GOP-led House votes to repeal ObamaCare - Bill to undo Obama immigration actions, fund DHS fails in Senate test vote

WASHINGTON –  The House voted Tuesday to repeal the Affordable Care Act, getting Republicans on record in favor of overturning the law for the first time since the party took control of Congress.

The bill passed on a 239-186 vote. 

President Obama already has threatened to veto the legislation — and like past bills to repeal ObamaCare, it is unlikely to go far under the current administration, despite Republicans now controlling the Senate and having a bigger majority in the House.

But the vote serves as an opening shot in the 114th Congress’ efforts to chip away at the law. Several lawmakers have introduced bills to change or undo parts of the Affordable Care Act, and some could garner bipartisan support. 

“We need health care reform that makes the system more responsive to patients, families and doctors — reforms that preserve and protect the doctor-patient relationship. Right now, ObamaCare is moving our health care system in the exact opposite direction where the American people are paying more and getting less,” Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., said in a statement after the vote. “In the House of Representatives, we are saying we need to get rid of this law that’s not working and focus on solutions that will embrace the principles of affordability, accessibility, quality, innovation, choices, and responsiveness.” 

Prior to the vote, Obama questioned the logic behind it.

“So my understanding is the House scheduled yet another vote today to take health care away from folks around this table,” Obama said during a meeting with 10 people who have written him letters about how the ACA has helped them.

He added, “I’ve asked this question before. Why is it that this would be at the top of their agenda? It was maybe plausible to be against the Affordable Care Act before it was implemented. But now it has been implemented and it is working.”

The House has voted more than 50 times in the past two years to repeal all or parts of the law.

The legislation would go next to the Republican-controlled Senate.

While some say the vote is a symbolic gesture, the push to repeal ObamaCare comes as the Supreme Court weighs the King v. Burwell case, which challenges the legality of some subsidies offered through the president’s signature health care law. If the Supreme Court upholds a lower court’s verdict, it could severely undermine the law and fuel GOP efforts to at least change it. 

Republicans, as their next major step, are planning to draft legislation offering an alternative to the ACA. The bill approved Tuesday also directs House committees to begin work on an alternative plan, in case the Supreme Court rules against the law. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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GOP-led House votes to repeal ObamaCare - Bill to undo Obama immigration actions, fund DHS fails in Senate test vote

Obama wants to strip funding from veterans" medical choice program - Senate backs bill to address veterans" suicide

President Obama’s 2016 budget blueprint proposes rolling back a program that gives veterans the right to receive faster care outside of the long waitlists at the troubled Veterans Affairs medical system.

Obama signed the Veterans Choice Program into law in August following months of partisan wrangling on Capitol Hill that finally led to a compromise measure to overhaul the agency.

The Veterans Choice Program was a key GOP provision in the deal.

Authored by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., the measure provides “choice” cards to veterans that can be used to obtain medical care at designated facilities outside of the VA system.

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Obama wants to strip funding from veterans" medical choice program - Senate backs bill to address veterans" suicide

House votes to overturn Obama immigration actions, bill heads to Senate - VIDEO: White House blasts move to block Obama"s immigration action

The Republican-led House voted Wednesday to overturn President Obama’s immigration actions from last November — and to unravel a directive from 2012 protecting immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as children — sending the bill to the Senate where it faces an uncertain fate. 

The House voted 236-191 to approve the legislation, which funds the Homeland Security Department through the rest of the budget year to the tune of $40 billion. But as part of that bill, Republicans added provisions to gut the president’s immigration directives. 

Despite deep Democratic opposition, the House voted 237-190 on an amendment to undo the actions Obama announced in November that provide temporary deportation relief, and offer work permits, to some 4 million illegal immigrants. 

Another amendment would cancel Obama’s 2012 policy that’s granted work permits and stays of deportation to more than 600,000 immigrants who arrived in the U.S. illegally as kids. That measure passed more narrowly, 218-209, as more than two dozen Republicans joined Democrats in opposition. 

Republicans say Obama’s moves amounted to an unconstitutional overreach that must be stopped. 

“We do not take this action lightly, but simply there is no alternative,” House Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday. “It’s not a dispute between the parties or even between the branches of our government. This executive overreach is an affront to the rule of law and to the Constitution itself.” 

But as the White House threatened a veto, Democratic leaders claimed the GOP provisions would hurt immigrant families — and ultimately hurt Republicans politically. 

