On Capitol Hill - The START nuclear treaty passed a cloture vote yesterday in the Senate. 67 Senators agreed to end debate on the treaty setting up a final vote for passage today. Majority Leader Harry Reid will need all of those 67 votes to hold for the treaty to garner the necessary 2/3 majority for passage – and thus securing an important foreign policy victory for President Obama. And for that matter – the rest of the world that wants to take a tougher stance on reducing loose nuclear materials. Also – the Senate is expected to finally pass the 9/11 first responders health care bill this afternoon - now that changes to the bill have accommodated the Chamber of Commerce’s corporate concerns. And in the White House today – President Obama signed “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal into law – an important milestone for civil rights in our country. All in all – according to Columbia University historian Alan Brinkley – the 111th session of Congress has passed more legislation affecting more people than any other Congress since the 1960’s – unfortunately they weren’t the transformative victories many progressives hoped for 2 years ago. And while more people have received much needed help – the status quo of supply-side economics, free trade, and corporate preference still continues.