Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/21513
Thursday, December 16, 2010 – Daily News – 3B WORLD BRIEFING Senate passes bipartisan tax bill to avert hikes WASHINGTON (AP) — In a reach across party lines, the Senate overwhelmingly passed sweeping legislation Wednes- day to prevent a Jan. 1 income tax increase for millions and to renew jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed. A House vote is expected by Thursday. Within moments of the 81- 19 Senate vote, President Barack Obama urged the House to follow suit without making any changes — a slap at rebel- lious liberals working to stiffen the terms of an estate tax provi- sion they characterize as a give- away to millionaires and bil- lionaires. ‘‘I know there are different aspects of this plan to which members of Congress, on both sides of the aisle, object,’’ Obama said. ‘‘That’s the nature of compromise. But we worked hard to negotiate an agreement that’s a win for middle-class families and a win for our econ- omy. And we can’t afford to let it fall victim to either delay or defeat.’’ At its core, the legislation provides a two-year extension of the tax cuts at all income lev- els that Congress approved while George W. Bush was president. Without action, they will expire on Dec. 31. The bill also would cut 2011 Social Security taxes for all wage earners, a reduction that will mean an extra $1,000 in take home pay for an individual earning $50,000. House passes bill to repeal ban on gays in the military WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted Wednesday to repeal the ‘‘don’t ask, don’t tell’’ policy that for 17 years has forced gays desiring to serve in the military to conceal their sexual identity. The 250-175 vote propels the issue to the Senate for what could be the last chance for now to end the 1993 law that forbids recruiters from asking about sexual orien- tation while prohibiting soldiers from acknowledging that they are gay. It’s ‘‘the only law in the country that requires people to be dishonest or be fired if they choose to be honest,’’ said Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo. Democratic leaders in the Senate say they are committed to bringing the bill to the floor before Congress adjourns for the year. But they are chal- lenged by opposition from some Republicans and a daunt- ing agenda that includes finish- ing work on legislation to fund the government and ratifying a nuclear arms treaty with Russia. Failure to overturn the policy this year could relegate the issue to the back burner next year when Republicans, who are far less supportive of allow- ing openly gay individuals to serve in the military, take over the House and gain strength in the Senate. ‘‘Now is the time for us to act,’’ said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and ‘‘close the door on a fundamental unfair- ness in our nation.’’ Feds sue BP, other companies for oil spill NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Justice Department sued BP and several other companies involved in the Gulf oil spill Wednesday, an opening salvo in the government’s effort to get bil- lions of dollars for untold eco- nomic and environmental dam- age. The government accuses the companies of disregarding feder- al safety regulations in drilling the well that blew out April 20 and triggered a deadly explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig. The lawsuit is separate from a Justice Department criminal probe that has not resulted in any charges. ‘‘The department’s focus on investigating this disaster and preventing future (spills) is not over,’’ Attorney General Eric Holder said during a news con- ference in Washington. ‘‘Both our civil and criminal investiga- tions are ongoing.’’ The federal lawsuit filed in New Orleans names BP, rig owner Transocean and some other companies involved in the ill-fated drilling project, but not Halliburton — the project’s cement contractor — or the maker of a key cutoff valve that failed. Both could be added later. BP said it would respond to the claims at a later date but noted that it stands ‘‘alone among the parties’’ in having already stepped up to pay for the cleanup. It said in a statement that it will continue to fulfill its commit- ments to the Gulf and to cooper- ate with ongoing investigations. Senate moves ahead on nuclear treaty WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate plunged into debate on a new U.S.-Russia arms con- trol treaty Wednesday after Democrats secured the backing of a significant number of Republicans in a crucial test vote of President Barack Obama’s top foreign policy pri- ority. The White House and senior Democrats have expressed con- fidence that they had the two- thirds majority needed for rati- fication in the Senate. In a fresh sign of momentum, Democrats easily prevailed, 66-32, to move forward on the pact, winning the support of nine Republi- cans. Among the GOP senators was Sen. John McCain of Ari- zona, Obama’s 2008 presiden- tial rival and a top lawmaker on national security issues. Obama has said he is pre- pared to delay a planned holi- day vacation until the treaty is completed, elevating the mea- sure to year-end, must-do status along with the tax deal he cut with Republicans. Democrats are determined to push the treaty through the Senate in hopes of giving Obama a for- eign policy victory before the GOP grabs more power next year. ‘‘We believe we should stay here as long as it takes to get this treaty ratified, and we are prepared to do so,’’ said Foreign Relations Committee Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass. Still, several Republicans, led by Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., objected to considering the treaty in the waning days of Congress’ lame-duck session, insisting the Senate should wait until next year. Sens. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and Saxby Chambless of Georgia said they could support the treaty but not under the current timetable. Alexander told reporters it was ‘‘reckless.’’ 