“It’s time to say ‘enough.’ Year after year, we spend more and more on our national defense – it’s too much with too little accountability. We have troops on food stamps while at the same time, price-gouging defense contractors are getting richer by the day.
Archiv: Haushalte / budgets
House Narrowly Passes Defense Bill, Setting Up Showdown Over Social Issues
At stake is an $886 billion bill that would grant a 5.2 percent raise to military personnel, include programs to counter aggressive moves by China and Russia, and establish a special inspector general to oversee U.S. aid to Ukraine.
It’s the inequality, stupid
(June 15, 2023)
Economic inequality has exploded in the US since Bill Clinton took office. (It started to tick up after Clinton’s predecessor Ronald Reagan came on the scene, but Clinton’s tenure witnessed a continuation of this trend.) Today, there are 735 billionaires in the US, three of whom – Elon Musk, Larry Ellison, and Jeff Bezos – hold wealth more than 1 million times (!) the median American household wealth. Meanwhile, nearly 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, 1/3 of workers make less than $15 an hour, and roughly 38 million Americans live below the poverty line.
Millionaires Are Begging Governments to Tax Them More
(Jun 23, 2023)
On both sides of the Atlantic, the Patriotic Millionaires are notable for being unusually public and unusually frank—US chair Morris Pearl, a former MD at investment firm BlackRock, has described how the Covid-19 pandemic made him personally wealthier, and how he doesn’t check his bank balance because he doesn’t need to. (…)
The richest 1 percent of Brits hold more wealth than the poorest 70 percent combined. “I see it as a problem if you’ve got so much money that you no longer need a functioning society,” she says.
Deficit Hits $1.4 Trillion in First 9 Months of Fiscal Year: CBO
(July 11, 2023)
The federal budget deficit totaled nearly $1.4 trillion in the first three quarters of the 2023 fiscal year, according to the latest monthly budget review from the Congressional Budget Office released Tuesday.
The deficit was $875 billion larger from October 2022 to June 2023 compared to a year earlier, with revenues 11% lower and outlays 10% higher.
After Passing Budget, Netanyahu Vows to Press on With Judicial Overhaul
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will restart the push to radically change Israel‘s judiciary after his government successfully passed the state budget, an important component of the overhaul, early on Wednesday.
In an interview with Channel 14, Netanyahu said „of course“ when asked whether the judicial overhaul, which was put on hold earlier this year amid unprecedented public opposition, would resume.
Protest at the Knesset as Netanyahu government passes a budget granting exorbitant allocations to West Bank settlements and to the ultra-Orthodox communities
Thousands of Israelis Protesting Outside Knesset Ahead of Crucial State Budget Vote
The demonstrators are protesting the government’s proposed state budget that is slated to send billions of shekels to the ultra-Orthodox communities. Protest organizers said in a statement that this “isn’t a state budget [that’s being put up for a vote], but rather raiding the public coffers that will destroy Israel’s economy for generations to come.”
20th Week of Protests – ‚Robbing Our Children of Their Futures, With Our Money‘: Israelis Protest Controversial Budget, Judicial Overhaul
he Knesset is slated to devote several days next week to debating and passing the budget.
Despite the tension, leaders of all the coalition parties expect the budget to pass next week and say the government is at no real risk of falling. “In the long run, things can’t work this way, but at least for now, the budget will pass,” one minister said. “There’s no immediate threat to the government.”
Netanyahu Sold Israel‘s Soul to the Devil and His Coalition Keeps Plundering
The reckless, messianic fanatics who run our lives aren’t pausing for a moment, pouncing on the public coffers like a pack of hungry hyenas, emptying them for many years to come ■ With the budget deadline looming next week, pressure is mounting on the architects of the judicial coup
Reporter for right-wing network attacked while covering anti-government protest
Shalev said he is accustomed to facing animosity at anti-government demonstrations because he reports for Channel 14, which critics consider a mouthpiece for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but that the incident the night before had for the first time included physical violence.
He said protesters used their flagpoles to beat him and his crew on the head and body.
“At that point I felt afraid. Until now I have not felt afraid in all the demonstrations I have been to, but here with the flags when it reached the physical level I started to be afraid,” Shalev said.
Ministers approve Ben Gvir-led national guard, major budget cuts to fund it
After a heated discussion at their weekly cabinet meeting, ministers voted Sunday in favor of forming a national guard under the command of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, along with a major budget cut across all ministries to fund it.
The controversial force is expected to comprise 2,000 servicemembers who will report directly to the far-right minister and will be tasked with tackling “nationalist crime” and terrorism, and “restoring governance where needed.”
