Bonus crackdown bill passes House
WASHINGTON, March 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. House of Representatives voted 328-93 Thursday and passed a bill that heavily taxes bonuses such as ones awarded at AIG that have drawn universal ire.
The bill would use the tax code to recoup 90 percent of the bonuses awarded to companies that receive more than $5 billion in federal aid. It would apply to bonuses received after Dec. 31, 2008, but wouldn't apply to those who decline or return a bonus or joint tax filers earning less than $250,000.
The measure would apply to American International Group, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and other larger institutions.
The Senate is expected to debate a similar measure next week.
U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said the bill wasn't an attempt to punish anyone but a warning not to use taxpayer money to award bonuses.
"If you're proud of what you've done, the buck's going to stop here ... (and) you will pay your dues to the IRS," Rangel said.
Rep. David Camp, R-Mich., the ranking Republican committee member, urged colleagues to vote for the bill because "it is our duty to protect and defend hard-working Americans."
He also said U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner -- under fire for his role in the AIG bailout and whether he knew about the bonuses before he said he knew -- should be "looking for a new job."
Republicans said the measure didn't pass constitutional muster in several areas, including targeting specific people and previous behavior, as well as equal protection laws.
"We're doing something of questionable constitutionality to cover up a mistake," Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., said, referring to language in the conference committee report on the stimulus package that, in essence, barred federal recovery of bonuses awarded by AIG. "If we don't vote for this ... we're the bad guys."
Gallup: U.S. wants growth over environment
PRINCETON, N.J., March 19 (UPI) -- More than half of U.S. adults say that economic growth is the country's top priority even if it hurts the environment, the Gallup Poll reported Thursday.
It was the first time since Gallup began asking the question in 1984, that Americans have put the economy ahead of the environment. While 51 percent said the economy is more important, 42 percent picked the environment.
Only 50 percent of Democrats said that the environment is more important than economic growth, while 44 percent favored the reverse. Republicans and independents were more in favor of growth.
Those surveyed were split almost evenly on energy development versus the environment, another sign of waning public concern with the drop in oil prices. While 66 percent of Republicans favor energy development, 65 percent of Democrats favor the environment.
Gallup surveyed 1,012 adults by telephone between March 5 and March 8. The poll has a 3 percent margin of error.
Bin Laden urges ouster of Somali president
MOGADISHU, Somalia, March 19 (UPI) -- A message released Thursday claiming to be from Osama bin Laden says that the new Somali president has partnered with "the infidel" and should be "dethroned."
The message was posted on an Islamist Web site and has not been determined to be authentic, CNN reports. The audio is in Arabic with English subtitles against a background of a photo of bin Laden.
Using the title "Fight on, Champions of Somalia," the message attacks Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, founder of the Union of Islamic Courts and now president of the unity government in Somalia, as a turncoat.
Somalis are told that Ahmed should be "dethroned, fought and removed with armed force." Somalia is involved in a war between "Islam and the international crusade," bin Laden says.
Ahmed was ousted by Ethiopian troops who came to Somalia to support the western-backed "interim government." He was elected president on Jan. 31 by a group of Somali leaders meeting outside the country.
Pope: Africa a 'continent of hope'
YAOUNDE, Cameroon, March 19 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI told 60,000 people jammed into a soccer stadium Thursday in Cameroon that Africa is a "continent of hope" at risk of materialism.
Benedict celebrated the first open-air mass of his week-long trip to Africa after a meeting with Muslim leaders, the BBC reported.
In his homily, the pontiff warned of those trying to "impose the tyranny of materialism." While he said Africa is a "continent of hope," he also said that it must respect human life.
Some of the faithful spent the night in line to be sure of getting into the stadium and thousands were turned away. Many wore T-shirts with the pope's picture.
After his meeting with Muslims, Benedict said that Cameroon, where Christians and Muslims live together in harmony, is a "beacon for other African nations."
This trip is Benedict's first to Africa since e became pope four years ago. He travels to Angola, where he will spend the rest of his time, Friday.
Hamas playing matchmaker for Gaza widows
GAZA, March 19 (UPI) -- Any man willing to marry and support a widow living in the Gaza Strip will receive a $3,000 reward from Hamas, the paramilitary organization says.
Ynetnews reported Thursday that the Hamas effort was in response to the number of casualties incurred in the Gaza Strip during Operation Cast Lead, the recent armed conflict between Israeli and Palestinian forces in the troubled region.
Hamas, multiple Arab Web sites said, is offering the financial incentive to men willing to marry the Gaza Strip widows of Cast Lead "martyrs" and provide for those women's families.
Hamas officials are hopeful the widowed families will enjoy a better stable life through finding new husbands for the widows, Ynetnews said.
The Palestinian organization said any man wishing to receive the reward must be religiously devout and ethical, along with having the ability to provide for at least two women.
Ynetnews reported that Hamas said the men must also have enough space in their homes to offer appropriate shelter to the widows and their families.
Resolution honoring Obama stuck in Georgia
ATLANTA, March 19 (UPI) -- A state representative in Georgia said Thursday he opposed a resolution intended to honor U.S. President Barack Obama due to the proposal's wording.
State Rep. Austin Scott, a Republican, said he objected to a proposal to make Obama an honorary Georgia Legislative Black Caucus member because of the term "of this body" in state Sen. Emanuel Jones' resolution, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said Thursday.
"If the Black Caucus wants to adopt that resolution, that's fine," Scotts said. "If they want it to be 'this body,' then it becomes different."
"Whereas, throughout his political career, President Barack Obama has enjoyed an unimpeachable reputation for integrity, vision, and passion for public service, and no one could be more worthy of special honor and recognition by the members of this body and the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus than this extraordinary leader," the offending passage reads.
The Journal-Sentinel said a similar resolution that honored former U.S. President George W. Bush was passed by the Georgia Legislature in 2005 without any problems.
