congres Congressional oversight of the CARES Act could prove troublesome By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Wed, 15 Apr 2020 19:43:53 +0000 On March 27th, President Trump signed the CARES Act providing for more than $2 Trillion in federal spending in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Overseeing the outlay of relief funding from the bill will be no easy task, given its size, complexity and the backdrop of the 2020 election. However, this is not the first… Full Article
congres A Congressional Oversight Office: A proposed early warning system for the United States Congress By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Fri, 03 Jun 2016 00:00:00 -0400 A central function of the United States Congress is oversight of the executive branch. Congressional oversight, as exercised from the beginning of the nation, is an essential tool in making the separation of powers real by empowering Congress to check the executive. In recent years, however, as polarization has reached paralyzing levels, Congress has largely gotten out of the business of routine and prospective “police-patrol” oversight. In the absence of the will and the capacity to do prospective oversight, Congress is at risk of losing its power to the executive branch and thus failing one of its most important constitutional roles. This paper assesses whether or not anything can be done to get Congress back into the oversight business. Specifically, author Elaine Kamarck examines the following question: Assuming that future Congresses develop the political will to conduct oversight, do they have the capacity to do oversight of a large, modern, and complex executive branch? As Kamarck illustrates, mismatched resources may make it difficult for Congress to resume its oversight function. The modern federal government is a complex and enormous enterprise. But as the executive branch has grown considerably over the past decades, Congress has adopted budget cuts that make the legislative branch less and less capable of undertaking the kinds of systemic oversight that can solve or prevent problems. Congress employs a mere 17,272 professional staff to oversee an executive branch consisting of 4.2 million civil servants and uniformed military. “The existing infrastructure that is supposed to help Congress be on top of the executive branch has fallen prey to a mindless dumbing down of Congress,” Kamarck states. She details the five entities that are meant to support Congress in its oversight role: committee staff, the Congressional Research Service, the Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Inspectors General, all of which are understaffed and under-budgeted. Kamarck recommends the first thing Congress should do to fix its oversight problem is to properly staff the agencies it already has and to stop nickel and diming and degrading its own capacity. Furthermore, Kamarck calls for a “Congressional Oversight Office,” a body charged with evaluating governmental performance before a crisis arises. This office should be staffed by implementation professionals who can gather the signals from all the other oversight organizations annually and in sync with the budget cycle. “Congress needs to get back into the business of productive executive branch oversight,” concludes Kamarck. A Congressional Oversight Office is certainly a step in that direction. Downloads Download the paper Authors Elaine Kamarck Image Source: © Kevin Lamarque / Reuters Full Article
congres How COVID-19 could push Congress to start reining in vulture capitalism By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Thu, 09 Apr 2020 14:57:23 +0000 The effects of income inequality have been felt throughout society but they are especially evident in the current coronavirus crisis. For instance, workers in the information economy are able to telework and draw their salaries, but workers in the service sector are either unemployed or at great risk as they interact with customers during a… Full Article
congres Testimony on oversight of the Congressional Budget Office By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Wed, 14 Mar 2018 14:00:05 +0000 Chairman Womack, Ranking Member Yarmuth, and members of the Committee: Thank you for inviting me to present my views at the wrap-up hearing of your series on Oversight of CBO. Forty-three years ago, I had the good fortune to be chosen as the first director of CBO. It was a chance to launch a much-needed… Full Article
congres The politics of Congress’s COVID-19 response By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Mon, 20 Apr 2020 09:30:25 +0000 In the face of economic and health challenges posed by COVID-19, Congress, an institution often hamstrung by partisanship, quickly passed a series of bills allocating trillions of dollars for economic stimulus and relief. In this episode, Sarah Binder joins David Dollar to discuss the politics behind passing that legislation and lingering uncertainties about its oversight… Full Article
congres Health care priorities for a COVID-19 stimulus bill: Recommendations to the administration, congress, and other federal, state, and local leaders from public health, medical, policy, and legal experts By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Fri, 13 Mar 2020 13:50:44 +0000 Full Article
congres The First 100 Hours: A Preview of the New Congress and its Agenda By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Democrats, who reclaimed a majority in Congress for the first time in 12 years, have planned an ambitious slate of new business in the House of Representatives.House-speaker elect Nancy Pelosi of California has vowed to address key policy areas such as the budget, ethics, minimum wage, homeland security, and higher education in the first 100… Full Article
