The circle, after fire was the greatest invention by man. Funny, nothing is new under the sun, even the fire existed in another form before we finally “invented” it. The same is true with everything under the sun, things go in circles.
Now the ODM election has brought something to fore. The coat clingers, having been swept from their comfort are now crying foul and accusing RAO of denying them “their democratic rights”.
Ladies and gentlemen, lets be fair. These Luo MPs have never practised democracy to begin with. They are in ODM, not because it is the most democratic party, but because it a means to their selfish ends. RAO hand picked these goons and brought them this far. When they were being hand picked, then it was democracy. My question is; “will any of these goons hullabalooing be able to survive without clinging to RAO’s “democracy””? Lest you forget;
Orengo tried and failed. Nyong’o the good professor learned that knowledge in Economics alone does not make an astute politician. Otieno Dalmas walked with the Cockrel into the gulloitine.
RAO raised these goons on hand-outs or was he hawking the party positions to the highest bidder as Orengo purports? What is going on in ODM exposes democracy, in African sense as a Utopia we wont reach any time soon. I dont support RAO. I have said before that he has been strangling democracy in Nyanza, and these goons were his disciples. Let them run helter skelter, they are just paying back what they denied others in the first place. The circle has connected on them.
Nobody is indespensable. We got young people with blood running hot in their veins. Let the Luo MPs boycot the elections. A new crop will sprout up. If anything, Kenya cannot be Balkanized into regional blocks, we need each other to shame the status quo. RAO learned too late; age and Devolution may deny him a chance to realize his dream. Posterity will thank you for this
Afwande!
—
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From: Nita and Shaunna, UltraViolet
Date: Tue, Jan 21, 2014 at 12:11 PM
Subject: USA: Rape audits?!
To: Frank Bynum
From: Nita and Shaunna, UltraViolet
A key Republican-led committee just passed legislation requiring rape victims to report their assaults to the IRS–and the bill passed without a single female vote. Can you chip in $10 to help hold them accountable and stop the “rape audit” bill?
Last week, a key Republican-led committee passed the notorious “rape audit” bill, requiring rape victims who get abortions to report the details of their assaults to the IRS.1 And here’s the kicker–the bill passed without a single female vote.
We know that the only way to make Republicans back off their war on women is to hold them accountable in their districts. So we’ve created a powerful ad showing the faces of the 22 men who passed this bill without the support of a single woman.
They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, and in this case, that’s absolutely true.
With the help of UltraViolet members, we’re already pushing this image out far and wide on social media. But to really make this controversy take off, we need to expand the effort with ads targeted at the districts of the men who voted for this horrifying bill so that they can’t ignore us.
If we can raise $20,000, we’ll have enough to make sure this terrible bill dies. Can you chip in $10 to help pull it off?
Yes, I’ll donate $10 to help stop the “rape audit” bill.
http://act.weareultraviolet.org/go/1468?t=3&akid=762.6000.Q5Lxt0
It’s incredible–while most Americans want Congress to focus on jobs and the economy, Republicans remain obsessed with controlling women’s bodies.
It’s almost like they’ve learned nothing from Sandra Fluke, Todd Akin, and the political backlash from the war on women.
But the fact is, by being so blatant about their anti-woman politics, they’re handing us a golden opportunity to make sure this bill and others like it go down in flames.
The ad we created just says it all–22 men and not a single woman telling rape survivors that they need to report their assaults to the IRS when they access abortion services.
Can you chip in $10 to make sure as many Americans as possible see it?
Yes, I’ll chip in $10.
http://act.weareultraviolet.org/go/1468?t=4&akid=762.6000.Q5Lxt0
Thanks for speaking out.
–Nita, Shaunna, Kat, Karin, Malinda, Adam, and Gabriela, the UltraViolet team
Sources:
1. House Republicans Are Pushing A Bill That Would Force The IRS To Audit Rape Victims, Think Progress, January 16, 2014
THE Rapidly growing influence and popularity of the Nairobi governor Dr Evans Odhiambo Kidero in Luo Nyanza is unstoppable judging from the rousing welcome and deafening applause which he received during the last weekend Kisumu rally at the Kenyatta Sports Ground.
The Nairobi governor was the centre of attraction and his speech and endorsement by the luge crowd must left all and sundry convinced that Luo MPs who have been dissenting his fundraising activities in the region were at a loss and became disillusioned and disgruntled.
Buoyed by the prolonged cheering by the enthusiastic crowd of thousands of ODM supporters speech obviously might have caused a lot of panicking among his detractors.
The Kisumu rally was also attended by the three principals of CORD coalition led by the party leader raila Odinga, the former Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka and Bungoma Senator Moaea WetangulA, Dr Kidero was wildly cheered despite some early wild rumors that a section of ODM youths and hirelings had been intoxicated and instigated to heckle him. Nothing lie that happened, and those responsible should feel themselves ashamed.
Kisumu rally followed an exclusive closed door meeting of all governors from the 25 Counties countrywide, which are under the CORD administration. Also in attendance were MPS from Nyanza and other regions.
The meeting came in the backdrop of the raging debate over the governors recent massive fundraising activities in the region, which did not go down well with the Raila loyalists.
AT THE END OF December last year a meeting of Luo MPs and other party stalwarts held aT Opoda BAR-Opuk, which is the rural Country home of the party leader Raila Odinga discussed and dwelt at length over Dr Kibero’s fundraising activities in Nyanza, with some of the dissenting it with claims that such activities had some elements of political undertone in Luo-Nyanza with the long scheme of wrestling don the political influence of the Odinga family.. This family has dominated the politics of the region ever since independence in 1963.
The debate went on despite Dr Kidero’s repeated denial that he had no political ambition ambition of challenging Railla supremacy in the Region. Such claims saw Dr Kidero and Raila sharing political platform at the Shauri-Moyo Primary school in Kisumu town during the home coming part of Ms Prisca Auma Misachi a member of Kisumu County. Ms Misachi is a sister to Dr Kidero’s mother-in-law the late Mra Pamela Mboya..
The two happily addressed the crowd and jointly denied there existed any friction between two of them with Kidero coming out bold when he told the gathering that a son cannot challenge his father and mentor The two reiterated theiir commitment to work towards the unity if purpose within the Luo community and also in the ODM with the aims and objective of making the party a popular vehicle for development and future election victory..
It was also most interesting that some of the leaders who had attended the meeting at Raila home last December and who deliberated in bad gossip crowd for the Nairobi governor. When Kidero asked the crowd whether he should continue with his fundraising activities the crowed roared back with wild shouts”Harambee iendelee”..
The Nairobi governor took to the podium immediately after the crowed had jeered and booed the Kisumu governor Jackton Ranguma who was forced to cut short his speech and had come down on earth amid prolonged cheers, adulation and wild cat calls “Kidero Kidero”.
The huge crowed endorsed the Nairobi governor’s fundraising activities and renovations of schools, health facilities and other socio-economic projects in the region.
IT IS worthwhile to remember that the issue of questioning the sources of massive funds which Dr.Kidero was donating in his fundraising meetings was raised Raila’s home by by the Homa-Bay Senator who had alleged that such money could be used in dividing the Luos.
from: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2013
George from Bumala, Kenya, writes: Father Beste I read your article about coup attempt in South Sudan and compare it with current wrangles between URP and TNA on job sharing on key positions.
Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter Wednesday claimed President Kenyatta’s visit to the Rift Valley achieved nothing because the President failed to explain the alleged biased appointments in government as demanded by URP.
He cited the appointments of Mr Joseph Kinyua as the Chief of Staff and Head of Public Service, Mr John Mututho as Nacada chairman, Mr Joseph Kaguthi as chairman of the Committee on Nyumba Kumi, Mr Lee Kinyanjui as Kenya Road Safety Authority chairman and Mr Njee Muturi as Solicitor General as some of the appointments URP members were unhappy about.
The URP legislators are also accusing Uhuru for not only favoring his tribesmen on sh1.2 trillion launch of standard gauge railway to connect Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan, but also want the sh1.2 trillion project to be renegotiated before it kicks off.
URP legislators are claiming that Kenyans stand to lose a whooping sh400 billion in the railway deal if the current arrangement is not changed’, accusing powerful men around President Kenyatta of being behind the scheme to swindle Kenyans by inflating the cost from $2 million per kilometer to $6m per kilometer.
The URP legislator also accused Uhuru’s TNA of taking advantage of Ruto absence to seal big deals without consulting URP, an sentiments echoed by Bomet East MP Bernard Bett who said there was a group of corrupt officials in Government who were seeking to enrich themselves through irregular tendering processes.
My question Father Beste, don’t you think if things continue this way in Kenya it will be like South Sudan where Riek Machar attempted to overthrow the government of Salva Kiir because he only favours his Dinka tribesmen on job sharing between Dina and Machar’s Nuer tribesmen?”
Dennis from Nairobi writes: “Father Beste I have a quarrel with the people who gave SS only 5 years then they would be allowed referendum for self determination, Kalonzo Musyoka takes pride in Comprehensive Peace Agreement, 5 years was not sufficient at all for such a state emerging from years of war and neglect.
There were no qualified personnel, no systems for accountability in place after those first 5 years. I worked there relocating Save US offices from Nairobi to Juba, and once went to pay for work permits, I was to pay 1,000 USD and instead of getting an official receipt, the guy gave me back 200 USD, as part of my cut but I refused to badge and insisted on something to show that I had paid signed and stamped as for sure they at times run out of receipt books.
To tell it all the corruption ends up in Kampala and Nairobi, every Friday flights to the 2 capitals are full not with Ugandans or Kenyans but with South Sudanese going to visit their families, and carrying with them huge sums of money, that is invested in the 2 cities not Juba so it is not a wonder when you talk of hard currencies not being available as it is carried out. Many of the top officials still have their families in the 2 cities and one thing I must say is that they learnt and perfected in the art of corruption in those 2 cities.
You will agree with me that the 2 countries are well know for corruption, in fact at one time a traffic police officer in Juba stopped us and when he realized we were Kenyans he simply said CHAI, and when we asked what for he told us he trained in Kenya and we know what it means and if we don’t comply he will find fault with the vehicle and take us to the police station.
I wonder whether Kiir himself is keen on fighting corruption, it is mere rhetoric. That country and its hard headed people need divine intervention, and I am sorry to say that Dinkas are the grabbers in SS asking where the rest were when they were fighting.
It is difficult to control that country as it is vast and with poor communication infra structure, and war like people, why war like even in the street of Juba when cars collide it is not strange to see occupants come out and instead of talking to sort out the problem, start exchanging blows even without muttering any words”.
George I don’t think the wrangles between URP and TNA job sharing in government key position can be compared to that of Dinka and Nuer in South Sudan. What is likely to happen if Uhuru does not change his style of allocating jobs to 50-50 percent as agreed between Kalenjins and GEMA is that next elections the Kalenjins may refuse to support him.
Tension in South Sudan can be compared to Francis Imbuga’s Betrayal in the City play book where critics of the government are not tolerated. They are put into prison over false charges.
South Sudan is where Government officials are freely making use of any opportunity to make money through unfair means. It is the character of Tumbo where for instance he declares Jusper the winner of the play writing competition and awards him the winner’s prize money.
What is currently taking place in South Sudan is compared to one third of the six hundred pounds to finance the play writing competition given to Jusper and his girl friend, Regina; and the remaining two thirds to put records straight emphasizing that everything is being done in strict confidence.
It is the country where revenge is the order of the day, where people are falsely accused in order to be favored. Where Boss’ trust of those who advise him especially like Mulili character in the play making him give unbearable directives to silence those presumably against his government including the simple old couple who were innocent.
When the play begins, Adika, a university student, has just been buried. He was killed by police during a student demonstration. His brother Jusper, who feigns madness, kills the local chief in retaliation and in counter-retaliation, his parents Doga and Nina are killed. Meanwhile, the lecturer Mosese languishes in jail.
This is what is taking place in South Sudan currently. Soldiers fire indiscriminately in highly populated areas and targeted people for their ethnicity during recent fighting in Juba.
The fighting followed deepening tensions between President Salva Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, and the former vice president, Riek Machar, a Nuer. Government soldiers of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and police questioned residents about their ethnicity and deliberately shot ethnic Nuer.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.comFacebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole
Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ
UN Disarmament
Conference, 2002
There are no plans for the establishment on a new sugar processing factory at Riana in Rongo in the near future, according to farmers in the area.
