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Italian regional polls will show if Silvio Berlusconi’s popularity is waning
• THE prime minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi, will be able to assess the damage that a string of scandals has meted out to his government when Italians go to the polls for two days of voting in regional elections starting on Sunday March 28th. Elections are set to take place in 13 of Italy’s 20 regions. Eleven regions are held by the centre-left opposition. Mr Berlusconi, hoping to capitalise on a wave of sympathy after an attack by a mentally unstable man in December, had hoped his People of Freedom (PdL) movement might oust up to five centrist and left-wing governors. But its campaign is in chaos—and the government’s ratings are plunging.
• FOUR employees of Rio Tinto, a huge Anglo-Australian mining company, go on trial in China on Monday March 22nd on charges of bribery and industrial espionage in connection with negotiations over the price of iron ore. The accused, three Chinese and one Australian, were arrested last year shortly after Rio had spurned a big investment from Chinalco, a Chinese state-backed metals firm, infuriating the Chinese authorities. That led to speculation that the two events were linked while also dealing a blow to relations between China and Australia. But now relations seem to be improving, at least between Rio and Chinalco. The two companies are have announced a big iron-ore joint venture in Africa. …
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Secretary Clinton To Deliver Remarks to American Israel Public Affairs Committee
Posted on 20. Mar, 2010 by U.S. Department of State.
Update: Watch the Secretary’s remarks here.
Secretary Clinton will deliver remarks to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee Annual Policy Conference on Monday, March 22 at 9:10 a.m. AIPAC’s annual policy conference will bring approximately 7,000 of its supporters to Washington, D.C. March 21-23, 2010.
The Secretary’s remarks will be open to press coverage and live-streamed here on DipNote, state.gov and aipac.org.
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Weekly Address: Time for Action on Financial Reform for the Economy
Posted on 20. Mar, 2010 by Jesse Lee.
As a key committee in the Senate takes up reforming the ways of Wall Street, the President lays down a marker: “I urge those in the Senate who support these reforms to remain strong, to resist the pressure from those who would preserve the status quo, to stand up for their constituents and our country. And I promise to use every tool at my disposal to see these reforms enacted: to ensure that the bill I sign into law reflects not the special interests of Wall Street, but the best interests of the American people.”
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In this video, President Obama sends an important message to those celebrating the Persian holiday of Nowruz, and in particular to the people and government of Iran. While recognizing our continuing differences with the Iranian government, the President outlines his commitment to a more just and hopeful future for all Iranians. To everyone celebrating Nowruz around the world, may you have a peaceful and prosperous new year.
This video is also available with Arabic subtitles. Full transcript available in English, Persian (PDF), and Arabic (PDF).
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As the fight to put American families and small businesses in control of their health care hits the home stretch, local papers across the country are speaking out for the communities they serve and urging Congress to get health reform done. Here’s just a sample of what editorials are saying in advance of the vote:
Fort Collins Coloradoan (Editorial) “Markey making right choice to vote for reform”:
There’s no denying the health-care reform bill to be considered by Congress in coming days is far from perfect and has been crafted in a flawed process. However, continuing with the current health-care system marred by uncontrolled costs and countless uninsured Americans is not an option. That’s why we believe Rep. Betsy Markey is making the right decision to support the reform package.
Des Moines Register (Editorial) “Finally: Health bill ready for vote”:
History books recognize specific dates when a president took action that changed the course of the country’s future. One of those days was Aug. 14, 1935, when Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act. Another was July 30, 1965, when Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare into law. Both programs improved the lives of Americans. The country is on the cusp of another such remarkable day. That’s right. The U.S. House is expected to vote on health reform legislation Sunday. If it passes and President Barack Obama signs it into law, the country will be witnessing historic change.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Editorial) “Four big lies about health care reform”:
As Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives push for a final vote on health care reform by this weekend, we examine four big lies that reform opponents are spreading. “The current system works just fine.” … “This bill is a government takeover of health care.” … “We can’t afford health care reform. We have to cut the deficit.” … “Health care reform means federal funding for abortion.”
Las Vegas Sun (Editorial) “Pass health care reform”:
Congressional leaders unveiled the latest version of the health care bill Thursday, and the House Democratic leadership was ecstatic. After months of being hammered by Republicans with lies about the reform plans, Democrats cheered the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office’s initial analysis of the bill, which undercut the GOP’s complaints. The analysis found the bill would give access to health insurance to 95 percent of nonelderly Americans while cutting the federal deficit by $138 billion over 10 years. The bill could cut as much as $1.2 trillion from the deficit in the following decade.
Arizona Daily Sun (Editorial) “No time like present to start health care reform”:
… Our larger point is that, when it comes to fixing what’s broken in U.S. health care, it is time to put aside rigid ideologies and embrace experimentation and hybrid solutions. Whatever plan comes out of Congress this week — if any — won’t be perfect. But it will be a start at a process of change that, in an era of globalization and mobility, is long overdue.
Detroit Free Press (Editorial) “Messy bill offers significant health care progress”:
As the "yes" votes for health care reform trickle in, building toward the House majority needed to approve work done in the Senate, Americans must keep in mind what will be forefeit if that effort falters. Medical costs continue to skyrocket even as fiscally challenged states like Michigan slash Medicaid payments. Most of the healthy uninsured cannot afford to buy policies, leaving the individual market mostly to chronically ill, for whom health insurance is more like a discount card than a safety net.
Minneapolis Star-Tribune (Editorial) “Rx for health care: political courage”:
The latest health care scenarios just released by researchers from a respected think tank offer grim food for thought as health reform moves toward final passage in Congress. If the legislation doesn’t pass, the worst-case projection is that the number of Americans without coverage will climb from 49.4 million to 67.6 million in 2020, meaning that nearly one in four Americans too young for Medicare will be uninsured.
Miami Herald (Editorial) “Time to vote on healthcare reform”:
By now, every voice in the debate over healthcare reform has been heard from. The only thing left to do is pass the reform bill. Admittedly, the bill under consideration is far from perfect. President Obama made a last-minute change that delays a tax on high-cost insurance policies until 2018, which adds to the immediate costs. Nor were Democrats willing to reduce or kill the tax break for employee health benefits, which would also reduce costs and produce more cost-conscious healthcare consumers.
Washington Post (Editorial) “Health reform is a risk worth taking”:
EVERY piece of legislation is in some sense a wager: that it will accomplish what is intended; that its costs will be as anticipated; that the promised funding will materialize; that, however imperfect, it represents an improvement on the status quo. Voting for the health reform package now before the House of Representatives represents, in those terms, a huge gamble.
St. Petersburg Times (Editorial) “Health care legislation good for Florida”:
As the House heads toward a historic vote on health care reform as early as Sunday, all Florida Republicans remain opposed and all but two Democrats are firmly in support. But a new analysis released Thursday by the House Energy and Commerce Committee suggests Florida lawmakers who vote against the reforms are acting against the best interests of their constituents.