“The amendments … that the Republicans are tacking onto the bill, or at least trying to tack onto the bill, to keep the Department of Homeland Security open are inconsistent with our nation’s values and its history. They would tear families apart,” House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said. 

Even with Republicans in control of the Senate the bill faces tough chances there, especially because House GOP leaders decided to satisfy demands from conservative members by including a vote to undo the 2012 policy that deals with younger immigrants known as “Dreamers.” The amendment, which is opposed by some of the more moderate Republicans in the House, would ultimately expose those young people to deportation. 

Security-minded lawmakers on both sides of the aisle also are worried about using the DHS funding bill to wage the immigration fight, saying security funding should not be put at risk, particularly in the wake of the Paris terror attacks. Current DHS funding expires at the end of next month. 

In the Senate, Republicans would have to rally a 60-vote majority to advance the legislation, and they have only 54 members. 

With even some Republicans voicing reservations, the Senate may have to strip out the immigration provisions and send a straight DHS funding bill back to the House, as the Feb. 27 deadline looms. 

This, then, could set up another fight between GOP leadership and the conservative reaches of the party. 

One senior House GOP aide told Fox News, “I don’t know how this one ends.” 

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, in a written statement, said the bill would not pass the Senate. “Republicans have only been in control for a week and already they are picking an unnecessary political fight that risks shutting down the Department of Homeland Security and endangering our security,” he said, urging Republicans to pass a “clean” funding bill.

Some House Republicans acknowledged that the Senate is likely to reject their approach. 

“They’re not going to pass this bill,” Rep. Charlie Dent, R-Pa., said in predicting the Senate outcome. 

Obama has threatened to veto the House bill, and Democrats roundly denounced it, even as immigrant advocates warned Republicans they risked alienating Latino voters who will be crucial to the 2016 presidential election. 

“Just two weeks into this new Congress, Republicans have turned a bipartisan issue, funding our Department of Homeland Security, into a cesspool of despicable amendments that cater to the most extremist anti-immigrant fringe,” Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., said in a House debate. 

Fox News’ Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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House votes to overturn Obama immigration actions, bill heads to Senate - VIDEO: White House blasts move to block Obama"s immigration action

Senate moves toward passing new Iran sanctions, as Graham offers deal on nuclear pact vote

FILE: Oct. 14, 2014: Video cameras at a news conference between EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in Vienna. (REUTERS)

South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday that he would set aside efforts to impose more sanctions on Iran if President Obama allows Congress to vote on a final deal with that country over its nuclear program.

“I’m willing to forgo that vote with the understanding that any deal he negotiates will come to the Congress for our approval or disapproval as a check and balance,” Graham said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Imposing sanctions on Iran to force the country to curtail its nuclear enrichment program, presumably to build a nuclear weapon, has bipartisan support in Congress.

This weekend, Senate staffers confirmed with Fox News some details about upcoming legislation sponsored by Illinois GOP Sen. Mark Kirk and New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, members of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee.

They said the legislation supports international negotiations with Iran, provides a diplomatic insurance policy if the talks fail and that no new sanctions will be imposed if a deal is reached.

The committee will hold a hearing Tuesday on possible new penalties against Tehran, amid calls from President Obama for Congress to wait as negotiations near two key deadlines.  

The United States and five other world powers are trying to reach a framework agreement with Iran by March and hope to complete a longer-term deal by June 30 that would limit Iran’s ability to produce a nuclear weapon.

Iran says its program is for peaceful purposes.

Secretary of State John Kerry has stepped up talks with Iran’s foreign minister, Javad Zarif, and they may hold further discussions this week when both are expected to attend the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

Graham described congressional efforts as signaling to the Iranians that “we would like a political negotiation, a diplomatic solution. But please understand in Iran that the Congress is intent on reapplying sanctions if you walk away from the negotiating table and if you cheat.”

Graham also said: “I don’t think that’s a disruptive message.”

White House adviser Dan Pfeiffer told NBC that Graham “would like to make all the foreign policy decisions of the United States and be commander in chief. … It’s the president’s authority.”

Pfeiffer added, “It does not make any sense for Congress to scuttle that deal … because that would put America in a bad place, not just in dealing with Iran but with the world.”

The White House will continue to consult with Congress, he said.

