heat for his Administration’s failure to stop the Christmas Day terrorist from boarding the plane and his tepid initial response to the almost fatal incident. He has summoned his top security advisors to the White House for a download on the security failure.

Bottom Line: Unfortunately, incidents such as this may be on the rise, as terrorists abroad see a hesitant and perhaps weak U.S. president and are looking for opportunities to test his resolve.