This newsticker is archived daily. To search
back archives dating back to 1999, search for the article using
keywords by title, names, video or headline at www.usdemocrats.com/search
|
GOV source feeds are always available in
realtime 24 hours a day 7 days a week by accessing the homepage
at www.usdemocrats.com
|
|
CNN
Cable TV LIVE FEED
AM 1090 PROGRESSIVE TALK RADIO LIVE FEED
C-SPAN LIVE FEED
|
|
|
|
GOV JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENTS are posted
at www.usdemocrats.com/ticker/jobs/
|
Book meeting conference hotels and travel
accommodations at www.usdemocrats.com/travel
|
|
|
|
adsense
|
|
|
|
Eligible
Foreign Establishments for USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. The Eligible Foreign Establishment Lists for
Honduras and Canada have been revised. This information has recently
been updated, and is now available.
|
Export
Information for USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. The Eligible Plant List for Russia (Pork) has
been revisedl. This information has recently been updated.
You may view a copy of the updated information.
|
What's
New at CBER for U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). This information has recently been updated, and
is now available.
|
Economic
Report: U.S. wage growth accelerates in November
from MarketWatch.com - Top Stories
Compensation earned by U.S. workers rises 0.3% in November, another
signal that labor markets are slowly improving, according to
Commerce Department estimates.
|
Wells
Fargo completes repayment of TARP
from MarketWatch.com - Real-time Headlines
|
Treasury
eyes new TARP plan for small-bank lending
from MarketWatch.com - Top Stories
To help small banks to lend more freely to small businesses,
the Treasury Department is considering asking Congress to ease
some of the tough rules it imposed on banks that take money from
the Troubled Asset Relief Program, lobbyists say.
|
|
Citi
repays $20 billion it got from TARP
from MarketWatch.com - MarketPulse
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Citigroup
Inc. said Wednesday that it repaid $20 billion it got from the
Troubled Asset Relief Program last year, freeing the giant bank
from government limits on compensation. Citi also ended a large
loss-sharing agreement it struck with the government. To repay
TARP, Citi said it repurchased $20 billion of TARP trust preferred
securities. To end the loss-sharing program, the government cancelled
$1.8 billion of trust preferred securities that were part of
the $7.1 billion Citi paid for the extra support. The government
continues to hold $5.3 billion in Citi trust preferred securities.
The Treasury Department also continues to hold warrants to buy
Citi common stock issued as part of the TARP investment and 7.7
billion common shares, which it said it plans to sell in 2010.
|
U.S.
stocks finish higher for fourth session
from MarketWatch.com - Real-time Headlines
|
Dow
industrials up 1.51 points to 10,466.44
from MarketWatch.com - Real-time Headlines
|
Nasdaq
Composite rises 16.97 points to 2,269.64
from MarketWatch.com - Real-time Headlines
|
Senate
paves way for final health-care vote Thurs.
from MarketWatch.com - Real-time Headlines
|
Senators
vote 60-39 to cut off debate
from MarketWatch.com - Real-time Headlines
|
TARP
profit at least $16 bln so far: Treasury
from MarketWatch.com - Top Stories
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- The Troubled Asset Relief Program
has generated at least $16 billion in profit so far, the Treasury
Department said late Wednesday.
|
|
Japan
shares stage 'catch-up' rally in early trade
from MarketWatch.com - MarketPulse
LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) -- Japanese shares
moved higher in early Thursday trading, staging a "catch-up
rally" after missing the broad regional advance Wednesday
when the market was closed for a holiday. The benchmark Nikkei
225 Average gained 0.9% to 10,470.9, while the broader Topix
rose 0.8% to 910.23 in early trading. Major exporters were among
the leading early winners, helped by recent yen weakness, with
Sony Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. each rising up 1.3%. Financials
lagged, however, with Japan's biggest bank Mitsubishi UJF Financial
Group Inc. slipping 0.4%.
|
Japan
to tip fiscal 2010 growth at 1.4%: report
from MarketWatch.com - MarketPulse
|
Obama
Outlines 1st Year Accomplishments
by VOA News
|
Pakistan:
The U.S.-Pakistan Strategic Partnership
The Pakistan MiPAL has been updated with a Department of Defense
briefing on the U.S.-Pakistan strategic partnership, remarks
by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at Pakistan's National
Defense University, a Council on Foreign Relations article assessing
Pakistan's response to the Obama Administration's strategy for
Afghanistan and Pakistan, and a series of reports from the Institute
of South Asian Studies analyzing the resurgence of the Taliban
in Pakistan's western region and examining the safety and security
of Pakistan's nuclear weapons. Please see the Recently Added
Documents section for the latest on this country - the newest
updates are in bold.
|
Terrorism:
The Role of Cyberspace in Radicalization
The Terrorism MiPAL has been updated with a Congressional hearing
analyzing the role of cyberspace in radicalization, a Strategic
Insights article profiling al Qaeda of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)
and assessing the group's threat to the U.S., a Small Wars Journal
article evaluating similarities between terrorist organizations
and criminal organizations, a Border Policy Research Institute
report examining the use of bilateral cooperation in combating
terrorism, as well as its implications for national sovereignty,
a Homeland Security Policy Institute interview with a former
high-ranking member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG),
and a Royal United Services Institute report analyzing Turkey's
role in the fight against international terrorism. Please see
the Recently Added Documents section for the latest on this topic
- the newest updates are in bold.
|
Africa:
Southern Sudan Referendum Bill, Changing Paradigm in Somalia,
and United Nations Peacekeeping Operations in Africa
The Africa Regional Policy Overview has been updated with a State
Department statement on the Southern Sudan Referendum Bill, a
series of International Crisis Group reports assessing the situation
in Sudan, an Institute for Security Studies report analyzing
the changing paradigm in Somalia, a Chatham House report examining
the economic drivers of conflict and cooperation in the Horn
of Africa, an International Peace Institute report with an overview
of the Ugandan military's efforts to combat the Lord's Resistance
Army, and a United Nations report presenting case studies on
United Nations peacekeeping operations in Africa. Please see
the Recently Added Documents section for the latest on this region
- the newest updates are in bold.
|
FIL-73-2009:
Community Reinvestment Act - Annual Asset-Size Threshold Adjustment
|
FIL-74-2009:
Regulation Z - Open-End Consumer Credit Changes - Notice of Statutory
Amendment; Additional Guidance
|
FIL-75-2009:
RESPA (Regulation X) - Revisions to Good Faith Estimate and HUD-1
Settlement Statement
|
UN
Secretary-General Transmits Commission of Inquiry Report on Guinea
|
UN
Security Council Extends Until 31 December 2010 Arrangements
for Depositing Proceeds from Oil, Gas Sales into Development
Fund for Iraq
|
UN
Security Council Press Statement on Sudan
|
UN
Secretary-General Appoints Jerzy Skuratowicz of Poland Deputy
Special Representative for Iraq
|
Statement
By Deputy Press Secretary Matt Chandler On DHS' Efforts To Enhance
Driver's License Security
|
Senate
moves up healthcare passage by hour
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate agreed on Wednesday to
move up by one hour its vote on final passage of a sweeping healthcare
overhaul to 7 a.m. EST (1200 GMT) on Thursday.
