reform – News Stories About reform - Page 2

Sep 15, 2007 5:35 AM CDT

'Hillarycare' Wasn’t Her Bad

Key player blames Bill for 1993’s failed health plan

(Newser) - As Hillary Clinton gets set to roll out her new health care proposal, Paul Starr in the American Prospect wans to correct the record on her last, disastrous effort. Hillary gets all the flak for the 1993 flameout, but the mistakes are grossly misdiagnosed—and they belong to Bill, says...

EU Aims to Court Legal Immigrants

Sep 13, 2007 7:10 PM CDT

EU Aims to Court Legal Immigrants

Population declining, Europe needs bigger share of skilled workers

(Newser) - A European Union executive is proposing both a "new vision" and new policies for immigration in Europe, the BBC reports. With Europe already suffering from shortages in many job sectors, Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini said the EU should view immigration as "enrichment," and not a threat. While...

Bush Vows to Hunt Down Illegals

Aug 14, 2007 8:42 PM CDT

Bush Vows to Hunt Down Illegals

Upped enforcement promises crisis for some

(Newser) - Bush is vowing to enforce old immigration laws after all, now that comprehensive reform has croaked on the Senate floor. He promises to crack down on workers who don't have valid Social Security numbers in particular, but bosses parry that there can be good reasons for numerical snafus with the...

Ethics Reform Bill Sails Through Senate

Aug 2, 2007 6:38 PM CDT

Ethics Reform Bill Sails Through Senate

Some Republicans unsatisfied with scope; Bush may not sign

(Newser) - The ethics reform bill, which tightens restrictions on congressional pet projects and lobbyist dealings, easily cleared the Senate today. The final vote was 83-14, with all of those opposed Republicans. Critics say the bill won't go far enough to curb earmark spending, the AP reports, but Dianne Feinstein praised the...

Sarko Backs Down on Public Sector Cuts

Aug 2, 2007 9:28 AM CDT

Sarko Backs Down on Public Sector Cuts

Retreats from promise to trim French civil servant rolls by 50%

(Newser) - Nicolas Sarkozy has backed down from a campaign pledge to reform the sclerotic French civil service, says the Telegraph. The government has scuppered the president's vow to halve the number of civil servants, which Sarkozy had made a central feature of his policy of "rupture."

Ethics Bill Clears House

Jul 31, 2007 4:10 PM CDT

Ethics Bill Clears House

Senate expected to pass reforms

(Newser) - The House passed a bill today that would impose sweeping new ethics rules and restrictions on lobbying, the Washington Post reports. The bill, which passed by an overwhelming 411-8 vote, takes particular aim at earmarks for legislators' personal projects. It also curbs campaign contributions and lobbyist wining and dining and...

Mais Oui! French Prez Is Friend
to Business

Jul 28, 2007 7:42 AM CDT

Mais Oui! French Prez Is Friend to Business

Sarkozy embraces entrepreneurs, pushes limits on worker's rights

(Newser) - France could see a longer work week and new limits on workers' right to strike if President Nicholas Sarkozy gets his way. He's already reduced wealth taxes on certain investments and practically eliminated the inheritance tax, the Los Angeles Times reports. But supporters insist he will not erode social benefits...

Senate Kills Immigration Bill

Jun 28, 2007 1:55 PM CDT

Senate Kills Immigration Bill

Vote to move forward falls 14 votes short

(Newser) - In a serious setback for the Bush administration's second-term agenda, the Senate effectively killed the immigration-reform bill today, voting 53-46 to keep the legislation from going forward. The president had actively promoted the bipartisan measure, going so far as to lobby senators by phone this morning, but with his influence...

States
Crack Down
on Illegals

Jun 25, 2007 4:40 AM CDT

States Crack Down on Illegals

As Congress dithers, a flurry of locals bills targets immigrants

(Newser) - States frustrated by Washington's inaction on illegal immigration are taking matters into their own hands with a record number of proposals that prevent immigrants from getting jobs, finding housing and benefiting from social services, the Washington Post reports. At least 1,100 state immigration bills have been proposed, more than...

Immigration Bill Brings Out 'Best,' 'Worst' of America

Jun 15, 2007 2:22 PM CDT

Immigration Bill Brings Out 'Best,' 'Worst' of America

New Republic warns 'draconian' measures will follow if compromise fails

(Newser) - Calling the immigration bill currently fighting its way through the Senate "the best that liberals are likely to get," the New Republic's editors tepidly endorsed the legislation that would bring 12M laborers closer to US citizenship even as they condemned the implications of the bill's proposed guest-worker program.

