Fwd: Biden Claims $600 Billion in Stimulus Funds Spent -- ?We?re Building a Government That Delivers More Bang for the Buck Than Ever Before?

Today's Headlines Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Biden Claims $600 Billion in Stimulus Funds Spent -- 'We're Building a Government That Delivers More Bang for the Buck Than Ever Before' (CNSNews.com) – Vice President Joe Biden says "Americans deserve a government that actually works," and he also assured liberals that the Obama administration is "trying to build a government that delivers much more bang for the buck than it ever has before." In remarks on Tuesday, Biden said the government has spent $600 billion in economic stimulus funds -- "and we're seeing waste, fraud, and abuse claims at just about two-tenths of 1 percent of the entire amount of money spent." Hoyer Refuses to Rule Out Raising the Retirement Age to Address Social Security (CNSNews.com) – House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer on Tuesday would not rule out raising the retirement age in attempt to save Social Security. "What I have said, in a speech that was pretty specific, was that I think everything needs to be on the table," Hoyer said. EPA Puts 'Environmental Justice' Front and Center in Its Rulemaking Process (CNSNews.com) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a 55-page "guidance" to help its employees "advance environmental justice" for low-income and minority communities. "Achieving environmental justice is an Agency priority and should be factored into every decision," the document says. Progress Towards July 2011 Troop Drawdown in Afghanistan Mixed, U.S. Envoy Says (CNSNews.com) - Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, when questioned during a Senate panel hearing, indicated that the progress towards Obama's July 2011 drawdown date is mixed, and he added that "there is no single answer yet to this extraordinarily complicated situation." Rep. Pence: Medicare Chief Berwick 'Not Entitled to That Job,' Must Explain Praise for UK 'Socialist Health Care System' Washington (CNSNews.com) – Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) says he is concerned about the prospect of health care rationing following the recess appointment of Dr. Donald Berwick to serve as the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services. "I think it was wrong for the president to bypass the confirmation process at a time when the American people are so focused on legislation where the ink is barely dry," Pence told CNSNews.com. Democrat Postpones Senate Hearing on Lockerbie Controversy, After Key Witnesses Rebuff His Request to 'Clear the Air' (CNSNews.com) – Accusing Scottish and British officials and BP executives of "stonewalling," the Democratic senator who was to have chaired a hearing this week on the Lockerbie controversy announced Tuesday that it would be postponed. "We are at a place where no witnesses of consequence has the courage to step forward and clear the air," Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey told reporters. With the key witnesses declining to attend, Tuesday's postponement announcement was not unexpected. Afghanistan Presses U.S. to Take Firmer Line With Pakistan Over Terror Links (CNSNews.com) – Afghan President Hamid Karzai's national security council chided the U.S. government Tuesday for not taking a tougher line with Pakistan over its alleged collusion with terrorists operating in Afghanistan. The unauthorized leak of U.S. military documents revealing collaboration between members of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) and the Taliban and other jihadist groups may slow down Karzai's recent policy of seeking warmer relations with Islamabad. CNSNEWS.COM VIDEO Jermaine Jackson: Internet Is Helping Children 'Communicate and Adapt to Different Cultures' (CNSNews.com) - Jermaine Jackson, former member of the "Jackson 5" and the late singer Michael Jackson's brother, told CNSNews.com that the Internet is helping children "communicate and adapt to different cultures," adding that the "world doesn't start or end here in the U.S." HHS: Abortions and HIV Status Don't Have to Go in Electronic Health Records (CNSNews.com) - Dr. David Blumenthal, the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, says that abortions and HIV status do not need to go in the electronic health records all Americans are supposed to have by 2014 under the terms of the economic stimulus. OTHER CNSNEWS.COM HEADLINES Ariz. Sheriff: I'll Jail Immigration Protesters War-Funding Bill Clears Congress, With Republican Support and Democratic Defections Arizona Has Helped to Deport Thousands of Illegal Aliens, Even Before New Law Takes Effect Bus Hits Roadside Bomb, Killing 25 in Afghanistan; U.S. Death Toll Also Rises Ahead of Elections, Obama Ramps Up His Fundraising Competitive Lockpicking, Called 'Locksport,' Growing More Popular in U.S. Hundreds of FBI Agents Investigated for Cheating on Test of Surveillance Rules FBI Defends Guidelines for Domestic Surveillance 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 New financial regulations say feds can compel diversity on Wall Street Nursing mothers get a break at work, thanks to health reform law Mass. House passes bill making insurers pay for autism services Sen. John Kerry will pay Mass. tax on R.I. yacht Voters say take action against sanctuary cities; Survey finds majority opposed Arlington Cemetery problems were documented in 2005 but never fixed Qualms build over consumer agency's power House Dems may break with Obama on his middle-class tax pledge Russia violated '91 START (treaty) till the end, U.S. report finds Health bill for 9/11 responders to get House vote Wednesday Voters can't shake deficit worries Democrats table campaign finance reform Anti-immigrant group calls for 'safe passage' of illegals out of U.S. Gov. Christie vetoes bill to restore $7.5 million for women's health services Aquarium to replace neon wave light with LED facsimile to save money COMMENTARY Hide-and-Seek Hypocrites on the Hill By Michelle Malkin You know when a politician starts a sentence with "frankly," he's about to lie to your face. The same principle applies to campaign finance legislation dubbed the "DISCLOSE Act." The voter's instinctive reaction should be: What are they trying to hide now? Drafted out of public view with left-wing lobbyists and rammed through Congress after bypassing committee hearings, this bum bill would have been better named the CLOSEDDOOR Act. Out of Touch or Out of Mind By Rich Galen The Senate on Tuesday took a test vote on the misnamed DISCLOSE Act, and to the surprise of absolutely no one outside of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, it didn't get the 60 votes needed to proceed. The Senate vote on the DISCLOSE Act was a defining moment. It helped define a White House that has demonstrated it is out of touch, and may be out of its political mind. JournoList Erodes Media Prestige By L. Brent Bozell III Tucker Carlson's website The Daily Caller has unearthed a treasure trove of liberal journalists talking (nastily) to themselves in a private e-mail list about how they should use their media power to remake the world in their image. The saddest thing about all this is the confirmation (as if it were necessary) that liberal journalists really aren't journalists first. They're political strategists. Liberal journalists in this crowd favor only discourse that "serves the people" – meaning, a "debate" that advances the ball for socialism. Any other uncooperative or unhelpful line of journalism or questioning or discussion or balance or objectivity is "idiocy" that should be "killed."