Obama said at a news conference Friday that imposing new sanctions probably would doom the nuclear negotiations and heighten prospects of a military showdown. “Just hold your fire,” the president pleaded to Congress, while also issuing the veto threat.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, who was visiting Washington last week, said he was calling senators to convey the message that new penalties would hurt international unity.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Senate moves toward passing new Iran sanctions, as Graham offers deal on nuclear pact vote

New Anti-doping Bill tabled in Senate

BY BALFORD HENRY Observer senior reporter balfordh@jamaicaobserver.com

Monday, December 15, 2014    

THE new Anti-doping In Sport Bill was tabled in the Senate last week,with the debate expected to take place this week when the Senate meets again at Gordon House.

The Bill signifies Jamaica’s commitment to the worldwide fight against doping in sports, by adopting the World Anti-doping Code, the document which guides the harmonisation of anti-doping policies, rules and regulations within sports organisations around the world.

The newly revised code was approved by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in Johannesburg, South Africa, in November 2013. It will come into effect on January 1, 2015, by which time all participating countries, including Jamaica, should have adopted the provisions by repealing their current anti-doping legislation.

Minister with responsibility for sports, Natalie Neita Headley reminded the House, during the brief debate on the Bill Tuesday, that widespread concerns about a number of adverse analytical findings involving Jamaican athletes last year had renewed focus on the Jamaica Anti-doping Commission (JADCO).

She said this led to the decision to review the Jamaican legislation, and WADA, the world body, was invited to send a team to review the operations of JADCO.

“Following this, we decided to conduct a review of the 2008 Anti Doping Act in order to clarify the roles, responsibilities and functions of the commissioners of JADCO management team,” she told the House.

In the meantime, Jamaica learnt that a new WADA code would come into effect on January 1, 2015, and the review of Act became a timely process to bring Jamaica’s legislation in line with the new WADA code.

She said that the Bill will repeal the Anti-doping in Sports Act of 2008 and introduce new legislation compliant with the new Code. She said that it also clarifies the role of

the commissioners and JADCO’s management team in terms of their duties, responsibilities and functions.

Opposition spokesperson on Sports, Olivia “Babsy” Grange, reminded the House that she was the minister when the current Act was drafted and approved.

She said that the Opposition fully supported passage of the new Bill passed in time to meet the WADA deadline, hence the need to have it passed before Parliament’s Christmas break.

Grange said that the need for global cooperation in the fight against doping in sports is necessary, as the records show spurts in the number of athletes testing positive at international events, like the Summer Olympics, from time to time.

She also welcomed the changes included in the new Bill in terms of the conditions for appointment to the commission to avoid conflicting interests, and the establishment of JADCO as a body corporate with policy guidance and strategic direction from the board.

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New Anti-doping Bill tabled in Senate

Once-sleepy South Dakota Senate race could pose problem for GOP

Then-South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds speaks during a press conference at the state Capitol in Pierre, S.D. (AP)

South Dakota’s once-sleepy Senate race appears to be waking up – and it could throw a wrench into Republicans’ plans to seize control of the chamber next month.

The state’s Senate race for months had been considered a virtual lock for Republicans. But a new poll shows the independent in the race surging, and Democratic fundraisers have started to pour money into the contest.

Now, just as a late shake-up turned the Kansas Senate race competitive and prompted Republicans to rush to the incumbent’s aid, South Dakota could soon represent another Republican headache.

“I think the dynamics in South Dakota are putting pressure on Republicans,” said Nathan Gonzalez, managing editor of The Rothenberg Political Report.

The latest poll showed front-running former GOP Gov. Mike Rounds leading in South Dakota – but not by much.

According to the Survey USA/KOTA/KSFY/Aberdeen American News poll taken between Oct. 1 and Oct. 6, Rounds is only leading independent Larry Pressler 35-32 percent among likely voters. (Pressler is a former GOP senator who has not said how he would caucus if elected.)

Not far behind is Democrat Rick Weiland, with 28 percent.

Gonzalez said he’s not “completely surprised” over the poll findings, because “I didn’t think Rounds ever closed the deal in this race.”

But he added: “I do tend to be surprised when a third-party candidate is getting more than 20 percent.”