|
Key
U.S. senators see deal on regulatory reform
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top Democrat and Republican on the
U.S. Senate Banking Committee said on Wednesday they hoped to
resolve their differences on financial regulatory reforms before
the Senate reconvenes in January.
|
Senate
panel OKs Lael Brainard for Treasury post
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday
approved Lael Brainard to become the Treasury Department's top
global diplomat, a job that would give her a key role in the
bid to push China toward a flexible currency.
|
Senate
panel OKs two top trade nominees
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate Finance Committee gave its
support on Wednesday to President Barack Obama's nominees for
two key trade positions.
|
DCCC
Chair Van Hollen Statement On Griffith
by Kyle Trygstad
Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van
Hollen released the following statement today just as Alabama
Rep. Parker Griffith was beginning his press conference in Huntsville
to announce he is switching to the Republican Party: "House
Democratic Members and the Democratic Congressional Campaign
Committee took Parker Griffith at his word and, as a result,
invested a [...]
|
Obama
plans for health care delay, new jobs bill
by Mike Allen,Alexander Trowbridge
Obama has been told disputes over abortion and the tight schedule
are likely to delay a final deal.
|
Overhaul
on track for final passage
by Carrie Budoff Brown
Dems push the health care bill past its final test.
|
Inside
Obama's small banker meeting
by Eamon Javers
President Obama finally meets with some bankers whom he likes.
|
Bipartisan
finance reform takes shape
by Victoria McGrane
Dem-GOP duo leading Senate work on financial reform say they’ve
“made meaningful progress.”
|
OTS
and OCC Mortgage Metrics Report for the Third Quarter 2009
by Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
National bank and thrift servicers implemented more than 680,000
home loan modifications and payment plans in the third quarter
of 2009 to avoid preventable foreclosures, according to a report
released today by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
and the Office of Thrift Supervision.
|
Comptroller
of the Currency Hosts Community Bank Directors Workshop in San
Diego
by Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency will host a workshop
for directors of nationally chartered community banks in San
Diego, at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay, February 1-3, 2010.
|
Agencies
Release Annual CRA Asset-Size Threshold Adjustments for Small
and Intermediate Small Institutions
by Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
The federal bank regulatory agencies today announced the annual
adjustment to the asset-size thresholds used to define "small
bank," "small savings association," "intermediate
small bank," and "intermediate small savings association"
under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations.
|
New
York Fed announces $1.3 billion in Legacy CMBS TALF loans settled
for December 14 facility
|
New
York Fed announces January 7 TALF Operation
|
New
York Fed issues revised TALF FAQs
|
New
York Fed updates Information on Future Program Changes
|
GAO-10-61,
State and Local Government Retiree Health Benefits: Liabilities
Are Largely Unfunded, but Some Governments Are Taking Action,
November 30, 2009
|
GAO-10-251,
Managing Sensitive Information: Actions Needed to Prevent Unintended
Public Disclosures of U.S. Nuclear Sites and Activities, December
15, 2009
|
Five
new members named to the Thrift Institutions Advisory Council;
new president and vice president named for 2010
|
Court
Jails Promoter of Work-At-Home Scam; Envelope-Stuffing Scheme
Deceived Spanish-Speaking Consumers
A federal court has jailed the marketer of a deceptive envelope-stuffing
scheme for ignoring a court order that required him to stop his
illegal practices.
|
FTC
Announces Lower Price Cap for Extra Credit Report Copies; FTC
Continues Crackdown on Mortgage Relief Scams; Three More Defendants
Added to Operation Stolen Hope
The Federal Trade Commission has announced that it is lowering
from $11 to $10.50 the maximum amount that consumer reporting
agencies are allowed to charge consumers for an extra copy of
their credit report. The Federal Trade Commission, as part of
its crackdown on mortgage scams, has charged three more defendants
with promoting phony mortgage relief services.
|
The
People of the CIA … Milan Miskovsky: Fighting for Justice
December 23 - On Christmas Eve in 1962, more than 1,000 prisoners
taken during the Bay of Pigs invasion were granted a holiday
miracle: their freedom. The prisoners would not have been released
as soon had it not been for the skilled negotiating of Milan
“Mike” Miskovsky, who served as a CIA lawyer during
some of the most tumultuous years for the United States.
|
|
VIDEO:
Will Marling, Nat'l Organization for Victim Assistance
The Bureau of Justice Statistics released a report recently that
found that the number of U.S. prisoners has grown at the slowest
pace in a decade & that incarceration rates in 30 states
declined in 2008. Will Marling, Executive Director of NOVA, discusses
incarceration rates, probations, pardons & the impact they
have on the lives of victims.
Length: 24 min.
Published: Today at 8am (ET)
|
|
VIDEO:
Deborah Hersman, NTSB
The National Transportation Safety Board investigates & determines
the cause of accidents involving civilian aviation, railroads,
pipelines, marine accidents, and release of hazardous materials.
Chairman Deborah Hersman goes over some recent investigations,
including the Washington DC metrorail crash and the Northwest
Airlines Flight 188 that overshot the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport.
Length: 29 min.
Published: Today at 9am (ET)
|
|
VIDEO:
Senate Democrats Press Conference on Health Care Legislation
By a vote of 60–39, the Senate voted to limit debate on
the health care bill, setting up a vote for final passage on
the morning of December 24. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid
(D-NV) was joined by several of his Democratic colleagues at
a press conference to discuss the approaching final vote on the
bill.
Length: 19 min.
Published: Today at 4:30pm (ET)
|
Geithner:
Job growth should resume by springtime
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says he
believes it's reasonable to expect "positive job growth"
by spring and that people should have confidence about an improving
economic climate..
|
Lie
of the Year: ‘Death Panel’ Attack on Health Care Reform
by Seth Michaels
This year, opponents of health care reform hit new lows in promoting
misleading, inaccurate or flat-out dishonest information. The
worst of these lies was the scam that health care reform would
create “death panels” whose members would judge whether
to end seniors’ lives.
|
Senate
health bill clears last procedural hurdle
Posted: December 23rd, 2009 04:45 PM ET
|
CNN
Poll: More Americans think Democratic policies better than Republican
Posted: December 23rd, 2009 05:39 PM ET
Washington (CNN) - Despite the bruising battle over their health
care reform proposals, congressional Democrats have maintained
an advantage over their Republican counterparts on one key measure,
according to a new national poll.
|
|
House
Democrats Plan for Final Bill
Posted: December 23rd, 2009 06:10 PM ET
From CNN Congressional Producer Deirdre
Walsh
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reiterated on a conference call Wednesday
that her goal is to get a final health care reform bill to President
Obama's desk before his State of the Union address.
Washington (CNN) – House Democrats are already home for
the holidays, but they huddled on a conference call Wednesday
afternoon to discuss the next steps in negotiating a final health
care bill with the Senate.
|
|
Republicans
Unlikely to Repeal Health Care Reform
More proof the GOP took an all-or-nothing gamble on health care
reform: The Hill reports that Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID) said Republicans
are unlikely to be able to repeal the legislation anytime in
the near future.
