Entries

New Law Could Free 12K Drug Users

Politico reports : On the heels of a law signed last year by President Barack Obama limiting sentences for crack cocaine offenses, thousands of prisoners for crimes related to the drug will be eligible for early release, the U.S. Sentencing Commission ruled Thursday. More than 12, 000 …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011

China Eases Rules That Irked Foreign Firms

The Wall Street Journal reports : China's Ministry of Finance said it is scrapping certain rules that foreign companies say favored domestic products for government procurement, a significant step toward easing concerns that global companies would be excluded from billions of dollars in …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011

US Caught China Buying More Treasuries

Reuters reports : When the Treasury Department revamped its rules for participating in government bond auctions two years ago, officials said they were simply modernizing outdated procedures. The real reason for the change, a Reuters investigation has found, was more serious: The Treasury …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011

Colbert Gets His Own PAC

The Los Angeles Times reports : The Federal Election Commission Thursday granted faux talk-show host Stephen Colbert a special exemption to establish a corporate-backed political action committee to run ads on his program. Colbert had asked the FEC for permission to create a "Colbert …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011

Rubio Launches Constituent Mail Box

The Daily Caller reports : Marco Rubio quickly glanced at several papers handed to him by an aide as he sat in a wooden chair in a small television studio in the U.S. Capitol complex. “I’m ready, ” the telegenic Republican senator from Florida said before flashing a smile and staring into …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011

Herzfeld: Dutch Ritual Slaughter Ban Is Bigotry

Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld writes : The lower house of the Dutch parliament recently passed legislation that would ban ritual slaughter in accordance with both Jewish law, known as shechita, and Muslim law, known as halal. The legislation would require the stunning of animals before their …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011

Gaza Flotilla Organizers Report 2nd Damaged Boat

The Washington Post reports : Organizers of a flotilla seeking to break Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip said Thursday that another of their boats had been damaged in port, and accused Israel of sabotage. It was the second boat reported damaged in recent days, setting back …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011

40% Think Economy Is In "Permanent Decline"

Politico reports : Nearly 4 in 10 Americans say they think the economy is in permanent decline, a new polls shows as deep pessimism about the economy becomes more widespread. Thirty-nine percent of those surveyed for a New York Times/CBS News poll released late Wednesday say they see the …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011

Schumer Lays Out Senate Dems' Jobs Plan

Politico reports : A bill to create construction jobs and fund new highway infrastructure. A clean-energy jobs program. Reforming the immigration system for high-skilled workers. And a variety of tax cuts and credits. None of them are new ideas, but they’re all part of Senate Democrats’ …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011

Burma's Suu Kyi Plans First Trip Since Release

Reuters reports : Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will next week travel outside her home city for the first time since her release from a seven-year stint of house arrest last November, a spokesman for her former party said. Suu Kyi plans to join her son, Kim, on a four-day …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011

Gates Receives Presidential Medal Of Freedom

The Associated Press reports : President Barack Obama on Thursday honored outgoing Defense Secretary Robert Gates' four decades of service, including the past 4 1/2 years in charge of the Pentagon, by surprising him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. It's the highest honor a president can …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011

Greece Passes 2nd Austerity Bill

Reuters reports : The Greek parliament passed a second austerity bill Thursday, opening the way for the EU and IMF to release a 12 billion euro ($17 billion) loan installment which Athens urgently needs to stave off bankruptcy. The vote on detailed measures to implement 28 billion euros in …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011

RNC names Log Cabin director to finance committee

Politico reports : The Republican National Committee has named a prominent gay Republican to its finance committee, marking an important fundraising outreach effort to a constituency long ceded by the party. R. Clarke Cooper, who also serves as the executive director of the gay group Log …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011

Obama To Hold Twitter Town Hall

The Associated Press reports : The White House will host a Twitter town hall with President Barack Obama on July 6. The president will answer questions submitted via Twitter, which limits messages to 140 characters. The town hall will focus on jobs and the economy, and a video feed of …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011

Senate To Scrap July 4 Recess

The New York Times reports : The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, said Thursday that the Senate recess scheduled for the Fourth of July week would be scrapped, as the deadline to raise the nation’s debt limit looms. “It is often said that with liberty comes responsibility,” Mr. …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011

McConnell Invites Obama to Capitol

The Associated Press reports : Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is inviting President Barack Obama to the Capitol to hear first-hand why his proposed tax increases will not pass. In remarks on the Senate floor, McConnell said the invitation is good for lunch on Thursday, or any time …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011

Obama Puts Congress on Notice

Obama has taken off the gloves in his fight with Congress over the debt ceiling increase. In his statement and news conference yesterday, President Obama decided to take off the gloves in his fight with Congress over the debt ceiling increase. His performance should stand as a reminder to …

Written by Steve Bell on Thursday June 30, 2011

UK Sends Supplies To Libyan Rebels

The New York Times reports : Britain is providing limited assistance to the Libyan rebels fighting the forces of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, including protective clothing for police officers, Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Thursday, a day after France acknowledged providing light …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011

Bahrain Halts Military Trials for Protesters

The Associated Press reports : Bahrain on Thursday stopped bringing anti-government protesters to trial at a special tribunal with military prosecutors, a lawyer said, ending a practice criticized as unfair by rights activists and the Gulf kingdom's Western allies. The tribunal was set up …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011

NATO Airstrike Kills Kabul Hotel Attacker

Reuters reports : NATO aircraft killed an insurgent leader linked to a deadly hotel attack in the Afghan capital this week, the coalition said on Thursday, a raid that raised questions about whether Afghan forces are ready for the looming security transition. The Taliban claimed …

Written by FrumForum News on Thursday June 30, 2011