WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - Republicans in the House of Representatives on Friday released another embarrassing United States (US) Internal Revenue Service (IRS) training video, this one a spoof of The Apprentice television programme that shows IRS workers coming up with ideas to save money on conferences. The House Ways and Means Committee released the 2011 parody of the show starring real estate mogul Donald Trump after a report released in June detailed lavish spending at a 2010 IRS conference, including a video parody of the television show Star Trek. The four-minute Apprentice spoof cost US$10,000 (S$12,800) to produce, Republicans on the committee said. "Months ago, I demanded the IRS come clean about the time and money it spent to produce these frivolous videos," said Representative Charles Boustany, chairman of a Ways and Means subcommittee probing IRS spending. "While we may have no answers, we do have an endless supply of what appears to be the IRS's idea of entertainment," … [Read more...] about US IRS training video spoofing Apprentice draws Republican fire
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‘Large-Scale’ Issues With Stimulus Payments Need to Be Fixed Promptly, 111 Bipartisan Lawmakers Say
A bipartisan group of more than 100 members of Congress signed on to a letter sent Thursday to the Internal Revenue Service urging the agency to address persistent "large-scale" problems with Economic Impact Payments that have not yet been delivered to constituents. The effort to send the letter to the IRS was led by three representatives from the state of Washington—Democrats Suzan Delbene and Danny Heck as well as Republican Cathy McMorris Rodgers—and GOP Representative Jackie Walorski of Indiana. Additionally, 107 other lawmakers representing states across the country signed on to the bipartisan letter. "While millions successfully received their stimulus checks, some who are facing financial hardship because of #COVID19 are still waiting for their payment," Delbene tweeted, sharing screenshots of the message to the IRS. "If we were able to escalate each constituent facing one of these, or many other issues, and receive a timely and clear individual response on that … [Read more...] about ‘Large-Scale’ Issues With Stimulus Payments Need to Be Fixed Promptly, 111 Bipartisan Lawmakers Say
Iran’s Khamenei demands ‘tolerance’ for Rouhani policies
TEHRAN (AFP) - Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei renewed his confidence in President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday, demanding tolerance from opponents who have criticised him over talks with world powers on Tehran's controversial nuclear programme. Mr Khamenei spoke after days of public spats between Mr Rouhani's government and hardline opponents and as Tehran held what it called a "satisfactory" round of talks with visiting United Nations inspectors. The disputes have focused mostly on a deal struck with world powers in November that has put temporary curbs on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for modest sanctions relief and the return of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian assets. Without touching directly on the nature of those disagreements, Khamenei said "critics must exercise tolerance when it comes to the government." "It has only been a few months since the government has taken the reign," Mr Khamenei told commanders of Iran's air force in remarks reported … [Read more...] about Iran’s Khamenei demands ‘tolerance’ for Rouhani policies
Stimulus Check Latest: Will Your Next Relief Payment Be $1,400?
( CBS Detroit ) — A third stimulus check, worth $1,400, is currently progressing through Congress as part of the Biden administration’s $1.9 trillion relief package. The American Rescue Plan also features increased unemployment benefits, a higher child tax credit and a $15 minimum wage, as well as billions more dollars to stop the spread of COVID-19. These and other programs are meant to aid millions of Americans facing financial hardship brought on by the pandemic and support the economy as vaccinations continue. How the bill evolves in the coming days will determine how much money actually reaches the public. President Biden and politicians from both parties support giving Americans another stimulus check. And they support doing it quickly. However, Republicans have pushed back against the overall price tag and other specific aspects of the plan, like the minimum wage hike. Democrats control both houses of Congress and are willing to pass stimulus legislation on a straight … [Read more...] about Stimulus Check Latest: Will Your Next Relief Payment Be $1,400?
Iran’s Khamenei demands ‘action’ from Biden to revive nuclear deal
DUBAI: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei demanded "action, not words" from the United States if it wants to revive Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, challenging new President Joe Biden to take the first step toward a thaw. Iran has set a deadline of next week for Biden to begin reversing sanctions imposed by his predecessor Donald Trump, or it will take its biggest step yet to breach the deal - banning short-notice inspections by the UN nuclear watchdog. "We have heard many nice words and promises which in practice have been broken and opposite actions have been taken," Khamenei said in a televised speech. "Words and promises are no good. This time (we want) only action from the other side, and we will also act." Biden aims to restore the pact under which Iran agreed to curbs on its disputed uranium enrichment programme in return for the lifting of sanctions, a major achievement of the Obama administration that Trump scrapped in 2018, calling the deal one sided in … [Read more...] about Iran’s Khamenei demands ‘action’ from Biden to revive nuclear deal