Thursday, March 19, 2009

SPB News for Thursday.



Franken wants Coleman to pay his legal costs


Rangel: House Will Vote Thursday On Bonuses Tax

Report: Reid Appears Before Ethics Panel On Burris

Hundreds of New 'Civilians' to Join Afghan Surge --CIA-operated missile attacks by U.S. Predator aircraft in western Pakistan are likely to continue under new 'strategy'. A civilian "surge" of hundreds of additional U.S. officials in Afghanistan would accompany the already approved increase in U.S. troop levels there under a new Afghanistan-Pakistan strategy being completed at the White House, according to administration officials. ...Many are expected to be hired under a provision established by the Bush regime for special employment in Iraq. Unlimited, year-long hires were permitted, with authority to renew them for up to four years. Bush extended the provision to Afghanistan under an executive order he signed Jan. 16. What one official called the "final exit strategy" is likely to take years while Afghan security forces are expanded and trained.

Pentagon to stop forced U.S. tour extension The Army will phase out its practice of forcing soldiers to remain on active duty past the end of their enlistment periods, Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced Wednesday. Gates said the "stop-loss" policy will be used only in extreme circumstances. About 13,000 soldiers were affected by stop loss in January, the last month for which figures are available.

Army reviews domestic use of troops in Alabama The Army has launched an inquiry into whether federal laws were broken when soldiers were sent to an Alabama town after 11 people died in a shooting spree. The Army confirmed Wednesday that 22 military police and an officer from Fort Rucker were sent to the nearby town of Samson after slayings last week. Authorization from the governor or president is typically required for the deployment of federal troops on U.S. soil. It's not clear who ordered the troops sent to Samson. An Army spokesman says the military is trying to determine what happened. Among the questions is why the troops were sent and what they did while there.

AIG CEO asks employees to repay some bonus money The head of AIG said on Wednesday he was trying desperately to prevent the company from collapsing when he allowed the payment of $165 million in bonuses that have stoked outrage stretching from the White House to Main Street. Edward Liddy, who took over as chairman and chief executive of American International Group Inc in September when the government stepped in with the first of a series of rescues, said he had asked employees receiving more than $100,000 in bonuses to repay at least half.

White House may seek to bypass filibuster rule in Senate A top White House official threatened Tuesday to use a congressional rule to force some controversial proposals through the Senate by eliminating the Republicans' power to block legislation. Peter Orszag, the director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, said the Obama administration would prefer not to use the budget "reconciliation" process that allows measures to pass the Senate on simple majority votes.

Fed to Buy $1 Trillion in Securities to Aid Economy — WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve sharply stepped up its efforts to bolster the economy on Wednesday, announcing that it would pump an extra $1 trillion into the financial system by purchasing Treasury bonds and mortgage securities.

Fannie plans bonuses of up to $611K for 4 execs — Fannie Mae plans bonuses of up to $611,000 for 4 executives; Freddie Mac has similar plans — WASHINGTON (AP) — Fannie Mae is planning to pay retention bonuses of as much as $611,000 each to several top executives of the government-controlled mortgage finance titan.

Some Guantanamo prisoners could be released in U.S. — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Some of the Guantanamo Bay prisoners could be released into the United States while others could be put on trial in the American court system, Attorney General Eric Holder said on Wednesday.

Army Investigating How and Why Troops Were Sent Into Alabama Town After Murder Spree — (CNSNews.com) - The U.S. Army has launched an inquiry into how and why active duty troops from Fort Rucker, Ala., came to be placed on the streets of Samson, Ala., during last week's murder spree in that tiny South Alabama community.

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