Tag: Amendment

Biden says he’s exploring 14th amendment to defuse debt ceiling standoff

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“I said I would come back and talk,” he said. “The one thing I’m ruling out is default, and I’m not going to pass a budget that has massive cuts.”
The president’s remarks came at the White House shortly after a meeting he called “productive” with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the three other top congressional leaders. But Biden leveled criticism at McCarthy for sometimes making remarks during the meeting that were “maybe a little bit over the top” and for not knowing what he had proposed in his GOP bill.
“Three of the four participants [were] very measured and low key,” Biden said.
Back at the Capitol, McCarthy laughed off the comment, saying: “If you ever spend time with [Senate Majority Leader Chuck] Schumer, you’ll find out who the fourth is.”
On a more serious note, Biden warned that not everyone at the negotiating table pledged to avoid default.
Among only “three of the five, there was substantial movement that everyone agreed that deficit — defaulting on the debt was off the table,” Biden said.
The president is scheduled to meet again Friday with McCarthy, Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Until then, White House staff and aides to the four congressional leaders would continue to hold discussions, those involved said.
Biden is scheduled to leave for Japan in a week for the G-7 summit, but the president said he’d consider delaying his trip if an agreement appeared to be in reach. Underscoring the seriousness of the debt discussions, he called it “the single most important thing that’s on the agenda.”

Canceling the trip, he said, is possible, but not likely.
“In other words, if somehow we got down to the wire and we still hadn’t resolved this and the due date was in a matter of, when I was supposed to be away. I would not go. I would stay till this gets finished,” he said.
White House and congressional appropriations staff are to begin discussions on a budget, which could form the outlines of an agreement. The Biden administration has insisted that the budget talks would be separate from a debt limit increase.
Biden expressed openness to one key GOP ask: Rescinding tens of billions of dollars in Covid funding.
“The answer is, I’d take a hard look at it,” Biden said, adding that the government “didn’t need it all” but needed to determine how much of that pot has been committed to various projects. “It’s on the table.”
Still, Biden made clear that an agreement is not imminent.
“There’s a lot of politics, posturing and gamesmanship and it’s going to continue for a while, but I’m squarely focused on what matters,” he added.
Sarah Ferris and Adam Cancryn contributed to this report.
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#Biden #hes #exploring #14th #amendment #defuse #debt #ceiling #standoff
( With inputs from : www.politico.com )

May 10, 2023
John Thune says Chuck Schumer’s plan for a vote on an Equal Rights Amendment resolution may not have an easy road ahead.

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“It only takes 41 to block [the measure],” Thune said. “I think it will be a heavy lift [for Democrats].”

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#John #Thune #Chuck #Schumers #plan #vote #Equal #Rights #Amendment #resolution #easy #road #ahead
( With inputs from : www.politico.com )

April 26, 2023
Opposition, government spar over IT Amendment Rules

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New Delhi: Under attack over the fact-check provisions of the IT Amendment Rules, Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday dismissed the criticism as “deliberate misinformation”.
Chandrashekar’s remarks came in response to CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury describing the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules as “draconian”, “unacceptable” and one that gave “sweeping powers” to the Press Information Bureau to “censor content” on social media platforms.
Besides Yechury, Congress leader Pawan Khera and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also slammed the IT Amendment Rules as a “new way to restrict news critical of the government”.

“There are NO Sweeping powers – neither is it ‘draconian’. IT Rules already have provisions from Oct 2022, which mandate Social Media intermediaries to not carry certain types of content if they are to have legal immunity under Sec79 of IT act,” Chandrasekhar said on Twitter.
He said the new credible fact-checking unit for all government-related content will help social media intermediaries.
“Social Media intermediaries will have the option to follow or disregard fact checking finding. If they choose to disregard fact checking, the only consequence is that the concerned department can pursue legal remedy against the social media intermediary,” the minister said.
Chandrasekhar said the goal of the government was to ensure that the Internet was safe and trusted for all citizens.
The minister asked “Comrade Yechury” to direct his “draconian” tweets at the Left Front government in Kerala led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan “who raids media channels”.