congres What Brookings experts are saying about Netanyahu's address to Congress By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Thu, 05 Mar 2015 12:02:00 -0500 This week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke at a joint meeting of Congress. His address sparked an intense debate among U.S. and Israeli lawmakers over the protocol issues raised by the invitation to speak, which came from the Republican speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives without consultation with the Obama White House, as well as the substance of the address — a broadside against Obama’s Iran policy — and its timing during the final days of a closely contested Israeli election. Brookings scholars weighed in on the debate, through blog posts, op-eds and the media. These include: Fellow Natan Sachs explained why Netanyahu’s speech was so controversial. "Israelis, by and large, don't like it when their prime minister quarrels with the United States," Sachs told Vox. "For most voters, especially in the core base on the right and I think center right, here's Bibi doing something that opposition leaders cannot do: speak the way he does with his English and this reception from Americans.” Also read Sachs' blog post on the electoral implications of the speech as well as his Haaretz op-ed with recommendations for Israeli and American strategy toward the Iran nuclear talks. Tamara Cofman Wittes, director of the Center for Middle East Policy (CMEP) at Brookings, appeared on Charlie Rose following the speech, and said, “I think the speech was very effective, as a speech, particularly at the end when Netanyahu was really playing to his domestic audience and political base more than anyone…I think that’s probably the video clip the Likud will be playing in ads as the campaign winds down.” Nonresident Senior Fellow Shibley Telhami looked at poll results examined U.S. public opinion related to Netanyahu’s speech. "Among Democrats, those holding favorable views of the Israeli prime minister declined from 25 percent in November to 16 percent in February, and among Independents from 21 percent to 14 percent. Correspondingly, unfavorable views increased from 22 to 26 percent among Democrats, and from 14 to 21 percent among Independents," he wrote in Foreign Policy. A New York Times editorial examining Netanyahu's speech discussed American public opinion on the Iran nuclear deal, and cited Telhami’s poll results “show[ing] that a clear majority of Americans — including 61 percent of Republicans and 66 percent of Democrats — favor an agreement.” Telhami also organized and moderated the annual Sadat Forum earlier this week, featuring a discussion on the Iranian nuclear issue and the Netanyahu speech with Brookings Distinguished Fellow Ambassador Thomas Pickering, former president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Jessica Matthews, and CMEP Senior Fellow Suzanne Maloney. According to Ambassador Martin Indyk, who has served as director of the Foreign Policy program and was just named Brookings Executive Vice President, Netanyahu remained against any agreement. “He was pretty clear about his opposition to the deal,” Indyk told Foreign Policy. “I believe he wants to sink it, not modify it.” Prior to the speech, Robert Einhorn, senior fellow in the Center for 21st Century Intelligence and Security and the Arms Control and Nonproliferation Initiative, wrote an op-ed published in the International New York Times discussing Netanyahu’s angle on the Iran talks. After Netanyahu’s speech, Einhorn appeared on Christiane Amanpour and argued that the deal was “not an ideal deal, but it’s a good deal, and one that’s better than any realistic alternative.” Einhorn, who formerly participated in the negotiations with Iran as a senior State Department official, was quoted in coverage of the speech published in the Washington Post and Politico, among others. In an op-ed on U.S. News and World Report, Maloney argued that when it comes to a deal with Iran, “The ever-present illusion of a more perfect deal is not worth risking an imperfect, but minimally sufficient, bargain.” With the prospect of a nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 looking increasingly likely and with the caveat that, “as always, Iran’s future behavior is hard to predict because its motives going into the nuclear negotiations are unclear and its decision-making is always opaque,” Senior Fellow Kenneth M. Pollack examined the possible scenarios and offered his thoughts on whether a nuclear deal would likely make Iran more or less aggressive — or neither. Bruce Riedel, senior fellow and director of the Brookings Intelligence Project, wrote about Netanyahu’s address in contrast to Saudi Arabia’s diplomacy. “As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plays center stage at the Congress this week to slam the Iran deal-in-the-making, the Saudis are playing a more subtle game,” Riedel wrote. “Iran is priority number one. It's more than just the nuclear issue.” The pot was also quoted in a Bloomberg News analysis of Gulf reaction to the state of play on Iran. Last week, William Galston, who holds Brookings' Ezra K. Zilkha Chair in Governance Studies, wrote about the implications of Netanyahu’s speech, warning that “[t]he last thing he should want is a negative reception in the United States that fuels Israeli swing voters’ doubts about his capacity to manage Israel’s most important relationship.” And in his Washington Post column last week, Senior Fellow Robert Kagan argued that “there is no doubt that the precedent being set is a bad one” and regretted that “bringing a foreign leader before Congress to challenge a U.S. president’s policies…will be just another weapon in our bitter partisan struggle.” And finally, for anyone wanting to see what our scholars were tweeting during Netanyahu’s speech, and reaction afterward, here’s a round-up. Authors Stephanie Dahle Image Source: © Joshua Roberts / Reuters Full Article
congres Congress, Nord Stream II, and Ukraine By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Tue, 12 Nov 2019 21:56:33 +0000 Congress has long weighed sanctions as a tool to block the Nord Stream II gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany. Unfortunately, it has mulled the question too long, and time has run out. With some 85% of the pipeline already laid, new congressional sanctions aimed at companies participating in the pipeline’s… Full Article