The survey results are raising eyebrows all over the political spectrum because the poll before it, commissioned by CBS/NYT/YouGov, had the former governor leading Pressler 42-12 percent in late September, with Weiland getting 27 percent. A Survey USA poll taken earlier that month showed Rounds with a comfortable double-digit lead ahead of both Pressler and Weiland, as did every other poll dating back to April.

So what’s happening?

Dick Wadhams, senior strategist for the Rounds campaign, told FoxNews.com the poll is an anomaly, and that “the race is not nearly as close as that.”

In fact, Rounds is still ahead with double digits, Wadhams insisted.

But the Democrats must sense the dynamics are the shifting, too, as they’re putting new resources into the race. FoxNews.com has confirmed the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) is devoting $1 million to the race – an investment that suggests they believe Pressler will peel just enough votes off Rounds to give their candidate a fighting chance. If either wins, that’s one fewer race Republicans can count on for the six total seats they need to seize control of the Senate.

“The DSCC must have their own data or else they wouldn’t be putting so much money into this,” Gonzalez said.

That money will add to a push of negative ads funded by other Democratic super PACs already weighing in on the race. According to reports, Every Voice Action started running TV ads on Sept. 18 criticizing Rounds. Meanwhile, Mayday, a super PAC co-founded by Harvard University law professor Lawrence Lessig, said it would start a $1 million campaign in supporting Weiland and against Rounds.

Rounds, for his part, has been dealing with questions over the so-called “EB-5 scandal,” which refers to a federal program that allowed immigrants to earn green cards by investing $500,000 in American businesses. Rounds expanded the program, which is now being scrutinized for corruption and abuse, during the tail-end of his 2003-2011 term.

“I think Rounds has not run a spectacular campaign and his fundraising has lagged,” added Gonzalez. “He’s let Pressler and Weiland define themselves, and I think he’s been averse to running negative or contrast ads,” allowing his “opponents to be whatever they want to be.”

In Pressler’s case, that’s a sage, moderate, three-term former senator who feels it’s his duty to get back to Washington for the sake of his state. Pressler, 72, has one paid staffer and only $100,000 in the bank, but his message must be resonating somewhere if the recent numbers are to be believed.

“I wouldn’t put too much stock in that,” Pressler told FoxNews.com, referring to the polls, “but I do feel we have never been so warmly received as we (he and his wife, Harriet) have been as we travel across the state.”

Pressler, who was first elected in 1978 and served three terms, was ousted by current Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson, who is retiring this year. A Vietnam War veteran, Pressler is known for being the only lawmaker approached in the infamous Abscam sting who deliberately turned down the offered bribe.

“It’s somewhat audacious, but I want to do public service,” said Pressler, now a grandfather of four. He wants to serve only one term in order to bring back revenues and jobs to South Dakota, and to help break the gridlock in Washington. He counts fellow independent Sen. Angus King, of Maine, as a friend, and has not yet decided if he would caucus with the Democrats or Republicans if he upsets Rounds on Nov. 4.

But Wadhams says that is not likely to happen and so far, the political tip sheets agree. While acknowledging that the dynamics seem to be shifting, Gonzalez says the Rothenberg Political Report still has the race “leaning Republican.” Cook Political Report, too, has the race in “likely” standing, between “leaning” and “solid” Republican.

“Larry Pressler has had a bit of a honeymoon in this campaign,” Wadhams said, suggesting the gloves in the Rounds corner are about to come off.

A similar shift has taken place in Kansas, where GOP Sen. Pat Roberts now faces a challenge from independent Greg Orman – and has hammered Orman as a liberal.

In South Dakota, Wadhams said: “Voters are going to find out that there are no fundamental differences between Weiland and Pressler, that a new, liberal version of Pressler has emerged. Anyone who says he has voted for Obama twice, who supports ObamaCare and gun control – there is something wrong with that.”

Pressler acknowledges voting for President Obama, and supports the Affordable Care Act, but with modifications. He also supports limited background checks on gun purchases, he said.

“I am a practical moderate,” he said. “I would say we have a very liberal Weiland and a very conservative Rounds. I am a moderate centrist and I want to work to solve problems.”

