The White House released a 2013 budget request yesterday that would increase funding for climate change and clean energy programs at several agencies even as it seeks to rein in overall spending to comply with spending limits set by the Budget Control Act enacted last year. While the request is largely symbolic, released at the beginning of an election year to a Congress that has found little common ground with the Obama administration, it does offer a window into White House thinking on climate and energy issues. Go to story #1

Environmentalists launched a multimedia campaign against the Keystone XL pipeline yesterday ahead of possible votes this week in the House and Senate to override President Obama's decision on the issue. In an effort spearheaded by 350.org, which also led anti-Keystone XL protests this summer at the White House, activists announced plans to deliver more than 500,000 signatures on jump drives in 50 boxes to the offices of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) by this afternoon. Go to story #2