congres Should Congress raise the full retirement age to 70? By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Thu, 02 Jun 2016 15:08:00 -0400 No. We should exempt workers earning the lowest wages. Social Security faces a serious funding problem. The program takes in too little money to pay all that has been promised to future beneficiaries. Government forecasters predict Social Security’s reserve fund will be depleted between 2030 and 2034. There are two basic ways we can eliminate the funding gap: cut benefits or increase contributions. A common proposal is to increase the age at which workers can claim full retirement benefits. For people nearing retirement today, the full retirement age is 66. As a result of a 1983 law, that age will rise to 67 for workers born after 1959. When policymakers urge us to raise the retirement age, they are proposing to increase the full retirement age beyond 67, possibly to 70, for workers now in their 30s or 40s. This saves money, but it also cuts monthly retirement benefits by the same percentage for every worker, unless workers delay claiming benefits. The policy might seem fair if workers in future generations could all expect to share in gains in life expectancy. However, new research shows that gains in life expectancy have been very unequal, with the biggest improvements among workers who earn top incomes. Life expectancy gains for workers with the lowest incomes have been small or negligible. If the full retirement age were raised, future retirees with high lifetime earnings can expect to receive some compensation when their monthly benefits are cut. Because they can expect to live longer than today’s retirees, they will receive benefits for a longer span of years after 65. For low-wage workers, there is no compensation. Since they are not living longer, their lifetime benefits will fall by the same proportion as their monthly benefits. Thus, “raising the retirement age” is a policy that cuts the lifetime benefits of future low-wage workers by a bigger percentage than it does of future high-wage workers. The fact that low-wage workers have seen small or negligible gains in life expectancy signals that their health when they are past 60 is no better than that of low-wage workers born 20 or 30 years ago. This suggests their capacity to work past 60 is no better than it was for past generations. A sensible policy for cutting future benefits should therefore preserve current benefit levels for workers who have contributed to Social Security for many years but have earned low wages. Editor's note: This piece originally appeared in CQ Researcher. Authors Gary Burtless Publication: CQ Researcher Image Source: © Lucy Nicholson / Reuters Full Article
congres Congress pushed out that massive emergency spending bill quickly. Here are four reasons why. By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Thu, 26 Mar 2020 19:23:28 +0000 Full Article
congres The politics of Congress’s COVID-19 response By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Mon, 20 Apr 2020 09:30:25 +0000 In the face of economic and health challenges posed by COVID-19, Congress, an institution often hamstrung by partisanship, quickly passed a series of bills allocating trillions of dollars for economic stimulus and relief. In this episode, Sarah Binder joins David Dollar to discuss the politics behind passing that legislation and lingering uncertainties about its oversight… Full Article
congres Congress and Trump have produced four emergency pandemic bills. Don’t expect a fifth anytime soon. By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Mon, 27 Apr 2020 16:47:35 +0000 Full Article
congres @ Brookings Podcast: The Politics and Process of Congressional Redistricting By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Fri, 28 Jan 2011 11:22:00 -0500 Now that the 2010 Census is concluded, states will begin the process of reapportionment—re-drawing voting district lines to account for population shifts. Nonresident Senior Fellow Michael McDonald says redistricting has been fraught with controversy and corruption since the nation’s early days, when the first “gerrymandered” district was drawn. Two states—Arizona and California—have instituted redistricting commissions intended to insulate the process from political shenanigans, but politicians everywhere will continue to work the system to gain electoral advantage and the best chance of re-election for themselves and their parties. Subscribe to audio and video podcasts of Brookings events and policy research » previous play pause next mute unmute @ Brookings Podcast: The Politics and Process of Congressional Redistricting 07:42 Download (Help) Get Code Brookings Right-click (ctl+click for Mac) on 'Download' and select 'save link as..' Get Code Copy and paste the embed code above to your website or blog. Video States Attempt to Reform Redistricting Audio @ Brookings Podcast: The Politics and Process of Congressional Redistricting Full Article
congres A Status Report on Congressional Redistricting By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:00:00 -0400 Event Information July 18, 201110:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDTFalk AuditoriumThe Brookings Institution1775 Massachusetts Ave., NWWashington, DC Register for the EventFull video archive of this event is also available via C-SPAN here. The drawing of legislative district boundaries is arguably among the most self-interested and least transparent systems in American democracy. Every ten years redistricting authorities, usually state legislatures, redraw congressional and legislative lines in accordance with Census reapportionment and population shifts within states. Most state redistricting authorities are in the midst of their redistricting process, while others have already finished redrawing their state and congressional boundaries. A number of initiatives—from public mapping competitions to independent shadow commissions—have been launched to open up the process to the public during this round of redrawing district lines.On July 18, Brookings hosted a panel of experts to review the results coming in from the states and discuss how the rest of the process is likely to unfold. Panelists focused on evidence of partisan or bipartisan gerrymandering, the outcome of transparency and public mapping initiatives, and minority redistricting. After the panel discussion, participants took audience questions. Video Full Event Video Archive Audio A Status Report on Congressional Redistricting Transcript Uncorrected Transcript (.pdf) Event Materials 20110718_congressional_redistricting Full Article