Said Crapo: "Technically it could
be peeled back if the circumstances were right. But we would
have to have a president who would sign such a bill, and we would
have to have 60 votes in the Senate -- not just 50. So it would
be a very tall order, and frankly, the likelihood's that that's
not going to develop in the near future."
|
Economic
Recovery Act of 2009 for U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This information has recently been updated, and
is now available.
|
|
Community Reinvestment Act Annual Asset-Size
Threshold Adjustment FIL-73-2009
December 23, 2009
Summary: The FDIC, the Federal Reserve
Board, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the
Office of Thrift Supervision have approved the attached joint
final rule amending the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) to make
the annual adjustment to the asset-size threshold used to define
"small bank" and "intermediate small bank"
under the Act. These asset-size threshold adjustments will take
effect on January 1, 2010. The attached final rule will be published
soon in the Federal Register.
Distribution:
FDIC-Supervised Banks (Commercial and Savings)
Complete Financial Institution Letter: http://www.fdic.gov/news/news/financial/2009/fil09073.html
|
Former
Alva Bank Officer Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison and Ordered
to Pay More Than $261,000 in Restitution
|
Gates
on Public Service
Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:12:44 -0600
Defense Secretary Robert Gates urged graduates of Indiana University
to step forward and accept the duty and burden of public service.
|
Indianapolis
Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation. This information has recently been updated, and
is now available.
|
Detroit
Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation. This information has recently been updated, and
is now available.
|
New
Haven Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation. This information has recently been updated, and
is now available.
|
Highlights:
North Korea Sanctions
Wed, 23 Dec 2009 07:00:00 -0600
|
Attorney
General Appoints Gary Grindler Acting Deputy Attorney General
Wed, 23 Dec 2009 10:57:20 -0600
|
ADA.gov
Site Map (text only) for U.S. Department of Justice. A new brief on Olmstead enforcement and the obligation
of the State to maintain community placements for persons with
disabilities and decline to take action that will cause them
to be moved to segregated facilities has been updated, and is
now available.
|
St.
Louis Metropolitan Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges
|
Idea
Exchange: Showcase Your State or Local Government Website
Remember the days of going to your state’s government building
and waiting in line to apply for a business license? Now business
owners can find most, if not all, of the information they need
online -- from complying with laws and regulations to researching
business locations. In our monthly Idea Exchange, we asked members
to “Showcase Your State or Local Government Website”
Here’s what you had to say.
|
A
Primer in Taxable Business Income
No one says that doing your taxes is easy, but being prepared
when tax season comes can make the process less painful. When
filing your business income taxes, you must report all income
– not just income from the sale of goods, services, or property.
For small business owners, taxable income falls into a few major
categories. The following list is by no means comprehensive,
but it provides an easy-to-read reference on taxable income on
your small business.
|
How
to Become (And Stay) Self-Employed, According to the Law
Starting up as a self-employed business owner is not much different
from starting any business - but there are a few important tax
and benefit implications that apply to the self-employed. Learn
more about when you're considered "self-employed,"
how to preserve your self-employed status, and other resources
for this fast-growing business type.
|
Cultivating
Sound Business Practices with the Help of the IRS - The 2010
Tax Calendar is Here!
Last month I received of my first ever copy of the 2010 IRS Tax
Calendar for Small Business and Self-Employed. Half-expecting
something akin to an accountant's pocket book, I was pleasantly
surprised to find a full color, themed calendar stocked full
of useful tools and information for small business owners. IRS
2010 Small Business & Self Employed Tax Calendar Given the
tough year most have endured, this freebie from the IRS is a
practical resource that we can all benefit and learn from. Read
on to find out why.
|
|
ICE Parole Guideline Is an Important
First Step to Fix Flawed Treatment of Asylum Seekers in the United
States
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission
on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) welcomes the new
parole guidelines for asylum seekers in Expedited Removal just
issued by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
USCIRF will closely monitor the directive’s implementation
to ensure that bona fide asylum seekers are not unduly detained.
“Asylum seekers fleeing persecution should not be confined
like criminals in prison-like conditions simply for seeking freedom
in the United States,” said USCIRF chair Leonard Leo. “We
welcome the new directive and encourage ICE to ensure consistent
and fair implementation so that the maximum number of asylum
seekers are released. In our 2005 congressionally authorized
Report on Asylum Seekers in Expedited Removal, USCIRF called
for such a policy. We are pleased that ICE’s guidelines
begin to address some of our recommendations. ”
Under the new directive, parole may be granted once asylum seekers
establish credible fear, identity, community ties, and that they
are not security risks. However, ICE also will consider “exceptional,
overriding factors” in their parole determinations. The
directive also establishes procedures for informing all asylum
seekers of their right to request parole, documenting parole
decisions, and reviewing and reporting on adjudications.
“USCIRF welcomes these revised procedures and urges that
they be implemented thoroughly and consistently nationwide, as
well as that the ‘overriding factors’ be narrowly construed
so as not to detain asylum seekers wrongly,” said commissioner
Felice Gaer. “Consistent implementation is a key to success
here. USCIRF’s 2005 study found that parole guidelines then
being used were inconsistently applied nationwide and never issued
as regulations.”
For example, New Orleans released only 0.5 percent of asylum
seekers, New Jersey less than four percent, and New York eight
percent. Yet San Antonio released 94 percent of asylum seekers
and Chicago 81 percent. USCIRF recommended to the Department
of Homeland Security that the 1997 parole guidelines be codified
into regulations. In 2007, ICE issued a parole directive which
contradicted USCIRF’s recommendation. The new directive
supersedes the 2007 directive.
“These new guidelines are an important first step in overhauling
the United States’ deeply flawed detention system. But more
needs to be done both by the agency and in Congress. A bill pending
in Congress, the Secure and Safe Detention and Asylum Act (S.
1594) is still needed to help ensure that asylum seekers are
not detained for long periods of time and are treated in accordance
with U.S. law,” said commissioner Michael Cromartie.
The Report on Asylum Seekers in Expedited Removal identified
serious flaws in the implementation of Expedited Removal that
placed asylum seekers at risk of being returned to countries
where they may face persecution, as well as in the treatment
of refugees and asylum seekers in detention.
USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government
commission. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President
and the leadership of both political parties in the Senate and
the House of Representatives. USCIRF’s principal responsibilities
are to review the facts and circumstances of violations of religious
freedom internationally and to make policy recommendations to
the President, the Secretary of State and Congress.
To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, contact Tom Carter, Communications
Director at tcarter@uscirf.gov, or (202) 523-3257.
|
Privacy
Impact Assessments (PIA) for U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This information has recently been updated, and
is now available.
New PIAs available for ICE, TSA, USCG, and Department-wide issues.
|
Casey
Visits Iraq
Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:23:44 -0600
Army Chief of Staff, General George Casey, visits troops in Iraq.
|
Flag
Officer Announcement
Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:29:00 -0600
|
Consular
Access for Amir Hossein Ardebili
Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:57:16 -0600
|
Office
of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs Release of Foreign
Relations, 1969-1976, Volume XXXI, Foreign Economic Policy, 1973-1976
Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:37:04 -0600
|
National
Guard (In Federal Status) and Reserve Activated as of December
22, 2009
Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:53:00 -0600
|
Enforcement
News for U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This information has recently been updated, and
is now available.
|
Opening
Remarks at the Consulate General Almaty Official Opening Ceremony
Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:45:03 -0600
|
FEC
PUBLISHES ENFORCEMENT CASE FILES DATING BACK TO 1975
Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:45:11 -0600
WASHINGTON The Federal Election Commission today completed its
online archive of previously closed enforcement cases, making
all publicly released enforcement documents dating back to the
agency's creation available on its website.
|
Consumer
Alert - Beware of Fraudulent Check Schemes
|
Two new links on the Energy
and Fuel page at USA.gov:
Alternative
Fuels and Advanced Technology Vehicles - Learn more about
these vehicles. They come in a variety of makes and models and
run on a number of different fuels.
