"Congressional budget referees say Senate legislation that's now the foundation for President Barack Obama's health care plan would cut the federal deficit by $118 billion over 10 years.
The Congressional Budget Office says the $875 billion, 10-year plan would provide coverage to 31 million people who'd otherwise be uninsured. And it says the cost would be more than offset in savings from changes in Medicare and other programs."
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15, 2010 - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates is pleased with today's House of Representatives vote to repeal the law that bans gays from serving openly in the military, Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said, and he hopes the Senate will follow suit before its current session ends.
Madison, Wisconsin - The gears of government tend to grind slowly. But in Wisconsin lately they are racing at turbocharged speed.
In just the last few weeks, Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, has signed legislation to require voters to show photo identification cards at the polls and to deregulate elements of the telecommunications industry. And the Republican-dominated Legislature is now in the midst of advancing provisions to expand school vouchers, to allow people to carry concealed weapons, to cut financing for Planned Parenthood and to bar illegal immigrants from paying in-state tuition at Wisconsin's universities.
Why the urgency? Republicans, who suddenly swept into control of this Capitol in last fall's elections, face a deadline of sorts. Though the lawmakers insist that their hurry-up offense is just living up to campaign promises, there is a threat looming: They are at risk of losing their newly won majority in the State Senate as early as next month.
New, special elections are expected in as many as nine Senate districts (six of which are now held by Republicans) as part of the largest recall effort against state lawmakers in Wisconsin's history - an effort that grew out of yet another controversial measure Republicans pushed through this spring, a sharp reduction to collective bargaining rights for public workers.
Whenever Israeli troops rough up civilian protesters, it is shrugged off as an isolated incident. One of the WikiLeaks cables, however, shows that it was explicit military policy to abuse civilians engaged in non-violent protests.
During a 2010 meeting, the cable notes, Israeli officials informed the US of their intention to be "more assertive" against peaceful demonstrations, with the US ambassador noting that the Israeli government believed any demonstration warranted military response.
An Israeli commander, Avi Mizrachi, insisted there was no reason for the Palestinians to protest and that they were organized by "suspicious people." He added that since the protests "serve no purposes" anyone caught demonstrating would be arrested.
The position takes on a whole new perspective, however, in the face of massive protests later this month aimed at independence. The Israeli military's abuse of human rights has also been a topic of discussion in the US Senate, though most in the Senate seem unwilling to oppose it.
Tasneem Ahmed Qureshi PPP, Senator Prof. Ibrahim Khan JI, Iqbal Haidar and Senator Syed Zafar Ali Shah PML-N in fresh episode of Islamabad Tonight discussing current government's performance with Nadeem Malik.
Senator Syed Faisal Raza Abidi PPPP, Senator Sardar M. Jamal Laghari PMl-Q and Ahmed Bilal Mehboob in fresh episode of Live with Talat and discusses current issue with Syed Talat Hussain.
Mir Ijaz Hussain Jakhrani PPPP, Senator Jamal Legari PML-Q and Senator Col. (R) Tahir Hussain Mushhadi MQM in fresh episode of Siyasi Log discussing with Quatrina Hussain.
Kamran Khan presents another fresh episode of Aaj Kamran Khan Kay Saath in Geo TV and talked with Senator Ishaq Dar, Senator Raza Rabbani, Dr. Salman Shah and Dr. Mubashir Hasan. Covering tos main news items.
Hameed Ullah Jan Afridi, Senator Maulana Gull Nasib, Aqil Yousaf Zai and Senator Zahid Khan ANP in fresh episode of Capital Talk and discussing disputes amongst ruling political parties with Hamid Mir.
Qamar Zaman Kaira PPP, Senator Mushahidullah Khan PML-N and Senator Col. (R) Syed Tahir Hussain Mashhadi MQM in fresh episode of Siyasi Log discussing with Qatreena Hussain.
Senator Syed Zafar Ali Shah PML-N, Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah PPP and Senator Waseem Sajjad PML-Q in fresh episode of Kal Tak & discusses current issues with M. Usama Ghazi.
Senator Ishaq Dar PML-N, Humayun Akhtar Khan PML-Q and Senator Nawab Mir Lashkari Raisani PPPP in fresh episode of Kal Tak & discusses current issues with M. Usama Ghazi.
Pervaiz Khan ANP, Senator Prof. Ibrahim Khan JI and Senator Saleem Saifullah PML-Q in fresh episode of Islamabad Tonight & discusses current issues with Nadeem Malik.