congres Congressional Testimony: Cross-Strait Economic and Political Issues By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Cross-Strait relations have marked a path of reduced tension and increasing cooperation after the election of President Ma Ying-jeou of the ruling Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) in 2008. Taiwan’s efforts to institutionalize its engagement with the People’s Republic of China (PRC), particularly in trade and investment activities, presents both opportunities and challenges on both sides… Full Article
congres 2014 Midterms: Congressional Elections and the Obama Climate Legacy By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Editor's Note: As part of the 2014 Midterm Elections Series, experts across Brookings will weigh in on issues that are central to this year's campaigns, how the candidates are engaging those topics, and what will shape policy for the next two years. In this post, William Antholis and Han Chen discuss the importance of climate and… Full Article Uncategorized
congres 2014 Midterms: Congressional Elections and the Obama Climate Legacy By webfeeds.brookings.edu Published On :: Editor's Note: As part of the 2014 Midterm Elections Series, experts across Brookings will weigh in on issues that are central to this year's campaigns, how the candidates are engaging those topics, and what will shape policy for the next two years. In this post, William Antholis and Han Chen discuss the importance of climate and… Full Article Uncategorized
congres 200 evangelical scientists ask Congress to pass climate legislation By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Mon, 22 Jul 2013 15:56:29 -0400 Two hundred evangelical scientists recently wrote a letter to Congress making the religious case for passing climate change legislation. Full Article Living
congres From 20 years in Congress to off-grid living By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Wed, 08 Jan 2014 07:02:15 -0500 Fiercely opposed to big government, and a huge advocate for distributed clean energy, Roscoe Bartlett now practices what he preaches. Full Article Business
congres Map of climate change deniers in Congress By www.treehugger.com Published On :: Mon, 01 Jul 2013 14:59:55 -0400 If you're wondering why Congress has yet to tackle this global crisis despite overwhelming scientific consensus and ballooning costs of inaction, Think Progress maps which members of Congress deny the realities of global warming. Full Article Energy
congres Invuity® Launches Hidden Scar Program For Breast Cancer Surgery At American College Of Surgeons (ACS) Annual Clinical Congress 2015 - Top Breast Cancer Surgeons Discuss Advanced Surgical Options By feedproxy.google.com Published On :: 01 Oct 2015 17:06:00 EDT Top Breast Cancer Surgeons Discuss Advanced Surgical Options Full Article Computer Electronics Healthcare Hospitals Medical Pharmaceuticals Medical Equipment New Products Services Trade show news Broadcast Feed Announcements MultiVu Video
congres Chief Justice John Roberts pauses order requiring Trump administration to turn over Mueller docs to Congress By www.cnbc.com Published On :: Fri, 08 May 2020 22:12:35 GMT The order would have required the Trump administration to turn over to Congress secretive materials produced in connection with Robert Mueller's Russian probe. Full Article
congres Michigan lawmakers lead congressional push to include auto industry in next stimulus bill By www.cnbc.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 22:24:51 GMT "The projected economic fallout for the (auto) industry is grave," reads the bipartisan letter signed by nine lawmakers from Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Alabama, all states with big auto manufacturing plants. Full Article
congres Trump vetoes Congress resolution to limit his right to war with Iran By www.france24.com Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 21:38:03 GMT US President Donald Trump on Wednesday vetoed what he called a "very insulting" congressional resolution seeking to limit his war powers in Iran. Full Article Americas
congres Dharmendra Jore: Re-inventing the Congress By www.mid-day.com Published On :: 21 May 2018 00:04:52 GMT It was being said that the Karnataka Assembly polls should be able to shape the political discourse of the time to come, with an eye on next year's general elections. Things are headed that way, thanks to a secondary role that the Indian National Congress has decided to play in a game that would have regional parties as dominant stakeholders. The reactions that Karnataka's high drama has evoked from the ruling regional parties and others that are poised to throw a challenge to the BJP were more like war cries. The BJP isn't naïve to ignore what lies ahead and it should be seen changing its strategy as it faces newer challenges. We should not be surprised if BJP works overtime on dividing the outfits that the Congress wants to gather under one umbrella with the sole target of stopping BJP in its strides. The war cries we have been hearing from the foes of BJP mean a single agenda, but without a unified command centre they cannot turn it into action on all fronts where the BJP needs to be defeated. It is still a grey area for the opposition that the BJP should seek advantage from. Regional rationaleHigh on ambitions, the regional parties in some states have their own calculations, permutations and combinations that have little space for the Congress, which will have to work elsewhere to emerge as the first or the second largest party at the Centre. The Congress think-tank seems to have done a reality check. After Gujarat, where it fought BJP in a straight fight and hurled a stunner that almost unseated the ruling party, it missed out on retaining power on its own in Karnataka. But it performed exceedingly well outside legislature. It learned from past mistakes and took every cue from BJP's moves. It made the right noises in the people's court and also in the highest judicial offices of the country. It was pleasant to see the Congress leaders, who are also the party's legal experts, shed their infamous arrogance, as they spoke their minds at media conferences and argued in the courts.Little wonder then, the Congress does not seem to be pushing its president Rahul Gandhi as a torch-bearer for all opposition, unless supported by the number of elected representatives. A decision to give JD (S) the chief minister's post in Karnataka should be seen as a part of strategy that serves many purposes. It gives out a message that the Congress will make sacrifices to strengthen a mission 