Hitting back at the opposition, Chandrasekhar recalled the use of Section 66A of the IT Act during the UPA government to “jail” young cartoonists for drawing cartoons.
“To Comrade Yechury, Comrade Rahul and all other Lefties and latest entrant Uddhav’s party with no name. Even as you two (or 3) besties try hard to misrepresent & lie about our serious work at creating a misinformation-free Internet in India whilst protecting fundamental rights, let me remind you of your joint terrible draconian record on free speech Eg Use of Sec66A of IT act – where young cartoonists were sent to jail for cartoons,” the minister said.
Earlier, Khera had said the new IT Rules make the government “judge, jury and executioner” when it comes to monitoring content on social media platforms.
“They are afraid of voices of dissent, they are afraid of questions, they are afraid of anybody who can corner them with their questions or with their facts. The news rules are on online platforms where PIB will decide what is fake and what is not fake,” Khera said.
Chaturvedi said the IT Amendment Rule was a new way of restricting any news critical of the government.
“Silencing the opposition and opposing voices is now complete. Made broadcast and print media toothless, now social media platforms will be made defunct,” said Chaturvedi, a Rajya Sabha member.
On Thursday, Chandrasekhar had said that the IT ministry will notify an entity that will flag false information posted online pertaining to the government.
“Government has decided to notify an entity through Meity and that organisation then would be the fact checker for all aspects of content online and only those content that are related to the government,” Chandrasekhar had said.
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#Opposition #government #spar #Amendment #Rules
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 7, 2023
Frequent amendment of corporate laws is to make them more robust: Sitharaman

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Chennai: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said the Central government does not have any hesitation in frequently approaching the Parliament to amend corporate laws as it was to fine-tune them and to make these laws more robust, adding the process aims at making the laws cater to the challenges as well as the ever-changing requirements of the industry.
Sitharaman said this while speaking here after inaugurating the renovated premises of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).
She said that Opposition members used to question the rationale behind approaching the Parliament frequently but “the government was able to convince them about the need for such frequent amendments to corporate laws”.

The Finance Minister also said that the government had taken serious note of the resentment among certain quarters about filling up vacancies in National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and in National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) and added that a lot of appointments were taking place now.
She said that the goal was to make the country more transparent in its commercial activities and to gain investors’ confidence in full. The minister said that the government was unwavering in its commitment towards achieving this.
NCLAT Chairman Ashok Bhushan said that India was now 62 in the world as far as ease of doing business was concerned and this growth was from the 142 position it had in 2015.
He said that the timely and effective disposal of commercial cases by the tribunals had helped all the stakeholders.
The NCLAT chairman also requested the minister to appoint one more judicial and technical member to the Chennai bench of the Appellate body.

NCLAT judicial member M. Venugopal said that the Chennai bench of the NCLAT had disposed of 562 of the 1,480 appeals that were filed since its inception on January 25, 2021.
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#Frequent #amendment #corporate #laws #robust #Sitharaman
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

April 1, 2023
Electricity Amendment Bill not to impact agriculture sector, says Power Minister

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New Delhi: The Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022 covers amendments related to the power sector and there is no amendment proposal related to the agriculture sector, the Parliament was told on Tuesday.
Power Minister R.K. Singh gave the assurance in response to a question in Lok Sabha during Question Hour.
“Further, the provision of subsidy as in the present Act i.e. Electricity Act, 2003 is not proposed to be changed and the states can continue to give subsidy to farmers and other consumers as they are doing at present,” he said.
As per Electricity Act, 2003, the subsidy to specific categories of consumers including domestic and farmers is decided by state governments.
The proposed legislation is currently under consideration of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Energy, which is headed by BJP MP Jagdambika Pal.
Last year during the Monsoon session, the Electricity (Amendment) Bill was referred to the Parliamentary Committee by the power minister, immediately after being introduced in Lok Sabha, amid protests by opposition that it encroached upon powers of states and allows privatisation of electricity on the lines of communication sector.
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#Electricity #Amendment #Bill #impact #agriculture #sector #Power #Minister
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