The only plan which is in the pipeline is the construction of a new white sugar plant at Aoch Muga in east Gem Location, Rangwe constituency In Homa-Bay County. The farmers have scathingly criticized the Rongo MP Dalmas Otieno who recently made an announcement that two new factories would take off in the area In January next year.
The farmers, who spoke to this writer and requested for their anonymity, said the MP”s statement has caused a lot of confusion.in the area. NDEGE oriedo in Riana near Opapo is very close to the Awendo-based Sony Sugar company whereas the Kenya Sug to establish a new sugar plant must ensure its continuous source of supplies of raw material which is the sugar cane.
This rule is meant to ensure that there will be no cut-throat scrambling for the raw material. In the case of Riana the area is less than 40 kilometers from the existing sugar plant at Awendo, there fore what the MP has been telling his constituents is a phantom with not an iota of truth.
In the recent past the Ringo MP has been criss-crossing the region telling his constituents that a new sugar plant would be constructed at Riana and that the investors have already intentions on the site and were training dozens of farmers ahead of the construction. He said 124 acres of land has already been set-aside at Riana for the site of the new plant.
One farmer lamented that it could be that the MP is out to sabotage the new project, which is far away away from Riana. The project has already received the blessing of the Homa-Bay governor Cyprian Awiti and his team.
The multi-million project has also received the blessing of the Kenya Sugar Board, which is the official body tasked with with regulating the sugar industry, therefore we really don’t know what the MP is talking about. We have checked through the relevant Ministry and the KSB and discovered that no second sugar plant has been licensed for the area.
ONE farmer from Rongo disclosed that the MP has recently bought and acquired several parcels of land In and around an area called Ndege Oriedo perhaps in anticipation that when the project takes off at Aoch Muga he would be able to make a kill in the re-selling the pieces of land which he had acquired and this is the 124 acre of land, which he has been speaking about.
POLITICAL WRANGLINGS BETWEEN MIGORI GOVERNOR AND ODM LEADERS INTENSIFIED AS SUPPORTERS ACCUSED THE GOVERNOR OF practicing NEPOTISM
The political war of attrition has intensified between Migori governor Zachary Okoth Obado and the local ODM branch officials following accusation and allegations that the governor is hostile towards the supporters and leaders of the party.
Other sources have revealed that the Migori governor has employed his own two brothers (two in total).
The same source gave the names of governors two of them as Daudi Obada the head of revenue and Uhuru Obado market attendant. The two n belong to one father with the governor, the two shared one father with the governor bur from different mother
The governor is a besieged man following allegations and complaints that he had investigated the sacking of the county workers who are perceived to be the staunchest supporters of the ODM from the county services and replaced them with his own kins.
Governor Obado won the March 4, 2013 on the nomination ticket of the unknown People Democratic Party (PDP), which is led by the former South Mugirango Mp Omingo Magara. This was after he failed to secure the ODM nomination certificate at the Party’s primaries.
The ODM ticket was won by Prof Edward Okong’o Oyugi who was later beaten at the election proper by Zacahry Obado. Prof Oyugi thereafter moved to the High Court and filed a petition seeking for the nullification of Obado’s election on March 4, 2013.
The court however ruled in favour of Obado. Prof Oyugi and co-petitioners Mrs Omondi Anyanga the wife of Nyatike MP who was one of the election losers in the contest for Migori governorship. The petition is left pending before the Court of Appeal.
Back to governor Obado home town in Uriri Constituency a group of about 20 youths were his chief campaigners are so frustrated and disgruntled. About 12 youth are fully licensed drivers. But are presently idle, although the county recently purchased a fleet of 12 vehicles and employed drivers, none of the governor’s supporters were considered for employment.
These frustrated youth could be seen idling themselves around Rapogi Uriri trading centres with nothing to lay their hands on.
Nyatike Mp Edwin Omondi Anyanga is the one who fired the first salvo when he went public and accused governor Obado of being alone ranger who work in isolation without consulting with other elected leaders in the county. The working relations between governor Obado and the MPs representing various constituencies within Migori County except the Awendo MP Jared Kos within Migori County is said not to be so cordial, but the governor is reportedto be co-operating very closely with the Awendo MP Jared Kopiyo who also got into parliament through the ticket of Ford Kenya party
The seemingly governor’s supporters last week lamented that Obato has sidelined and short – changed them. He is no longer picking up their phone cells.
This writermade a frantic effort to reach governor Obato via his mobile phone no 0722467587 but the calls were unanswered.
These frustrated youth said they might be forced to consider the possibility of organization street demonstrations against the Migori governor for having short changed them.
Effort to reach the governor by the group has failed. He is no longer cropping at Rapogi or at Uriri Center. His relationship with other Migori MP is no longer cortias.
The impending ODM national officials party election, scheduled for February next year, is likely to be crowded by many contestants.
The coveted important position of the party Secretary – General is expected to be the most crowded. The position is currently held by the Kisumu Senator Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o who has held it for close to ten years. However, the post seemed to have attracted many party stalwarts, particularly the group of the younger generation, calling themselves the Young Turks.
The group comprising mostly first time members of Parliament has one old and experienced party stalwart in the name of Prof. Larry Gumbe and the Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba.
Others reported to be interested in the same post to included the outspoken Gwassi MP John Mbadi, Kisumu Town West MP Ken Obura, Ndhiwa MP Augustino Neto Oyugi. Also reported by some unconfirmed sources to be eyeing the same position is the ODM Executive Director Magerer Lang’at who is the immediate former MP for Kipkellion.
The young Turks blamed the old guard for having largely contributed to the party’s devastating defeat in the March 14 general election due to their laxity and poor leadership.
The name of the Siaya Senator JAMES Aggrey Orengo has been featuring prominently in other quarters as the one who is likely to succeed Prof Nyong”o. The incumbent of late has been keeping low profile over party activities.
Speaking to this writer via the phone, Prof Gumbe said ODM needs principled and consistent leadership to guide the party become a true grassroots visionary and democratic political movement which will lead Kenya into industrialization.
U.S. House: Don’t lead us down a path that could lead to another senseless war in the Middle East. Please back President Obama’s diplomatic approach to Iran.Dear MoveOn member,
Sign the Petition! http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=295511&id=80943-21095459-KL7iHPx&t=4
Dear MoveOn member,
Breaking news: Republican House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is working on a hawkish bill that would torpedo President Obama’s interim agreement with Iran by setting unrealistic goals for the final deal.
Just how bad is the bill? “It would blow things apart. If you want a war, that is the thing to do.” That’s how a Democratic senator summarized a recent, similar proposal.
And this isn’t a fringe bill either—it’s gaining ground among Democratic members of the House—and if we do nothing it will become bipartisan.
Congress is debating this bill in the next few days. This a crisis for diplomacy. If even just the House of Representatives passes this bill, it tells the Iranian people that America isn’t serious about diplomacy—and even if President Obama vetoes it, the damage is done.
That’s why I created an urgent petition on MoveOn.org, telling the House of Representatives to back President Obama’s diplomatic approach to Iran.
Click here to sign the petition to demand diplomacy, not the march to war—and then pass it on to your friends.
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=295511&id=80943-21095459-KL7iHPx&t=5
Remember when MoveOn members and allies banded together to stop military action from becoming a reality with Syria, after war seemed inevitable? We won! It was so inspiring.
That’s one big reason that I’ve been campaigning on MoveOn.org for a while now to help to pave the way for diplomacy. We know from our past efforts that diplomacy can work as an alternative to war and violence.
But if Eric Cantor and his war-hawk colleagues succeed this week, Congress will tie President Obama’s hands, destroy negotiations, and edge us closer to another senseless conflict in the Middle East.
Click here to sign the petition to stop war hawks in Congress from destroying peace and diplomacy, and then pass it on to your friends.
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=295511&id=80943-21095459-KL7iHPx&t=6
As you read this message, we have a once-in-a-generation chance to not just fight back against a potential conflict, but to proactively build peace and diplomacy in the Middle East. But it’s up to us: You and me.
Our chance really could slip away in the next week—since Congress is about shatter the deal with Iran unless there’s a massive outcry. And how hard we fight to stop Congress from torpedoing Obama’s diplomatic efforts in the next week could ultimately determine whether or not we go to war again in the Middle East.
Sign the petition now, and I’ll tell you how we can fight hard next week to save diplomacy.
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=295511&id=80943-21095459-KL7iHPx&t=7
The interim deal with Iran is a win for everyone—Iran has agreed to opening itself up to the potential of daily inspections and in turn the U.S. has offered some relief from sanctions. That’s why 64% of the American public, 100 rabbis, and leading military and national security experts support the president’s diplomatic path with Iran.
Diplomacy with Iran is the best way for us to support change-makers in Iran and it’s in America’s national interest.
Please sign this petition urging your representatives to back the Obama administration’s efforts in Iran, and then pass it along to your friends.
http://www.moveon.org/r/?r=295511&id=80943-21095459-KL7iHPx&t=8
Thanks for your support.
–Sara Haghdoosti
This petition was created on MoveOn’s online petition site, where anyone can start their own online petitions. Sara Haghdoosti didn’t pay us to send this email—we never rent or sell the MoveOn.org list.
The government of Kenya is being accused of insincerity in its declared plans to resuscitate the ailing sugar industry. Instead the sugar sub-sector which, is so vital in the country’s economic growth, is said to have been neglected and turned to a milking cow.
A recent tour of the Nyanza sugar belt by the cabinet secretary for agriculture Felor Koskei has provoked sharp criticism of the government whose sincerity to introduce a crash programme for the rehabilitation of the sugar sub-sector is now put into a big question mark.
Koskei announced that five sugar mills which are currently in public investments and under the parastatal management would be privatized soon.
He said the move will be to comply with a resolution passed by parliament in January this year. The five sugar factories included Nzoia, Muhoroni, Sony Sugar, Chemelil and Miwani.
The five sugar companies are heavily indebted to the turned US 525 million with their annual books of account not very attractive.
Koskei issued a directive that sugar cane farmers may now be forced to sell their crops to any millers without zonal restriction. This he said will be on willing seller willing buyer basis.
The cane farmers in Western Kenya through Kenya Sugar Cane Growers Association (KESGA) have reacted angrily and vehemently opposed the new directive.
Sugar cane farmers view the new directive as aimed at protecting the errant millers at the expense of cane growers.
The farmers in the sugar cane growing regions said they have a feeling that if Koskei directive is implemented it will automatically trigger chaos worse than the current pathetic situation in which cane poaching crisis has threatened to cripple the sugar industry.
Koskei, they said has missed the point. How do the farmers who are specifically contracted to sugar companies that had advanced them with millions of shillings in land preparation and development loans deliver their harvests to other millers that did not invest a cent in the same crops development, even if they are offering better terms?
For a farmer too develop an acre of sugar cane from the land preparation to harvesting cost approximately between Ksh. 40, 000 and Ksh. 50, 000 respectively which poor farmer can not afford, hence for partnership with the millers who can only recover their money upon the farmer delivering the cane to the same miller, who had advanced the m with the land preparation and cane development loan.
The government is equally blamed for not having put in place certain binding conditions when signing contract with new investors in the sugar industry especially on issues related to the employment of top management staff in the sugar companies.
There are five privately owned sugar factories which are currently operational. In all the five with the exception of one, Miwani sugar Mills which went burst and presently under the official receivership, all top managers are foreign expatriates recruited from either India or Pakistan.
Local African staff and workers in those factories are only engaged to work as casuals without letters of appointments. Local Kenyans are employed but earning discriminative salary scales in comparison to their foreign counterparts
The expatriate are the one earning the highest salary scales, but not subjected to mandatory deductions such as NSSF and NHIF, while their counterparts (Africans} are forced to pay the mandatory deductions.
Expatriates are employed on petty and odd jobs such as time-keepers, store-keepers, junior account clerks, cane yard clerks, casuals, messengers, accountants, electricians tractor drivers, sweepers etc.
Salaries for the expatriate varied from Kshs 30, 000 up to 80,000 per month. The highest paid African worker earns between Ksh 6000 and Ksh 15, 000 per month, but without being issued with letters of appointment.
In actual sense this is purely case of new slavery when indignant Kenyan workers are being discriminated in their own country.
All the jobs specifications on which foreign workers are doing can easily be filled by local personnel.
Kenya has trained and turned out thousands of skilled workers, in excess of its industrial needs therefore does not require any foreign workers of the above mentioned categories.
The Indian sugar companies, it is being alleged, are said to be spending fortunes in the way of corruptly obtaining the work permit for the expatriate workers, which runs into millions of shillings.
