Fwd: Obama Administration Sends Mixed Message on VAT as Fiscal Commission Prepares First Meeting

Today's Headlines Monday, April 26, 2010

Obama Administration Sends Mixed Message on VAT as Fiscal Commission Prepares First Meeting Washington (CNSNews.com) – As President Barack Obama prepares to kick off his National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform on Tuesday, the administration continues to send mixed messages on whether it supports imposing a European-style value added tax on top of all existing taxes to help cover the federal government's $1-trillion-plus deficit spending. While the official line from the White House is that the president is not considering a VAT, comments by the president and administration officials seem to leave the door open to the possibility. Obama's Debt Commission Will Consider a Value-Added Tax (CNSNews.com) – When President Obama asked former Sen. Alan Simpson (R-Wyo.) and Democrat Erskine Bowles to chair his debt commission in February, he told them to consider any and all ways to reduce the federal deficit. Bowles told Fox News Sunday that "the president looked Senator Simpson and me in the eye and he said, 'Everything is on the table.' So we are going to look at every single way to right this fiscal ship," Bowles said. Senate Panel Previews Electronic Health Technology (CNSNews.com) – The Senate Committee on Aging offered a preview of the government's future role in health care on Friday, showing how Americans will interact with doctors and other health care providers in a wired world. The demonstration offers a glimpse at an overlooked effect of health care reform. Republican Lawmaker Will Enter EPA's Video Contest to Show the Downside of Federal Regulations (CNSNews.com) – Rep. Marsha Blackburn says she will enter an Environmental Protection Agency contest intended to promote the benefits of government regulation. But Blackburn says her video entry will show that government regulations have negative consequences. "We were astounded to learn that the EPA was launching such a contest," the Tennessee Republican told CNSNews.com. Iran Drops Bid for Human Rights Council Seat, Eyes Women's Rights Body Instead (CNSNews.com) – Iran has confirmed it will no longer run for a seat on the Geneva-based U.N. Human Rights Council. Instead, it aims to become a member of an international women's rights body – although it's not clear which one. The prospect that Iran – with the support of other Asian states – will take a seat on a body charged with promoting the rights of women is certain to stoke controversy. Hamas Film Clip Portrays Kidnapped Israeli Soldier Returning Home in a Coffin (CNSNews.com) – Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu described as "despicable" an animated video clip released by Hamas on Sunday which shows an Israeli soldier who was abducted by the terrorist group in Gaza nearly four years ago, being returned to his father in Israel in a coffin. The clip demonstrated "the true character of Hamas," Netanyahu said. The three-minute clip implies that if the Israeli government does not agree to a prisoner swap, then Gilad Shalit will be killed. GOP Bill Would Empower Border Patrol to Secure U.S.-Mexico Border without National Guard Help (CNSNews.com) – Legislation recently introduced by House Republicans would "prohibit the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture from taking action on public lands which impede border security on such lands, and for other purposes." The bill's supporters believe that, if it is passed, it will allow the U.S. Border Patrol to secure the southern border without the assistance of the National Guard. La Raza President: Immigration Bill 'Would Make Living in Arizona a Police State' for Hispanics (CNSNews.com) – The head of the National Council of LaRaza pleaded with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer Thursday not to sign into law a bill that could become the toughest immigration statute in the nation. "It perpetuates the fantasy that we can detain and deport millions of people from our country as a solution to our immigration problems and it propagates the notion that immigrants who are working hard in the Arizona economy are a criminal element to be rounded up and incarcerated," LaRaza President and CEO Janet Murguia said during a telephone news conference. CNSNEWS.COM VIDEO Sigourney Weaver: 'The Oceans Are Not Prospering' (CNSNews.com) – Because the oceans are "not prospering," people "cannot prosper," said actress Sigourney Weaver, narrator of the new documentary "Acid Test," which examines ocean acidification. OTHER CNSNEWS.COM HEADLINES U.S. Newspaper Circulation Continues to Drop Conservative Utah Senator Feels Anti-Incumbent Fervor Obama Asks His Supporters for Help in Midterm Elections Narrow Escape for British Ambassador Targeted in Yemen Democrats Plan to Test Republican Resolve With Vote on Financial Regulations Lieberman Encouraged That Energy Bill Will Advance This Year Obama Says W.Va. Miners Died in Pursuit of A Better Life Court to Decide If State Can Regulate Video Games Treasury Announces Plans for First Sale of Government-Owned Citigroup Stock Open Pens Lead to Chicken 'Cannibalism' on Egg Farms Activists Call on President Obama to Fight Arizona Immigration Law Donate Today! Please help CNSNews.com keep bringing you 'The Right News - Right Now!' Make a contribution to CNSNews.com today. It's fast, simple and secure. Help CNSNews.com and Donate Today!  NEWSPAPER ROUNDUP: SEC's inspector general to investigate timing of suit against Goldman Sachs White House 'entrepreneur summit' aims to boost business ties with Muslim world Gathering aims to boost business ties Reid: Health bill is most important thing Senate has done for the world Sen. Max Baucus: A bank tax is coming States seek new ways to restrict abortions More undocumented workers are filing tax returns, advocates say Amid outrage over civilian deaths in Pakistan, CIA turns to smaller missiles UK apologizes to Vatican over Pope visit jokes Brown U. starts fulfilling its vow of atonement for slavery N.J. Gov. Chris Christie aims to cap salaries of nonprofit group executives to $141K Lebanese demonstrators march for secularism Proposal to make voting mandatory riles up tiny Colorado town COMMENTARY Border Crossing By Rich Galen Back in the good old days, Social Security held the title of "the third rail of politics." Now it's immigration. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and President Obama apparently have decided to shove aside climate change/energy legislation in favor of what they consider to be a more politically favorable immigration debate. Cap-and-Trade Treason By Alan Caruba Global warming has been exposed as a massive hoax and fraud. Why would the United States Senate proceed to enact a bill based on it? In essence, it will make some corporations, utilities, and people very rich and impoverish the rest of us. You can click here to unsubscribe. *To ensure reliable delivery, be sure to add cnsnews@mail.mediaresearch.org to your spam filters and/or safe sender list.* Visit our web site at www.cnsnews.com