Dear President Biden and Secretary Blinken,
(…)
As such, we call on your administration to promptly:
– Ensure U.S. taxpayer funds do not support projects in illegal settlements;
– Determine whether U.S.-origin defense articles have been used in violation of existing U.S. laws, including for a purpose not authorized by Section 4 of the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. § 2754) or to commit or support gross violations of human rights
by the Israeli government in violation of Section 502B(a)(2) of the Foreign Assistance Act (22 U.S.C. § 2304(a)(2)) and the U.S. „Leahy Laws,“ Section 620M of the Foreign Assistance Act (22 U.S.C. § 2378d and 10 U.S.C. § 362).
Furthermore, we call on your administration to ensure that all future foreign assistance to Israel, including weapons and equipment, is not used in support of gross violations of human rights, including by strengthening end-use monitoring and financial tracking. We ask that you respond with a detailed plan as to how the administration plans to achieve that goal.
Progressive Democrats Plan to Make Strongest Statement Yet Against Netanyahu’s Far-right Government
The progressive lawmakers are further urging the Biden administration to ensure U.S. taxpayer funds are not supporting Israeli settlements projects, and to determine whether U.S. military aid is in violation of the Arms Export Control Act or the so-called “Leahy Laws.”
The Arms Export and Controls Act stipulates that U.S. weapons are sold only for legitimate self-defense, while the Leahy Law prohibits U.S. funding from being used to equip or train foreign military forces suspected of human rights abuses or war crimes.
U.S. Finalizes Deal to Give Israel $38 Billion in Military Aid
(Sept. 13, 2016)
The package represents a major commitment to Israel’s security in the waning months of Mr. Obama’s presidency after years of fractious relations with Mr. Netanyahu over issues like the Iran nuclear agreement. Mr. Netanyahu agreed to several concessions to cement the deal rather than gamble on winning better terms from the next president.
The package will provide an average of $3.8 billion a year over the next decade to Israel, …
US Approves $4.8 Billion in Israeli Military Aid in Omnibus Spending Package
(03-11-2022)
The package included the Israel Relations Normalization Act, which seeks to support and expand the Abraham Accords – a series of peace agreements Israel signed with the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain and Sudan.
Additionally, the package includes $50 million in funding for the Middle East Peace Partnership Act, which promotes Israel-Palestinian dialogue programs and investment in Palestinian business development.
BERICHT DER KOMMISSION: Anzeiger für staatliche Beihilfen – Bericht über staatliche Beihilfen der EU-Mitgliedstaaten
(21.12.2012)
In der Zeit vom 1.Oktober 2008 bis zum 1. Oktober 2012 genehmigte die Kommission Beihilfen in Höhe von 5058,9 Mrd. EUR (40,3 % des EU-BIP) für den Finanzsektor.
Des Kapitalismus neue Kleider: E.U.-Staaten schütten in vier Jahren 5 Billionen Euro in den „Finanzsektor“
(21.12.2012)
Immerhin die österreichischen Zeitungen „Standard“ und „Die Presse“ berichteten über den heute von der „Europäischen Kommission“ veröffentlichten „Bericht über staatliche Beihilfen der EU-Mitgliedstaaten“. Doch den ganzen Wahnsinn, den dieser dokumentierte, wagten auch sie nicht in die Überschrift zu packen.
Im Bericht der E.U.-Kommission heißt es:
„In der Zeit vom 1. Oktober 2008 bis zum 1. Oktober 2012 genehmigte die Kommission Beihilfen in Höhe von 5058,9 Mrd. EUR (40,3 % des EU-BIP) für den Finanzsektor.“
Nochmal in Zeitlupe: Die Staaten des Staatenbundes „Europäische Union“ haben in vier Jahren 5,0589 (bitte auf die Zahlen hinter dem Komma achten) Billionen Euro als „Hilfe“ in nach dem Profitprinzip geschaffene und handelnde Organe des (Euro-)Kapitalismus geschüttet.
820 Milliarden Euro: EZB-Gelddruckerei überschüttet die Wucherer, die schütten zurück
(5. März 2012)
Die „Übernacht-Einlagen“, die „Angstkasse“, oder besser: das Gelddepot des weltweiten Finanzkartells bei ihrer persönlichen Gelddruckerei, der Frankfurter Zentralbank des Euro-Systems, ist innerhalb von drei Tagen um weitere 43 Milliarden Euro auf über 820 Milliarden Euro explodiert. Die kapitalistische Informationsindustrie, ebenso wie die in zwei Jahrzehnten des Krieges und der weltweiten Expansion des unkontrollierten Interbankensystems („Globalisierung“) versauten „öffentlich-rechtlichen“ Medien erzählen dazu nur Dreck daher oder schweigen völlig.
