Today’s Agenda

Today, Senator Lee is in Utah to meet with constituents.

From the Senator’s Desk

On Twitter

I am looking forward to participating in this Constitutional Townhall at Hillsdale College's @KirbyCenter on Saturday: ow.ly/8HsYZ

— Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) January 26, 2012

Lee introduces bill to require Congress to pass a budget before they can raise the #debtlimit bit.ly/wecaVE #1000days

— Brian Phillips (@SenLeeComs) January 27, 2012

Senate GOP looks to prohibit debt-ceiling hike without budget resolution: bit.ly/z2OMOD #1000days #utpol

— Emily Bennion (@SenLeePressSec) January 27, 2012

Rick Santelli breaks down the #debtceiling: bit.ly/znqeIr #TheDeficitsWillContinueUntilOurCreditRatingImproves #debt #tcot #tlot

— Joe Tauke (@SenLeeResearch) January 27, 2012

Around the Water Cooler

Special operations expanding as wars recede

War is going back under wraps - that's the next-generation plan put forth by the special operations commander who led the Osama bin Laden raid and embraced at the highest levels of the Pentagon and the White House.

Big armies and the land invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan will be replaced by fast and light special operations raids that leave little trace, or better yet, raids by friendly local forces the U.S. has trained, helping fight mutual enemies side by side.

Parent company of Obama-backed battery maker goes bankrupt

The parent company of an electric car battery maker that received a $118 million grant from the Obama administration filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Thursday.

New York-based Ener1 said it has been affected by competition from China and other countries.

Ener1 subsidiary EnerDel received a $118 million stimulus grant from the Energy Department in 2009, and Vice President Joe Biden visited the company's new battery plant in Indiana last year.

Looking Ahead

On Monday, Senator Lee will fly back to Washington.