ANNAPOLIS–(ENEWSPF)–February 22, 2013. Delegate Curt Anderson (D-Baltimore City) introduced a bill yesterday in the Maryland House of Delegates that would make marijuana legal for adults 21 and older and establish a system in which marijuana is regulated and taxed like alcohol. In summary, HB 1453: removes criminal penalties for private possession[Read More…]

  Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 21, 2013. Index for Today’s Briefing DEPARTMENT Bomb Blasts in Hyderabad SYRIA Ongoing Violence in Damascus / Car Bomb Assad Regime’s Bombing of Palmyra Syrian Opposition Coalition MALI Fierce Fighting in Gao ARMENIA/AZERBAIJAN Loss of Life in War / Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict EGYPT Violence in Protests / Dialogue[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 21, 2013 – 1:30 P.M. EST MR. CARNEY:  In the chart behind me you can find in a link from the blog post that we just put up on whitehouse.gov and that I tweeted, written by Communications Director Jen Palmieri.  That blog post is a refresher about the[Read More…]

U.S. trade agency continued secrecy denies public access to document related to protection of environment and public health Washington, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–February 21, 2013. On behalf of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), Earthjustice argued to defend a court order requiring the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to disclose a document shared[Read More…]

Bureau to Pursue Alternative Repayment Options for Private Student Loan Borrowers WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–February 21, 2013. Today, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced that it is gathering information to develop options for policymakers to make repayment of private student loans more manageable for struggling borrowers. The CFPB has found that[Read More…]

Coalition with $820 million in JPM shares seeks stronger, more independent governance and oversight New York, N.Y.–(ENEWSPF)–February 21, 2013.  A coalition of investors including the AFSCME Employees Pension Plan, the Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds, Hermes Equity Ownership Services and the NYC Pension Funds, has filed a shareowner proposal[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 21, 2013. by Erik Altieri, NORML Communications Director Representative Diane Russell (D-Portland) will formally introduce legislation that would make Maine the third state to legalize and regulate the possession and sale of marijuana to people over the age of 21 at a press conference being held at noon[Read More…]

Detroit, MI–(ENEWSPF)–February 21, 2013. Working people passed out leaflets in front of Chase Bank on Woodward Avenue yesterday afternoon, calling on corporate special interests to pay their fair share in taxes. Wall Street CEOs, part of the misnamed “Fix the Debt” group, are pushing for cuts in lifeline benefits like[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 21, 2013. SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending February 16, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 362,000, an increase of 20,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 342,000. The 4-week moving average was 360,750, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week’s revised[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 20, 2013 – 12:49 P.M. EST MR. CARNEY:  Hello, everyone.  Welcome to the White House.  It’s very good to have you here.  I hope you are as excited to be here as I am.  I mean that.  It’s always an honor and a privilege.  We’ll give a special[Read More…]