1,000 detained in Russia to prevent ethnic clashes MOSCOW (AP) — Fearing more clashes between racist hooligans and mostly Muslim ethnic minorities, police detained more than 1,000 peo- ple in Moscow and several other Russian cities Wednesday, after weekend rioting in the capital left dozens injured. Hundreds of riot police out- side the Kievsky station in cen- tral Moscow hauled into police vans mostly young men and teenagers who were shouting racist slogans and raising their hands in Nazi salutes. Some were lined up against buses and searched by police. Officers confiscated an arsenal of weapons, including traumatic guns, knives and metal bars, police spokesman Viktor Biryukov said. Police rounded up about 60 protesters in St. Petersburg, where radical groups also planned a gathering Wednes- day. Riot police prevented clashes in Krasnodar and Rostov-on- Don, southern Russian cities with large non-Slavic popula- tions where ethnic clashes have been frequent in recent years, officials said. Dozens of mostly young men have been detained in central Russia and Siberia, Russian news agencies report- ed. Resentment has been rising among Slavic Russians over the growing presence in Moscow and elsewhere of people from the southern Caucasus region, most of them Muslims. People from other parts of the former Soviet Union, including Central Asia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, also face ethnic discrimination and are frequent victims of hate crimes. UN lifts weapons sanctions against Iraq UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council gave a unanimous vote of confidence Wednesday to the significant strides Iraq has taken by lifting 19- year-old sanctions on weapons and civilian nuclear power. The council also decided to return control of Iraq’s oil and nat- ural gas revenue to the govern- ment next summer and to settle all remaining claims over the contro- versial oil-for-food program, which helped ordinary Iraqis cope with sanctions imposed after Sad- dam Hussein’s army invaded Kuwait two decades ago. Although some sanctions will remain in place until Iraq and Kuwait settle outstanding issues from that war, Wednesday’s vote was a major step to restore Iraq’s international standing a year before the U.S. is to pull its last troops out of the country. It came a day after a power-sharing agree- ment ended a lengthy deadlock on forming a new Iraqi government. Vice President Joe Biden, who presided over the meeting, told the council the move marked ‘‘an important milestone for the gov- ernment of Iraq and people of Iraq in their ongoing effort to leave behind their troubled past and embrace a much brighter future.’’ ‘‘The three resolutions we’ve passed bring an end to the burden- some remnants of the dark era of Saddam Hussein,’’ he said. Border Patrol agent shot to death after confrontation NOGALES, Ariz. (AP) — A Border Patrol agent was fatally shot near the Mexico border amid a shootout with bandits known for targeting illegal immigrants along a violent smuggling corridor in the Arizona desert, a union leader said Wednesday. Agent Brian A. Terry, 40, was waiting with three other agents in a remote area north of Nogales late Tuesday when a gun battle with the bandits began, said National Border Patrol Council President T.J. Bonner. No other agents were injured, but one of the suspects was wounded in the shootout. The Border Patrol declined to reveal the country of origin of the suspects. The FBI is investigating the shooting. Border Patrol spokesman Eric Cantu and FBI spokeswoman Brenda Lee Nath declined to confirm Bonner’s account but said that authorities have four suspects in custody and are searching for a fifth. The shooting followed months of heated political rhetoric on the immigration issue in Arizona as lawmakers passed a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigrants. Politicians pushing for immigra- tion reform cite violence episodes like the Border Patrol shooting as proof that the state and federal governments need to better secure the border. Terry was part of an elite squad similar to a police SWAT team that was sent to a remote area north of Nogales known for bor- der banditry, drug smuggling and violence, said Border Patrol Agent Brandon Judd, president of the local agents’ union. Shooter’s wife says man was a ’gentle giant’ PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) — The wife of the man who held a Florida school board at gunpoint said Wednesday that her husband was a gentle giant who was pushed over the edge by the economy and frustrated over her losing her teaching job. ‘‘He wanted to get me an answer,’’ Rebecca Duke said a day after her husband, Clay Duke, killed himself. He shot at school board members in Pana- ma City, missing some of them by mere inches, before he exchanged gunfire with a secu- rity guard. As he lay on the floor in the boardroom, he shot himself to death in the head. ‘‘The economy and the world just got the better of him,’’ Rebecca Duke said in a rambling press conference to talk about the man she loved. Tehama County’s Personal/Professional Service Directory AT YOUR SERVICE! $ 9900 3 month Attorney Local Bankruptcy Attorney Jocelyn C. Olander 530-824-0288 Free Consultation Payment Plans Available Web: www.jcoattyatlaw.com email: mail@jcoatty atlaw.com A federally qualified Debt Relief Agency under 11 U.S.C. 101(12(A)) Advertisement Clock Repair If this was your Service Directory ad customers would be reading it right now!! Call us at 527-2151 For more information BANKRUPTCY Free information $50/mo. + court fee MICHAEL O. HAYS Attorney at Law 1-800-387-9299 Jim Paul 20910 Pebblestone Dr. Red Bluff commitment Runs every Tuesday - Thursday - Saturday Bankruptcy 530-736-7079 Grandpa’s Clocks Clock Repair Eye Physician James W. Tysinger, Jr. M.D. Eye Physician & Surgeon Fellow American Academy of Ophtalmology We accept Medical, Medicare & most Insurances Shelf & 31 Day Clocks Repaired Call for appt. Member NAWCC Cuckoo Clocks, Anniversary, Wall, Office Hours: Tues-Wed-Thurs 8am-4:30pm Mon & Fri 1pm-5pm For Emergencies, After Hours, Week-ends, Call 530-567-5001 345 Hickory St. Red Bluff Tel: (530) 529-4733 Fax: (530) 529-1114 Orthotic Therapy is our Specialty, also treating all aspects of the feet including Bunions, Hammertoes and Plantar Fasciitis with conservative and surgical intervention. We offer comprehensive skin care products from; FOOT AND ANKLE SPECIALIST 2530 Sr Mary Columba Dr Red Bluff (530) 527-7584 Feet Health CREAMS, SALTS, MOISTURIZERS, GIFT SETS www.aerosilknatural.com SPA SKIN CARE PRODUCTS ALL NATURAL INGREDIENTS