Tuesday, January 12, 2016

This article is about the House approves the bill of  the North Korea Sanctions Enforcement Act. It is said that the lawmakers voted on this today, the same day as President Obama's final State of the Union Address, and the numbers were an astounding 418-2 in the house. This bill will make it deny North Korea the money needed to make miniature nuclear warheads and the rocketry needed to deliver them inaccessible. Cutting of this money will also make it hard for Korea to pay their their army and police forces. This bill is sponsored by Representative Ed Royce of California who is the Republican chariman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. He has said that Obama's administration has let its policy for North Korea "drift".

Monday, January 11, 2016

ISIS burns fighters alive

This article is about ISIS and how they burned the survivors who fled after being defeated in Ramidi in the town square. The group who ran were told to make a circle while they leaders burned them to death. This is not the first time ISIS has done that to their cowardly soldiers before. The Iraqi forces with US air support take back Ramidi from ISIS. It is said that everyone in Ramidi lives their life in fear at this point.

Survivors of Human Trafficking Empowerment Act



Survivors of Human Trafficking Empowerment Act 
Establishes an advisory council which provides advice and recommendations to monitor and combat trafficking in persons 
They are required to:
1. Meet at least annually to review federal government policy and programs intended to combat human trafficking
2. Formulate assessments and recommendations to ensure that U.S. policy and programming efforts conform to best practices in the field of human trafficking prevention

3. Meet with the group at least annually to present the council's findings and recommendations
 
WHO: Michael Honda, representative for California's 17 congressional district (democrat)

COMMITTEE: 
House Foreign Affairs
House Judiciary
      - Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations


STATUS: Reported by the committee but not yet passed by the House or Senate.

Michael Honda is the 4th most progressive among all representatives by cosponsorship.  Honda has cosponsored 537 bills created by other members of congress. In 2015 he introduced 34 bills to congress. Also, 7 of those bills that were cosponsored by a chair or person of the committee the bill was referred to. Honda is also very willing to work with the senate. Through my research on Michael Honda, it seems that he has a very high ranking within the house. 

Some things that surprised me were things like how people always talk about congress not getting anywhere with bills when it seems like a lot of the congressman no matter what party for the most part get along. 

A question I have is: How do congressman of the democratic party react when a republican has a good idea that actually helps both sides?

Links:
 Report Card

Survivors of Human Trafficking Empowerment Act

Michael Honda

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Powerball: To be a billionare or not to be a billionare?

This article is about the Powerball Jackpot that has not been won yet. It is said that the current jackpot is 1.3 billion dollars. The jackpot for last Wednesday was 500 million dollars then 900 million dollars before Saturdays drawing. The estimated jackpot for this Wednesdays drawing will be well over 1.3 billion dollars. according to New York's gaming commission  they recorded over 3.3 million dollars in ticket sales per hour by 4 pm yesterday. This jackpot has continued since November 7. over two months.