March 28, 2023
AC Gives Nod For Amendment of Pharmacy Act

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Jammu, Mar 14 (GNS): The Administrative Council (AC) which met here under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, gives its assent for amendment in Section 32-C of Pharmacy Act, 1948 (Central Act)-Introduction of draft Bill.
Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, J&K and Dr. Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor attended the meeting.
The decision aims for amendment in Section 32-C, inserted in Pharmacy Act, 1948 (Central Act) through an Adaptation Order under S.O No: 3465(E), Dated 5th of October, 2020.
The instant proposal is for amendment in the existing Section 32-C of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 ( Central Act) to the effect that notwithstanding anything contained in Section 32, any person whose name has been entered in the register of Pharmacists maintained under the Jammu and Kashmir Pharmacy Act, 2011 ( 1955 AD) or possesses qualification Medical Assistant prescribed under the said Act shall be deemed to have been entered in the register of Pharmacists prepared and maintained under Chapter IV of this Act, subject to an application to be made in this behalf within a period of one year commencing from the date of re-notification and payment of such fee as may be prescribed by the Administration of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The move is going to benefit hundreds of qualified persons and Medical Assistant trained persons for safeguarding their future and providing them the better career prospects in the field of medicine.(GNS)
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#Nod #Amendment #Pharmacy #Act
( With inputs from : thegnskashmir.com )

March 14, 2023
AC Gives Nod For Amendment Of Pharmacy Act

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SRINAGAR: The Administrative Council (AC) which met under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, gives its assent for amendment in Section 32-C of Pharmacy Act, 1948 (Central Act)-Introduction of draft Bill.
Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, J&K and Dr. Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor attended the meeting.
The decision aims for amendment in Section 32-C, inserted in Pharmacy Act, 1948 (Central Act) through an Adaptation Order under S.O No: 3465(E), Dated 5th of October, 2020.
The instant proposal is for amendment in the existing Section 32-C of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 ( Central Act) to the effect that notwithstanding anything contained in Section 32, any person whose name has been entered in the register of Pharmacists maintained under the Jammu and Kashmir Pharmacy Act, 2011 ( 1955 AD) or possesses qualification Medical Assistant prescribed under the said Act shall be deemed to have been entered in the register of Pharmacists prepared and maintained under Chapter IV of this Act, subject to an application to be made in this behalf within a period of one year commencing from the date of re-notification and payment of such fee as may be prescribed by the Administration of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The move is going to benefit hundreds of qualified persons and Medical Assistant trained persons for safeguarding their future and providing them the better career prospects in the field of medicine.

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#Nod #Amendment #Pharmacy #Act
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

March 14, 2023
AC gives nod for amendment of Pharmacy Act

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JAMMU, MARCH 14: The Administrative Council (AC) which met here under the chairmanship of the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, gives its assent for amendment in Section 32-C of Pharmacy Act, 1948 (Central Act)-Introduction of draft Bill.
Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to the Lieutenant Governor, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary, J&K and Dr. Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor attended the meeting.
The decision aims for amendment in Section 32-C, inserted in Pharmacy Act, 1948 (Central Act) through an Adaptation Order under S.O No: 3465(E), Dated 5th of October, 2020.
The instant proposal is for amendment in the existing Section 32-C of the Pharmacy Act, 1948 ( Central Act) to the effect that notwithstanding anything contained in Section 32, any person whose name has been entered in the register of Pharmacists maintained under the Jammu and Kashmir Pharmacy Act, 2011 ( 1955 AD) or possesses qualification Medical Assistant prescribed under the said Act shall be deemed to have been entered in the register of Pharmacists prepared and maintained under Chapter IV of this Act, subject to an application to be made in this behalf within a period of one year commencing from the date of re-notification and payment of such fee as may be prescribed by the Administration of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The move is going to benefit hundreds of qualified persons and Medical Assistant trained persons for safeguarding their future and providing them the better career prospects in the field of medicine.
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#nod #amendment #Pharmacy #Act
( With inputs from : roshankashmir.net )

March 14, 2023
Oregon overturns ‘second amendment sanctuary’ law in blow to gun movement