'say-no-to-Modi-BJP'. It embraced a post-poll partner, and it said unlike BJP (or the Congress of the past that had pulled out support to Deve Gowda's Union government), it wouldn't eliminate a friend in need.Regionals such as Shiv Sena, BSP, SP, TRS, Trinamool Congress, TDP, RJD and other outfits have welcomed the development in Karnataka, especially the Congress' fightback in ensuring that BJP's CM steps down and JD (S) chief HD Kumaraswamy gets to run the government, as promised on the election results day.The anti-Modi gang sees it as a positive and mature decision from the Congress, which acted with a flexibility and quickness it rarely showed in the past, in the decision-making process of the Karnataka episode. Testing times for BJPThe BJP expects the new-found love between the Congress and JD (S) to vanish soon. It says there will be Assembly polls in Karnataka very soon and it will win, this time, with a thumping majority. If it happens or not in the southern state, the BJP will now have to keep its flag flying in three of its citadels — Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, where regional parties don't matter much, but may have an influence here and there. As has been in the past three decades, it should be a one-on-one fight between the Congress and BJP. These states will also fairly indicate where the two parties stand ahead of Lok Sabha polls. MP sends 29 MPs, Chhattisgarh has 11 and Rajasthan 25. Going by the voting pattern of the Assembly in Karnakata, a unified opposition should at least win 22-23 of 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state. By-polls in Uttar Pradesh have established that the united opposition, mainly the regionals SP and BSP, should be able to reduce BJP considerably in a state that sends highest number of 80 MPs.Second in the line after UP is Maharashtra, where the Assembly polls are held six months after the general polls (48 MPs) and it usually sees an impact of previous polls on formation of a state government. Yet, we may have some 'trend learning' in the offing when Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia go to the Lok Sabha by-poll on May 28. Dharmendra Jore is political editor, mid-day. He tweets @dharmendrajore Send your feedback to mailbag@mid-day.com Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates Full Article
congres Sadhus' killing: Congress seeks UP CM's resignation By www.mid-day.com Published On :: 29 Apr 2020 02:08:56 GMT After two Sadhus were found murdered in Bulandshahr the Congress has attacked the Chief Minister for deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Congress Working Committee member and former Union Minister Jitin Prasada has demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. The murder of the two Sadhus came after a family of five have been found dead under mysterious circumstances. Prasada in a press statement said, "It's time that the chief minister should step down as law and order situation is worsening day by day." The Brahmin leader of UP has been accusing the government of targeted killing of Brahmins in the state and said that the government is trying to cover up such cases. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra earlier tweeted that there should be no politics over the killing of sadhus but the Congress leaders have ceased the opportunity to attack the government. Priyanka Gandhi in her tweet said, "Today in Bulandshahr, two sadhus were murdered while they were sleeping. The truth must come out after investigation in this heinous crime and at this stage no body should politicize this issue." Two sadhus were found murdered inside a Shiva temple at Pagona village of Bulandshahr district in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. The murder came to light when people reached the temple on Tuesday morning and saw the blood-soaked bodies. According to reports, the deceased have been identified as Jagandas (55), and Sevadas (35). Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken cognizance of the incident and directed the district officials to inform him of the investigations. He has also ordered strict action against the accused. One of the accused has been arrested by the police. Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates. Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever Full Article
congres Spell out an exit strategy: Congress to PM By www.mid-day.com Published On :: 29 Apr 2020 02:20:02 GMT The Congress on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to spell out a clear exit strategy for Coronavirus lockdown after May 3, saying the nation is waiting for it. Congress chief spokesperson, Randeep Surjewala said the prime minister is expected to lead the nation in crisis like these. "We once again appeal to the PM to come out with a clear exit strategy for the lockdown, to state the roadmap for economic revival and to deal with the health pandemic post May 3, as also restrict the lockdown only to hotspot zones," he told the media at a press conference through video-conferencing. He said the chief ministers requested the PM to tell the nation what is the exit strategy from the lockdown. "What is the government's strategy on the health front and the economic front in terms of post lockdown period? What is the roadmap for the future course after May 3? How is the PM going to come out with financial action plan 2 as Sonia Gandhi has demanded and so have many experts, be it for starvation, migrant labourers, or be it for kickstarting the economy or the small and medium enterprises?" the Congress leader said. The appeal comes a day after Modi met chief ministers of various states through video-conferencing and sought their views, while also spelling out the government's strategy on tackling COVID-19. Most of the chief ministers have demanded extension of the lockdown and urged PM to take a call on the exit strategy, while asking him to have a cautious approach in opening it. States navigate through Corona crisis Relaxations in Delhi: The Delhi government has allowed from Tuesday some relaxations in the ongoing lockdown and has approved services of electricians, plumbers and sale of educational books even as it has said no other relief will be given till May 3. In an order issued late on Monday night, the government also allowed the movement of inter-, intra-state and air travel of all