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>Makes ZERO sense. He's asked for this the ENTIRE time. So why the quick "yes'?
They gave it a quick yes, because buried in that bill is the removal of the Insurrection Act Powers, which would be moar important to them..2k or the removal of such a powerful act?
Israeli Government Dissolves, Triggers Snap Election
Israel is heading to its fourth election in two years after its parliament failed to pass a new budget by the midnight deadline, the Israeli Knesset spokesman’s office confirmed early Wednesday. The failure to approve a budget by deadline is a technical reason for triggering an automatic dissolution of the country’s current government, as well as an automatic snap election, which is scheduled for March 23. The state budgets were advanced in the cabinet and Knesset but has not yet been passed into law. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival, former military chief and current defense minister Benny Gantz, in May formed a unity government to address the health and economic impacts caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease. This comes after the two battled in three inconclusive elections held since April 2019. Their power-sharing deal meant Gantz assumed the new role of “alternate prime minister,” and he was to trade positions with Netanyahu in November 2021, halfway through their term. But they have been unable to resolve their dispute over passing a national budget. Both Netanyahu and Gantz have blamed each other for being unable to come to a consensus.
Netanyahu’s Likud party and Gantz’s Blue and White party had earlier agreed to extend the deadline for passing the state budget and preventing early elections. But Gantz issued new demands, after which rebels in both parties prevented the bill from passing, reported the Jerusalem Post. “It is no secret that the Likud and I did not want to go to elections,” Netanyahu said in a Knesset press conference, reported the outlet. “Israel is going to elections due to internal fights in Blue and White.” He added that he had agreed to the agreement to switch roles in November 2021, before Blue and White abandoned their deal. But Blue and White responded by blaming Netanyahu, saying on Tuesday night: “A criminal defendant with three indictments is dragging the country to a fourth round of elections. If there wasn’t a trial, there would be a budget and there wouldn’t be elections.” The impasse and dissolution of government comes amid Netanyahu’s corruption trial. Witnesses are set to take the stand in February 2021.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader, is charged with fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes. He is accused of offering favors to powerful media figures in exchange for positive news coverage about him and his family. This is the first corruption trial against an Israeli prime minister. Netanyahu has denied any criminal wrongdoing, and has accused the media and law enforcement officials of plotting to oust him. His supporters have accused Gideon Saar, a member of Netanyahu’s Likud who once served as his cabinet secretary, of being part of the same conspiracy. In the previous three elections, Netanyahu was unable to put together a majority coalition, but he controlled enough seats to prevent opponents from forming an alternate coalition. But he will now also have to contend with a new rival. Saar announced this month that he was breaking away and forming a new party. Saar has said he will not serve under Netanyahu if elections were held. Saar had played an active role in preventing the deadline for passing the budget from being extended, as well as preventing the time until another election from being extended. A number of Likud politicians joined Blue and White in voting against the bill to prevent an early election. The bill was ultimately defeated in a 49-47 vote, reported the Jerusalem Post.
In a televised address Tuesday night, Netanyahu blamed the Blue and White for the situation. “We are against elections; this is a wrong decision by Blue and White,” Netanyahu said. “But if elections are forced upon us, I promise you we will win.” Netanyahu would have to face the voters over his handling of the COVID-19 virus crisis. Netanyahu scored an achievement this week by making Israel one of the first countries in the world to begin vaccinating its population.
https://www.ntd.com/israeli-government-dissolves-triggers-snap-election_544053.html
Trump Signs Executive Order Promoting Classical Architecture for Federal Buildings
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Dec. 21 that recommends classical architecture as the “preferred and default architecture” for public federal government buildings in Washington. The order criticizes what’s become known as the “Guiding Principles for Federal Architecture,” which largely replaced traditional designs with modernist ones in the 1950s. The policy “implicitly discouraged classical and other traditional designs known for their beauty,” instead pushing for so-called “contemporary” designs. The order makes mention of the “brutalist” style of architecture—characterized by huge block-like structures with geometric designs and large-scale use of exposed poured concrete—as being the cause of widespread criticism for the design of many modern buildings. “I think the classical architecture of Greece and Rome is very wholesome, and it brings out the inherent order, structure, and beauty that humans crave,” an administration official who played a role in the order’s creation told The Epoch Times. “I think the ultimate destroyer of human good is chaos. And I think that’s what brutalism is—it’s chaos. There’s no order. It’s just a bunch of concrete. It’s not nurturing.”
