Morning News
From the Washington Post:
The Obama administration named 18 projects Thursday that would receive a portion of the .4 billion in stimulus funds set aside to bring high-speed Internet to poor and rural areas that have been overlooked by Internet service providers…
Analysts say the first batch of funds suggests the federal government is targeting "middle mile" projects that may not bring lines directly to the home, but could have even greater impact by connecting entire communities that have been off the Internet grid…
Vice President Biden announced the awards during a speech in Dawsonville, Ga. The government plans to distribute about billion over the next 2 1/2 months. The remainder of the .4 billion has been spent on mapping projects or will be distributed in a final round of grants in coming months.
"New broadband access means more capacity and better reliability in rural areas and underserved urban communities around the country. Businesses will be able to improve their customer service and better compete around the world," Biden said. "This is what the Recovery Act is all about — sparking new growth, tapping into the ingenuity of the American people and giving folks the tools they need to help build a new economy in the 21st century…"
From the New York Times:
President Obama called on world leaders to come to an agreement on climate change, no matter how imperfect, and pressed for an accord that would monitor whether countries — primarily China — are complying with promised emissions cuts.
Speaking just hours after arriving here for what is supposed to be the last day of difficult talks to address global warming, and clearly frustrated by the absence of any agreement, Mr. Obama was both emphatic and at times impatient.
“The time for talk is over,” he said.
Mr. Obama arrived here prepared to lend his political muscle to secure an agreement on climate change that has eluded world leaders for two weeks. But the tone of his remarks to the plenary session at the Bella Center on Friday indicated that the accord was still plagued by distrust over how nations would hold each other accountable.
“I don’t know how you have an international agreement where you don’t share information and ensure we are meeting our commitments,” he said. “That doesn’t make sense. That would be a hollow victory…”
In his speech to the plenary session, Mr. Obama expressed his urgency to secure a climate deal, no matter how “imperfect” it might have to be.
“We are running short on time,” Mr. Obama warned. “And at this point, the question is whether we will move forward together, or split apart. Whether we prefer posturing to action.”
“We can again choose delay, falling back into the same divisions that have stood in the way of action for years.” But, he warned that such a course would leave leaders “back having the same stale arguments month after month, year after year, perhaps decade after decade—all while the danger of climate change grows until it is irreversible.”
And in a challenge to the assembled national leaders, though not mentioning China directly, he said that America is “ready to get this done today…”
From the Washington Post:
Former president Bill Clinton waded in the debate on the health-care reform bill Thursday, urging support for its passage and warning "America can’t afford to let the perfect be the enemy of the good."
"This is a good bill," he wrote in a statement released by the William J. Clinton Foundation. "It increases the security of those who already have insurance and gives every American access to affordable coverage; and contains comprehensive efforts to control costs and improve quality, with more information on best practices, and comparative costs and results. The bill will shift the power away from the insurance companies and into the hands of consumers…"
"Take it from someone who knows: these chances don’t come around every day. Allowing this effort to fall short now would be a colossal blunder — both politically for our party and, far more important, for the physical, fiscal, and economic health of our country."
From the Washington Post:
The Obama administration named 18 projects Thursday that would receive a portion of the .4 billion in stimulus funds set aside to bring high-speed Internet to poor and rural areas that have been overlooked by Internet service providers…
Analysts say the first batch of funds suggests the federal government is targeting "middle mile" projects that may not bring lines directly to the home, but could have even greater impact by connecting entire communities that have been off the Internet grid…
Vice President Biden announced the awards during a speech in Dawsonville, Ga. The government plans to distribute about billion over the next 2 1/2 months. The remainder of the .4 billion has been spent on mapping projects or will be distributed in a final round of grants in coming months.
"New broadband access means more capacity and better reliability in rural areas and underserved urban communities around the country. Businesses will be able to improve their customer service and better compete around the world," Biden said. "This is what the Recovery Act is all about — sparking new growth, tapping into the ingenuity of the American people and giving folks the tools they need to help build a new economy in the 21st century…"
From the New York Times:
President Obama called on world leaders to come to an agreement on climate change, no matter how imperfect, and pressed for an accord that would monitor whether countries — primarily China — are complying with promised emissions cuts.
Speaking just hours after arriving here for what is supposed to be the last day of difficult talks to address global warming, and clearly frustrated by the absence of any agreement, Mr. Obama was both emphatic and at times impatient.
“The time for talk is over,” he said.
Mr. Obama arrived here prepared to lend his political muscle to secure an agreement on climate change that has eluded world leaders for two weeks. But the tone of his remarks to the plenary session at the Bella Center on Friday indicated that the accord was still plagued by distrust over how nations would hold each other accountable.
“I don’t know how you have an international agreement where you don’t share information and ensure we are meeting our commitments,” he said. “That doesn’t make sense. That would be a hollow victory…”
In his speech to the plenary session, Mr. Obama expressed his urgency to secure a climate deal, no matter how “imperfect” it might have to be.
“We are running short on time,” Mr. Obama warned. “And at this point, the question is whether we will move forward together, or split apart. Whether we prefer posturing to action.”
“We can again choose delay, falling back into the same divisions that have stood in the way of action for years.” But, he warned that such a course would leave leaders “back having the same stale arguments month after month, year after year, perhaps decade after decade—all while the danger of climate change grows until it is irreversible.”
And in a challenge to the assembled national leaders, though not mentioning China directly, he said that America is “ready to get this done today…”
From the Washington Post:
Former president Bill Clinton waded in the debate on the health-care reform bill Thursday, urging support for its passage and warning "America can’t afford to let the perfect be the enemy of the good."
"This is a good bill," he wrote in a statement released by the William J. Clinton Foundation. "It increases the security of those who already have insurance and gives every American access to affordable coverage; and contains comprehensive efforts to control costs and improve quality, with more information on best practices, and comparative costs and results. The bill will shift the power away from the insurance companies and into the hands of consumers…"
"Take it from someone who knows: these chances don’t come around every day. Allowing this effort to fall short now would be a colossal blunder — both politically for our party and, far more important, for the physical, fiscal, and economic health of our country."