Die Banken „misstrauen“ sich nicht. Die Banken weigern sich schlicht Geld in den Wirtschaftskreislauf auszugeben und stapeln ihre erfundenen Taler einfach wieder auf den Berg in der Zentralbank, während hier alle in der Währungszone nach Liquidität jabsen und am Besten gleich den ganzen Staat verkaufen sollen.
Dieser ganze finanzextremistische Wahnsinn, für den die europäischen Demokratien, Staaten und Völker nach dem Willen der Kapitalisten bluten sollen und es teilweise bereits tun, wird nun in gewohnt maximalem Zynismus durch genau die Profiteure dieses „pro-europäischen“ Finanz- und Währungssystems benutzt, um durch irrationale Zerstörungswut an den Volkswirtschaften des Kontinents auch noch irrationale Ängste vor etwas zu schüren, vor dem man sich zu allerletzt Sorgen machen kann: das irgendetwas von diesem Geld jemals in den Wirtschaftskreislauf gelangen könnte und dann zuviel davon.
Jeremy Hunt plots £10bn tax grab from the better off
Ministers have discussed reducing the rate at which income tax relief is applied to Britain’s 5.5 million higher-rate taxpayers from 40p to a flat rate as low as 20p. Another option being considered is to increase the number of very high earners whose income tax relief is cut even further.
The total cost of pension tax relief to the Exchequer is £42.7 billion, of which £22.9 billion is relief on income tax and £19.8 billion is on National Insurance contributions.
‘Tax the rich’: thousands march in London anti-austerity rally – video
Thousands of people rallied in the rain in central London to demonstrate against what they called ‘Tory austerity’ and demand an immediate general election.
Libertarian jihadists in No 10? Sadly, the Tories remain a party of soggy social democracy
Every Leftist revolution – Venezuela, Cuba, the USSR itself – follows the same pattern. First, Western observers gush over it – they’ve seen the future and it works. Then, as things begin to go wrong, they blame saboteurs and plead for time. Finally, when the revolution ends (as they all end) in hunger and labour camps, they insist that it was never properly socialist in the first place, and that “real socialism has never been tried”.
Majority of 2019 Tory voters urge Rishi Sunak to tax the rich in stunning new poll
(27.10.2022)
The plea comes three weeks before the Government unveils its Autumn Statement mini-Budget, with six in 10 voters who backed the Tories last election calling for higher taxes on the wealthy
Interest rates may rise even HIGHER than expected next month, Bank of England chief says if inflation is to be beaten
On September 22 the Bank‘s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) raised rates by 0.5 percentage points to 2.25%.
Speaking at the G30 annual international banking seminar, Mr Bailey said: ‚The UK Government has made a number of fiscal announcements and has set October 31 as the date for a further fiscal statement.‘
He said that the Bank‘s monetary policy committee ‚will respond to all this news at its next meeting in just under three weeks from now‘.
Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey tells IMF event in Washington of conversation with Jeremy Hunt yesterday: “Very clear & immediate meeting of minds on the importance of stability and sustainability.” @SkyNews
Rebel Tories demand MORE U-turns on ‚mini-Budget‘ after plan to axe top 45p tax rate is ditched: Liz Truss CANCELS visit as ‚contrite‘ Kwasi Kwarteng vows he WON‘T quit ahead of crunch speech – while PM‘s ally says he warned Chancellor of market meltdown
– Prime Minister Liz Truss and Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng backtracked amid threat of losing Commons vote
‚Mom, I Am Sorry, I Canceled Your Operation‘: Seven Israeli Hospitals Strike Over Budget Cuts
(02.09.2021)
According to an agreement signed between the government and these hospitals, they were supposed to receive a 630-million-shekel budget between January and June 2021. Of this money, 300 million shekels were for their routine operations and 330 million shekels were for coronavirus related work. The agreement was also supposed to provide another 55 million shekels a month between June and December. However, the government has only provided these hospitals with a total of 300 million shekels.
Am Rande: was macht der Bundesnachrichtendienst eigentlich beruflich?
Joint List: No Support for a Budget that Will Deepen the Occupation
“If we need to, we’ll recruit one or two of the Joint List lawmakers without shame. We have a majority for the budget, we don’t need 61 votes,” racist Minister of Finance Avigdor Lieberman told Channel 12 on Monday evening. In response, the Joint List, said it “can’t be bought.” “We won’t support a budget that deepens the occupation and settlements, raises the prices of electricity and gas, raises the retirement age for women and disenfranchises the weak,” the Joint List statement read.