Alternative
Fueling Stations - Alternative fueling stations are located
throughout the United States and their availability continues
to grow. Find stations near you, on a route, or by state.
|
Auburn
Man and Portland Woman Indicted on Federal Health Care Fraud
and Benefit Fraud Charges
|
|
USCIRF Condemns Christmas Attacks on
Iraqi Christians
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As Iraqi Christians
face a new round of violence this Christmas season, the U.S.
Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) issued
this statement:
“The U.S. Commission on International
Religious Freedom calls for increased protection of Iraqi Christians,
particularly in Mosul and the north, as well as other minority
religious groups” said Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair. “USCIRF
calls on the Iraqi government to investigate and bring to justice
those who have already perpetrated and planned this most recent
round of violence.”
Today, bombs exploded in front of the Syrian
Orthodox church of St. Thomas and the Chaldean church of St.
George in Mosul. The death toll so far is of three dead - a Chaldean
Christian and two Muslims. Other media report that on December
15, a Christian baby was killed and 40 persons injured as three
bombs were detonated simultaneously targeting Christian churches.
On December 17, an Iraqi Christian was killed as he traveled
to work. In the last 45 days, four Mosul churches have been attacked.
By some estimates, three-quarters of all the Christians in Iraq
have fled since 2003, and as the violence targeting them continues,
many fear the time will come when there will be no Christians
left in Iraq.
USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S.
federal government commission. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed
by the President and the leadership of both political parties
in the Senate and the House of Representatives. USCIRF’s
principal responsibilities are to review the facts and circumstances
of violations of religious freedom internationally and to make
policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State
and Congress.
To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, contact
Tom Carter, Communications Director at tcarter@uscirf.gov, or
(202) 523-3257.
|
|
C-SPAN Daily Alert
Programming Information for Weds. 12/23 - Thurs. 12/24, 2009
**********************************************************************
C-SPAN Highlights
Tonight:
* House Judiciary Subcmte. Hearing on Mortgage Modification (8pm)
* Washington Journal: Deborah Hersman, NTSB, Chairman (10:05pm)
* Sir Jeremy Greenstock on Iraq War Inquiry (11:40pm)
Tomorrow:
* U.S. House: Not In Session
* Programming TBA. Check Schedule for Updates - http://www.c-spanvideo.org/schedule?timezone=Eastern&date=Dec+24%2C+2009
**********************************************************************
C-SPAN2 Highlights
Tonight:
* CQ Interview on Health Care; Sen. Reid & GOP Press Briefings
(8pm)
* Senate Floor Debate on Health Care (9:10pm)
* Senate Hearing on Transportation Security (11:30pm)
Tomorrow:
* U.S. Senate: In Session (6am) - LIVE Tentative
**********************************************************************
C-SPAN3 Highlights
Tonight:
* Health Care: Senate Floor Debates & Press Briefings (8pm)
* Newsmakers: Sen. Conrad (D-ND) on the Federal Debt (9pm)
* WJ: NTSB Chair Hersman; Author William Eggers (9:30pm)
Tomorrow:
* Programming TBA. Check the Schedule for Updates - http://www.c-spanvideo.org/schedule?timezone=Eastern&date=Dec+24%2C+2009
**********************************************************************
C-SPAN Radio Highlights
Tonight:
* Programming TBA. Check the Schedule for Updates - http://www.c-span.org/Schedules/C-SPAN-Radio-Schedule.aspx
Tomorrow:
* Washington Journal (7am) - LIVE
**********************************************************************
Politics Highlights
* C-SPAN Political Programming - Sunday
on C-SPAN at 6:30pm ET
**********************************************************************
Washington Journal Highlights
* Newspaper Articles
* Viewer Calls
* Drew Armstrong, Congressional Quarterly, Staff Writer
* Brig. Gen. Gary Cheek, Warrior Care & Transition, Assistant
Surgeon General
**********************************************************************
|
TREASURY RECEIVES $45 BILLION IN REPAYMENTS
FROM WELLS FARGO AND CITIGROUP
TARP Repayments Now Total $164 Billion
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury
received repayments on its Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP)
investments in Wells Fargo and Citigroup in the sum of $45 billion,
bringing the total amount of repaid TARP funds to $164 billion.
Wells Fargo repaid $25 billion under the Capital Purchase Program
(CPP) and Citigroup repaid $20 billion under the Targeted Investment
Program (TIP), both of which will wind down at the end of this
year. Treasury now estimates that total bank repayments should
exceed $175 billion by the end of 2010, cutting total taxpayer
exposure to the banks by three-quarters.
In addition, effective today, Treasury, the Federal Reserve,
the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Citigroup terminated
the agreement under which the U.S. government agreed to share
losses on a pool of originally $300 billion of Citigroup assets.
This arrangement was entered into in January of this year under
Treasury’s Asset Guarantee Program (AGP) and was originally
expected to last for 10 years. The U.S. government parties did
not pay any losses under the agreement and will keep $5.2 billion
of $7 billion in trust preferred securities as well as warrants
for common shares that were issued by Citigroup as consideration
for such guarantee. With this termination, the AGP is being terminated
at a profit to the taxpayer.
Treasury currently estimates that TARP programs aimed at stabilizing
the banking system will earn a profit thanks to dividends, interest,
early repayments, and the sale of warrants. Total bank investments
of $245 billion in FY2009 that were initially projected to cost
$76 billion are now projected to bring a profit. Taxpayers have
already received over $16 billion in profits from all TARP programs
and that profit could be considerably higher as Treasury sells
additional warrants in the weeks ahead.
###
|
Houston
Press Releases for Federal Bureau of Investigation. This information has recently been updated, and
is now available.
|
DoD
Contracts for December 23, 2009
Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:01:00 -0600
|
St. Louis
Press Releases and/or St. Louis Top Stories for Federal Bureau
of Investigation. This information
has recently been updated, and is now available.
|
Independence
Man Charged in Connection with Cuyahoga County Public Corruption
Investigation
|
|
U.S.
Department of State On-the-Record Briefing
Philip J. Crowley
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Public Affairs
Mark C. Toner, Director, Office of Press Relations,
Washington, DC
December 23, 2009
|
Niger:
U.S. Imposes Travel Restrictions and Suspends Aid After Tandja
Refuses To Step Down
Wed, 23 Dec 2009 15:14:01 -0600
|
DOL
Newsletter - December 23, 2009
|
CANADA
newsbrief ticker has been updated
|
NEW GOV JOB VACANCIES, GRANTS AND CONTRACT
OPPORTUNITIES have been posted at www.usdemocrats.com/ticker/jobs/
|
Naval
Research Lab Studies Solar Storms
Wed, 23 Dec 2009 16:31:00 -0600
|
Ohio
Man Charged in Connection with Ongoing Public Corruption Investigation
Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:30:20 -0600
Cuyahoga County Auditor's Office employee Joseph Gallucci, of
Independence, Ohio, was charged with participating in a bribery
conspiracy in connection with the Cuyahoga County public corruption
investigation.
|
Maine
Residents Indicted on Federal Health Care Fraud and Benefit Fraud
Charges
Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:55:46 -0600
Ahmed Yusuf Guled, of Auburn, Maine, and Dahabo Abdulle Osman,
of Portland, Maine, were indicted by a federal grand jury on
federal health care fraud and benefit fraud charges.
|
Missouri
Police Officer Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government Property
Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:34:34 -0600
Christian Brezill, a former uniformed patrol officer of the St.