healthcare workers and scientists. More cases in TN: Two city police personnel and a flower vendor at the Koyambedu market on Tuesday tested positive for Coronavirus, officials said. Authorities have taken up disinfection work and testing of those associated with the trio who become the latest COVID-19 patients, taking the total in Tamil Nadu to 1,940, they said. Pay cut stalled: The Kerala high court on Tuesday stayed for two months the operationalisation of the state government order to deduct the salary of government employees for fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas issued the interim order considering a batch of petitions filed by a section of employees and their organisations challenging the government decision. Bengal's bus drivers seek help: A bus operators' association in West Bengal on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a financial package for the passenger transport sector, which has taken a severe hit amid the Coronavirus-triggered lockdown. 'Contactless dining' free for restaurants Zomato CEO, Deepinder Goyal on Tuesday said that the company has made its 'contactless dining free for all restaurants across India and other global destinations for a period of at least six months. Restaurants in India, the UAE, Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Portugal, Philippines, Indonesia, and Lebanon will have to only bear the payment gateway fee and Zomato won't charge any fee from them. Don't buy veggies from Muslims: MLA in video Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Barhaj constituency in Deoria district, Suresh Tewari, was on Tuesday seen in a video clip, telling people not to buy vegetables from Muslim vendors. The clip has now been widely shared on social media, triggering a controversy. "I am saying openly don't purchase vegetables from Muslims (ek cheez dhayan mein rakhiyega, main bol raha hoon openly, koi bhi miyan ke hathon sabzi nahi lega)," the MLA can be heard saying in the clip. Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates. Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever Full Article
congres 'Congress never showed any inclination to stop corruption' By www.mid-day.com Published On :: 30 Apr 2020 01:02:37 GMT Hitting out at the Congress party, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said that wilful defaulters were beneficiaries of 'phone banking' under the UPA regime and the Modi government is chasing them to recover the dues. She was responding to the opposition's allegations of loan waivers worth Rs 68,607 crore in the form of write-offs of top 50 wilful defaulters during the first half of the financial year ended March 2020. The Finance Minister, through a series of tweets posted late night on Tuesday, said that the Congress has attempted to mislead people, and former Congress President Rahul Gandhi should introspect why his party fails to play a constructive role in cleaning up the system. "Shri @RahulGandhi MP (LS) and Shri @rssurjewala spokesperson of @INCIndia have attempted to mislead people in a brazen manner. Typical to @INCIndia, they resort to sensationalising facts by taking them out of context. In the following tweets wish to respond to the issues raised. "@INCIndia and Shri.@RahulGandhi should introspect why they fail to play a constructive role in cleaning up the system. Neither while in power, nor while in the opposition has the @INCIndia shown any commitment or inclination to stop corruption & cronyism," she said. Highlighting that between 2009-10 and 2013-14, scheduled commercial banks had written off Rs 1,45,226 crore, she quipped, 'Wished Gandhi consulted former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on what this writing-off was about'. She also referred to media reports quoting former Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan as having said that a large number of bad loans originated in the period 2006-2008 and "too many loans were made to well-connected promoters who have a history of defaulting on their loans". "Those defaulters who do not repay despite having capacity to pay, divert or siphon-off funds, or dispose of secured assets without bank's permission are categorised as wilful defaulters. They are those well connected promoters who benefitted from UPA's `phone banking'," she added. In another tweet she said, "Earlier, on 18.11.2019, in the Lok Sabha for an unstarred Question no:52, a list of 'Borrowers flagged as wilful defaulter by Public Sector Banks under CRILIC (Central Repository of Information on Large Credits) reporting as on 30.09.2019 (For borrowers with exposure of Rs. 5 crore and above, Global operations) was provided." Bank-wise details of aggregate funded amount outstanding and amount technically/prudentially written off pertaining to top 50 wilful defaulters was provided as an annex to the answer to Lok Sabha starred question 305 of Gandhi on March 16, 2020. However, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said he had asked the government in Parliament the names of the top 50 bank loan defaulters, but the Finance Minister did not answer his question. "Now the RBI has given the names of Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and many of BJP's ''friends'' in the list of bank frauds. That is why this truth was held back from Parliament," Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi. The Congress alleged the government waived loans worth Rs 6.66 lakh crore since 2014 till September 2019. Sitharaman said this is an attempt of Congress leaders to mislead on wilful defaulters, bad loans and write-offs. She emphasised that it is the Narendra Modi-led government which is pursuing cases against these wilful defaulters and 9,967 recovery suits, 3,515 FIRs, invoking of Fugitive Amendment Act in cases are on now. The total value of attachment and seizures in the cases of Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi and Vijay Mallya is about Rs 18,332.7 crore, she said. Sharing details, she tweeted: "Vijay Mallya Case: Total value at the time of attachment was Rs 8,040 crore and of seizure was Rs 1,693 crore. Value of shares at the time of seizure was Rs 1,693 crore. Declared fugitive offender. On extradition request by GoI, UK High Court, has also ruled for extradition." In case of Mehul Choksi she said, "attachments of Rs 1,936.95 crore including foreign attachment of Rs 67.9 