US-Haushalt: Erhöhung
Mit 715 Milliarden Dollar liegt der Antrag für den kommenden US-Verteidigungshaushalt leicht höher (1,4%) als im Vorjahr (siehe IMI-Aktuell 2021/400). Das scheint Republikanern und Demokraten im Kongress aber noch nicht zu genügen, überrparteilich drängen sie auf eine weitere Erhöhung
Polen: Outgesourcte Ausgaben
In Deutschland mehrten sich in letzter Zeit die Forderungen, wichtige Rüstungsgroßprojekte außerhalb des Verteidigungshaushaltes zu finanzieren
Auslandseinsätze: Teurer als geplant
Der Deutschlandfunk berichtet, die Bundeswehreinsätze seien in vorigen Jahr deutlich teurer geworden als geplant:
Rüstung trotz Pandemie
In den am heutigen Mittwoch veröffentlichten Eckwerten des Bundeshaushaltes ist einmal mehr eine saftige Steigerung des Militäretats für 2022 vorgesehen, der dann in den folgenden drei Jahren wieder sinken soll. Die Verteidigungsministerin dürfte damit zufrieden sein.
Der Geheimdienst wird auch ausgebaut. Nächstes Jahr bekommt der BND erstmals über eine Milliarde Euro Steuergeld. Im Snowden-Jahr 2013 war es noch die Hälfte. (Alle Geheimdienstskandale gehen zu Gunsten der Geheimdienste aus. Immer.)
BND-Gesetz: Bundesregierung beschließt Geheimdienst-Überwachung wie zu Snowden-Zeiten
Die Bundesregierung hat heute beschlossen, die Befugnisse des Bundesnachrichtendienstes erneut massiv auszuweiten. Das Kabinett hat den Gesetzentwurf zur Änderung des BND-Gesetzes angenommen, er kommt damit in den Bundestag.
Die Große Koalition hatte das aktuelle BND-Gesetz 2017 als Reaktion auf die Enthüllungen von Edward Snowden und Geheimdienst-Untersuchungsausschuss verabschiedet. Damals war unser Fazit: „Alles, was der BND macht, wird einfach legalisiert. Und sogar noch ausgeweitet.“ Im Mai hatte das Bundesverfassungsgericht das Gesetz als verfassungswidrig eingestuft und gekippt. Jetzt unternimmt die Bundesregierung einen neuen Anlauf, der wieder vor Gericht landen dürfte.
Polen und Ungarn werten Gipfel-Kompromiss als Erfolg
Die Staats- und Regierungschefs billigten einen von der deutschen EU-Ratspräsidentschaft ausgehandelten Kompromiss.
EU-Gipfel erzielt Einigung zu Budget und Corona-Hilfen
Ein Sprecher Michels ergänzte, auch der umstrittene Mechanismus zur Kürzung von EU-Geldern bei Verstößen gegen die Rechtsstaatlichkeit sei angenommen worden. Es habe keine Änderungen an dem Entwurf für den Gipfel mehr gegeben.
Polnischer Außenminister: „Polen gegen eine Ausweitung der Kompetenzen der EU-Kommission“
(10.12.2020)
Wie Rau in dem Gespräch erinnert, hätten schon 2018 Juristen des Rats der Europäischen Union und des Europäischen Abrechnungshofs die Bindung des EU-Budgets an ein Rechtsstaatlichkeits-Kriterium als nicht mit den EU-Traktaten vereinbar bewertet. Eine Einführung von neuen Mechanismem hinter dem Rücken der Gesellschaft, ohne Rückfrage, so dass die neuen Regelungen auf demokratischem Wege ratifiziert werden, öffne den Weg zu einer Rebellion gegen die EU, so Rau.
PM Orbán Sticks to Veto of EU Budget if Rule of Law Conditionality Stays
Commenting on a proposal by European People’s Party group leader Manfred Weber that decisions on issues concerning the rule of law should be left up to the European Commission while disputes should be settled by the Court of Justice of the European Union, Orbán said: “Everyone’s talking all kinds of nonsense and this is also true for Mr. Weber.”
“We’re not stupid, we weren’t born yesterday . we can put two and two together,” the prime minister said, insisting that Weber’s proposal meant that the EU wanted to “force anything onto member states that can be painted as a rule of law issue with a simple majority vote”.