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Once-sleepy South Dakota Senate race could pose problem for GOP

Porn scandal involving former staff puts Pa. governor on defense in already-tough race - VIDEO: Porn scandal puts Pa. gov on defense - Senate races trending GOP in battleground states - Full Coverage: Midterm Elections

Porn scandal involving former staff puts Pa. governor on defense in already-tough race - VIDEO: Porn scandal puts Pa. gov on defense - Senate races trending GOP in battleground states - Full Coverage: Midterm Elections

Senate passes General Consumption Tax (GCT - amendment) Act

Saturday, September 27, 2014 | 6:56 AM    

KINGSTON, Jamaica – The General Consumption Tax (Amendment) Act was passed in the Senate on Friday, September 26.

The legislation introduces a series of adjustments, which are at facilitating smoother operations of businesses as well as achieving greater efficiency and effectiveness in the system of tax collection, and also widen the tax net.

Opening the debate on the Bill, Minister of Justice, Mark Golding, said it seeks to facilitate Jamaican businesses by leveling the playing field and making them more internationally competitive.

He noted that several of the new measures are of particular benefit to the manufacturing sector.

Citing the deferment regime, he said it allows manufacturers to delay payment of tax on the importation of raw materials, consumables, and intermediate goods or spare parts, until the manufacturer is making his next GCT return. 

“Presently, the deferment system applies only to manufacturers of taxable supplies, which are those suppliers of goods that attract GCT, and only inputs acquired for use in the manufacture of taxable goods may be deferred in this way. The scope of this regime is now being extended to benefit manufacturers, who are engaged in mixed activities (which includes) the production of goods, which are taxable and also exempt goods on which GCT does not apply,” he stated.

Golding explained that the amendments will also allow small business operators, whose sales fall below the GCT threshold, to qualify for registration under the Act, and therefore receive benefits.

“There is a threshold of annual turnover of a business. If you fall below that threshold of $3 million, you cannot register as a GCT taxpayer. This is being changed to allow traders, who may be below that threshold, to register if they so wish. This will assist the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector… as businesses…will no longer have to absorb the cost of the GCT on their business expenses,” Golding said.

The amendments also introduce improved measures for dealing with tax avoidance schemes, while also widening the range of offences under the Act. Penalties for braches of the Act have also been increased.

Opposition Senator, Nigel Clarke welcomed the amendments to the legislation.

He noted that the legislation enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of the regime of tax collection as it relates to the GCT Act.

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Senate passes General Consumption Tax (GCT - amendment) Act

Municipal Validation Amendment Bill passed by Senate

The Senate on Friday passed the Municipal Validation Amendment Bill.

It removes the final hurdle for Portmore’s Acting Mayor, Leon Thomas, to remain in the position, until the next Local Government election.
But the Bill was challenged by Opposition Senators who said the amendments were unconstitutional.

The Bill, will among other things, validate official duties carried out by Thomas who has been acting Mayor since the death of  George Lee in December.   

The debate became contentious and the Government side used its majority to facilitate the passage of  the Bill while the seven Opposition members voted against it.

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Municipal Validation Amendment Bill passed by Senate

Senate beging debate on Criminal Records Act

The Jamaian Senate on Friday morning commenced debate on amendments to the Criminal Records Act. This is in keeping with the Government’s move to clear the records of persons caught with small quantities of  ganja.

The debate was opened by Justice Minister Senator Mark Golding.

The bill makes provision for automatic expungement of  convictions for certain minor ganja related offences. It states that where a fine has been imposed for smoking ganja, it should not be entered on the criminal record of  the offender. Mr Golding said that the expungement will apply to previous and future records.

It was on June 12 that Senator Golding announced a number of changes to the country’s highly restrictive anti-ganja regime, including the decriminalisation of possession of small quantities of the substance, and for the expungement of criminal records relating to such offences.

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Senate beging debate on Criminal Records Act

Senate approves gun agency head

31 July 2013 Last updated at 21:42 ET Jones had been part-time, acting director of the agency since 2011 The US Senate has approved President Barack Obama’s nominee to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives after months of delay.

B Todd Jones was approved in a vote that saw one Republican change sides and a Democrat fly back to Washington.

President Obama praised the Senate for approving the first director to the gun law enforcement agency in seven years.

Republican gun rights advocates had blocked earlier nominees, saying the firearms bureau was too aggressive.

But the powerful National Rifle Association lobbying organisation said it was neutral on Mr Jones, easing the route to confirmation.

‘Welcome and overdue’

Supporters of greater gun control backed Mr Jones’s appointment, saying he would provide leadership to an agency that has been subject to congressional restraints and stagnant funding.

