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Politics : Don't Blame Me, I Voted For Kerry -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: lorne who wrote (63431)	6/18/2005 2:56:42 PM
From: lorne	Respond to of 81568

House slashes U.N. funding Bill author Hyde: 'It's time we had some teeth in reform' June 17, 2005 Congress sent a powerful message to the United Nations today, voting to cut funds by half if the world body does not meet a list of demands for substantial change in its performance and behavior. The bill passed 221-184 despite the Bush aministration's warning that a funding cut actually could hamper reform. The U.S. dues make up 22 percent of the U.N.'s $2 billion annual general budget. Rep. Henry Hyde, R-Ill., the author of the legislation, said persuasion is not enough to spur changes. "We have had enough waivers, enough resolutions, enough statements," said Hyde, chairman of the House International Relations Committee. "It's time we had some teeth in reform." Hyde and other lawmakers listed complaints such as coddling of rogue regimes; a bias against America and Israel; irresponsible spending; scandals such as the oil-for-food program and sexual abuse by peacekeepers; and human rights abusers sitting on the U.N. Commission on Human Rights. Failure to comply with the demands would result in withholding half of U.S. dues to the general budget and a refusal to support expanded and new peacekeeping missions. Among the 39 reforms sought, according to the Associated Press, are slashing the public information budget by 20 percent; establishing an independent oversight board and an ethics office; and barring countries that violate human rights from serving on human rights commissions. The secretary of state must certify that 32 of those reforms are met by September 2007 and all 39 by the next year. The administration argued it was actively engaged in U.N. reform, and the Hyde bill "could detract from and undermine our efforts." Eight former U.S. ambassadors to the United Nations also opposed the legislation, including Madeleine Albright and Jeane Kirkpatrick, who was appointed by President Reagan. The former diplomats said withholding of dues would "create resentment, build animosity and actually strengthen opponents of reform." Tom Kilgannon, president of the Virginia-based Freedom Alliance, said the House today "stood on the side of the American public." "Frankly, such a vote is long overdue," he said. " ... It is disappointing that Democrats and the White House believe that the United Nations will actually reform itself in a meaningful way." worldnetdaily.com

To: lorne who wrote (63431)	6/18/2005 3:18:49 PM
From: tonto	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 81568

The biggest complainers about increasing our taxes were the cheapest donators (many did not give anything ) to teh tsunami victims. Our tax code is based on minimum obligations and people have always been free to give more. For some reason, they do not want the government to have more of THEIR MONEY.

To: lorne who wrote (63431)	6/18/2005 10:06:34 PM
From: American Spirit	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 81568

Bush wages all kinds of hidden taxes on us. Gas gouging, failing to prepare for the energy future by getting off oil, medical and drug costs skyrocketing, educations costs sky=rocketing, higher local and state taxes as , deregulating all kinds of businesses enabling them to price-fix, building up a huge-huge deficit which devalues our dollar and will eventually crash the economy. Also his entire tax plan is biased toward the richest people. Unless you're one of them you help subsidize them.