The Indian owned factories incTrans-Mara lude Butali, West Kenya, Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries, Trans Nzoia, Mara Sugar Companies and Miwani Sugar Mills. All are located in Western Kenya.
Some of these rules stipulates among other things that the new mills must be established at a distant of not less than 40 km apart from the existing one, cut the invest must provide to the KSB with evidence that they had acquired enough land acreage for sourcing continued cane supplies to avoid scrambling and cut throat cane poaching.
These r KSB regulations are defiantly and flagrantly ignored by excessively arrogant Indian investors and hence the source of discontent leading to near violence cane poaching that has been witnessed in Western province and in the Nyanza sugar belt and also Awendo sugar cane growing zone which Sony Sugar is violently competing for cane harvesting with Sukari Industries and Trans Mara Sugar Companies as located less than 15 km apart.
From: Ouko joachim omolo
The News Dispatch with Omolo Beste
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2013
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Jubilee coalition government have made up their minds that his memorandum on the media Bill remains, whether journalists drawn from all media houses hit the streets to oppose it.
David Ohito, the vice-chairman Editor’s Guild and a long time friend of mine says they are going on the street because they were not satisfied by the move to place the memorandum before the Parliament for debate and adoption without involving all stakeholders, sighting mischief by the Government.
Journalists are wondering how can individual journalist pay Sh500,000 and the media houses part with Sh20 million. Threat by media to move to court to challenge the constitutionality of the Bill is not going to help much either.
Ohito says they will present their own memorandum before the Parliament during the protest. But even so, this won’t help either since the speaker of the national assembly is jubilee slot and in many occasions has been seen siding with Jubilees’ agenda, particularly removing Kenya from Rome Statute to save Uhuru and his deputy Ruto from attending the cases against them.
Ohito is also challenging Uhuru to take personal responsibility about the whole issue and allow for media freedom. No matter how much Uhuru would be willing to do so, his hands are tied since he cannot act independently from his Jubilee mandate.
Uhuru cannot take personal responsibility that is why his effort to defend Land, Urban Development and Housing Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu has been challenged. Jubilee coalition members are plotting to get rid of her.
Some of the things Jubilee government would not like media to report is current silent rebellion against Deputy President William Ruto, which is slowly building up in the Rift Valley with some MPs being critical of what they say is Ruto’s soft stance on matters of national importance.
TNA particularly would not like to see media reporting that URP MPs are especially irked that Ruto has remained complacent even as plum state jobs are being distributed to one half of the Jubilee government.
The disharmony is not only limited to MPs but some of Ruto’s close associates have expressed their concerns that his erstwhile political protégé, Joshua Kutuny was appointed as President Uhuru Kenyatta’s political advisor without any consultation or notice and now being used by TNA pro Uhuru instead of Nancy and Mutahi Ngunyi.
The recent statement by Kutuny and which did not please URP legislators is when he was used to issue statement that no one coached ICC witnesses to fix Ruto. This has not gone very well with URP members.
Kuttuny robustly defended uhur against these allegations and urged the leaders to desist from making statements on the ongoing ICC cases at the International Criminal Court.
Politicians don’t work like professionals. That is also why Attorney General, Githu Muigai and the Cabinet Sectary for Communication, Fred Matiangi have been left out in darkness about the clauses in the memorandum.
The same fear of media also emerged during the Kenya’s first President Jomo Kenyatta when he fell out with his political ally, Tom Mboya in 1960s. Media was seen as a threat to Kenyatta’s government when Kenyatta and Mboya rivalry led to the formation of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu).
Cotu was mooted by the Kenyatta administration ostensibly to neutralise Mboya’s influence in the country’s trade union movement. Trouble started in 1962 when Mboya threatened to leave Kanu.
Kenyatta feared that if Mboya used the Kenya Federation of Labour as a party, an economic strategy, which favoured capital rather than labour, would give his critics further ammunition to fight his government.
The same thing happened after Jaramogi Odinga Odinga formed an opposition party, Kenya Peoples Union (KPU). Radical trade union leaders, who supported Odinga were suspended from Cotu. Media was not allowed to report this.
Moi was even particular. He banned some sections of media several times when it emerged that they reported his brutal action of detentions and political trials, torture, arbitrary arrests and police brutality.
Moi always perceived human rights generally as alien and Euro centric conceptions inconsistent with African values and culture. That is why he always tried to ban civil organizations.
Journalists who reported things against his government were taken to Nyayo torture chamber. Moi’s actions were meant to silence journalists and the intelligent, perceived to be critical of his authoritarian rule.
In 1986 alone, 100 people were arrested and detained for their alleged association with Mwakenya, the movement started by some Kenyans in Europe who had fled Moi’s oppression regime.
Politicians who were vocal were ruthlessly killed. Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Robert Ouko, was assassinated in February 1990. Clergymen, lawyers, and other pro-democracy and human rights advocates were persistently arrested and harassed, or even killed.
In the build-up to the 1992 to 1997 elections were met with police beatings. Any journalist who reported this incident was put into task. Opposition members who refused to vote KANU and Moi had their houses burnt, property looted or killed.
Judges who made rulings in favor of human rights victims exposed themselves to punitive transfers or sacked.
Mwaki Kibaki’s regime was not different either- He tough with media when they reported that campaigners and critics condemned the reappointment of retired Justice Aaron Ringera as anti-corruption director.
Kibaki’s regime reappointed Ringera because he was cheap to be tamed. Campaigners were against his appointment because he failed to fight corruption, not to realize that this was the type of person Kibaki government wanted.
The same Ringera has been appointed by President Uhuru to lead the team which is to probe the activities of JSC. This is despite the fact that Ringera is not fit to head the team of tribunal since at one point when he applied to be a judge of the Supreme Court he was not short listed.
Ringera was appointed chair of the tribunal whose other members are Jeniffer Shamalla, my friend Ambrose Weda and Mutua Kilaka. Apart from Weda, the LSK chairman Erick Mutua explained that Shamalla had also come out in the media directly critisising the JSC.
At one point, Jennifer Shamalla has not only come out on national TV to say that the JSC does not know what it is doing but also criticized the honorable Chief Justice Dr Willy Mutunga.
At the end of 2005 President Kibaki appointed him director when he had failed to respond to the Anglo-Leasing dossier as the public demanded. Ringera was set for cover-up. He never released the copy to John Githongo who was then the Secretary to Ethics and Corruption.
Fr Joachim Omolo Ouko, AJ
Tel +254 7350 14559/+254 722 623 578
E-mail omolo.ouko@gmail.com
Facebook-omolo beste
Twitter-@8000accomole
Real change must come from ordinary people who refuse to be taken hostage by the weapons of politicians in the face of inequality, racism and oppression, but march together towards a clear and unambiguous goal.
-Anne Montgomery, RSCJ
UN Disarmament
Conference, 2002
John Boehner ought to have done that, sign up for Insurance through Affordable care (Obamacare) long time ago; the moment it was made law. It is because, Law is Law and there is no BUTS or IFS about the Law. First instinct is to obey the law first, then talk later. It is how things are suppose to be done. Law is an order and you cannot talk over the law. If you have a problem with the law, you sign up first, and bring up your case later.
Here is what wise people in the democratic space will do. Knowing that the Government is a People’s project, all rich and poor must play by the same set of rules. People’s project demands that all (Rich and the Disadvantaged or Poor) must comply by the same set of rules as guiding principles to achieve whatever people want to achieve in life……..that, the Government is the resource pool for opportunity to all big and small people/ rich or disadvantaged.
Corporation are people, is undoubtedly true, because a group of affluence (rich) people decides to pull their power together to achieve a common business interest agenda for PROFIT MAKING in their network ……but that is only 1% of the group missions against those of the 99% of the population majority interest. This is the reason why the 1% cannot dictate and command over the interest of the 99% in the People’s Democratic Governance ……. if they do, then it stops being a People’s Democratic Government. It becomes the Rulership of the most powerful rich which in the essence is a DICTATORIAL GOVERNANCE by the rich who having succeeded in opposing the interest of the 99% of the majority, imposes their demands on the 99% of the population.
This is where the interest of the majority is weakened and have no say of how they wish to be governed, because the rich will have influenced and imposed their demands unfairly on the majority; in which case, the People’s Government of the majority 99% will have been overpowered and superseded by the 1% and the 1% becomes the MASTERS controlling and imposing their demands on the 99% who will have no option but to be swallowed into SLAVERY because their voted REPRESENTATIVES who are suppose to represent and protect their interest are bought off by the rich and compromised their service to people and engaged into conflict of interest to do and serve the will and demands of the 1%. Practically, they fail to go by PUBLIC MANDATE that had them voted into public service, instead of complying to the wishes and interest of their voters who carried the 99%, they switched interest to serve Corporation of Special Business Interest in public service delivery.
Good people, this was headed to end the People’s Government. Which is why, President Obama diligently kept the space in the bipartisan, knowing that he was elected by the people to DELIVER PUBLIC MANDATE. That, he is a custodian of the People’s Government and must pay attention to what the people want. It is the same reason why when the going gets tough at the Washington, he takes solace in the people’s Referendum; and it is because, in the democratic space of the People’s Government, people decides how they wish to be governed. It is the opposite of unfair Corporate Dictatorship Rule of imposing Special Business Interest demands on the majority people. This is unacceptable.
Selfish Greed is a cancer meant to destroy good intent of Love, Unity and Peace in harmony that are for common good of all people. Selfish Greed must be defeated to achieve harmony and happiness we all want. Which is why, filibuster rule was proposed by Hurry Reid in the Senate so that things can move in the right direction, and it is the good thing to do, to avoid gridlock and obstruction that stall people’s business from taking effect at the Washington because of Corporate Special Business Interest negativity and selfish greed of a few that are not for Public Interest Mandate. We shall expect a lot of drama, because they want to resist everything and anything a BLACK PRESIDENT is about to bring to the people………….to them, BLACK IS EVIL………and have not RIGHT to go down in record in the books of HISTORY………..BUT, we all must be watchful and resist any kind of pressure that are driving people to SLAVERY, because, we cannot go back to those dark days………. the days of unwarranted killings, pain and sufferings that bring no good to this wonderful great Nation that leads the world. ALSO, they have to learn that, BLACK IS A PEARL OF LOVE, PEACE, UNITY AND HAPPINESS. That they should stop HATING BLACK and begin to adjust so we can all be ONE. That BLACK is only a COLOR and when we are all dead, WE ALL RESEMBLE THE SOIL OF THE EARTH……………
JF Kennedy was WHITE, but had the heart that welcomed all people of color. He knew that people cannot form barrier amongst themselves. That all had talents and skills to contribute to the well being of all. He saw this 50years ago and walked the path of PEACE and UNITY. He knew what the people want is the right thing to do. He remained firm to do the will of the people and persistently pushed for Public Mandate. He was killed because special business interest did not want to hear about People’s Civil Rights with other to do list that was going to be made into a LAW to become a BILL. After he was killed, Civil Rights Bill with all other bills still became the LAW. Why then did they have to kill JF Kennedy??? …….. The answer is simple……..Selfish Greed.
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com
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Democrats ditch historic U.S. Senate rule blamed for gridlock
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Democratic-controlled U.S. Senate, in a historic and bitterly fought rule change, stripped Republicans on Thursday of their ability to block President Barack Obama’s judicial and executive branch nominees.
The action fundamentally altered the way Congress’ upper chamber has worked since the mid-19th century by making it impossible for a minority party, on its own, to block presidential appointments, except those to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The change in the so-called “filibuster” rule does not apply to legislation, which can still be held up by a handful of senators.
The now-defunct rule, a symbol of Washington gridlock, has survived dozens of attacks over the years largely because both major political parties like to use it.
The action will undoubtedly come back to haunt Democrats the next time they lose the Senate and the White House simultaneously. Getting rid of it was considered so momentous and divisive that it was dubbed the “nuclear option” in the Senate.
On a nearly party-line vote of 52-48, the Senate reduced from 60 to 51 the number of votes needed to end procedural roadblocks.
Obama, a former senator, praised the action, calling the filibuster “a reckless and relentless tool to grind all business to a halt.”
The change will speed up the confirmation of Obama appointments to the courts as well as to cabinet and regulatory agencies.
One beneficiary is likely to be Representative Mel Watt, whose nomination to take over the agency that regulates mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was being blocked by Republicans.
But the immediate spark was Democratic frustration at Republican use of the filibuster to block Obama’s appointments to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, considered the nation’s second most important court after the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Washington-based appeals court handles crucial disputes over the powers of the presidency and Congress, along with regulatory matters involving air and water pollution, banks, securities trading, telecommunications and labor relations. It has also been a feeder to the Supreme Court, with four of the current justices being former D.C. Circuit judges.
