Tag: USA

The resolution to block the DC crime bill, however, required only a simple majority vote in the Senate….reports Asian Lite News

The United States Senate has passed a Republican-led resolution to block a controversial Washington, DC, crime bill which is set to go to President Joe Biden for final approval.

“This joint resolution nullifies the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022, enacted by the council of the District of Columbia (DC). The act makes a variety of changes to DC criminal laws, including providing statutory definitions for various elements of criminal offences, modifying sentencing guidelines and penalties, and expanding the right to a jury trial for certain misdemeanour crimes,” US Congress said in an official statement. Clearly, the majority of Republicans putting a comma on the Democrat’s effort. Democrats control a narrow 51-to-49 majority in the Senate where most legislation requires at least 60 votes to pass to overcome a filibuster, according to CNN.

The resolution to block the DC crime bill, however, required only a simple majority vote in the Senate. The final vote was overwhelmingly bipartisan with a tally of 81-14.

The DC Council chairman attempted to withdraw the legislation from congressional review after it became clear the resolution of disapproval was on track to pass the Senate with widespread support. But that attempted withdrawal did not stop the Senate vote from moving forward.

The effort to block the crime bill divided Democrats and highlighted the difficult balance the party is attempting to strike as Republicans accuse them of failing to tackle the issue of crime, reported CNN.

Earlier, in February also, Republicans tried to stop Democrats. According to the US Congress’ statement, “This joint resolution nullifies the Revised Criminal Code Act of 2022, enacted by the council of the District of Columbia (DC). The act makes a variety of changes to DC criminal laws, including by providing statutory definitions for various elements of criminal offences, modifying sentencing guidelines and penalties, and expanding the right to a jury trial for certain misdemeanour crimes.”

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden on Thursday told the Democratic senators that he won’t veto GOP-led legislation to rescind a controversial Washington, DC, criminal law, a move that comes as Democrats are divided over the contentious issue and Republicans are aggressively accusing them of being soft on crime.

Biden’s announcement was planned in advance, according to a source familiar, and came after days of White House officials dodging questions about whether he’d veto the measure. Instead, they pointed to a Statement of Administration Policy that noted opposition to the measure on the grounds of respecting the autonomy of the district, CNN reported. (ANI)

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Ned Price said that a free press and informed citizenry is key to any nation and its democratic future…reports Asian Lite News

The United States has expressed concern about Pakistan’s restriction on the suspension of the license of ARY News, US Department of State spokesperson Ned Price said on March 7 (local time). He stated that Washington has routinely raised concerns about press freedom to stakeholders around the world, including Pakistan.

Ned Price said that a free press and informed citizenry is key to any nation and its democratic future. He stressed that the US is concerned by media and content restrictions that undermine the exercise of freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association. “This is an issue that we routinely raise. We routinely raise our concerns about press freedom to stakeholders around the world, including to counterparts and partners in Pakistan,” Ned Price said.

He added, “On the broader question, we know the United States knows that by strengthening gender equity and equality, countries around the world strengthen their stability, prosperity, their security, and their democracy.”

Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) had suspended the license of ARY News for airing clips of the speech of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief and former prime minister Imran Khan, which was earlier banned by the regulatory body, Dawn reported.

Interestingly, this is the third time that a ban on broadcasting and re-broadcasting of Khan’s speeches and press talks has been imposed after he lashed out at former army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa.

According to PEMRA, airing of “baseless allegations, the hateful, slanderous and unwarranted statement” against state institutions and officers was in sheer violation of Article 19 of the Constitution of Pakistan and a judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan passed in a Suo Moto case.

In response to a question regarding Pakistan not allowing women to express themselves to mark International Women’s Day, Ned Price said, “The narrow question you raise is not a question for the United States. The narrow question you raise, as I understand it, pertains to a decision that was put down by municipal authorities in Lahore, and ultimately we would defer to municipal authorities for the narrow question.”

Earlier, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has denounced the Lahore district administration’s decision to refuse the Aurat March organisers permission to host a public rally commemoration of International Women’s Day on March 8, The News International reported.

The HCRP expressed sadness that the district administration routinely challenges the right of peaceful assembly because controversial placards and strong reservations from the general public and religious organisations apparently threaten law and order.