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An Oregon court dealt a blow to the state’s “second amendment sanctuary” movement, deciding on Wednesday that local governments cannot ban police from enforcing certain gun laws in a ruling that could hold national ramifications for anti-gun control efforts.
At the center of the lawsuit was a 2020 measure passed in Columbia county, a conservative area in the Democratic state, that argued state and federal gun laws did not apply in the county and banned local officials from enforcing the regulations. The rural region was one of some 1,200 in the US, from Virginia to New Mexico to Florida, to pass a second amendment sanctuary resolution.
The Oregon state court of appeals ruled the law, which included fines for officials who enforce most federal and state gun laws, violated a law granting the state the authority to regulate firearms. The ordinance would effectively “create a ‘patchwork quilt’ of firearms laws in Oregon”, the court found.
“It would have the potential to lead to uncertainty for firearms owners concerning the legality of their conduct as they travel from county to county,” Judge Douglas Tookey wrote.
The gun sanctuary movement, which first took off nationwide in 2018, had not yet faced a major legal challenge. The ruling will have wide implications in Oregon, where multiple localities have declared themselves second amendment sanctuaries. The state attorney general has sued two other counties that declared themselves sanctuaries. One of those counties eventually rescinded their ordinance.
“Today’s opinion by the court of appeals makes it clear that common sense requirements like safe storage and background checks apply throughout Oregon,” the attorney general, Ellen Rosenblum, said. “Hopefully, other counties with similar measures on the books will see the writing on the wall.”
Gun safety groups, some of which argued the ordinance violated the US constitution, applauded the decision. Eric Tirschwell, the executive director of Everytown Law, called the court’s decision “a win for public safety and the rule of law”.
“Opponents of gun safety laws have every right to advocate for change at the ballot box, statehouse, or Congress, but claiming to nullify them at the local level is both unconstitutional and dangerous,” Tirschwell said.

The Oregon Firearms Federation, a supporter of the Columbia county ordinance, criticized the ruling, saying it included “false attacks” and “calls into question the legitimacy of the court and the likelihood of getting fair rulings from it”.
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#Oregon #overturns #amendment #sanctuary #law #blow #gun #movement
( With inputs from : www.theguardian.com )

February 17, 2023
Pawar opposes Electricity Amendment Bill, says its implementation will hit consumers

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Nashik: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Friday strongly opposed the recently introduced Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2022, in Parliament and asserted its implementation will end subsidy offered to power consumers, adversely affect government-run energy companies and also cause job losses.
The Rajya Sabha MP said the Opposition will not allow passage of the Bill in Parliament in its existing form and continue to resist its provisions.
Speaking at an event here, Pawar said the Opposition has clearly conveyed to the Union government that it will not allow the Bill to be passed in its present form.
“Some days ago, a Bill for amendment to the Electricity Act, 2003, was introduced in Parliament. We oppose it because its implementation will stop power subsidy, shut down government-run energy companies and cause job losses,” said the former Union minister.
It may get passed in the Lok Sabha because of the majority enjoyed by the Narendra Modi government, but it will not get cleared in the Rajya Sabha, where the ruling dispensation lacks the required numbers, Pawar said.
Privatisation of public undertakings in the power sector is also under consideration of the government, he claimed.
“The Bill is before a parliamentary committee. Our stand is we will not allow this law to be passed in its current form,” the NCP leader added.
Pawar was speaking at a convention of the Maharashtra State Electricity Workers’ Federation.

The veteran politician said 40,000-42,000 existing vacancies in various state-run power firms should be filled and priority must be given to those working on these posts on contract.
“These posts should be filled up immediately. Preference should be given to employees working in these companies on contract. In states like Telangana, Punjab and Tamil Nadu contract workers have been absorbed in regular service and this should be done in Maharashtra also,” Pawar added.
“India is an agriculture-dominated economy. Earlier, 35 per cent people were doing farming, now more than 56 per cent people are involved in farming. There is burden on agriculture and new research is needed to improve the situation,” said the former Union agriculture minister.
Speaking at the convention, former Maharashtra minister Chhagan Bhujbal said government-run companies in the state should not be privatized.
All workers, employees, farmers and common people should come together to fight against privatization of state-run firms, said the NCP leader.
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#Pawar #opposes #Electricity #Amendment #Bill #implementation #hit #consumers
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

February 10, 2023