NEW RULE USED QUICKLY
Democrats quickly used the new rule by ending a Republican filibuster against one of those court nominees, Patricia Millett, on a vote of 55-43. A vote to confirm her nomination will be held later.
Millett is a Harvard-trained lawyer who worked in the administration of both Democratic President Bill Clinton and Republican President George W. Bush. The American Bar Association gave her its top rating for the D.C. Circuit post.
As is often the case with stalled nominations, Republicans did not contend that Millet lacked qualifications. They simply do not want to give Obama more appointments to the important court, which they argue is underworked anyway.
For nearly two years, Republicans held up confirmation of Richard Cordray as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau because they objected to the bureau’s powers, not to Cordray, who has since been confirmed.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, led the charge on the rules change, accusing Republicans of record obstructionism and saying the American public is right to believe that “Congress is broken.”
Reid said that of the 168 filibusters against presidential nominees in U.S. history, half were held against Obama’s picks.
“It’s time to change,” Reid said.
Republican Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa fired back, “This is a naked power grab.”
Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell insisted that there was no reason for a rule change, saying Republicans had confirmed the vast majority of Obama’s judicial nominees.
McConnell also accused Democrats of taking the action merely to divert attention from the botched launch of Obama’s healthcare law, known as Obamacare.
But with Congress’s approval rating in single digits and no indication Republicans will compromise with Obama on much of anything, Reid decided to pull the trigger.
Reid assumes that voters, who polls show are disgusted with a largely “do-nothing” Congress, won’t be upset by a rule change to confirm stalled nominees, Democratic aides said.
Reid also figured that if he did not change the rules, that increasingly anti-compromise Republicans would change them when they win control of the Senate, which could happen in next year’s election, the aides said.
Stephen Hess, a congressional analyst at The Brookings Institution, said, “There’s a good reason why it’s called ‘the nuclear option.’ This does change the system.”
“And whether it’s good or bad depends on from whence you view it and at what moment,” Hess said. “It is good for Democrats on the 21st of November, 2013. And it may not be good (for Democrats) if the landscape changes in the mid-term election” next year and Republicans take control of the Senate.
Asked whether the Democrats’ move could worsen relations with Republicans and make it more difficult to pass legislation, Hess said “I don’t know that relations this bad can get an awful lot worse.”
(Reporting by Thomas Ferraro, Richard Cowan and David Lawder; Editing by Vicki Allen, Fred Barbash and Tim Dobbyn)
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John Boehner Has Officially Signed Up For Insurance Through Obamacare
Speaker.gov
House Speaker John Boehner has officially enrolled in a D.C. insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act, he said in a blog post on his website Thursday evening, after having some difficulty signing up earlier in the afternoon.
“Like many Americans, my experience was pretty frustrating,” he wrote of his experience at first, a reference to the dysfunction that has plagued the exchange websites since their launch.
“After putting in my personal information, I received an error message. I was able to work past that, but when I went to actually sign up for coverage, I got this ‘internal server error’ screen.”
In his original blog post, he wrote that he had put a call into the help desk. A short while later, he added an update:
“Kept at it, and called the DC Health Link help line. They called back a few hours later, and after re-starting the process on the website two more times, I just heard from DC Health Link that I have been successfully enrolled.”
Brendan Buck, Boehner’s press secretary, joked that “sure didn’t take long after the blog post.”
The federal health care law requires members to enroll in D.C. exchanges.
ANYONE reading through the columns of the Kenyan newspapers will not escape from reading malice and deliberate distortion and concoction of the the country’s political history, especially in regards to the role of those gallant freedom fighters of the past. I was so disgusted, perturbed and dismayed when I read the stories of Kenyan heroes of the yester-years
The photographs which were lined up as those of the freedom fighters during the hero’s day celebrations were mostly of former Home-Guards and boot lickers of the colonialists. I am particularly concerned with the several supplements carried out by some of the dailies.
Our papers showed only those who were well-known as the blue-eyed agents of the colonialists and white settlers, and the photos with dubious contributions to the real task for liberation war.
The list of the pseudo heroes were published either by design or malice that excluded the portrait of Mzee Harry Thuku, the fonder of the Kikuyu Central Kenya Association, which was later to became the mother of the defunct Kenya African Union {KAU}
The late Thuku, is arguably is the father of African nationalists uprising against the British colonial rulers in this country and their associates, the white settlers, Indian business moguls, and the Arabs. In the list of the past heroes of the independent struggle,the writers deliberately excluded the photo and name of Ronald Gideon Ngala, James Smuel Gichuru,Ex-Senior Chief Koinnange Wa Mbiyu, Wokesha Mengu of Taita/Taveta, Fred Kubai, Makan Singh, Walter Fanuel Odede,Daniel Ojijo Oteko of Karachuonyo, John Paul Olola from Alego, Jalmaya Okaka Rabala of Seme, of the Kavirondo Taxpayers Association { Piny Owacho}, John Kebaso of Kisii, JOHN andala of Bunyore, Lumadede Kisala of Maragoli, Elijah Masinde of Bukhusu, Rev Canon Awori , W.W.W.Awori, Eliud Wambu Mathu, Benard Mate , J.jeremiah Nyagah and Francis J.Khamisi.
Other freedom fighters who had the colonialists and their white settlers friends sleepless nights included Arap Koilagen the head of laibons in Kericho and the descendant of Kipnyige and Koitalel Arap Samoei. Arap K Mfangano Island after his entire Talai Laibon clan} Talai were forcefully evicted from their fertile ancestral land to pave thew way for the white settlers tea plantation in Keriucho and Bomet aregions and driven to the remote Gwassi Hills in the then South Nyanza in 1934. Koilagen died in 1956 and was buried on Mfangano Island while his two other cousins died in Nyeri prison where they were detained by the colonial government
The second regent generation of freedom fighters included Lawrence Gerald Oguda,Taaitta Araap Toweett, John Marie Seroney Josef Stanley Mathenge of Nyeri, Ambalal Patel [Ambu} , V.V. Patel.Daniel Moss oF Mt Elgot Congress, Kondit Ole Tiis, Dr Julius Gikonyo Kiano, J.D. Kali
Back to JAMES Samuel Gichuru, it was the latter who prior to the return of Jommo Kenyatta from Europe in 1948 became the first President of KAU. He relinquished this position and stood down for Kenyatta to resume the party leadership.,.
Again for the second time in 1941 Gichuru stood down as the President of KANU to give way to Commn Kenyatta to resume the party”s leadership after the latter”s release from the colonial jails in 1961,
About ODEDE, The Makerere trained veterinarian had stepped into Kenyatta shoes and resumed the presidency of KAU late in October 1951 only a week after Kenyatta and other top leaders of the party were rounded up by the colonial security personnel on the night of October 20. Kenyatta and five other were vanished in the remotest part of the NORTHERN Kenya before they were charged before a court in Kapenguria and jailed with hard labour on the framed charges of managing Mau Mau. Before the end of the same month, Odede hiukself was arrested while visiting South Nyanza and vanquished into detention camp in Maralal, Samburu from where he remained in the colonial detention and restriction camps until 1960s.
It would be good for the young writers to visit libraries before penning about history and they should stop sycophantic outbursts in which people whose contributions to the independence struggle are very insignificant.
The younger journalists must stop turning the history of this country upside down
The sentiment expressed by a section of Western Kenyan leaders who have asked the Kenya Sugar Boards Chief Executive Rosemary Mkok to Resign has received the backing of sugar cane farmers in Nyanza.
A cross section of farmers in the sugar cane farming fraternity there is a teaching that the KSB CEO should pack and go home due to what they termed as “incompetency, inefficiency and poor management style.
Western province Mp who included Kakamega senator Bonny Khalwale, Mwingi West MP Benjamin Wachiali, Mumias West Johnson Nakoccaa an Lugari MP Ayub Savula in a joint statement released in Kakmega last Friday called on the KSB CEO to take responsibility for the problem taking the Sugar Industry in this country.
The \Western leaders were speaking during the stakeholders meeting held at Mumias Sugar Company Guest House.
The team warned that “Sugar Industry was on the verge of fatal collapse because of Mkok’s poor leadership”.
The KSB which is the regulatory body in the sugar industry had irregulsrlym licensed millers to operate in various parts of their region without meeting the mandatory requirements which stipulated in the law and that is why the sector is in the present mess.
The regulation guiding the establishment of new sugar mills have been ignored and violated with impunity hence the source of intensive scrambling for the raw cane.
It stipulates that the new mills might be located about 40 kilometers from the existing for the purpose of maintaining smooth supplies of raw cane.
The regulation was flagrantly violated by the KSB when it licensed both West Kenya and Butali Sugar Mills very close to each other.
In Southern Nyanza the Sukari Limited at Wachara in Ndhiwa is only 10 km from the Awendo based Sony Sugar while at the same time another Sugar factory in Trans Mara is less than 20km from each. This has been the source of excessive cane poaching.
Meanwhile workers within the Sugar Industry in Western Kenya have placed the blame about the woes in the sugar sub-sector of the economy on the unrealistic policy and practice of Cotu (k)
The workers blame the Secretary General Francis Atwoli for having failed the workers in the sugar industry in particular and in the agriculture sector as a whole. Atwoli is fond of double speaking and has contributed largely towards the workers endless problems in this country.
Atwoli is the secretary at the Kenya Union of Agriculture and plantation. He has clandestine interest in the Kenya Union of Sugar Plantation Workers (KUSPW) whose secretary general is Francis Wagara while the union chairperson is Mrs Roslida Atwoli. It has become a family business.
Atwoli has failed to kick out foreign workers from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh who now forms the best part of staff in the Sugar Mills. All the sugar Mills owned by Indian Investors have imported hundreds of foreign workers. Some not even justified for the farm jobs they are holding can be filed by the local Kenyans.
These Mills included Butali, West Kenya, Kibos Sugar and Allied Industries , Sukari industry in Ndhiwa and Trans Mara Sugar. Factory in Narok Countty.
Foreigners are engaged on petty subordinate jobs general office clerks, time keepers, store – keepers, junior clerks, account clerks, messengers, cleaners, mechanics, electricians e.t.c. these categories of jobs can be filled by Kenyans.
The attack on COTU (K) and Atwoli came as realization to his support for the de-regeneration of Buteli at West Kenya Sugar Companies in Kakamega County.
Speaking during a fundraising meeting at Chekalini Secondary School in Lugari Constituency where he supported the blamed move by members of the National Assembly to de-register Butali out then key as saying that some of then licenses to the millers were uncalled for..
Anyone supporting the existence of the two factories is encouraging corruption, he said, abutting Mumias Sugar Man can employ and support over 200,000 people it allowed to thrive without competition.
Atwoli also came in to time for having failed miserably from his vain attempt to block the introduction of mechanized tea plucking machine in Kericho, Bomet, Bituli and Nandi Hills, tea growing regions. These machines were introduced a couple of years ago hence rendering close to 20,000 workers who plucked tea manually further deep then Atwoli vehement opposition to the man, which included a failed strike.
The COTU (K) should stop the mechanized tea plucking machine that instead of interfering with the workers in the Tea industry first before poking his nose into the sugar industry
THE Homa-Bay County government has envisages a plan to have the road from Mbita Point crossing to Rusinga Island termacked in order to give tourists and other visitors easy access to Tom Mboya Mausoleum, which is located at the late freedom fighter’s home near Matenga beach at Kamasengre, Rusinga West Location.
This was disclosed by the Homa-Bay governor Cypria. Otieno Awit. He further explained that ather road network earmarked from future improvement included Oyugis Kendu-Bay road and Rangwe-Rodi-Kopany Oyugis road. These roads are so important not only for easy communication, but would also facilitate easy travelling for traders and formers to access markets in the hinterland.
Other projects which are in the pipeline included tarmarcking the road which is traversing Mfangano, another fishing island which is also potential for tourist attractions.
Plans are also a foot for improving Kadongo-Gendia road and and the road that branches off at Kanyadhiang on the main Kendu-Bay-Homa-Bay rod and traversing Homa Hills via Pala as well as Kadel-Kowuor Pier road.
Prior to independence in 1963 Mboya used to walk from Mbita Point to his Kmasengre home on Rusinga Island.a distant of about eight miles. He used to cross Mbita Channel using a Dingy while leaving his car on the mainland, but this was later replaced by Ferry servicerr and after Mboya’s death in 1969, a Coasway was constructed. A permanent bridge is currently under construction The KENYA Museium services has since taken over the management of Tom Mboya Mausoleum.