To observe International Women’s Day, the women in Pakistan hold an ‘Aurat March’, which is an annual political demonstration in Pakistani cities such as Lahore, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Faisalabad, Multan, Quetta, Karachi, Islamabad and Peshawar. (ANI)

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Corporate support is expected to hand over to Biden an unexpected surprise of wins before he announces his re-election bid for 2024, reports TN Ashok

Corporate America has, in an unusual and rare gesture, cast aside its “profit for business” capitalist outlook and come out in support of President Joe Biden’s campaign against high consumer prices, especially since his powerful pleas to reduce costs in his State of the Union address.

Just weeks after Biden used the State of the Union address to call for crackdowns on insulin prices – which he had reduced to $35 a dose in his inflation reduction act last year – and “junk fees”, Corporate America, a handful to start with, has started heeding to his appeal to ease the consumer pain, media reports said.

Voluntary steps are being taken by them to lower patients’ medical bills and make it easier for families to fly together, media outlet Politico reported.

Corporate support is expected to hand over to Biden an unexpected surprise of wins before he announces his re-election bid for 2024, which would largely hinge on his deft handling of the economy, threatening to go into recession with the series of Fed’s interest hikes to contain inflation and contain elevated consumer prices.

The White House strategists have pushed for a momentum for a much broader economic agenda tailored to deliver what Biden often terms “that little bit of breathing room for the cash strapped families”.

“The President has made clear for over a year now that top priority is bringing down costs for folks,” said Bharat Ramamurti, deputy director of the National Economic Council and one of the officials spear-heading the junk fee initiative. “The fact he’s willing to sharply call out certain behaviour and highlight it is encouraging these corporations – at least some of them – to come along with us,” he was quoted by the media as saying.

Corporates have made changes that can best be described as modest, resulting more from corporate calculations than due to any political pressures.

Drugmaker Eli Lilly plans to reduce insulin prices at $35 a month for privately insured patients, a step in line with what Democrats imposed on Medicare as part of last year’s Inflation Reduction Act. But the discounts will only apply to its older products, and the changes are unlikely to affect the company’s bottom line, reports said.

Falling in line were three major airlines – United, American and Frontier – who are eliminating extra fees often charged to parents to sit alongside their children on flights, a practice Biden slammed last month as akin to treating kids “like a piece of luggage”.

However, the airlines are retaining the slew of other seat and baggage charges that make up the industry norm.

The corporate moves, however modest, have sparked off celebrations in the West Wing, where the President’s aides believe pressure will now ramp up on competitors to follow suit, providing Biden with a tangible achievement ahead of 2024.

Democrats have been targeting high pharma prices of products as surveys revealed drug affordability was the biggest worry for voters on both sides of the aisle. White House economic aides, who are scrambling Biden’s “junk fee” agenda, have zeroed in on surprise fees that not only affect broader economic competition but are simply the most likely to drive Americans crazy, reports said.

“I do a lot of polling, and it’s rare to see policies that have this much universal consensus,” said Danielle Deiseroth, the interim Executive Director at Data for Progress. The progressive think tank published a survey post the State of the Union address pegging voter support for banning such fees – like those tied to concert ticket purchases, hotel stays and seating families together on airplanes – at nearly 80 per cent. “Saving people money transcends party lines,” she said.

Biden is for a comprehensive legislation to lock in those price restrictions across the board. The White House has vowed to renew its pursuit of a universal insulin price cap, after Republican opposition forced it out of the IRA. Biden then pitched his vision for a “Junk Fee Prevention Act” during the State of the Union address. White House aides are impressing on Democratic lawmakers to turn the idea into actual legislation.

Will the proposal gain much traction is the question as a Republican-controlled House staunchly opposes the administration’s economic agenda. That prompted Biden officials to wrest concessions out of individual corporations using a combination of public pressure and lighter-touch coaxing behind the scenes, Politico reported.

The White House initiated this approach during its first responder approach to Covid-19. Sweeping new regulations like requiring employers to give workers paid time off to get vaccinated, while simultaneously encouraging companies in private to get out ahead by instituting their own similar policies – and showering praise on them when they did was part of the White House strategy with corporations.

“If we could find a company that was willing to take the first step, then that was always an opening to bring other companies along,” said Zach Butterworth, who until recently served as the White House’s liaison to the business community. The goal was to create a pervasive sense within the private sector that “if you weren’t taking these steps, you were outside the mainstream”.

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