Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/34755
6A Daily News – Friday, June 24, 2011 WORLD BRIEFING Republicans exit budget talks, point to Dems’ WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans pulled out of debt-reduction talks led by Vice President Joe Biden with a flourish on Thursday, blaming Democrats for demanding tax increases as part of a deal rather than accepting more than $1 trillion in cuts to Medicare and other government pro- grams. ‘‘Let me be clear: Tax hikes are off the table,’’ said House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. Boehner spoke shortly after the House GOP sec- ond-in-command, Majori- ty Leader Eric Cantor, announced he would not attend a planned negotiat- ing session and said it is ‘‘time for President Obama to speak clearly and resolve the tax issue.’’ White House spokesman Jay Carney quickly obliged, while announcing that the talks were ‘‘in abeyance.’’ He said Obama supports a ‘‘balanced approach’’ to debt reduction. ‘‘I would point that the president supports a bal- anced approach,’’ Carney said. ‘‘He does not sup- port an approach that pro- vides for a $200,000 tax cut for millionaires and billionaires paid for by a $6,000 a year hike in expenses and costs for seniors.’’ Nations will free 60 M barrels of oil NEW YORK (AP) — The United States and other nations that depend on oil imports said Thurs- day they will release and sell 60 million barrels of crude from emergency stocks in an effort to ease the strain high oil prices are putting on the global economy. The release by the International Energy Agency, a group of more than two dozen countries, covers only what the world uses roughly every 16 hours. But it was enough to send oil prices lower, at least for the moment. In addition to helping the struggling economies of the U.S. and Europe, analysts said the move was meant as a rebuke to OPEC, which has refused to increase oil production to bring down prices. It will be the largest sale of crude ever from world strategic reserves and only the third since the IEA was formed in 1974 after the Arab oil embargo. The IEA released oil in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina and in 1990 and 1991 after Iraq invaded Kuwait. Half the oil will come from reserves in the U.S. Refiners who turn crude into gasoline will be able to bid on the extra oil and have it shipped to them from the salt caverns along the Gulf Coast where it is stored. Bachmann, Pawlenty make gains WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans are start- ing to pay more attention to the candidates who hope to take on President Barack Obama next year, and so far that’s been a good thing for Michele Bachmann and Tim Paw- lenty. Not for Newt Gin- grich. Overall, a new Associ- ated Press-GfK poll shows, Republicans are giving the field of chal- lengers a so-so assessment as interest in the race increases. And, with grow- ing doubts among Ameri- cans that Obama deserves re-election, Democratic interest in the GOP field is significant, too. Bachmann, a three- term congresswoman sup- ported by many tea party members, enjoyed a big boost in her favorability rating among Republicans after she turned in a smooth debate perfor- mance this month and joined the presidential race. Former Minnesota Gov. Pawlenty also made progress with Republi- cans, particularly among tea party supporters. GOP field leader Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, held steady in the eyes of Republicans — but gained no ground — with the formal launch of his campaign. Former House Speaker Gingrich, who announced his campaign five weeks ago, was head- ing in the wrong direc- tion. The Georgian’s favora- bility rating among Republicans plunged in one month from 61 per- cent to 43 percent as his campaign was plagued by massive staff defections, abysmal fund-raising and reports that he and his wife had racked up huge bills at luxury jeweler Tiffany’s. Mullen and Clinton say Obama’s Afghanistan withdrawal plan risky WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s top mil- itary officer and its top diplomat made clear Thursday that President Barack Obama rejected the advice of his gener- als in choosing a quick- er path to winding down the war in Afghanistan. The Obama troop withdrawal plan, widely interpreted as marking the beginning of the end of the U.S. combat role in Afghanistan, drew criticism from both sides of the political aisle on Capitol Hill. Some Republicans decried it as undercut- ting the military mission at a critical stage of the war, while many Democrats called it too timid. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., took a swipe at Obama from the Senate floor, questioning the timing of his troop pull- out plan. ‘‘Just when they are one year away from turning over a battered and broken enemy in both southern and east- ern Afghanistan to our Afghan partners — the president has now decided to deny them the forces that our com- manders believe they need to accomplish their objective,’’ McCain said. Obama announced Wednesday night that he will pull 10,000 troops from Afghanistan by December and another 23,000 by the end of next summer. Pressure building on Obama on gay marriage WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama’s ‘‘evolving’’ stance on gay marriage was headed for a high- profile test Thursday as he prepared for his first- ever fundraiser for gay donors just as New York lawmakers maneuvered toward a historic vote legalizing gay nuptials. The outcome of the negotiations in Albany, the state capital, remained uncertain, but the vote could occur just hours before Obama’s event Thursday evening in New York City. The coincidence of timing and place was shining an unavoidable spotlight on the piece of Obama’s record that causes greatest conster- nation for the gay com- munity: his failure to endorse gay marriage. Activists announced plans to protest outside Thursday’s gala at a Manhattan Sheraton, where as many as 600 guests were paying up to $35,800 each to attend Obama’s first fundraiser geared specifically toward the gay community. Activists say Obama got off to a slow start as president on their prior- ity issues, but he won many over by repealing the ban on gays serving openly in the military and by instructing the Justice Department to stop defending in court a federal law defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Frank, Paul want to end federal ban on marijuana WASHINGTON (AP) — Two House members introduced a bill Thurs- day that would remove marijuana from the list of federal controlled substances and cede to the states enforcement of laws governing pot. The legislation would eliminate marijuana- specific penalties under federal law, but would maintain a ban on trans- porting marijuana across state lines. It would allow individuals to grow and sell mari- juana in states that make it legal. The bill has no chance of passing the Republican-controlled House. The bill was intro- duced by Democrat Bar- ney Frank of Massachu- setts and Ron Paul, a Texas Republican run- ning for his party’s pres- idential nomination. Four Democrats are co-sponsors: John Conyers of Michigan, Barbara Lee of Califor- nia, Jared Polis of Col- orado and Steve Cohen of Tennessee. KIDS’ DAILY VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL focused on “The God of Wonder” at the Gerber Bible Fellowship 301 Samson, in Gerber Monday June 27 - Friday, July 1 9 am- 12 noon GAMES, PRIZES and Fun Activities Come join the fun “ You will always remember” Sponsored by CHRISTIANS FOR CHRIST ‘Yard Sale Map’ Updated Thursday afternoon – for weekend Yard Sales! Click on locations for exact addresses and driving directions! ‘ at www.redbluffdailynews.com . Mouse over the red ‘ ’ tab and scroll down to ‘ No. 1 China Buffet CHINESE RESTAURANT Open 7 Days A Week Now Under New Ownership Lunch: $5.75 - Mon-Sat 11am-3pm Dinner: $8.25 - Mon-Thurs 3:30-9:30pm Carry out rates Lunch: $3.99 lb. 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