Mr Jones has been the part-time acting agency head since 2011, while continuing to serve as the top federal prosecutor for the state of Minnesota.

He was formally nominated by President Obama to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) after 20 children were massacred at a primary school in the US state of Connecticut in December.

After the vote, President Obama said Mr Jones was a “tough and tested law-enforcement professional” with decades of experience, adding his confirmation was both “welcome and long overdue”.

“For nearly seven years, Senate Republicans had refused to confirm an ATF director – not because they thought the nominees weren’t qualified, but because they put politics ahead of the agency’s law enforcement mission,” he said in a statement.

On Wednesday, the Senate stalled its vote for more than five hours as lawmakers waited for Heidi Heitkamp, a Democrat from North Dakota, to return to the capital from her home state and cast the 60th vote needed to defeat a Republican block and confirm Mr Jones.

Action on nominees

Earlier, Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska was swarmed on the Senate floor by Democrats who pleaded with her to vote in favour of ending the block. She obliged, along with five other Republicans.

The vote to overcome the Republican block was followed quickly by a final confirmation vote.

In recent weeks senators have approved a series of stalled nominations after reaching a bipartisan deal to clear the backlog.

On Tuesday, the Senate filled all five seats on the National Labor Relations Board.

Two weeks earlier, the Senate confirmed Richard Cordray as the head of the recently established Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Democrats, who have a majority in the Senate, threatened to change the rules of the chamber to reduce the minority party’s influence if Republicans continued to use procedural manoeuvres to stall votes on Obama nominees.

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Senate approves gun agency head

Senate approves controversial tax bill

KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Senate Friday approved the controversial Revenue Administration (Amendment) Act, just two days before its deadline as an important bench mark agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Government senators toed the party line, to ensure that it met the June 30 deadline, although accepting that there were areas of concern in the bill.Minister of Justice, Senator Mark Golding, who piloted the measure in the Senate, admitted that there was merit in some of the objections raised by the Opposition.However, he suggested that the Senate pass the amendments to ensure that the IMF deadline is met, and then there could be a review of the provisions at a later date.Golding said that meeting IMF’s deadline was a structural benchmark which the country could not afford to miss, as it could become the basis for the government failing the first quarterly test, which covers the period April-June, and affect the country’s ability to make future draw-downs.“We cannot afford to take that risk. We believe that it is in the best interest of Jamaica that we pass this bill, today,” he insisted.The Opposition offered to give support, if the Government would set timelines for reviewing the bill as soon as possible. But, Golding said that he could offer no timelines, only an assurance that the provisions would be reviewed.The Opposition challenged the government on five of the 15 clauses, calling for a “divide” vote, but lost each time as members voted strictly along party lines, 9-4 in favour of approving the amendments.The Opposition had raised concerns about some provisions of the bill, both in and out of Parliament, since it was tabled in mid-May. It was passed in the House of Representatives on June 19 via a 20-13 government majority.The bill allows for the exchange of tax information on individuals and companies between Jamaica and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) which groups powerful developed countries, and widens the powers of the Tax Commissioner General in accessing information on alleged tax dodgers in Jamaica to enforce compliance in all sectors of the economy.— Balford HenryLike our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Senate approves controversial tax bill

Hold parents accountable for student failure, Senate President says

Latest News

Friday, June 28, 2013 | 8:35 AM

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — President of the Senate Floyd Morris, says that parents must be held accountable for the poor performance of their children in school.Morris was delivering the keynote address at the 21st staging of the Montego Co-operative Credit Union Schools’ Academic Championship Quiz, held Wednesday June 26 at the Montego Bay Civic Centre in St James. According to Senator Morris, parents are not providing the necessary supervision and support of their children’s studies, in order for the country to realise the returns from the billions of dollars invested in education each year, and they should be “brought to book”.“This year alone, the Government is spending approximately $77 billion, and when you match that with what is being done by private sector companies, I am certain that the figure for education is running well over $100 billion…but, I don’t believe that we are getting the type of returns that we should be getting,” Morris said.“I believe that the necessary support systems that are supposed to be in place are not there. I am very disappointed with the sort of parental support that is being given to the education of our children. How can a parent have a child at home and that child traverse primary school and high school, graduate from both institutions, but is not able to read and write? It must be poor parental supervision that is contributing to such a situation,” the Senate President insisted.Like our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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Hold parents accountable for student failure, Senate President says