Louis Metropolitan Police Department, pled guilty to theft of
government property by stealing stolen merchandise after an arrest.
|
Errors in the quarterly state personal income
statistics for the first quarter 2009 through the third quarter
2009 that were released on December 17, 2009 have been corrected.
The largest corrections were made to first quarter growth rates.
The corrections for the second and third quarter growth rates
were small. Statistics for all states were impacted, but to varying
degrees. To facilitate users’ assessments of the importance
of the corrections to individual states, a link to two tables
of state by state corrections to the levels and growth rates
of first quarter 2009 personal income is provided in Corrections
and Revisions to Personal Income. A full set of corrected tables
have been posted at www.bea.gov/regional/sqpi/
and updates to the December 17, 2009 news release tables are
posted at www.bea.gov/regional/pdf/spi122309.pdf.
|
|
Harris County Texas Democrats' Party
TONIGHT!
Howdy Y'all!
Don't forget that the best party of the year is tonight, from
8:30 to 10:30 at 1135 Oxford, in the Heights.
There will be lots of free beer, and even more free food. We've
even got a chocolate fountain!
Don't forget to bring one gag gift for the white donkey game,
and one toy for the Toys For Tots toy drive.
See you this evening.
--Travis
|
HCUPnet
Hospital Statistics Update for Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality (AHRQ). This information
has recently been updated, and is now available.
|
PMA
Final Decisions for November 2009
|
December
is Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month
Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:35:32 -0600
|
December
23, 2009 - DHS Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report, (PDF, 21 pages - 157 KB)
|
The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA)
has issued the following news release today:
Personal income increased $49.7 billion, or 0.4 percent, and
disposable personal income (DPI) increased $54.1 billion, or
0.5 percent, in November. Personal consumption expenditures (PCE)
increased $47.9 billion, or 0.5 percent.
The full text of the release on BEA's Web site can be found at
http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/national/pi/pinewsrelease.htm.
|
TRICARE
Dental Program Premiums Set for 2010
Dec. 23, 2009
|
Upcoming
Meetings and Recently Posted Materials web page for Advisory
Committees of the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA). This information has recently been updated, and
is now available.
|
Gates
at Indiana University
Wed, 23 Dec 2009 07:16:36 -0600
Defense Secretary Robert Gates called on graduates of Indiana
University to consider service to their country when they decide
what to do with their careers.
|
Federal
And State Funds Help Restore Public Infrastructure
Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:59:16 -0600
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Under the severe storms and flooding disaster
declared December 9, 2009, federal disaster aid has been made
available for the Commonwealth of Virginia to supplement commonwealth
and local recovery efforts in the area struck by severe storms
and flooding associated with the November Noreaster and the remnants
of Tropical Depression Ida.
|
Mayon
Volcano, The Phillipines
Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:00:00 -0600
|
UN
climate official warns of Indian energy 'crisis'
from France24 - France by admin
India's reliance on coal means the country is heading for an
energy crisis unless it diversifies its sources of power, the
chairman of the UN's top climate change panel predicted on Wednesday.
|
Japan
on track for approval of FY 2010 budget draft this week
from Japan News latest RSS headlines - Big News Network.com
TOKYO, Dec. 23 (AP) - (Kyodo)—Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's
Cabinet managed to reach consensus Wednesday on how to finance
many of its key policies, laying the groundwork to approve the
fiscal ..
|
Lavrov
Says Unprecedented Arms Cuts Planned
from Russia News latest RSS headlines - Big News Network.com
Russia and the United States plan unprecedented cuts to their
Cold War arsenals of nuclear weapons under a new arms reduction
deal, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday. The two largest
nuclea.
|
U.S.-Backed
Lebanon Signals More Support for Iran in U.N. Security Council
from Iran News latest RSS headlines - Big News Network.com
Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, right, welcomes Iranian
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki to Beirut, Lebanon, on Monday,
Dec. 21, 2009. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
|
Geithner:
Job Growth Should Resume By Springtime
from The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com by The Huffington
Post News Editors
|
Consumer
Spending in U.S. Rises for Sixth Time in Seven Months
from BusinessWeek.com --
Spending by U.S. consumers increased in November for the sixth
time in seven months as households took advantage of holiday
discounts.
|
Afghan
President Defends Decision on Cabinet Nominees
by Diaa Bekheet
Hamid Karzai gives his list of proposed Cabinet ministers to
parliament on Saturday with eight new faces
|
Comoros
Election Returns Show Ruling Coalition Headed for Big Win
Preliminary returns from Sunday's elections in the Comoros indicate
the president's ruling coalition is heading for a landslide victory
that could extend his rule. But some opposition leaders say voting
was marked by irregularities.
|
Namibia
Opposition Figure Claims Irregularities in Recent Vote
by Peter Clottey
The spokesman for Namibia’s opposition coalition says a
court will Tuesday hear the group’s dispute over last month’s
general election results.
|
Afghanistan:
U.S. Strategy and the State of Military Operations in Afghanistan
The Afghanistan MiPAL has been updated with a Senate hearing
contracting issues in Afghanistan, a Department of Defense briefing
with the former commander of Regional Command South, remarks
by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Kabul, a Congressional
Research Service report examining the U.S. strategy and the state
of military operations in Afghanistan, a Center for Strategic
and International Studies report analyzing the role of the Northern
Distribution Network in the strategy for Afghanistan, a European
Union Institute for Security Studies article evaluating the Obama
Administration's challenges in Afghanistan, reports from the
Institute of South Asian Studies assessing the prospects for
Karzai's second term as Afghanistan's president and examining
Afghanistan's 2009 presidential elections, an Australian Strategic
Policy Institute report concerning the state of the coalition
counterinsurgency in Afghanistan, and a Human Rights First report
calling for a strengthened U.S. approach to detention operations
in Afghanistan. Please see the Recently Added Documents section
for the latest on this country - the newest updates are in bold.
|
Colombia:
Implications of President Uribe's Third Term on the Health of
Colombia's Democratic Institutions and Security
The Colombia MiPAL has been updated with an International Crisis
Group report assessing the implications of Colombian President
Uribe's potential third term in office on the health of Colombia's
democratic institutions and security, a Center for International
Policy report evaluating the U.S. Government's approach to assistance
in Colombia ten years after the implementation of Plan Colombia,
and a Brookings Institution report analyzing Colombia's judicial
protection for internally displaced persons. Please see the Recently
Added Documents section for the latest on this country - the
newest updates are in bold.
