Unions, MoveOn Warn Obama Not to 'Cave' in Secret Negotiations With House GOP

The Obama White House is reportedly in the process of negotiating a secret debt deal with House Republican leaders that could include deep cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. The deal would not, according to significantly or immediately address the need for new revenues that can be derived from fair taxation of the wealthiest Americans.

That's a bad deal.

Bad for American seniors and Americans who anticipate that one day will be seniors.

Bad for the American economy.

And bad for Barack Obama politically.

Scrutiny on Murdoch's School Reform Agenda Grows

If you watched Rupert Murdoch’s weak-sauce testimony in front of the British Parliament Tuesday, you might have felt just a teensy bit sorry for former New York City schools chancellor Joel Klein, who sat directly behind Murdoch the entire afternoon, pouting.

Sure, Klein is probably earning more money than God in his new role as executive vice president at News Corp. But the Justice Department attorney turned data-and-accountability school reformer signed up with Murdoch to get out of the harsh political limelight and help News Corp. make a mint selling educational technology products to school districts. Instead, Klein now finds himself heading up the company’s internal response to the explosive phone-hacking scandal, which has tainted nearly every august institution in British society, from Fleet Street to the Cameron government to Scotland Yard.

The FBI is currently investigating News Corp. to learn if its illegal and unethical activities victimized any American citizens, or penetrated the company’s US holdings, which include Fox News, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post.

Gang of Pain: Who Suffers Under the Bipartisan Deficit Reduction Scheme

President Obama endorsed the Senate's Gang of Six deficit reduction plan Tuesday, saying that the proposal “is broadly consistent with the approach that I’ve urged” and “makes sure that nobody is disproportionately hurt from us making progress on the debt and deficits.”

However, an examination of the plan’s specifics reveals that corporations and wealthy Americans won’t feel much pain at all—in many cases, just the opposite. The plan slashes taxes and could bring the top personal income rate down as low as 23 percent—meaning CEOs like Jamie Dimon and Lloyd Blankfein could see their after-tax income increase by as much as $3 million, according to Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. The corporate tax rate would be reduced from 35 percent to between 23 and 29 percent under the proposal. (Supposedly enough loopholes would be closed to keep total revenue from corporate taxes the same. Even in that scenario, corporations won’t pay an extra penny). Military spending also remains virtually untouched.

Unions Go After Gang Of Six Deficit-Cutting Plan: 'It Would Kill Jobs'

WASHINGTON -- Unions are coming down hard on the so-called "Gang of Six" deficit-cutting plan, blasting the bipartisan proposal with a harsh ad set to come out Friday in Capitol-focused publications.

The plan would cut about $3.7 trillion over 10 years, in part by slowing the growth of Social Security and limiting deductions for things like home mortgages, health insurance and retirement plans. It would also lower income-tax rates.

The ads -- paid for by the AFSCME, the AFL-CIO, the National Education Association, the SEIU and the United Food and Commercial Workers -- slam the plan as an assault on the middle class.

Jason Kenney, Immigrants And The New Conservative Base

Jason Kenney lands in Montreal today to discuss Canada’s immigration levels and how best to integrate new arrivals — a top-of-mind issue for one of the Conservative Party’s newest and most important constituencies.

The stop, part of a series of consultations, comes as Kenney redefines his relationship with this new segment of the Conservative base after three years of targeted outreach in his role as minister of citizenship and immigration.

In the 2008 election, new Canadians made up the majority of the population in only three of the Conservatives’ 143 ridings. The Liberals, despite winning almost half as many seats as the Tories nationally, took the lion’s share of seats with immigrant majorities.

Toronto police strip searches increasing

Toronto police strip searched roughly 60 per cent of the people they arrested in 2010, compared to 32 per cent 10 years ago, according to police statistics.

Previously released figures show the number of strip searches performed by police have been steadily increasing since 2001, leading police critic and former mayor John Sewell to charge the practice is now so widespread it is “routine.”

“If it was routine, it would be 100 per cent,” said Police Chief Bill Blair following Sewell’s deputation to the Toronto Police Services Board on Thursday, where the latest figures were released.

List of war crimes suspects leaves more questions than answers

The mood was ominous, the message dire.

War criminals are among us, and Canadians must rally for the safety of the homeland.

On Thursday Public Safety Minister Vic Toews and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney opened a two-pronged campaign against illegal migrants suspected of war crimes or crimes against humanity, by releasing the names of 30 wanted men believed to evading justice throughout Canada.

The list, with mugshot-style images of the suspects, was posted on the Canadian Border Services Agency website.

“We all have a part to play in making our communities safe, and today we are asking for Canadians’ assistance,” Toews said at a news conference in Mississauga.

Ford plotting to oust TTC chief over subway extension

Gary Webster, the TTC’s top executive, is caught in the crosshairs of Mayor Rob Ford’s administration, prompting fears that Toronto transit could be headed on a disastrous course if he’s fired.

A 30-year TTC veteran, the 60-year-old chief general manager has drawn the ire of the Fords over his refusal to support the Sheppard subway extension the mayor wants to build, say Toronto Star sources.

Webster could not be reached for comment, but TTC spokesman Brad Ross issued a statement Thursday saying, “The TTC will not speculate on Mr. Webster’s future. The chief general manager is working hard with staff on the 2012 budget, as well as ongoing customer service improvement initiatives. This is a large, complex organization. His continued leadership has never been more important.”

Critics see KPMG report as ‘smoke and mirrors’

With the air of a prosecutor eager to pounce, Councillor Mary Fragedakis turned to the three KPMG representatives sitting before the economic development committee.

She had some issues with their core service review suggestions.

Had KPMG considered long-term costs associated with cutting support to business improvement areas? What about the economic benefits of arts funding, social services and entrepreneurship support?

“We weren’t asked to quantify the impacts of reducing or eliminating the service,” company representatives replied.

“I don’t think that report was in the scope of what we were asked to look at.”

“We weren’t asked to look at the implications of continuing the service.”

Fragedakis, noting a “consistent theme” to the answers, had made her point.

‘I will assure you that services will not be cut, guaranteed’

Many Torontonians believed Mayor Rob Ford when, two weeks before the Oct. 25 election, he promised “services will not be cut, guaranteed.”

Ford made the vow Oct. 8 while proposing a 2011 budget that would quickly fix the city’s finances with $525.6 million in undefined — but easily found — “gravy.” Residents would not feel a thing.

Eight months later, Torontonians face a 2012 budget deficit of more than $443 million and Ford has put on the table a thick catalogue of deep cuts.

Suggestions in eight city-commissioned KPMG reports, the last of which was released Thursday, include library closures, fire and police department layoffs, reduced snow clearing and street sweeping, and the elimination of 2,000 daycare subsidies.