Democrats in US House favour withdrawal of budgetary 'earmarks'
Saturday, 13 March 2010
From Fazle Rashid
NEW YORK, Mar 12: Democratic Party members in the US House of Representative decided on Wednesday to do away with the practice of " budget earmarks to private companies that has steered billions of dollars in no bid contracts to companies and set off corruption scandals." 'Earmarks' allowed individual lawmakers to award financing to pet projects to groups and businessess in return of generous contributions they made to their campaign funds. The number of contracts last year was over 1000 worth about $1.7 billion.
The move must also win the support of the Senate to make it effective. The Congress which can award no-bid contracts at its discretion doled out nearly $16 billions in awards last fiscal year, the New York Times reported.
Jolted by a sudden tightening of the rules the lobbyists and military contractors who have long relied on lucrative 'earmarks' from Congress are scrambling to find new ways to keep the federal money flowing, the same paper said. The new policy will bar all those who received such favours in the past.
The Senate members do not share the views of the House saying 'earmark' is a necessary tool for Congress to exercise the power of the purse and influence federal spending.
The US state department in its annual report on human rights released yesterday expressed growing concern over discrimination against Muslims in Europe. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in releasing the report said ' the United States held itself to the same standards it used to assess other countries.
The report chose Iran for special mention saying human rights situation there had degenerated since the disputed presidential election last year. In a toughly worded analysis the department cited killings of election protestors and acts of politically motivated torture, beatings and rape, the NYT said. The report also criticised China saying the human rights there is poor and worsening.
The report described the existing human rights situation in Afghanistan as poor and the election last year was marred by widespread fraud. No less than 25 nations in the last couple of years have imposed new restrictions on NGOs and other organization promoting human rights.
NEW YORK, Mar 12: Democratic Party members in the US House of Representative decided on Wednesday to do away with the practice of " budget earmarks to private companies that has steered billions of dollars in no bid contracts to companies and set off corruption scandals." 'Earmarks' allowed individual lawmakers to award financing to pet projects to groups and businessess in return of generous contributions they made to their campaign funds. The number of contracts last year was over 1000 worth about $1.7 billion.
The move must also win the support of the Senate to make it effective. The Congress which can award no-bid contracts at its discretion doled out nearly $16 billions in awards last fiscal year, the New York Times reported.
Jolted by a sudden tightening of the rules the lobbyists and military contractors who have long relied on lucrative 'earmarks' from Congress are scrambling to find new ways to keep the federal money flowing, the same paper said. The new policy will bar all those who received such favours in the past.
The Senate members do not share the views of the House saying 'earmark' is a necessary tool for Congress to exercise the power of the purse and influence federal spending.
The US state department in its annual report on human rights released yesterday expressed growing concern over discrimination against Muslims in Europe. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in releasing the report said ' the United States held itself to the same standards it used to assess other countries.
The report chose Iran for special mention saying human rights situation there had degenerated since the disputed presidential election last year. In a toughly worded analysis the department cited killings of election protestors and acts of politically motivated torture, beatings and rape, the NYT said. The report also criticised China saying the human rights there is poor and worsening.
The report described the existing human rights situation in Afghanistan as poor and the election last year was marred by widespread fraud. No less than 25 nations in the last couple of years have imposed new restrictions on NGOs and other organization promoting human rights.