Mboya, the most brilliant politician Kenya, has ever had is widely acknowledge as an uncompressed freedom fighter at the same time the architect of Kenya’s independence, died in hails of bullets fired by an assassin in a Nairobi street on July 5, 1969. HE HAD BEEN THE Secretary General of the independence party KANU ever since its inception in June 1960 up to his death while serving as Kenya’s MINISTER FOR Economic Planning and Development.
Governor AWITI said his government is busy initiating many socio-economic projects with far reaching to the electorate in the region. These projects are well spread in all seven parliamentary constituencies.
UNLESS Cord and Jubilee coalitions changes their tactics and abandon the idea of handpicking their preferred candidates without giving the electorate the free opportunity to nominate the most popular candidates through by conducting preliminary nomination process the two leading coalition parties could face an inevitable defeat in the two parliamentary by-elections.
The commonly popular opinion in this town and its environs is that the voters are unanimous that they will not vote for any candidate who is hand-picked by the either CORD or Jubilee headquarters.
The by elections are due to be held in Nyaribari Chache and in Bomachoge Borabu. Cord has already declared its support for the immediate former MP for the area Chris Bichage. Its principal partner, the WPD, is said to be in the process of choosing Richard Tongi,the man who had petition the high court and caused the by-election.
Rumours making the round here is that Ford People’ s party which was sounded by the former cabinet Minister Simeon Nyachae.However, the two leading parties appeared to have ignore the influence of the former Chief Secretary in Kisiipolitics. Leaders of these parties might not be in the know how that ignoring Nyachae waves of influence in Kisii , which is still intac, they re doing so at their own peril. Moreover Nyachae is highly respected member of one of the eight sub-clans, which are known as the kamba nane group in both Nyaribari Chache and in Nyanribari Masaba. He is still calling the shots within the two region Kamba nane which controls the majority of votes in Nyaribari Chance
The By-election in Nyaribari chache could be so complicated by the entry into other election race of Kennedy Omanga, who is the son of the former Nyaribari MP, the late Andrew John Omanga, who had also served as a cabinet Minister for many years. His mother Clara Omanga was once a Councilor in Kisii Municipality and rose through the ladder to became the rank of the town’s Mayor.Other credible aspirants included Ben Mogaka. In Bomachoge, Jubilee has settled on the former MP Joel Onyancha, while the Cord has declared its support to Peter Kimori. Another credible candidate who is likely top give Kimori a run for his Kimori a run for his money is Alfred Nyaundi,
This time around, the by-elections will be pitting the two Kisii political giants in two different opposing camps. These giants are Prof. Sam K.Ongeri who will be heading the Jubilee campaign team and Kisii Senator Chris M Obure of CORD. The two men have fought some of the fiercest election campaign battle in Kisii County before. They were involved in a bruising campaign for the Kisii senatorial seat which Obure won on March 4.
In 2008 Ongeri and Obure were locked in another by-elecion in Bomachoge after the High court in Kisii had nullified Oyancha election of 2007.Obure had succeeded in pushing John Ogari to victory in the consequent by election.
Obure and Onger were in the last Nyayo cabinet which was headed by the retired President Daniel ArapMoi. The two had supported different camps during the constitutional referendum voting of 2005. Ongeri Qa is the PNU torchbearer in Kisii and backed the Banana side, while the Narc government was headed by President Mwai Kibaki. Thereafter the referendum voting saw Kibaki beaten hands down with over one million votes.
Kisii County is an area where clan politics is still thriving and at times even supersede party politics. Clan politics is popularly known among the Abagusii as {\Obonyumba}This kind of clans politics gives advantages to those parliamentary aspirant from larger clans over their minority neighbors no matter how good is a candidate.
As far as the politics of Kisii is currently stand on the ground cord still control the largest parts of the region, but the coalition which is led by Raila Odinga who lost the presidential contest on March 4 to President Uhuru Kenyatta of the Jubilee has lost considerable ground to the waves of Jubilee which has made major inroads into many constituencies. Raila, however, must switch from his party’s usually flawed nomination system and give the voters their democratic rights of nominating the candidates of their own choice instead of dictating to them the handpicked canddate.
In the two by-elections, smaller parties including that PDP of Omingo Magara which had only one MP, namely Jared Kopiyo {Awendo},could make gains.
CORD and Jubilee must also watch the activities of the party independence KANU whose RESUYRGENCE IN Kisii region is unceasingly becoming visible.
SIGNS are emerging out of Luo-Nyanza indicating that relations between the Orange Democratic Movement [ODM] and the Wiper Democratic Party may be heading onto the rocks.
This could be judged by the recent events in which Members of Parliament who had won their parliamentary seat on MARCH 4, 2013 elections on WDP tickets have been placed under political siege, and are reported to be having it rough.
Both the ODM and WPD are the leading component of the CORD coalition, which also brings together other smaller parties. ODM is headed by Raila Odinga, while the WDP is under the leadership of the former Vice President Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka.
The symptoms of the rapidly widening gap and differences between the two partners surfaced during last week homecoming party for the Alego-Usonga MP Omondi Muluany. The gathering appeared to have been boycotted by senior ODM politicians in Siaya County. The only ODM luminaries in Siaya County who attended the party included Nicholas Gumbo, The MP for Rarieda and his Bondo counterpart Gideon Ochanda.
Muluany was elected on WDP ticket. Before this homecoming party, the legislator had faced rowdy ODM youth who confronted him and shouted him down during the Mashujaa DAY event held in Siaya town the previous week,
Senior ODM politician who were notably absent included Siaya Senator James Aggrey Orengo, Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo and his two counterparts from Ugenya and Ukwala constituencies. Also absent from the gathering was Dr. Oburu Oginga the former Bondo MP and several Ward representatives from the various parts of Siaya County. The minority leader in Parliament Nyenze from Ukambani was the only senior politician from outside Luo-Nyanza who attended the gathering.
Another MP who is said to be under siege is Fred Kopiyo [Awendo}. He too was voted into parliament on a FORD Kenya ticket. The MP who is prior to his election was living in a rented house within Awendo Town is reported to have relocated to and is now occupying a rented house near Rodi-Kopany within Homa-Bay Town constituency due to pressure mounted by ODM youth in Awendo. He is reported by sources to be as rare visitor to Awendo Town
The same sources say Kopiuypo these days changes his mode of travels whenever he is visiting his rural home which is in Sakwa West Location within Awendo district. He changes vehicles at the nearby Rongo town before he proceeded home where he is reported to be putting up an ultra modern house, which is still under the construction.
Reports emerging from Awendo says that an ugly incident recently occurred at the CDF office, which is also used by the MP as his constituency office when it was invaded by a group disillusioned and frustrated ODM youth who caused a fierce fighting. The attackers are said to have gone to the office with intention of forcefully ejecting the manager and workers out of the office. The fracas left several people inured and needed medical attention. Those who sustained bodily injuries included the MP’s personal assistant {PA}
Unconfirmed reports say the MP”s constituents are finding it difficult to communicate their messages to home because his cellphones are permanent switched off. They included the Ward representatives from the various locations within the constituency. The MP also sent his donations towards funeral gathering during the burial of his fallen constituents through emissaries. The MP could not be reached for his comments over these allegations as his two phone lines are permanently switched off.
The majority leader in the Migori County Johnson Omolo Owiro who represented Central Sakwa Ward is the one who is now handling most problems within the constituency because the MP is nowhere to be seen.
Owiro, the former chairman of the defunct Awendo Town Council confirmed in a phone conversation with this writer that he is also finding it difficult to communicate with his MP, but he is not nursing any ill=feeling towards the legislator and only wished well. He denied the rumor and speculations making the round that he is nursing parliamentary ambition, and might be a candidate for the seat in 2017. Kopiyo used the ticket of the PDP party of Omingo Magara after having losing the ODM ticket during the party’s primaries to his populist challenger Walter Sirawa.
Those politicians in Luo-Nyanza who the elections using other party tickets including those parties which were perceived to be friendly to the ODM and CORD have found the going difficult to integrate smoothly with their ODM colleagues and are therefore in political dilemma.
KOyoo is currently giving sleepless to the manager of the sugar mills which are located within his Muhoroni constituency, and who he has persistently accused of fleecing sugar cane farmers on their harvested cane crops and for the unnecessary delays in paying out raw cane bill after the deliveries.
However, there is only one Luo MP who has defied these political machinations and has integrated well with his ODM parliamentary colleagues. This is the Muhoroni MP James Onyango K”Oyoo. This is due to the fact that the outspoken MP is one of the shrewdest Luo politicians in the 11th Parliament.
The over all influence and popularity of the Orange Democratic Movement {ODM} Inside Luo-Nyanza is gloomm following the recent deadly rumors and speculation of in-fighting Within its rank and file in both the national office and local branches.
The situation is aggravated and worsened by the latest widely spread newspaper reports that some of the Orange party luminaries are not comfortable with the performance of the Nairobi governor Dr Evans Otieno Kidero. and ware actively plotting for the governor’s downfall.
The news about clandestine under current activities against the Nairobi governor, if true, could split the ODM in Luo-Nyanza.
The same could rekindle the old near violence confrontation which was witnessed in the region in the middle of 1960s and early 1970 when the two political giants in the region and heroes of the struggle for independence burst into open and caused a major split between the LUOs of Central and those of then greater Southern Nyanza
The close to violence confrontation between the late Jaramogi Oginga Oding and Tom Mboya did not only destabilized, but also polarized the region when the supporters of the two went for each others neck.
Luos living in Central in Central Nyanza rallied behind Jramogi while those of SOUTHERN nynza supported Mboys. The two traversed the region addressing series of rallies while tearing at each other’s style of leaders. These wrangling only came to ubpru0t end following Mboya”s assassination on July 5,1969. Thereafter Jaramogi became the undisputed and overall leader of the community.
CORD and ODM stalwarts in Kisumu and rural areas have been heard making malicious and wild allegations against Kidero to the effect that he was betraying CORD because of he is working in close relations with President Uhuru Kenyatta and other Jubilee leaders, and as such undermining the CORD the party which had sponsored his election as the City governor during the March 4, 2013 general elections.
Other accusations which are so common is that Dr KIDERO is currently warming up towards the jubilee leader Raila Odinga comes the year 2017 general election by contesting the presidency of the Republic.
Kidero only sin is having ushered President Kenyatta for a luncheon at his palatial Muthaiga upper market residence and for having travelled in President Kenyatta”s entourage during his recent state visit to Russia an China.
Those speaking in defense of Nairobi governor have dismissed these allegations and claims as cheap and petty and only based on nothing, but naked jealousy. Kidero supporters have been heard purring up the strong but logical argument that Nairobi County is the seat of the national government of Kenyan which is headed by President Kenyatta and as such the protocols requires the governor to work closely with the government of the day.
Kidero, according to the majority of CORD members has done nothing wrong to warrant such bashing, which are based on negative suspicion. Others are saying that that Raila has had enough backing for the community, though owing to bad luck he has failed to capture the presidency having contested thrice for it, and that it was time he gives up his presidential ambition and pave then way for another youthful Luo to take over the mantle of the community political leadership.
KIDERO who has a Suba ancensestry background hails from Gem Location in Rangwe in the Central region of the votes-rich greater Southern Nyanza.
Prior to his joining Nairobi politics he had served for well over a decade as the Chief Executive of Mumias Sugar Company in Western Province, which had successfully turned around from loss to profit making. the most dynamic , prolific speaker and uncompromising champion of the struggle for Kenya’s freedom. It is indeed in the lips of many Kenyans that the late Mboya whose life was cut short by the bullets fired by an assassin in a Nairobi street on July 5, 1969 was the true architect of Kenya’s political independence. he died while serving as the Minister for Economic Planning and Development in the post independent cabinet and also the Secretary-General of the then ruling KANU party a position, which he had ever since its inception in 1969.
Dr Kidero had traversed many parts of Luo-Nyanza while giving hefty cash donations towards the various economic project, and at first many people in the region thought he would contest one of the parliamentary seats in Southern Nyanza, but having born in NAIROBI he finally settled for the City governor position.
So far the ODM leader Raila the has kept mum, not to uttering anything in regard to the on-going reported under current and undercutting activities against Kidero by other party luminaries. including some Luo MPs.
However, those privy to ODM have been heard as saying that the issue is likely to boil up in the near future unless Raila himself come out in the open and restrain his supporters from making uncalled for criticism of Kidero who is said to be doing a good job for the Nairobi people.
