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Quote of the day. "It was a real David and Goliath fight. This news is extremely gratifying to all the people and organizations who have worked so hard on this issue for the past eight years. We're thrilled to death." California State Senator Fran Pavley, author of a state law setting carbon dioxide limits on new vehicles that was approved by the Environmental Protection Agency yesterday. (San Francisco Chronicle)
State budgets. States Labor to Meet Budget Deadlines “Indiana lawmakers beat their deadline and passed a state budget Tuesday evening, but in California and four other states, budget deals for the 2010 fiscal year remained in limbo, as legislators made last-minute efforts to avert shutdowns.” Budget deadline ticks down for states “Across the country, state legislators and governors struggled Tuesday night to agree on spending cuts and tax hikes as they ran up against a midnight deadline to approve a budget.”
Business bankruptcies. Business bankruptcies up 240% since 2006 “Commercial bankruptcies are surging. Fewer people are starting small businesses, and firms already open are struggling under changing consumer habits, a lack of funding options and tougher bankruptcy laws.”
Senator Franken. Franken’s Victory Bolsters Democratic Grip in Senate “After nearly eight months of waiting, almost 20,000 pages of legal briefs, and millions of dollars in election costs, Al Franken emerged Tuesday as the next United States senator from Minnesota, ending one of the most protracted election recount battles in recent memory.” Norm Coleman concedes Minnesota Senate race to Al Franken “After a fierce eight-month voter recount battle in Minnesota, Al Franken's U.S. Senate victory Tuesday hands Democrats a powerful, filibuster-proof majority as they embark on the administration's ambitious initiatives for energy and healthcare reform.”
Health insurance. Wal-Mart Backs Drive For Insurance 'Mandate' “In a major break with most other large companies, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Tuesday told the White House that it supports requiring employers to provide health insurance to workers.” Many With Insurance Still Bankrupted by Health Crises “Health insurance is supposed to offer protection — both medically and financially. But as it turns out, an estimated three-quarters of people who are pushed into personal bankruptcy by medical problems actually had insurance when they got sick or were injured.”
Climate bill. With Something for Everyone, Climate Bill Passed “As the most ambitious energy and climate-change legislation ever introduced in Congress made its way to a floor vote last Friday, it grew fat with compromises, carve-outs, concessions and out-and-out gifts intended to win the votes of wavering lawmakers and the support of powerful industries.”
Supreme Court. Decisions Indicate Supreme Court Moved Rightward This Term “The court's term avoided the blockbuster decisions that at one point seemed inevitable. But its path was clear: a patient and steady move to the right led by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., one that is likely to continue even if President Obama is successful in adding Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the high court -- and perhaps two others like her.” The Roberts Court, Tipped by Kennedy “Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. emerged as a canny strategist at the Supreme Court this term, laying the groundwork for bold changes that could take the court to the right even as the recent elections moved the nation to the left.”
Iraq. Kirkuk bombed amid U.S. pullout “Up to 40 people have been killed in a bomb blast in the northern city of Kirkuk, just hours after U.S. troops withdrew from Iraq's towns and cities.” Iraq Marks Withdrawal of U.S. Troops From Cities “Iraq celebrated the withdrawal of American troops from its cities with parades, fireworks and a national holiday on Tuesday as the prime minister trumpeted the country’s sovereignty from American occupation to a wary public.”
Honduras. Deadline for Honduras over leader “The Organization of American States (OAS) has given the current leaders of Honduras three days to restore exiled President Manuel Zelaya to power.” Ousted Honduras president builds support for return “Ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya on Tuesday continued to build support for his return home, but the country's de facto rulers said he'd be arrested the minute he set foot on national territory.” Showdown Looms in Honduras: Rival Vows to Arrest Ousted President on His Return “The two presidents of Honduras were headed on a collision course Tuesday, as the president ousted by a coup vowed to return and his replacement threatened to arrest him the minute he lands.” U.N. General Assembly, OAS Back Honduran Zelaya “Scrambling to hold on to his presidency, deposed Honduran leader Manuel Zelaya pleaded his case in the United States yesterday, winning a rare unanimous vote of support from the U.N. General Assembly but failing to get an audience with top Obama administration officials.”
Iran. Iran's Leadership Warns Against Further Protest After Certification of Vote “Iran's religious and political leadership warned domestic opponents and Western powers Tuesday that no further protests against a disputed election would be tolerated following official certification of a landslide victory for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.” Iran's president says enemies' 'soft overthrow' failed “Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, his controversial reelection affirmed by clerical allies a day earlier, on Tuesday hailed his victory as a triumph for the nation as opponents continued to question the legitimacy of the vote.” Iran bans E.U. from nuclear talks “Maj Gen Hassan Firouzabadi, Iran's top military officer, accused the E.U. of interfering in riots which followed the disputed Iranian elections last month.” Analysis: Hopes fading for negotiated solution to Iranian nuclear impasse in wake of crackdown “The fallout from Iran's disputed presidential vote is dimming what were already modest prospects for meaningful negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program.”
Afghanistan. U.S. Says Key to Success in Afghanistan Is Economy, Not Military “National security adviser James L. Jones told U.S. military commanders here last week that the Obama administration wants to hold troop levels here flat for now, and focus instead on carrying out the previously approved strategy of increased economic development.”
Pakistan. We have terrorists on the run, says Pakistani foreign minister “Pakistan is claiming to have 'turned the tide' in its battle with Islamist militants and says it has al-Qaeda 'on the run' after a series of government offensives.” Pakistan now facing 2-front war in Waziristan “A militant commander in northwest Pakistan tore up a peace deal with the Pakistani government Tuesday, dealing a major blow to the government's campaign against Islamist insurgents in the extremist-controlled Waziristan region.” Pakistan elder killed by gunmen “A key pro-government tribal elder has been shot dead along with two of his guards in Pakistan's tribal region of Khyber, officials say.”
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