Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., chair of the Senate energy committee, spoke Wednesday about getting congressional approval for the Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL pipeline. With her is Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., a member of the committee. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption
Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana walks through the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Congress returned to work following last week's midterm elections break. Landrieu is locked in a runoff with Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy. Mark Wilson/Getty Images hide caption
Beacon Power President and CEO Barry Brits, at the company's plant in Hazle Township, Pa. He says a loan from the Department of Energy made it possible for his company to develop its flywheel energy storage technology. Jeff Brady/NPR hide caption
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky walks to his office to meet with new GOP senators-elect at the Capitol on Wednesday. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption
U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew says the global economy is relying too heavily on just the United States for growth. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption
State Reps. Barry Moore, Joe Hubbard, Rod Scott and Merika Coleman study a map of the proposed redistricting plan in May 2012 following a meeting of the Legislative Committee on Reapportionment at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Ala. Dave Martin/AP hide caption
In this May 12, 2009, photo, Jonathan Gruber, professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, participates in a Capitol Hill hearing on the overhaul of the heath care system in Washington. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP hide caption
The question before the Supreme Court Wednesday is: Did Alabama's Republican-dominated Legislature rely predominantly on race or on partisanship when it was redrawing its districts? Carolyn Kaster/AP hide caption
Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul may have to choose between keeping his Senate seat and running for the presidency. Andrew Nelles/AP hide caption
A Malaysian flag sits on a table among other flags during a news conference at the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement talks in July 2012 in San Diego. Nearly two and a half years later, the deal remains incomplete. Gregory Bull/AP hide caption
Former President George W. Bush (right) and his father, former President George H.W. Bush, wave as they leave a family wedding in Washington, D.C., in May 2006. Normand Blouin-Pool/Getty Images hide caption