|
National
Security Strategy: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's Guidance
on Strategic Priorities for 2009-2010
The National Security Strategy MiPAL has been updated with the
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff's guidance on strategic
priorities for 2009-2010, an op-ed by the Director of National
Intelligence on intelligence reform, a series of Small Wars Journal
articles analyzing the role of counterinsurgency theory in Professional
Military Education (PME) and evaluating the effectiveness of
the U.S. Special Operations Command in the current threat environment,
a Lowy Institute for International Policy report examining the
place of nuclear weapons in the U.S.'s national security strategy,
reports from the Center for a New American Security calling for
a new approach to the missions and activities of special operations
forces and assessing the role of contractors in U.S. conflicts,
a Deloitte report reviewing the Department of Defense's strategic
options for energy use in warfare and U.S. dependence on foreign
oil, and the Presidential Task Force on Controlled Unclassified
Information's final report and recommendations. Please see the
Recently Added Documents section for the latest on this topic
- the newest updates are in bold.
|
Europe
and Eurasia: Ukraine's Upcoming Presidential Election, Turkey's
Role in Combating International Terrorism, and EU-UN Cooperation
in Peacebuilding Efforts
The Europe and Eurasia Regional Policy Overview has been updated
with a German Marshall Fund of the United States primer on Ukraine's
upcoming presidential election, remarks by a State Department
official on Bosnia, remarks by a United Kingdom defense official
on the future of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a European
Union Institute for Security Studies article comparing the European
Union's military capabilities in 1999 and 2009, articles from
the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists analyzing the status of
U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe and in Turkey, a Royal United
Services Institute report assessing Turkey's role in combating
international terrorism, and a United Nations Institute for Disarmament
Research report examining European Union-United Nations cooperation
in peacebuilding efforts. Please see the Recently Added Documents
section for the latest on this region - the newest updates are
in bold.
|
FDIC
Chairman Sheila C. Bair on Regulatory Perspectives on Financial
Regulatory Reform Proposals
|
Statement
of FDIC Chairman Sheila C. Bair on Strengthening and Streamlining
Prudential Bank Supervision
|
Remarks
by FDIC Chairman Sheila C. Bair at the Future of Global Finance
Conference
|
Remarks
by FDIC Chairman Sheila C. Bair to the International Institute
of Finance
|
Statement
of FDIC Chairman Sheila C. Bair on Examining the State of the
Banking Industry
|
Statement
of Michael Krimminger, Special Advisor for Policy, FDIC on Too
Big To Fail: The Role of Bankruptcy and Antitrust Law in Financial
Regulation Reform
|
Statement
of FDIC Chairman Bair on Systemic Regulation, Prudential Measures,
Resolution Authority and Securitization
|
Remarks
by FDIC Chairman Sheila C. Bair at the Institute of International
Bankers Conference
|
U.S.
Regulators Encourage Comments to Basel Committee
|
Agencies
Release Annual CRA Asset-Size Threshold Adjustments for Small
and Intermediate Small Institutions
|
FIL-65-2009
REVISED: Model Privacy Notice Form Final Rule (Forms Now Attached)
|
FIL-66-2009:
Electronic Fund Transfer Act (Regulation E) - Disclosures at
Automated Teller Machines
|
FIL-67-2009:
Regulatory Capital Standards - Final Rule for Mortgages Modified
Under the Making Home Affordable Program
|
FIL-68-2009:
Interagency Commercial Real Estate Loan Workouts Seminar Scheduled
|
FIL-69-2009:
Process for Determining If An Institution Subject to Interest-Rate
Restrictions is Operating in a High-Rate Area
|
FIL-70-2009:
Brokered Deposits and Interest-Rate Restrictions - Telephone
Seminar for Financial Institution Officers and Employees
|
FIL-68-2009
Update: Interagency Commercial Real Estate Loan Workouts Seminar
|
FIL-71-2009:
Supervisory Insights Journal - Winter 2009 Issue Now Available
|
FIL-72-2009:
Bank Secrecy Act - Interagency Guidance on Transparency for U.S.
Banking Organizations Conducting
|
Feed
Grains Database
Interactive database that contains statistics on four feed grains
(corn, grain sorghum, barley, and oats), foreign coarse grains
(feed grains plus rye, millet, and mixed grains), hay, and related
items. Tables previously published annually in the Feed Yearbook
are available and updated continuously as data are added to the
database. Custom queries also allow users to retrieve historical
data.
|
Wheat
Data
This data product contains statistics on wheat - including the
five classes of wheat: hard red winter, hard red spring, soft
red winter, white, and durum - and rye. Includes data published
in the monthly Wheat Outlook and previously annual Wheat Yearbook.
Data are monthly, quarterly, and/or annual depending upon the
data series.
|
Feed
Grains Database
Interactive database that contains statistics on four feed grains
(corn, grain sorghum, barley, and oats), foreign coarse grains
(feed grains plus rye, millet, and mixed grains), hay, and related
items. Tables previously published annually in the Feed Yearbook
are available and updated continuously as data are added to the
database. Custom queries also allow users to retrieve historical
data.
|
Agricultural
Income and Finance Outlook
Agricultural Income and Finance Outlook. Provides comprehensive
overview of the financial characteristics and performance of
the U.S. farm sector and farm businesses, and the financial status
of farm households.
|
U.S.
International Reserve Position
December 21, 2009
2009-12-21-15-15-1-24365
|
Treasury
Announces Settlement with Lloyds TSB Bank, PLC
December 22, 2009
TG-458
|
Treasury
Surpasses $4 Billion Milestone in Recovery Act Funds
December 22, 2009
TG-459
|
Treasury
Designates Insurgent Group for Posing Threat to Stability in
Iraq
December 22, 2009
TG-500
|
U.S.
International Transactions, 3rd Quarter 2009
The U.S. current-account deficit - the combined balances on trade
in goods and services, income, and net unilateral current transfers
increased to $108.0 billion (preliminary) in the third quarter
of 2009 from $98.0 billion (revised) in the second quarter. The
increase was more than accounted for by an increase in the deficit
on goods. A small increase in net unilateral current transfers
to foreigners also contributed to the higher current-account
deficit. Increases in the surpluses on income and on services
were partly offsetting.
|
State
Personal Income: Third Quarter 2009
State personal income growth averaged 0.3 percent in the third
quarter of 2009 with 19 states seeing net earnings growth for
the first time in at least a year, according to estimates released
today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Personal income
growth rates ranged from 0.8 percent in Alaska to -0.4 percent
in Louisiana.
|
County
Estimates of Compensation by Industry, 2006-2008
Compensation grew in over 80 percent of the 3,112 counties in
the U.S., as the average annual compensation per job in the U.S.
grew by 2.6 percent to $56,116, according to statistics released
today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA).¹ Total
compensation of U.S. workers grew 2.3 percent in 2008, as net
job losses partially offset compensation growth. Inflation measured
by the national price index for personal consumption expenditures,
grew 3.3 percent.