crore. Seizure of Rs 597.75 crore. Red Notice issued. Extradition request sent to Antigua. Hearing for declaration of Mehul Choksi as fugitive offender is in progress." On the Nirav Modi case, the Finance Minister said, "Immovable and movable properties worth more than Rs 2,387 crore attached/seized. (Attachment Rs 1,898 crore and Seizure Rs 489.75 crore). This includes foreign attachments of Rs 961.47 crore. Auction of luxury items for Rs 53.45 crore. He is in prison in the UK." Provisions are made for non-performing assets (NPAs) as per the four-year provisioning cycle laid down by the RBI, she said, adding, upon full provisioning being done banks write-off the fully provided NPA but continue to pursue recovery against the borrower and no loan is waived off. On Tuesday, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala demanded answers from the Prime Minister on why their loans were waived. "This is a classic case of promoting ''dupe, deceive and depart'' policy of the Modi government, which can no longer be accepted and the prime minister has to answer," Surjewala said. He said the entire country is fighting the coronavirus and the government has no money to pay. Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates. Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever ates, but has the money to condone and write off Rs 68,607 crore of bank loan defaulters. Full Article
congres Sonia Gandhi: Congress will pay for rail tickets of migrants By www.mid-day.com Published On :: 4 May 2020 05:53:54 GMT Emphasising on the plight of migrants and the money being charged from them for ferrying them back to their home, Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi on Monday said that the party will bear the cost of their rail tickets. In a statement, Sonia Gandhi said, our workers and labourers form the "backbone" of our economy and their hard work and sacrifice are the foundation of our nation. She said that as the Central government barely gave a four-hour notice of the lockdown, workers and migrant labourers were denied the opportunity to return to their homes. Post the partition of 1947, this is the first time India witnessed a tragedy with such a massive human cost as thousands of migrant workers and labourers were forced to walk home several hundred kilometres on foot - without food, without medicines, without money, without transportation, without anything except for the desire to return to their families and loved ones. "The very thought of their plight is enough to break our hearts as there was also the outpouring of support from fellow Indians for their inspiring resolve," she said. The Congress leader lamenting at the government said, "What is the responsibility of our government? Even today, lakhs of workers and migrant labourers are languishing in different parts of the country and wish to return to their homes and families but there is neither adequate money nor provision for free transport." "What is particularly disturbing is that the Central government and the rail ministry are charging them for train tickets in this hour of crisis," she said. Sonia Gandhi said, "The Congress has, therefore, taken a decision that every Pradesh Congress Committee (state unit) shall bear the cost for the rail travel of every needy worker and migrant labourer and shall take necessary steps in this regard." "This will be the Congress' humble contribution in service of our compatriots and to stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity with them," she said. Her remarks came amid the reports that the migrants were being charged for their travel by trains to their respective states. The railways has earlier said that it was charging the state governments for the Shramik special train tickets. The railways also clarified that the Shramik Special trains are meant for "nominated people" identified and registered by state governments and the railways will not issue any tickets to any individual or entertain any request from any groups. The railways has started to run the Shramik Special trains for transporting the labourers from May 1, almost 40 days after the passenger, mail and Express trains services were suspended. Till now the national transporter has run over a dozen of Shramik Special trains on the request of the state governments to ferry the migrant labourers. Emphasising on the role of labourers in country's growth she said that they are the ambassadors of our nation's growth. Attacking the government, she further said that when our government can recognise its responsibility by arranging free air travel for our citizens stranded abroad, when the government can spend nearly Rs 100 crore on transport and food, etc. for just one public programme in Gujarat, when the Rail Ministry has the largesse to donate Rs 151 crore to the PM's corona fund, then why can't these essential members of our nation's fabric be given a fraction of the same courtesy, especially free rail travel, at this hour of acute distress? She said that Congress has been raising the issue of transporting the migrants from the outset of the lockdown. "There needs to be provisions for the safe and free rail travel of migrant workers and labourers to their home-towns. However, despite our repeated demands, the Central government and the Rail Ministry have chosen to completely ignore the same," she said. Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates. Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever Full Article
congres Tax-News.com: Trump Discusses Payroll Tax Cut With Congress By www.tax-news.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2020 00:00:00 GMT On March 9, 2020, United States President Donald Trump revealed that the Administration would begin discussions with Congress on potential tax measures to ease the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, including a payroll tax cut. Full Article
congres Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi distributes one lakh face masks in UP By Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 00:14:05 +0530 According to the reports, Priyanka Gandhi has sent over one lakh face masks to Lucknow on Friday. Full Article
