Obama

Ted Danson, film and television star turned ocean conservationist, Wednesday called on Congress and President Obama to reinstate the bans on drilling off the East and West coasts, as well as to block drilling in Alaska’s Bristol Bay.

After meeting last week with Gary Gensler, President Obama’s choice for chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) said he “[was] concerned about the deregulatory orientation of this nominee’s past.” Harkin said he intended to further explore this and other issues during Gensler’s confirmation hearing, which he said would be scheduled soon before the agriculture panel.

Among the new business that will greet the Obama administration next year is potentially a request for increased loan guarantees for the Alaska gas pipeline project for which TransCanada Corp. has been awarded the concession. However, the company is taking a wait-and-see approach to whether it will seek an increase in the guarantees, currently worth about $20 billion.

Among the new business that will greet the Obama administration next year is potentially a request for increased loan guarantees for the Alaska gas pipeline project for which TransCanada Corp. has been awarded the concession. However, the company is taking a wait-and-see approach to whether it will seek an increase in the guarantees, currently worth about $20 billion.