|
Gross
Domestic Product, 3rd quarter 2009 (third estimate) | Corporate
Profits, 3rd quarter 2009 (revised estimate)
Real gross domestic product -- the output of goods and services
produced by labor and property located in the United States --
increased at an annual rate of 2.2 percent in the third quarter
of 2009, (that is, from the second quarter to the third quarter),
according to the "third" estimate released by the Bureau
of Economic Analysis. In the second quarter, real GDP decreased
0.7 percent
|
Personal
Income and Outlays, November 2009
Personal income increased $49.7 billion, or 0.4 percent, and
disposable personal income (DPI) increased $54.1 billion, or
0.5 percent, in November, according to the Bureau of Economic
Analysis. Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $47.9
billion, or 0.5 percent. In October, personal income increased
$33.6 billion, or 0.3 percent, DPI increased $50.2 billion, or
0.5 percent, and PCE increased $63.5 billion, or 0.6 percent,
based on revised estimates
|
Fee
Rate Advisory #4 for Fiscal Year 2010
President Obama signed H.R. 3288, the appropriations bill that
includes funding for the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Accordingly, effective Dec. 21, 2009, the Section 6(b) fee rate
applicable to the registration of securities, the Section 13(e)
fee rate applicable to the repurchase of securities, and the
Section 14(g) fee rate applicable to proxy solicitations and
statements in corporate control transactions will increase to
$71.30 per million dollars. The Section 6(b) rate is also the
rate used to calculate the fees payable with the Annual Notice
of Securities Sold Pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment
Company Act of 1940.
|
SEC
Proposes Rule Amendments to Facilitate Access to Capital Markets
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it
has proposed amendments to Rule 163 under the Securities Act
to further facilitate the ability of certain large companies
to communicate with broader groups of potential investors and
gauge the level of interest in the market for their securities
offerings.
|
W.
House says on track on trimming contracting costs
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An Obama administration program is on
track to slice $40 billion from U.S. government spending on outside
contractors, the White House said on Monday, blaming the rush
to outsource during the Bush administration for ballooning costs.
|
Senate
health bill alters company taxes, profits
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Proposed changes to the Senate's pending
healthcare reform bill include measures targeting industry profits
and taxes, and a move to ensure health insurers spend a certain
amount on medical care, according to a document released on Saturday.
|
Senate
healthcare vote "big victory": Obama
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Monday heralded
a Senate vote that moved a bill on his signature healthcare reform
closer to passage and congratulated lawmakers for defying special
interests.
|
Obama
nominates Theordore Tozer to head Ginnie Mae
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama nominated Theodore
Tozer to be President of the Government National Mortgage Association,
or Ginnie Mae, the White House said on Monday.
|
Japan
minister says May is deadline for U.S. base
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazwa said
on Tuesday that May was the deadline for resolving a row over
the relocation of a U.S. military base on the southern island
of Okinawa which risks fraying ties with Washington.
|
Russia,
U.S. plan unprecedented nuclear cut: Lavrov
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia and the United States plan unprecedented
cuts to their Cold War arsenals of nuclear weapons under a new
arms reduction deal, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was
quoted as saying on Tuesday.
|
Obama
urges small U.S. banks to lend, eyes red tape
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama urged the
country's smaller community banks on Tuesday to increase lending
to small businesses and vowed to help the process by doing what
he can to cut regulatory red tape.
|
Senate
sets Christmas eve vote on U.S. debt limit
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Tuesday set a Christmas
Eve vote on final congressional approval of a bill to provide
a two-month increase in the federal debt limit.
|
U.S.
financial crisis panel sets first hearings
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. commission created by Congress
to investigate the financial crisis has scheduled its first public
hearings for January 13 and 14, more than a year since the crisis
shook banks and capital markets worldwide.
|
U.S.
Senate health bill creates new insurance program
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A new government insurance program that
would help the elderly and disabled stay in their homes is headed
for passage in the U.S. Senate's sweeping healthcare revamp despite
doubts about its viability and cost.
|
Obama
tightens reins on contractors
by Mike Allen
OMB releases details of the administration’s drive to tighten
contracting practices.
|
White
House pushes cutting waste
by Matt Negrin
POTUS puts a money-saving proposal from a Colorado resident in
the national spotlight.
|
Lobbyists
on pace for record year
by Victoria McGrane
Main Street has had a tough year, but Washington's influence
industry is still raking it in.
|
Suite
Talk, Dec. 22, 2009
by Anne Marson,Becca Milfeld
The Mortgage Bankers Association has promoted several key executives:
|
Health
bill clears another hurdle
by Carrie Budoff Brown
Senate health bill moves ahead.
|
House
Dems: We won't roll over
by Patrick O'Connor
They vow tough negotiations with the Senate.
|
Peace
Corps 2010 Budget Passed by Congress; Signed by President Obama
(news)
|
OTS
and OCC Mortgage Metrics Report for the Third Quarter 2009
by Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
National bank and thrift servicers implemented more than 680,000
home loan modifications and payment plans in the third quarter
of 2009 to avoid preventable foreclosures, according to a report
released today by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
and the Office of Thrift Supervision.
|
Comptroller
of the Currency Hosts Community Bank Directors Workshop in San
Diego
by Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency will host a workshop
for directors of nationally chartered community banks in San
Diego, at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay, February 1-3, 2010.
|
Agencies
Release Annual CRA Asset-Size Threshold Adjustments for Small
and Intermediate Small Institutions
by Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
The federal bank regulatory agencies today announced the annual
adjustment to the asset-size thresholds used to define "small
bank," "small savings association," "intermediate
small bank," and "intermediate small savings association"
under the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations.
|
New
York Fed purchases $490 million in agency coupons
|
U.S.
existing-home sales jump 7.4% in November on tax-credit rush
from MarketWatch.com - MarketWatch Breaking News Bulletins
U.S. existing-home sales jump 7.4% in November on tax-credit
rush
|
|
Dollar
gains after surge in existing home sales
from MarketWatch.com - MarketPulse
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- The dollar gained
ground versus major counterparts on Tuesday, after news that
U.S. existing home sales surged by 7.4% in November. The dollar
index , which measures the U.S. unit against a basket of major
currencies, rose to 78.25 compared with 78.05 ahead of the report.
The 6.54 million seasonally adjusted annual rate for new home
sales was the highest since February 2007 and was the third straight
increase. Economists surveyed by MarketWatch were expecting existing
home sales to rise to a 6.28 million annual pace in November.
|
|
SEC
to aid big companies in investor communication
from MarketWatch.com - MarketPulse
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) - Large corporations
would have an easier time communicating with broader groups of
potential investors to gauge their interest in securities offering,
according to a proposal released Tuesday by the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Large corporations, with $700 million or
more of publicly-held shares, would be able to authorize an underwriter
or dealer to communicate with potential investors on their behalf
about potential securities offerings before filing key disclosure
documents with the SEC in connection with a public offering of
securities.
|
|
Senate
plans Thursday morning health-care vote
from MarketWatch.com - MarketPulse
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- A final vote
on the Senate's health-care reform bill has been scheduled for
Thursday morning at 8 a.m., Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin's
office said Tuesday, averting an extremely rare Christmas Eve
vote. Senators will vote on both the health-care overhaul and
a short-term extension of the U.S. debt ceiling, Durbin's office
said. The health bill cleared two procedural hurdles early Tuesday
morning.
|
Russia,
U.S. plan unprecedented nuclear cut: Foreign Minister
from canada.com World News
Russia and the United States plan unprecedented cuts to their
Cold War arsenals of nuclear weapons under a new arms reduction
deal, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying
on Tuesday.