Shouts of Alego ni nono oonge Mjumbe rent the air during the Mashujaa rally in SIAYA town last Sunday when a group of ODM youths made an attempt to heckle and evict the ALlego-Usonga MP Omondi Muluany at a well attended rally held at Siaya Stadium to commemorate the heros day. The party youths and security personnel intervened and ejected the rowdy youths out of the meeting venue.
It later emerged that the MP who the Mardh 14th general on the Whiper ticket had skipped all the campaign meetings which were held all over the County during the recent by-election campaign for Siaya governor,including the one which was attended by the party leader Raila O Odinga.
The MP who appeared to have been shocked and shaken described the group as hired political goons
THOSE who attended the Siaya rally were stunned when speaker after speaker heaped a lot of praise at politicians previously aligned to the late Jaramogi IOginga Odinga showering them as The only heroes who fought for freedom.
They deliberately excluded the names of other LUO freedom fighters who were known to have differed with the Jaramogi leadership style. Observers and pundits were, however quick in pointing out that those whose names had been mentioned prominently at the really included those who are known to be Raila sycophants and political surrogates whose contribution to the liberation war and anti colonialists activities are very insignificant.
THESE names represented only the residents of Siiaya County THEY INCLUDED Achieng Oneko, Jaramogi, Argwings Kodhek, Wasonga SijeyoBut even in SIAYA county, the names of political giants and heroes like Walter Fanuel Odede, DO Makasembo were deliberately omitted and replaced by some characters of some former boot lickers of the colonialists.
Odede who later was to become the father in-law of atom Mboy WALKED INTO THE SHOES OF THE Jomo KENYAT immediately after the latter and five other leading nationalists were rounded up and arrested by he colonialists following the declaration of the STATE OF emergency in Kenya by the colonialists. He too was arrested and placed in detention in the remote Northern Kanya district of Samburu and was detained for eight year because he had taken over as the acting President of KAU. Odede like Oneko hails from Uyoms in Rarieda within Bondo district.
Other uncompromising freedom fighters whose names were missing at the Siaya rally included Tom Mboya, Elijah Omolo Agar, Lawrence Gerald Oguda,Daniel OJijo Oteko,John PAUL olola,BARRACK Owuor,The latter two were the founder of the Kavirondo Taxpayers ,which collaborated well with the Harry Thuku led Kikuyu Central Association that gave the colonialists sleepless nights.
THE Siaya rally clearly portrayed an attempt by Siaya leaders as trying at the distortion of the Nyanza region’s political history.
The history of the past should be told as per its true perspective for the interests of the present and future generations.
This already made MO very very upset. Tupunguze habari mbaya tafadali.
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On Oct 12, 2013 7:36 PM, “Pharis Macharia” wrote:
By Mwakilishi | Sat, 10/12/2013 06:27PM -0400
Franklin Bett
The Orange Democratic Movement led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is putting in place strategies aimed at repositioning itself for the 2017 political contest.
But even before the dust settles on its defeat in the March 4 General Election, ODM is staring at yet another setback.
Raila’s key allies in the Rift Valley are leading an exodus from the Orange party.
Former party loyalists, Franklin Bett and Margaret Kamar, both of them former Cabinet ministers in the grand coalition government – have already tendered their resignation from the party.
Other strong pillars have curiously taken a low profile.
On Friday, during the burial of his mother in Nandi, ODM chairman Henry Kosgey, hinted that he could be willing to work with the Jubilee government.
Referring to URP leaders who attended the burial, Kosgey said: “We have now left the (leadership) baton to those in Government. We will now support you.”
Kosgey said he was willing to be consulted saying he would be ready to offer his contribution to nation building.
Then came a surprise announcement by President Uhuru Kenyatta’s political affairs adviser Joshua Kutuny.
“Kosgey is one of our respected leaders and soon we might even give him a post in the Jubilee government,” he said, a statement that probably pointed to the reason Jubilee leaders attended the burial.
RESIGNED
Jubilee elected leaders at the burial included senators Kithure Kindiki, Kipchumba Murkomen and Governor Isaac Ruto as well as MPs Alfred Keter, Alex Kosgey, Cornelly Serem, Julius Melly and Oscar Sudi.
Speaking to The Standard on Sunday, Kamar said she was now working with the government as a consultant and that is why she resigned from ODM.
She said she landed a job at the Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Training, which is run by the government. She is part of a team training the new bicameral Parliament following the introduction of devolution.
Kamar also disclosed that she is now a consultant with the Transition Authority, helping in operationalisation of county governments.
“It was therefore untenable to continue being in politics because these roles expect that I be impartial. That is why I resigned from ODM,” said Kamar, who was the Uasin Gishu ODM chairperson.
Kamar was highly rated as the most likely first Uasin Gishu governor, a post she ran for in the March 4 general election, but lost to URP’s Jackson Mandago.
Many voters supported her but argued she was in the wrong party with many even calling on her to quit ODM for URP to win the seat.
In 2007, ODM enjoyed mass support in the region until the URP and TNA wave swept across the region in the March 4 elections winning most elective posts.
The ODM top guns from the Rift Valley were not present in last week’s party governing council meeting held in Nairobi and attended by party leader Raila Odinga.
Mr Magerer Langat, the ODM executive director, said the ODM meeting was convened to review the status of the party and also its role as official opposition.
“We want to ensure the party plays its role well and also ensure it is well organised. But it was not a meeting for all,” said Magerer, seeking to explain the absence of key Rift Valley party leaders.
Until the last general election, the party had in its fold powerful ministers from the region including party chairman Kosgey (Industrialisation), Bett (Roads), Prof Kamar (Higher Education), Dr Sally Kosgei (Agriculture) and Musa Sirma (East African Community).
They were Raila’s key pillars who also mounted spirited campaigns for the party ahead of the elections despite strong opposition from residents.
But today, they are hardly visible even in the court battles waged by the party since it lost to Jubilee in the race for State House.
Raila has held various functions in parts of the region only accompanied by Magerer.
Bett confirmed that he had received an invitation for the governing council meeting but did not attend saying: “I now want to involve myself with personal and family matters only”.
Declaring he had quit ODM, Bett also stated that he couldn’t force himself to sing a tune that the Kalenjin community does not want to hear.
He said he would remain in support of the government as long as it puts in place policies that are beneficial to all.
“Every policy in this government that will enhance welfare and the wellbeing of all and to the economy, I will support. You cannot fight the hand that feeds you,” he said.
MISHANDLE
Bett did not seek any elective position in the March 4 polls while his colleagues who sought various positions on an ODM ticket lost to political first timers riding on a strong Jubilee wave.
The former Bureti MP who spoke to The Standard on Sunday on the phone said he no longer wants to be involved in politics at the moment hinting that he did not defend his seat because of the URP wave in the South Rift.
He said: “Whether there is ODM, URP or TNA, I want to involve myself with personal matters. There is always a time for everything as the Bible says in Ecclesiastes Chapter 3”.
The former State House Comptroller said he did his best to serve the public and the party while in ODM and said he will not be looking for any elective post in the future. “I will not look for any votes again,” he said.
Bett asked the Kalenjin community to respect their former and present leaders.
“I protest the way we handled our former leaders as a Kalenjin people. We mishandle and even neglect them yet we required their assistance when they were in top positions,” he said.
The position of Sirma and Dr Kosgei regarding their political future remains unknown as efforts by The Standard on Sunday to get them on phone were futile.
Some of the senior ODM leaders from the region are however said to be considering quitting active politics considering the odds against Cord’s future political prospects.
Trying to explain the absence of ODM leaders from Rift Valley in the Nairobi meeting, Magerer said, “the governing council is not a free for all affair” adding that there are no provisions for former MPs to attend.
He said the meeting was for the national elections board and chairmen of 47 party branches in the country.
Asked why some leaders in Rift Valley had suddenly disappeared from the party radar, Magerer said he could not speak on their behalf.
“Some people were there by virtue of their positions. The party constitution allows members to be as active as they deem and we cannot push anyone to be active,” said Magerer.
The director however admitted that there was disloyalty ahead of the last elections with some party candidates in some regions campaigning only for themselves and not the party.
“Some were asking voters to elect whoever they wanted for the presidency for example so long as the electorate considered them for the individual positions they were gunning for,” said Magerer.
genuine gesture
On the absence of the ODM chairman in the meeting, Magerer said Kosgey would have been present but he could not attend because he lost his mother a day prior to the meeting.
But at the burial, Raila led a strong team of ODM leaders to pay their last respects.
The party also paid for an obituary in the dailies announcing the passing on of Kosgey’s mother.
Rift Valley political analyst and Maasai Mara University lecturer, Philip Chebunet, said the move could have been a genuine gesture to support Kosgey, an ally who stood by the party during campaigns for the March 4 general elections.
“Kosgey really campaigned for them and it was only fair for them to be by his side during the funeral. But we are yet to see whether their political union will continue now that they lost their bid for State House twice,” he said.
Magerer confirmed that Kamar had tendered her resignation from the party about three months ago.
“I received Kamar’s resignation three months ago. She is one of the trainers for county governance and they are not supposed to be in political parties,” said Magerer.
He said members resolved that the next delegates convention, which is normally held after five years, would be convened in February next year.
The meeting, he added, will also be used to replace top officials who quit the party and will also address any weaknesses that might have affected popularity of the party.
“As a party, we in ODM belief in appropriate party structures unlike others. We are also the only ones who held national elections early last year,” he said.
Magerer said the party requires a fresh approach in the Rift Valley saying “I shall be moving around the region to reorganise branches and sub branches”.
He took issue with Jubilee government for delays in releasing money to political parties, claiming that the government feels threatened by ODM.
“These funds could allow us undertake our activities smoothly because we want to employ county directors to manage the party branches,” he said.
Uasin Gishu County ODM chairman David Songok and his Nandi counterpart Jacob Keino who attended the meeting said it was convened to chart the way forward for the party.
Songok however expressed fears that communication “may not have been well coordinated” and said they want an active office that will coordinate affairs well.
Keino said: “The governing council meeting was well attended and was for elected governors, senators and MPs and chairmen of branches and youth executives”.
Keino added that the party still commands a good following in Nandi County and would gain more popularity once funds are released to streamline its operations.
The URP under the Jubilee umbrella swept majority of elective seats in Rift Valley ranging from the Senators, governors, MPs, Women representatives and Members of County Assemblies.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, speaks to members of the media after meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013. Republicans insisted they wanted to shut down the nation’s 3-year-old health care overhaul, not the government. beginning with Speaker John Boehner’s refusal to permit the House to vote on Senate-passed legislation devoted solely to reopening the government.
“Take a vote,” Obama urged Boehner in his speech. “Stop this farce and end this shutdown right now.”
It might not be so simple, however. Moderate Republicans have said they think they could provide enough votes to join with minority Democrats and push a bill through the House reopening the government with no restrictions on the health care law.
Common sense dictates that, President Obama is within the margin prerogative of the law, to serve people and lead Responsibly with Integrity, and from day one, he remained committed and focused doing what he promised he will do and as obligated and mandated by the American people accordingly.
In an interview afterward, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., scoffed at the president’s stance.
“He can’t get his way exactly the way he wants it because he doesn’t control the entire government,” McConnell said on CNBC’s “The Kudlow Report.”
People are bored knowing that unforeseen consequences are now getting the feel of Government Shutdown. As far as we are all concerned therefore, the few special interest Congressional Republican members purposefully exempted themselves from the law of land against Obamacare which is a done deal and have no business in the business of the house on BUDGET.
The most basic rule is that all Americans, with only a few exceptions, must have health insurance, or pay a penalty. People who already have insurance, through an employer or any other source, already comply with the law. All Americans must comply with the law and no one is above the law. President Obama has right to take legal action against those trying to undermine the law. It will be illogical if the Congressional members earn salary during this Government shutdown. Being the ones who put us on this mess, it is not right that the disadvantaged pushed into poverty while the rich have a fields day.
Speaker Boehner is sending a clear message to America that America is divided between the halves and the halve-not and that the law is predominantly for those rich special interest who they pledge royalty to instead of the People and Government of America. This is unacceptable…………..If John Boehner disputes this analogy, then, he and his GOP fellows will open the Government unconditionally without any more waste of time and pass the Budget to avoid default.
As for President Obama, the law doesn’t require him or any other federal employees to do anymore negotiations on Obamacare. The law on Obamacare has already kicked-in and taken hold in the Government system…..since, it has taken effects from October 1st 2013. In fact, when Obama leaves office in 2017, it is Healthcare Reform which is his biggest credential achievements and if he wishes, that shall remain his landmark “Obamacare” success story for real. Obama will have jazzed-up and stroked a fair favorable deal for both the rich and poor alike. Therefore, Obamacare is a done deal………
When will Speaker Boehner get his fact right???