Senate Leaders Reach Deal
to Revive Immigration Bill

Jun 15, 2007 8:42 AM CDT

Senate Leaders Reach Deal to Revive Immigration Bill

Vote expected before Fourth of July break

(Newser) - Derailed last week, the controversial immigration bill will get a second chance, Senate leaders from both parties announced last night. The statement followed days of closed-door negotiations, the AP reports, and a personal pledge from President Bush to immediately provide $4.4 billion for border security—a key concern of...

Dems Withdraw Immigration Bill

Jun 8, 2007 4:50 AM CDT

Dems Withdraw Immigration Bill

Bill "on life support" - may revive this year

(Newser) - The hotly contested immigration reform bill collapsed on the Senate floor Thursday, after appearing to survive challenges from detractors in both parties. The measure fell 15 votes short of a move to curtail debate and move toward a final vote. That leaves it stalled, although the New York Times reports...

Immigration Bill Survives Senate Onslaught

Jun 7, 2007 4:57 AM CDT

Immigration Bill Survives Senate Onslaught

Coalition in tatters, but holding, despite barrage of amendments

(Newser) - The immigration bill before the Senate dodged bullets from the right and the left yesterday; when the smoke cleared the coalition backing it appeared to be intact—if barely, the Washington Post reports. An amendment to block legalization for many illegals was defeated; one to extend visas to many more...

Immigration Bill Walks Fine Line

Jun 4, 2007 12:30 PM CDT

Immigration Bill Walks Fine Line

Senate coalition sees its bipartisan brainchild grow from concept to pending legislation

(Newser) - The "grand bargain"—the compromise on which the proposed immigration bill turns—is the product of a process that saw senators from every point on the political compass unite around a common goal. With the senate scheduled to take up the legislation this week, the LA Times goes...

Immigration Debate Splits GOP

May 28, 2007 1:13 PM CDT

Immigration Debate Splits GOP

Fears for party's future amp up rhetoric for and against legalization path for immigrants

(Newser) - Deep divisions within the GOP over immigration reform have become increasingly bitter in recent weeks, the LA Times reports, with senior figures on both sides engaging in a rare public spat. On one side are those who fear alienating the mostly white conservative base; on the other those who want...

Problems Plague Immigration Agency

May 28, 2007 7:46 AM CDT

Problems Plague Immigration Agency

Critics call for overhaul of inefficient, backlogged operations

(Newser) - The agency that will have to deal with the avalanche of paperwork generated by immigration reform can't handle it, the Washington Post reports today. With over a million citizenship applications already stalled in the pipeline, Citizenship and Immigration (the former INS) faces the possibility that its workload will nearly triple,...

Americans Walk Soft Line on Immigration

May 25, 2007 12:52 PM CDT

Americans Walk Soft Line on Immigration

Poll shows support for guest-worker programs, path to citizenship

(Newser) - Lou Dobbs, take note: A majority of Americans back key immigration reform proposals making their way through Congress, a new CBS News/New York Times poll finds. Americans across the political spectrum say they support a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants, and two-thirds back a guest-worker program.

Guest Worker Program Slashed

May 24, 2007 7:30 AM CDT

Guest Worker Program Slashed

Senate immigration bill is assaulted by amendments from bipartisan critics

(Newser) - Key provisions of the immigration bill were altered yesterday as the Senate passed a raft of amendments designed to make the bill more palatable to critics from both political parties. Provisions to beef up security at the border were strengthened, while the guest worker program offering two-year visas to...

China Deals
on Finance,
Skips Currency

May 23, 2007 4:59 PM CDT

China Deals on Finance, Skips Currency

US-China talks bring good news for securities firms, but no yuan reform

(Newser) - Talks between American and Chinese economic officials thudded to a close today, offering mild changes to the financial sector in lieu of major currency reform. The deal hammered out by Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and China's vice-premier Wu Yi promise foreign financial companies more access to Chinese markets and allows...

Immigration Bill Alarms Employers

May 22, 2007 5:42 AM CDT

Immigration Bill Alarms Employers

Businesses call employee verification program an unfair burden

(Newser) - The new immigration bill now on the Senate floor puts a massive burden on employers, the Wall Street Journal reports, requiring them to verify the papers of all 146 million workers in the US, and stiffening penalties for violations. "It's like throwing a huge net to catch a few...