|
China
getting more restrictive on trade, U.S. says
from MarketWatch.com - Top Stories
|
London
Markets: Banks, oil producers lead U.K. market higher
from MarketWatch.com - Top Stories
U.K. stocks rise Wednesday in the last full trading session before
the Christmas holiday, with banks and oil producers in the lead.
|
Nasdaq
100 futures up 7 at 1,848
from MarketWatch.com - Real-time Headlines
|
Asian
markets higher on 2010 recovery expectations
from MarketWatch.com - Top Stories
Asian markets end higher in a broad regional advance Wednesday.
|
Indications:
U.S. stock futures nudge higher as data await
from MarketWatch.com - Top Stories
Stronger overseas markets expected to provide support for a potential
fourth straight session of gains
|
UN
constructs road for Haiti
from Haiti News latest RSS headlines - Big News Network.com
New York, Dec 23 : A cracked, flood-prone and sewage-infested
stretch of road in a quarter of Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital,
has been transformed into a resurfaced, smooth and clean highway
for .
|
Ford
confirms deal in Volvo sale to China's Geely
from France24 - Business by admin
US auto giant Ford said Wednesday it had reached a deal with
China's Geely on the potential sale of its Swedish brand Volvo,
it said in a statement.
|
UN
council set to slap sanctions on Eritrea
from Sudan News latest RSS headlines - Big News Network.com
The U.N. Security Council was set to impose sanctions on the
Horn of Africa state of Eritrea on Wednesday because of aid council
members say it has given to Islamist insurgents in Somalia.
|
Iraq
expected to rival Saudi in OPEC oil stakes
from Iraq News latest RSS headlines - Big News Network.com
LUANDA - A surge from Iraq's oilfields will occupy OPEC crude
producers in coming years as the recovering country's output
challenges that of Saudi Arabia, observers said as the cartel
held its latest..
|
House
Panel OKs Limit on TV Ad Volume
from BusinessWeek.com --
A U.S. House committee passed legislation preventing television
commercials from being louder than surrounding programming.
|
UPS
Projects Holiday Volume ‘Up Slightly’
from BusinessWeek.com --
United Parcel Service Inc. projected moving 400 million packages
in the peak holiday shipping season, “up slightly”
from a year earlier when it scrapped a forecast because of the
recession.
|
Soyuz
docks at ISS in time for Christmas
from RIA Novosti
A Russian spacecraft carrying an American, a Russian and a Japanese
astronaut docked successfully at the International Space Station
on Wednesday, officials said.
|
Russia's
handling of crisis shows 'civilized' economy - Kudrin
from RIA Novosti
Russia's handling of the effects of the global economic crisis
has shown that the country has become a civilized market economy,
Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said on Wednesday.
|
China's
central bank reaffirms moderately easy monetary policy in 2010
from Business
The monetary policy committee of China's central bank has reiterated
the government's decision to maintain the moderately easy monetary
policy in 2010 and improve the focus and flexibility of the policy
according to circumstances. The committee also agreed at a quarterly
meeting that the government would manage the growth of credit
increase next year to avoid big fluctuations in lending, according
to a report posted on the website of the People's Bank of China
Wednesday. During t ...
|
China
asks financial institutions to back industrial rebalance
from Business
China asked its financial institutions to let credit play a bigger
role in guiding and promoting industrial structure adjustment
while preventing risks, according to a statement posted on the
website of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), the central bank,
Wednesday. More financial supports should be given to the adjustment
and rejuvenation of the country's key industries, and help curb
overcapacity in some industries, said the statement, jointly
issued by the PBOC, China Banking Regulato ...
|
China
to continue oil product pricing reform
from Business
China announced Wednesday that it will continue to reform its
oil product pricing mechanism based on changes in the domestic
and international markets. "The reform of refined oil pricing
and affiliated fuel tax incentives has produced prominent results
in the past year. The significant measures spell out China's
resolution to save energy and balance energy consumption,"
the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the nation's
economic planning agency, said in a statement on it ..
|
Health
bill clears second Senate hurdle
from Reuters: Top News
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Senate Democrats cleared the second
of three 60-vote hurdles on President Barack Obama's healthcare
overhaul on Tuesday, moving its version of the landmark legislation
one step closer to passage before Christmas.
|
Remarks
by the President after Meeting with Small and Community Bank
CEOS
|
Briefing
by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, 12/22/09
|
White
House confident of health overhaul enactment
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A White House spokesman says health care overhaul
legislation has progressed to the point that its enactment is
no longer in question...
|
POLITICAL
HOT TOPICS: December 23, 1009
Posted: December 23rd, 2009 05:16 AM ET
|
CNN
Poll: Americans back Afghanistan surge, but not the war
Posted: December 23rd, 2009 06:00 AM ET
Washington (CNN) – While the war in Afghanistan remains
unpopular with most Americans, the public continues to support
President Barack Obama's decision to send more U.S. troops to
the conflict, according to a new national poll.
|
Updated:
What You Should Know and Do this Flu Season if You are 65 Years
and Older
Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:30:00 -0600
The best way to prevent the flu is with a flu vaccine. People
65 years and older are recommended for annual seasonal flu vaccination.
|
Indiana
Man Sentenced on Civil Rights Charges in Connection with Cross
Burning
Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:42:54 -0600
Bruce Mikulyuk, of Mishawaka, Indiana, was sentenced to 42 months
in prison for interfering with the housing rights of a white
woman and an African-American man by burning a cross in their
yard and later returning with a knife and threatening the man
if he did not leave.
|
Former
Puerto Rico Police Officers Sentenced for Using Excessive Force
Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:42:24 -0600
Elias Perocier Morales and Eliezer Rivera Gonzalez, both former
San Juan, Puerto Rico Municipal Police Officers, were sentenced
in federal court for using excessive force that resulted in the
death of Jose Antonio Rivera Robles.
|
Former
Assistant District Attorney Sentenced in Louisiana for Unauthorized
Access
Tue, 22 Dec 2009 17:40:52 -0600
Former Assistant District Attorney for Jefferson Parish Perry
Booth, IV, of Gretna, Louisiana, was sentenced to two years of
probation for unauthorized access to information by use of a
computer.
|
Former
New York State Supreme Court Justice Sentenced
Mon, 21 Dec 2009 15:23:25 -0600
Former New York State Supreme Court Justice Thomas J. Spargo
was sentenced in Albany, New York to 27 months in prison followed
by two years of supervised release for attempted extortion and
bribery.
|
Yoga
backs
Mon, 21 Dec 2009 23:01:00 -0600
A study indicates a form of yoga that stresses body alignment
can help some people with lower back pain.
|
Updated
CMS Quarterly Provider Update (QPU) -- 11/26/2008 through 12/05/2008
Wed, 14 Oct 2009 07:30:00 -0500
|
Recovery
Act Information: Financial and Activity Report Weekly Update:
December 21, 2009
Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:51:40 -0600
|
Africa:
Southern Sudan Referendum Bill
Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:33:15 -0600
|
 
|
|
a new ticker page has started for Wednesday
December 23.
Yesterday's ticker items are archived here
|
ticker timeline 07:15 Eastern Time December
23, 2009
|
|
click to support
adsense
|
|
new ticker page started 00:01 Eastern
Time December 23, 2009
today's ticker page 1
for previous
yesterday's ticker page click here
|
 
|
|
view
previous page:::::page one |