Judy Miriga
Diaspora Spokesperson
Executive Director
Confederation Council Foundation for Africa Inc.,
USA
http://socioeconomicforum50.blogspot.com/
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Obama Pins Government Shutdown on Boehner
Published on Oct 3, 2013
President Barack Obama says House Speaker John Boehner is the only thing standing in the way of reopening the federal government. Obama is speaking at a small business just outside of Washington on the third day of the shutdown. (Oct. 3)
During Speech, Obama Pins Shutdown on Boehner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJGHcj8GU1U
Published on Oct 3, 2013
President Obama traveled just outside the Beltway on Thursday to Rockville, Maryland, to give a speech highlighting the challenges posed by the shutdown and a potential debt ceiling default on the private sector. “Stop this farce,” the president demanded of House Republicans, “and end the shutdown right now.”
Obama got to his key point quickly: The effects of the shutdown are much deeper than disputes over memorials on the National Mall. “Those hundreds of thousands of Americans, a lot of whom live around here,” he said, “don’t know when they’re going to get their next paycheck. That means stores and restaurants around here don’t know if they’ll have as many customers.” And further: farmers aren’t getting loans. Children can’t go to Head Start. “The American people elected their representatives to make their lives easier, not harder,” Obama said. “There’s one way out of this reckless and damaging Republican shutdown: Congress has to pass a budget that funds our government with no partisan strings attached.”
Catastrophic Consequences of a U.S. Default Explained
By Matt Nesto
October 4th 2013
By Matt Nesto | Breakout – 3 hours ago
As we close out the first week of the government shutdown, a bigger and even more toxic disaster is creeping into the fray that could make the contentious budget battle look like a slap fight. The Treasury Department said Uncle Sam will be broke by October 17th unless something is done. Treasury secretary Jack Lew hammered home that point Thursday by releasing an unusually ominous statement that warned of catastrophic risks to the economy.
House Speaker John Boehner has said he won’t let the government default on its debt, but until steps are taken to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, the possibility of default is still theoretically alive.
“If they seriously default on the debt, what we’re really talking about is a depression,” says veteran financial sector analyst Richard Bove, VP of research at Rafferty Capital Markets. In the attached video he explains how the fallout would be a lot worse than the recession suffered in 2008 and the aftershocks would be felt for at least a decade.
“The first thing you have to do is look at who holds the debt,” Bove says of the $16.7 trillion of bonds the U.S. currently has outstanding. “The first, biggest owner (of U.S. debt) is the social security fund, so you’d have all of these people who are receiving social security payments who now have to question whether they’ll get their payments.”
Clearly, that would cause a huge disruption to millions of Americans. But Bove says that is only the beginning since the second biggest holder of Treasuries (at about 12% of the total) is the Federal Reserve, which has “91% of its assets backed by U.S. government debt.”
If the value of those assets were to decline, which they indisputably would in a default, Bove says the net effect would be that “we have nothing of value backing the dollar.”
They’re actually “Federal Reserve Notes” as well as the number one asset of choice held in the reserves of governments and businesses all over the world. A plunge in Treasuries would also devalue the dollar, which would instantly make everything we buy more expensive, and in turn destabilize countries and economies all over the world.
“Eleven-percent of all U.S. debt is owned by the Chinese,” he says. “That $1.4 trillion represents about a third of the reserves of the People’s Bank of China, so what we’ve now said to the PBOC is, ‘Watch out, we may hit the value of a third of your assets and you can’t do anything about it.'”
And this isn’t even half of it.
As Bove explains, money market funds, which are used by virtually every person with a savings or investment account, are also “heavily loaded with Treasuries.” So are most bond funds and so-called balanced funds (growth and income funds). A default on U.S. debt would not only cause money funds to “break the buck” –not be able to pay 100-cents for each dollar invested)– but would also cause forced selling by countless other funds that are mandated to immediately sell any asset that has defaulted.
“That could easily put $750 billion of Treasuries on to the market” Bove says, inferring that rates interest rates would also spike, and normal borrowing/lending transactions would end.
Speaking of banks, the U.S. banking industry holds over a trillion dollars worth of Treasuries and another trillion dollars of government issued mortgage-backed securities, Bove says. If those bonds were to go down in value, he says the banks would also have to “write down the value of those assets and, in essence, wipe out their equity.” It would make the banks insolvent.
To summarize, Bove asserts that a default is unthinkable because it would trigger a huge reduction in the value of U.S. debt, which would go beyond disrupting social security payments. A default would upend money markets, destroy bond funds, slam the brakes on lending, cause interest rates to spiral, make our banks insolvent, and deal a blow to our foreign trading partners and creditors around the globe; all of which would throw the U.S. and the world into economic disarray.
Dems say it’s time for GOP to unite, end shutdown
Obama cancels Asia trip as Democrats pressure GOP to ‘come together’ to end shutdown
By Andrew Taylor and Nedra Pickler, Associated Press |
Photo
House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio walks to a Republican strategy session on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Oct. 4, 2013. Boehner is struggling between Democrats that control the Senate and GOP conservatives in his caucus who insist any funding legislation must also kill or delay the nation’s new health care law. Added pressure came from President Barack Obama who pointedly blamed Boehner on Thursday for keeping federal agencies closed. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Fri day, October 4th 2013
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama decided to stay home from economic summits in Asia as Democrats stepped up pressure on congressional Republicans to rein in their tea party faction and reopen the government with no strings attached.
House Republicans said that with Congress and the president in town this weekend, now is the perfect time to start negotiating a plan to reopen the government.
“All I’m asking for is let’s sit down, like the American people would expect us, and talk to one another about getting the government open and dealing with the significant problems that we face,” House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, told reporters Friday. “This isn’t some damn game.”
GOP leaders said Friday the House will be in session Saturday so that Republicans can continue passing bills that would reopen selected parts of the federal government. The White House responded by issuing fresh veto threats, saying Congress should reopen the entire federal government.
The Labor Department, meanwhile, did not issue the monthly employment report for September that was due Friday because of the shutdown.
The White House called the partial government shutdown that entered its fourth day Friday “completely avoidable” and complained the shutdown was interfering with the president’s efforts to promote trade and U.S. influence in emerging world markets.
Democrats pointed to disagreements within the Republican Party, where reluctant congressional leaders were prodded into a showdown over government funding and Obama’s health care law by rowdier conservatives, such as Texas Sen. Ted Cruz.
To get the government up and running again, “it will take some coming together on the Republican side,” said the House’s lead Democrat, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California.
“It’s very hard to negotiate with the Republicans when they can’t negotiate with themselves,” Pelosi said Friday.
Senate Chaplain Barry Black opened Friday’s business with a plea for God to “give our lawmakers the vision and the willingness to see and to do your will.”
“Remove from them that stubborn pride which imagines itself to be above and beyond criticism. Forgive them for the blunders they have committed, infusing them with the courage to admit and correct mistakes,” Black said.
Obama criticized Boehner for not bringing up a vote to finance the full reopening of the government without conditions.
“This shutdown could be over today,” Obama said Friday as he stopped for lunch with Vice President Joe Biden at a local sandwich shop near the White House. “We know there are votes for it in the House.”
Boehner and other Republicans put the blame on Obama. They say he should recognize the flaws of “Obamacare” and negotiate solutions as part of a deal to end the shutdown that forced the furlough of some 800,000 workers, more than a third of federal civilian employees.
Boehner said Obama was being “irresponsible.”
On Friday, the Republican-led House was keeping up a drive to finance certain agencies and programs on a piecemeal basis — a strategy rejected by Obama and the Democratic-led Senate.
“We are not picking winners and losers,” said Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. “I think what we are doing is exercising stewardship over the taxpayers’ dollars. …I’m ready to go to work today and get it done.”
The House planned a vote to fund a popular program providing food aid to pregnant women and their children, as well as ongoing disaster relief.
Furloughed federal workers would get retroactive pay under a bill the House plans to vote on Saturday. Some top Democrats have supported that idea alongside Republicans.
Obama had been scheduled to leave Saturday for economic summits next week in Indonesia and Brunei. His decision to cancel those plans underscored how entrenched both sides were in a partisan showdown with no end in sight.
“The cancellation of this trip is another consequence of the House Republicans forcing a shutdown of the government,” White House press secretary Jay Carney said in a statement. “This completely avoidable shutdown is setting back our ability to create jobs through promotion of U.S. exports and advance U.S. leadership and interests in the largest emerging region in the world.”
Lawmakers said the shutdown that began Tuesday when the government began its new budget year seemed to be quickly merging with a more critical showdown over the nation’s expiring line of credit, raising the stakes for the still-fragile economy.
Obama and his Treasury Department said failure to raise the nation’s borrowing limit, expected to hit its $16.7 trillion cap in mid-October, could precipitate an economic nosedive worse than the recent Great Recession. A default could cause the nation’s credit markets to freeze, the value of the dollar to plummet and U.S. interest rates to skyrocket, according to a Treasury report.
Obama cataloged a litany of troubles that could be caused by the failure to raise the debt ceiling, from delayed Social Security and disability checks to worldwide economic repercussions.
“If we screw up, everybody gets screwed up,” he said.
The speaker’s office reiterated Boehner’s past assertion that he would not let the government default on its debt. “But if we’re going to raise the debt limit, we need to deal with the drivers of our debt and deficits,” his spokesman, Michael Steel, said. “That’s why we need a bill with cuts and reforms to get our economy moving again.”
Pelosi spoke on “CBS This Morning,” and Blackburn spoke on MSNBC.
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Follow Andrew Taylor on Twitter at https://twitter.com/apandrewtaylor and Nedra Pickler at https://twitter.com/nedrapickler
Associated Press – 2 hours 8 minutes ago
Analysis: Republicans get opposite of stated goals
By DAVID ESPO | Associated Press
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, speaks to members of the media after meeting with President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013. Republicans insisted they wanted to shut down the nation’s 3-year-old health care overhaul, not the government. They got the opposite, and now struggle to convince the public that responsibility for partial closure of the federal establishment lies with the President Barack Obama and the Democrats. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Photo
In this Sept. 25, 2013, photo, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, emerges from the Senate Chamber after his overnight crusade railing against the nation’s new health care law at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013. Republicans insisted they wanted to shut down the nation’s 3-year-old health care overhaul, not the government. They got the opposite, and now struggle to convince the public that responsibility for partial closure of the federal establishment lies with the President Barack Obama and the Democrats. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republicans insisted they wanted to shut down the nation’s 3-year-old health care overhaul, not the government. They got the opposite, and now struggle to convince the public that responsibility for partial closure of the federal establishment lies with President Barack Obama and the Democrats.
There’s ample evidence otherwise, beginning with Speaker John Boehner’s refusal to permit the House to vote on Senate-passed legislation devoted solely to reopening the government.
In the days leading to the impasse, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said he would do “everything and anything possible to defund Obamacare,” including a filibuster against legislation to prevent a partial closure of the federal government.
In the House, Rep. Jack Kingston told reporters his Georgia constituents would rather have a shutdown than Obamacare, and Rep. Tim Huelskamp added recently that in his Kansas district, “If you say government is going to shut down, they say, ‘OK, which part can we shut down?'”
Ironically, Republican leaders urged the rank and file not to link a defunding of Obamacare to federal spending for fear the unavoidable outcome would be a shutdown that would harm the party politically.
Yet Boehner, who survived a conservative-led attempt on his tenure in January, and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, who faces a primary challenge from a tea party-backed rival in Kentucky, were unable to prevail. Instead, they were steamrolled by Cruz, his allies in Congress and Heritage Action, Club for Growth, the Tea Party Express and other groups that have used the issue to raise funds.
The strategy in effect, Republicans negotiated exclusively with themselves in the days leading to the shutdown as they sought the demise of “Obamacare.”
First, they passed legislation demanding the health care law be defunded in exchange for a bill providing essential government funding.
When the Senate rejected that, they scaled back.
Instead, they sought a one-year delay in the law, combined with the permanent repeal of a tax on medical devices and creation of new barriers to contraceptive coverage for women purchasing insurance.
That, too, was torpedoed in the Senate.
The next GOP demand was for a one-year delay in the requirement for individuals to purchase coverage, along with a provision that would oblige the president, vice president and members of Congress and their aides to purchase insurance under the same system as the rest of the country without receiving the customary employer contribution from the government, for which they work. The principal impact of that is to raise the cost of insurance dramatically for thousands of congressional aides and political appointees of the administration.
