House May Lift Ban

U.S. has had a travel ban to Cuba since the late 1950s after Fidel Castro led the 1959 revolution that overthrew Cuba's Batista dictatorship. The United States broke diplomatic ties with Cuba and set up a trade embargo. Both policies remain in effect today, but now the House committee is looking into whether or not to lift the ban on Cuba. U.S. citizens are allowed to visit Cuba, but must apply for a special licenses to go there. Although, some citizens travel to Mexico or Canada and then into Cuba, illegally.
Every year, travelers go to Cuba's exotic shores and colonial streets, adding an estimated $2 billion into the island's economy. Cuba is facing a troubled economy and travel could help the island nation.

'A Pretty Good Photo-Op'

'A Pretty Good Photo-Op'

Obama holds a speech in Korea infront of troops stationed in S. Korea. Earlier that week President Barack Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak talked about North Korea and a return to the nuclear talks.

Obama's Health Care Update

The Health Care bill that has been passed onto congress is a combination of 2 diffrent bills drafted by congress. The health care reform bill is 2,074 pages and will cost $849 billion over the next 10 years. Unlike the House version, the Senate bill does not mandate that all employers offer health care. Only Businesses with more than 50 workers, would face a penalty of $750 for every full-time employee if it does not offer health care to. The bill would not cover illegal immigrants and would prohibit the use of federal funds for abortion coverage. The vote is planned to take place this Saturday, but the GOP is threatening with a filibuster, so the democrats need over 60 votes to override the filibuster and carry on with the voting process.

Mormon Church Backed Gay Rights Bill?

When anyone thinks of Utah we think of Mormons. Salt Lake City became the first Utah community to prohibit bias based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Under the two new ordinances, it is illegal to fire someone from their job or evict someone from their residence because they are lesbian, bisexual, gay or transgender. "The church supports these ordinances because they are fair and reasonable and do not do violence to the institution of marriage," Michael Otterson, the director of public affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said. The bill gained a unanimous vote and passed. If the Mormons don’t feel threatened, because Homosexuals "do not infringe on the integrity of the traditional family or the constitutional rights of churches.", should we?

Is a Catholic-Democrat Alliance Growing?

Catholic bishops and Democrats forming an alliance? It would be a smart move on the democrats’ part. As many of you know the Catholic church’s vote is split because of the abortion issue, half Dem half Rep. Bishops have the power to sway the way most Catholics vote-either for or against the push for healthcare reform. So why not get the support of over 67,515,016 Catholics in the United States? Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic and an abortion rights supporter, had been on the phone with Cardinal Theodore E. McCarrick, Washington's former archbishop. They hope the measure will bar the new government-run plan from covering abortions, except in cases or rape, incest or situations that put the mother at risk. It would also prohibit any health plan that receives federal subsidies in a new insurance marketplace from offering abortion coverage

Resigned or Pushed?

Annita Dunn resigned earlier as Communications Director for the Obama administration. Many say she was forced to resign because she is one of many that have recently resigned. Is Obama cleaning up his administration? Allegedly last year Annita was quoted saying, “ …two of my favorite political philosophers, Mao Tse Tung and Mother Teresa”. Those are two people not often paired with each other, Mao a former Chinese communist leader and Mother Teresa a person who gave her life to help children in Calcutta. Even more recently Annita was known to be taking on a battle with Fox News- a Republican news show. Annita is among 4 others who have ‘resigned’ from Communications Director under Obama including: Ellan Moran, Van Jones, Yosi Sergant, and Luis Cladera.

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