Israeli official suggests Boehner misled Netanyahu on Congress speech - Yahoo News

 

By Dan Williams

 

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A senior Israeli official suggested on Friday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been misled into thinking an invitation to address the U.S. Congress on Iran next month was fully supported by the Democrats.

Netanyahu was invited by the Republican speaker of the house, John Boehner, to address Congress on March 3, an invitation Boehner originally described as bipartisan.

The move angered the White House, which is upset about the event coming two weeks before Israeli elections and that Netanyahu, who has a testy relationship with Democratic President Barack Obama, is expected to be critical of U.S. policy on Iran.

"It appears that the speaker of Congress made a move, in which we trusted, but which it ultimately became clear was a one sided move and not a move by both sides," Deputy Israeli Foreign Minister Tzachi Hanegbi told 102 FM Tel Aviv Radio on Friday.

The interviewer asked if that meant Netanyahu had been "misled" into believing Boehner's invitation was bipartisan, a characterization Hanegbi did not contest.

Asked whether the prime minister should cancel or postpone the speech, Hanegbi said: "What would the outcome be then? The outcome would be that we forsake an arena in which there is a going to be a very dramatic decision (on Iran)."

The invitation has led to criticism of Boehner by Democrats and repeated statements by Boehner and other Republicans explaining their position.

Top Democratic lawmaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday the event was "politicized" and she hoped it would not take place - piling pressure on Netanyahu after the White House said it would not meet him during the visit.

In addition, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, in his capacity as president of the Senate, would usually be present for a joint session of Congress but he is expected to be traveling abroad when Netanyahu is scheduled to speak, an aide to Biden said on Friday.

Netanyahu has denied seeking electoral gains or meddling in internal U.S. affairs with the speech, in which he is expected to warn world powers against agreeing to anything short of a total rollback of Iran's nuclear program.

A Netanyahu spokesman declined to comment on Hanegbi's comments on Friday. Hanegbi is a senior member of Netanyahu's Likud party

Israeli official suggests Boehner misled Netanyahu on Congress speech - Yahoo News

No Backdoor Referenda but there is an advisory referenda

 

 

The above is from February 6, 2015 Boone County Journal, which is available free of cost at merchants across the county and on line at:  http://www.boonecountyjournal.com/news/2015/Boone-County-News-02-06-15.pdf#page=1

More information on the back door referendum:  http://boonecountywatchdog.blogspot.com/2014/12/taxpayers-want-voters-to-decide-on-new.html

Onshore wind | Mainstream Renewable Power

The new face of Mainstream in Boone County:  Chris Dorman

Onshore wind | Mainstream Renewable Power

Democrats hit GOP plan for replacing Obama health care law - Yahoo Finance

 

Democrats have lambasted Republicans for promising to repeal and replace the health care overhaul virtually since its 2010 enactment yet failing to advance a substitute. Republicans face growing pressure to suggest a replacement plan because 19 million Americans will be covered under Obama's law this year, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates.

The plan, not yet in legislative language, erases the existing law's coverage requirements for individuals and employers. It eliminates the state and HealthCare.gov federal insurance marketplaces where insurance can be purchased and abolishes taxes the law imposes on medical devices and other things.

The GOP relies largely on tax credits and greater flexibility for insurers and states to provide coverage.

People at firms with 100 or fewer employees could get tax credits, as would people earning up to triple the federal poverty level. That would mean individuals earning up to approximately $35,000, and larger amounts for families, would qualify.

Democrats say that would increase taxes because the GOP plan proposes a lower threshold than current law, which allows federal subsidies for individuals earning up to around $47,000, more for families.

In an opinion column in Thursday's USA Today, the plan was defended by its three authors: Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C.; and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich.

People "would no longer be subject to an individual mandate and limited to Washington-approved plans," they wrote.

Translating the principles into a bill could be time-consuming, postponing the political vulnerability possible when ideas become detailed legislation.

GOP aides said there were no official estimates of cost or the numbers of people their plan would cover. They said they believed their plan would save money and be competitive with coverage under Obama's program.

The GOP plan would eliminate Obama's expansion of Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program for the poor. Instead, states would be given more freedom to decide how to spend the money.

As under Obama's law, insurers would be required to include children up to age 26 under their families' policies, though states could ignore that. Unlike Obama's requirement for maternity coverage, states could choose not to do so.

There would be no lifetime limits on coverage, as with current law.

People with pre-existing medical conditions could not be turned down for insurance. But for many who had a gap in coverage exceeding roughly two months, insurers could charge them more for a policy, congressional aides said.

The GOP plan would tax the value of employer-provided health coverage exceeding $12,000 for individuals and $30,000 for families, amounts that would grow as inflation rises.

Read more:  Democrats hit GOP plan for replacing Obama health care law - Yahoo Finance

Will the public be allowed to see the resume of Growth Dimensions’ Administrator?

“I understand that some one requested a resume at a Belvidere City council meeting some weeks back and Mayor Chamberlain indicated that Mr. Funderburg worked for U.S.Representative Adam Kinzingeri and that should be sufficient information. 

It is normal business practice for a new CEO to supply a work history and education background. I cannot understand why this information is not available to taxpayers who through city, county and school taxes are the major contributor to the operating costs of Growth Dimensions.

Hopefully under the Freedom of Information Act we will be able to obtain this information.”

Bill P