congres OECD special session at IFA Congress 2019 By www.oecd.org Published On :: Wed, 11 Sep 2019 15:00:00 GMT As part of a new project on tax morale, the OECD has recently reanalysed the results of a survey of business perceptions on tax certainty, to identify the constraints and concerns they face in paying in taxes around the world. This new report, to be launched at this session, has identified some of the factors that may impact tax morale and attitudes towards compliance among businesses, and how they differ in different regions. Full Article
congres Bolsonaro defies coronavirus to rally against Congress By www.ft.com Published On :: Mon, 16 Mar 2020 19:48:51 GMT Brazilian president criticised for rubbing elbows with crowds while awaiting second virus test results Full Article
congres Can Congress save US small businesses? FT reporters answer your questions By www.ft.com Published On :: Thu, 23 Apr 2020 17:34:00 GMT Laura Noonan and Lauren Fedor respond to your queries on the state of SBA rescue funds Full Article
congres Coronavirus: Congress passes $484bn interim stimulus package — as it happened By blogs.ft.com Published On :: Thu, 23 Apr 2020 23:15:08 +0000 US job gains since financial crisis wiped out. Switzerland faces sharpest economic contraction since 1974. UK and eurozone business activity hit by historic collapse this month as lockdowns choked Europe’s biggest economies. Read more Full Article
congres Rand Paul will offer Syria amendment using Obama¿s own words, saying it would be unconstitutional to launch strikes without congressional backing By www.dailymail.co.uk Published On :: Wed, 04 Sep 2013 20:46:02 GMT Obama said during his first presidential campaign that presidents can't order military strikes unless the U.S. is directly threatened, or Congress declares war. Full Article
congres Angelina Jolie has urged Congress to help families struggling for food during COVID-19 By www.dailymail.co.uk Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2020 14:35:07 GMT The Maleficent star has called for senior politicians to increase food stamp benefits for families across the United States in a bid to help them amidst the current coronavirus pandemic. Full Article
congres Trump backs ex-White House doctor for Congress By Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2020 18:30:57 +0000 While Democrats are making most of the waves, there's one candidate on the ballot on 'Super Tuesday' that President Trump has gotten behind. Full Article
congres Read Michael Cohen's bombshell opening statement to Congress By Published On :: Wed, 27 Feb 2019 13:40:40 +0000 Donald Trump's former fixer details in a 20-page statement his regret at working for the now president - and provides a jaw-dropping account of lies, cheating, racism and possible criminality. Full Article
congres Trump THANKS AOC for boosting approval rating in hat-tip to 'vicious young Socialist congresswomen' By www.dailymail.co.uk Published On :: Thu, 18 Jul 2019 06:36:27 GMT Donald Trump attributed his Wednesday approval rating boost to the recent controversy with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the rest of the freshmen 'squad' of congresswomen. Full Article
congres Trump says he did not share operation to raid ISIS with Congress By www.dailymail.co.uk Published On :: Mon, 28 Oct 2019 14:47:00 GMT Donald Trump said Sunday morning he didn't inform Nancy Pelosi in advance of the U.S. operation to raid ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi's lair in Syria. Full Article
congres Erdogan lashes out at Congress for recognizing Armenian genocide By www.dailymail.co.uk Published On :: Wed, 13 Nov 2019 23:40:26 GMT Turkey's leader became a problematic guest - denying Armenian Genocide occurred, demanding the U.S. hand over an Islamic cleric, and complaining America's Kurdish allies are terrorists Full Article
congres Ilhan Omar's ex-husband marries pediatric nurse just 37 days after congresswoman divorced him By www.dailymail.co.uk Published On :: Fri, 14 Feb 2020 13:43:01 GMT DailyMail.com has acquired exclusive video of Ilhan Omar's ex Ahmed Hirsi's marriage ceremony that took place in an apartment in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on December 12. Full Article
congres John Conyers Jr. who cofounded Congressional Black Caucus dies aged 90 By Published On :: Sun, 27 Oct 2019 23:25:34 +0000 John Conyers Jr. co-founded the Black Congressional Caucus in 1971 and fought for the creation of the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday. He resigned amid sexual allegation charges. Full Article
congres Congress is determined to get access to Donald Trump's calls with Putin By www.dailymail.co.uk Published On :: Mon, 30 Sep 2019 20:11:46 GMT 'I think the paramount need here is to protect the national security of the United States,' Democrat Adam Schiff said on NBC's Meet the Press. Full Article
congres Donald Trump is 'unsavory but not impeachable' says freshman Democrat congressman By www.dailymail.co.uk Published On :: Mon, 02 Dec 2019 00:29:09 GMT Congressman Jefferson Van Drew of New Jersey doesn't support impeachment and says only a 'small elite group' of lawmakers want to remove Trump, which would be 'un-American'. Full Article
congres White House hold on aid to Ukraine broke the law because Donald Trump cannot override Congress By www.dailymail.co.uk Published On :: Thu, 16 Jan 2020 19:55:48 GMT The Government Accountability Office has concluded that the White House Office of Management and Budget violated a the law by withholding millions in aid to Ukraine. Full Article
congres Why Congress' own economists predict 15 million unemployed in 2021 By www.businessinsider.in Published On :: Wed, 06 May 2020 01:54:44 +0530 President Donald Trump has said the economy will take off like a rocket when the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing ends.The Congressional Budget Office predicts the unemployment rate will still be at 9% at the end of 2021.Historically, high unemployment rates during recessions and pandemics have taken a long time to come back down to full employment levels.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.Following is a transcript of the video.Narrator: If you watch President Trump's daily briefings, you might think everything will immediately go back to normal when social distancing is no longer necessary.President Trump: And you will see our economy skyrocket.Narrator: But Congress' own budget office thinks things will be pretty bleak for much longer. At the beginning of April, the Full Article