That, too, fell in the Senate.
There have been ideological retrenchments, as well.
Despite their long-held positions against government mandates, House Republicans agreed beginning last week to leave in effect requirements in the health care law they have refused to embrace in the past. Among them is a requirement for insurers to cover individuals with pre-existing conditions and another to allow children up to age 26 to remain on their parents’ plans.
All are politically popular, although rarely mentioned by Republican lawmakers who say the country clamors for a total repeal of the law.
Despite pledging in the 2010 campaign to “repeal and replace” the law known as Obamacare, Republicans have yet to offer a comprehensive alternative. Efforts to create one have been hampered by opposition from conservatives to some of the mandates they tacitly agreed last week to leave in effect.
Conceding as much, Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., said that as a conservative, he had often found during Obama’s presidency that his choice was “between something bad or (something) horrible.”
Republican unity, so valuable in pushing to reduce spending in the past three years, shows signs of fraying.
Even before the shutdown began, some moderates said it was time to shift the fight against Obamacare to another arena and allow the government to remain open. A handful of conservatives, backed by outside groups, rebelled when GOP demands for changes in the law were scaled back.
“I feel like we’re retreating,” said Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., while the conservative group Heritage Action said it opposed the last in a series of GOP maneuvers because it fell short of “fully defunding the president’s failed law.”
Restlessness grows.
In the Senate, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., says routinely, “We’re in a box canyon,” and Sen. John McCain of Arizona observed, “We can’t win” when it comes to using a federal spending measure to squeeze out concessions on health care.
Ironically, Obama and Senate Democratic leaders have said repeatedly in recent days they are willing to negotiate changes in the health care law — on another day and another bill.
Even Democrats privately concede that a tax on medical devices isn’t likely to survive long, given that 79 members of the Senate backed its repeal on a nonbinding test vote last spring.
What survives is the expansion of the health care law that was passed in 2010, the opportunity for uninsured Americans to obtain private insurance at a cost oftentimes subsidized by the government.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — David Espo is chief congressional correspondent for The Associated Press.
An AP News Analysis
Shutdown in 3rd day with bigger trouble looming
Government shutdown in 3rd day and bigger worry looms ahead for Obama, Hill leaders
By Alan Fram, Associated Press | Associated Press –
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama laid the blame for the government’s partial shutdown at the feet of House Speaker John Boehner on Thursday, escalating a confrontation that is running the risk of a potentially damaging clash over the nation’s borrowing authority.
The Treasury Department warned that a deadlock over raising the nation’s debt limit could touch off a new recession even worse than the last one that Americans are still recovering from. Worry about prospects for resolving the debt question within the next two weeks deepened as the shutdown standoff dragged on.
The shutdown showdown grew more personal Thursday.
Speaking at a construction company in Washington’s Maryland suburbs, Obama cast the House speaker as a captive of a small band of conservative Republicans who want to extract concessions in exchange for passing a short term spending bill that would restart the partially shuttered government.
“The only thing preventing people from going back to work and basic research starting back up and farmers and small business owners getting their loans, the only thing that is preventing all that from happening right now, today, in the next five minutes is that Speaker John Boehner won’t even let the bill get a yes or no vote because he doesn’t want to anger the extremists in his party,” Obama said.
Boehner answered by batting blame back toward Obama and his “my-way-or-the-highway approach.” Boehner said that if the president would negotiate to fix flaws in “Obamacare,” the shutdown could end.
“The president’s insistence on steamrolling ahead with this flawed program is irresponsible,” said Boehner, R-Ohio.
Majority Leader Eric Cantor said the House would continue on its course of passing separate bills to remedy “situations that are in critical stages” because of the partial government shutdown that began Tuesday.
The House was expected to vote to for more money for National Guard and Reserves and for veterans programs during the day, and officials said legislation to help Head Start and possibly the WIC (Women, Infants and Children program) could soon be drafted, as well.
Senate Democrats made clear they will not agree to reopen the government on a piecemeal basis. “You can’t fall for that legislative blackmail or it will get worse and worse and worse,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York.
Senate Democrats and Obama said the House must send them a measure that would restart all of government with no strings attached.
“Take a vote,” Obama urged Boehner in his speech. “Stop this farce and end this shutdown right now.”
It might not be so simple, however. Moderate Republicans have said they think they could provide enough votes to join with minority Democrats and push a bill through the House reopening the government with no restrictions on the health care law.
But under pressure from House GOP leaders, they failed to join Democratic efforts on Wednesday aimed at forcing the chamber to consider such legislation.
In the Senate, GOP Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said the problem was “Democrats’ refusal to apply simple fairness when it comes to Obamacare.”
Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate blocked each other’s proposals for addressing the stalemate Thursday. Democrats rejected GOP proposals to reopen the national parks, speed up processing of veterans’ claims and restart some medical research that’s been put on hold. Republicans stymied a Democratic plan to bring the entire government back to work.
“Obviously tea party Republicans don’t really want a way out of this government shutdown. They like it the way it is,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
Republicans who initially sought to defund the health care law in exchange for funding the rest of government have scaled back their demand, but say they need some sort of offer from Obama.
A meeting between Obama and congressional leaders at the White House Wednesday evening offered no glimmer of progress.
“All we’re asking for here is a discussion and fairness for the American people under Obamacare,” Boehner, R-Ohio, said after the meeting.
The White House said Obama would be happy to talk about health care — but only after Congress moves to reopen the government.
If the shutdown dispute persists it could become entangled with the even more consequential battle over the debt limit. The Obama administration has said Congress must renew the government’s authority to borrow money by Oct. 17 or risk a first-ever federal default, which many economists say would dangerously jangle the world economy.
Treasury’s report Thursday said defaulting on the nation’s debts could cause the nation’s credit markets to freeze, the value of the dollar to plummet and U.S. interest rates to skyrocket.
For now, Republicans planned to continue pursuing their latest strategy toward the shutdown: muscling bills through the House that would restart some popular programs.
Votes were on tap for restoring funds for veterans and paying members of the National Guard and Reserves. On Wednesday, the chamber voted to finance the national parks and biomedical research and let the District of Columbia’s municipal government spend federally controlled dollars.
As the politicians battled, mail continued to be delivered, air traffic controllers remained at work and payments were being made to recipients of Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and unemployment benefits.
Taxes were still due, but lines at IRS call centers went unanswered.
Halted were most routine food inspections by the Food and Drug Administration. Some loan approvals for many low- and middle-income borrowers were thrust into low gear by the Housing and Urban Development Department. National parks were closed.
Workers were furloughed based on how essential their jobs were to the nation: Only 3 percent of NASA employees were kept on, while 86 percent at the Homeland Security Department were working.
Underscoring the rising intensity of the partisan battle, the Senate chaplain opened Thursday’s session with an unusually pointed prayer.
“Deliver us from the hypocrisy of attempting to sound reasonable while being unreasonable,” said Dr. Barry Black. “Remove the burdens of those who are the collateral damage of this government shutdown.”
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Associated Press writers Connie Cass, Jim Kuhnhenn and Andrew Taylor contributed to this report.
Lawmakers feeling heat from government shutdown
Lawmakers feeling heat from Americans angry about gov’t shutdown, yet some say may last weeks
By Andrew Taylor, Associated Press | Associated Press – Wed, Oct 2, 2013 11:18 AM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers locked in a political stare-down Wednesday were buffeted by rising anger from across the nation about a partial government shutdown that ruined vacations, sapped businesses and closed military cemeteries as far away as France. Some on Capitol Hill ominously suggested the impasse might last for weeks, but a few Republicans seemed ready to blink.
Republican Rep. Peter King of New York accused tea party-backed lawmakers of trying to “hijack the party” and said he senses that a growing number of rank-and-file House Republicans — perhaps as many as a hundred — are tired of the shutdown that began Tuesday morning and will be meeting to look for a way out.
But GOP leaders and tea party-backed members seemed determined to press on. The House GOP leadership announced plans to continue trying to open more popular parts of the government. They planned to pass five bills to open national parks, processing of veterans’ claims, the Washington, D.C., government, medical research, and to pay members of the National Guard.
The White House immediately promised a veto, saying opening the government on a piecemeal basis is unacceptable.
“Instead of opening up a few government functions, the House of Representatives should re-open all of the government,” the White House said in an official policy statement.
The move presented Democrats with politically challenging votes but they rejected the idea, saying it was unfair to pick winners and losers as federal employees worked without a guarantee of getting paid and the effects of the partial shutdown rippled through the country and the economy.
Funding for much of the U.S. government was halted after Republicans hitched a routine spending bill to their effort to kill or delay the health care law they call “Obamacare.” The president accuses them of holding the government hostage.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz, a tea party favorite, said there would be no solution until President Barack Obama and Democrats who control the Senate agree to discuss problems with the nation’s unfolding health care overhaul.
“The pigsty that is Washington, D.C., gets mud on a lot of people and the question is what are you going to do moving forward,” Chaffetz, R-Utah, said on CBS’ “This Morning.”
Meanwhile, another financial showdown even more critical to the economy was looming. Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew told Congress that unless lawmakers act in time, he will run out of money to pay the nation’s bills by Oct. 17. Congress must periodically raise the limit on government borrowing to keep U.S. funds flowing, a once-routine matter that has become locked in battles over the federal budget deficit.
Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the second-ranking House Democrat, said Democrats would overwhelmingly accept a short-term spending measure to reopen the government and increase the nation’s debt limit while other political differences are worked out. “That would be a responsible way to go,” Hoyer told CNN.
At issue is the need to pass a temporary funding bill to keep the government open since the start of the new budget year on Tuesday.
Congress has passed 87 temporary funding bills since 1999, virtually all of them without controversy. Now, conservative Republicans have held up the measure in the longshot hope of derailing or delaying Obamacare.
House Speaker John Boehner blamed the shutdown on President Barack Obama’s “scorched-Earth policy of refusing to negotiate” with Republicans.
“Washington Democrats have slammed the door on reopening the government by refusing to engage in bipartisan talks,” Boehner, R-Ohio, wrote in an op-ed for Wednesday’s USA Today.
Fed-up Americans took to Facebook and Twitter to call members of Congress “stupid” or “idiots.” Some blamed Republicans while others blasted Obama or Democrats “who spend our tax dollars like crack addicts.”
Bruce Swedal, a 46-year-old Denver real estate agent, tweeted to Congress members: “You should not be getting paid. In fact, you all should be fired!”
Some 800,000 federal workers deemed nonessential were staying home again Wednesday in the first partial shutdown since the winter of 1995-96.
Across the nation, America roped off its most hallowed symbols: the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, the Statue of Liberty in New York, Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, the Washington Monument.
Its natural wonders — the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, the Smoky Mountains and more — put up “Closed” signs and shooed campers away.
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia said he was getting pleas from businesses that rely on tourists. “The restaurants, the hotels, the grocery stores, the gasoline stations, they’re all very devastated with the closing of the parks,” he said.
The far-flung effects reached France, where tourists were barred from the U.S. cemetery overlooking the D-Day beaches at Normandy. Twenty-four military cemeteries abroad have been closed.
While U.S. military personnel are getting paid during the shutdown, thousands of civilian Defense employees are being furloughed.
Even fall football is in jeopardy. The Defense Department said it wasn’t clear that service academies would be able to participate in sports, putting Saturday’s Army vs. Boston College and Air Force vs. Navy football games on hold, with a decision to be made Thursday.
The White House said Obama would have to truncate a long-planned trip to Asia, calling off the final two stops in Malaysia and the Philippines.
Even as many government agencies closed their doors, the health insurance exchanges that are at the core of Obama’s health care law were up and running, taking applications for coverage that would start Jan. 1.
“Shutting down our government doesn’t accomplish their stated goal,” Obama said of his Republican opponents at a Rose Garden event Tuesday hailing implementation of the law. He said the Affordable Care Act “is settled, and it is here to stay.”
Senate Democrats led by Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada insist that Republicans give in and pass their simple, straightforward temporary funding bill, known as a continuing resolution, with no strings attached.
Republicans insisted that Democrats must agree to negotiate over the health care law as part of the funding deadlock.
Meanwhile, the District of Columbia was pursuing its own solution. The D.C. Council authorized using contingency funds to keep the city’s employees working, so that trash pickup, libraries and more could go on during the federal shutdown.
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Associated Press writers Connie Cass, Lauran Neergaard and Merrill Hartson contributed to this report.