A recent survey commissioned by the National Civic Art Society (NCAS) and conducted by the nonpartisan polling firm The Harris Poll sought to find out Americans’ preferences for federal architecture. The poll, which surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. adults, found that nearly three-quarters of Americans (72 percent), including majorities across political, racial/ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic lines, prefer traditional architecture when it comes to federal government buildings and courthouses. “If you take 100 million Americans and put them in front of a brutalist building versus the U.S. Capitol, they’re going to say they like the U.S. Capitol probably seven to three,” said the official. “The fact of the matter is that classical architecture makes you proud to be a human being and makes you want to live more fully. “Brutalism and what the architectural establishment does is make you feel less than human. That’s what you feel when you stand outside the FBI building.” According to the order, a new body, the Council on Improving Federal Architecture, will be formed. The council will submit a report recommending updates to the General Services Administration (GSA) policies on improving federal buildings so they uplift people. The council will terminate on Sept. 30, 2021, unless extended by the president. “Think of classical architecture like your mother that held you at four years old when you were scared,” the official said. “And brutalism is like a stern father that never tells you he’s proud of you.”
Justin Shubow, president of NCAS, said in a Dec. 21 statement that the design of government buildings “should reflect the aesthetic and symbolic preferences of the people they are built to serve—namely, classical and traditional architecture.” “Yet since the mid-20th century, Modernist mandarins controlling government architecture have been forcing ugly designs upon us,” Shubow said. “The National Civic Art Society applauds President Trump for signing this Executive Order, and we look forward to seeing the beautiful buildings that will now become part of his legacy.” In Washington, buildings with a classical design such as the White House, the Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Department of the Treasury, and the Lincoln Memorial “have become iconic symbols of our system of government,” the order states. The GSA, under the Design Excellence Program, often chose designs “by prominent architects with little regard for local input or regional aesthetic preferences,” which resulted in federal architecture sometimes impressing the architectural elite “but not the American people who the buildings are meant to serve.” It notes that many of these new federal buildings “are not even visibly identifiable as civic buildings.”
https://www.ntd.com/trump-signs-executive-order-promoting-classical-architecture-for-federal-buildings_543632.html
Executive Order on Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-promoting-beautiful-federal-civic-architecture/
Treasury Attempts to Water Down Trump’s Order Banning Investment in Companies Linked to the Chinese Military: Report
The Financial Times reports the U.S. Treasury is trying to “water down” Trump’s order banning investment in companies linked to the Chinese military. The Treasury is concerned that tough measures on Chinese companies will disrupt global financial markets. Conversely, national security policymakers and human rights advocates say that Americans shouldn’t be funding the totalitarian regime.
Last Friday, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin posted a tweet saying there is no disagreement between him and Mike Pompeo regarding the executive order. Minutes after that, Pompeo also denied there was any clash. The executive order highlights 35 blacklisted companies, including subsidiaries and affiliates—which means more than 140 companies will be affected. A person close to the matter told The Epoch Times that the alleged conflict could be over whether to include affiliates in the ban. Excluding affiliates could be a possible compromise. However, he said that would create a loophole. Majority stakeholders could reduce their stake to a minority amount to get around the ban.
https://www.ntd.com/treasury-attempts-to-water-down-trumps-order-banning-investment-in-companies-linked-to-the-chinese-military-report_543482.html
Thinking this is something that also needs to be put to an end. All of this time while Americans have been locked out of work, Congress was paid. They had audacity to write themselves a raise. Nice gig they have there betting there are many who would like to do that for themselves .
Should be.. If they want a raise…We decide if they are worthy.
Read Lin Woods tweet..follow the sauce.
https://twitter.com/LLinWood/status/1341530906855690240
>>>12141924Treasury Attempts to Water Down Trump’s Order Banning Investment in Companies Linked to the Chinese Military: Report
broken link..
Founders intended for the average american to be the ones in those offices. I think there is momentum for that kind of govt, going forward. Attorney's weren't suppose to work in a congressional capacity.. they cause the problems. Rather they were supposed to be the vetters of legislation before the bill is introduce to the floor..