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Title: Revealed: Obama defied Congress to hand $220 MILLION to Palestinians in dying hours of his time in office - and gave millions for climate change too
Source:
Daily Mail Online
URL Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art ... Palestinians-Obamas-hours.html
Published: Jan 24, 2017
Author: Associated Press
Post Date: 2017-01-24 07:22:26 by cranky
Keywords: None
Views: 2001
Comments: 4
Officials say the Obama administration in its waning hours defied Republican opposition and quietly released $221 million to the Palestinian Authority that GOP members of Congress had been blocking. A State Department official and several congressional aides said the outgoing administration formally notified Congress it would spend the money Friday morning. The official said former Secretary of State John Kerry had informed some lawmakers of the move shortly before he left the State Department for the last time Thursday. The aides said written notification dated Jan. 20 was sent to Congress just hours before Donald Trump took the oath of office. In addition to the $221 million for the Palestinians, the Obama administration also told Congress on Friday it was going ahead with the release of another $6 million in foreign affairs spending, including $4 million for climate change programs and $1.25 million for U.N. organizations, the congressional aides said. Last gesture: Obama's administration told Congress on Friday morning that it was ignoring a vote not to give the Palestinian Authority $221 million. Hours later he left office Ignoring Congress: John Kerry's State Department decided not to follow the vote to block the cash to the Palestinians. The aides and the State Department official weren't authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity. Congress had initially approved the Palestinian funding in budget years 2015 and 2016, but at least two GOP lawmakers - Ed Royce of California, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Kay Granger of Texas, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee - had placed holds on it over moves the Palestinian Authority had taken to seek membership in international organizations. Congressional holds are generally respected by the executive branch but are not legally binding after funds have been allocated. The Obama administration had for some time been pressing for the release of the money for the Palestinian Authority, which comes from the U.S. Agency for International Development and is to be used for humanitarian aid in the West Bank and Gaza, to support political and security reforms as well as help prepare for good governance and the rule of law in a future Palestinian state, according to the notification sent to Congress. The $1.25 million for U.N. agencies is to be used as voluntary contributions to the U.N. Peacebuilding Fund; the U.N. Special Coordinator on improving the U.N. response to sexual exploitation and abuse; the Montreal Protocol Secretariat, which oversees the protection of the ozone layer; the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; and the U.N. System Staff College. The $4 million for climate programs includes assistance for clean energy, sustainable landscapes, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and creating a climate technology center. The last-minute allocation also contained $1.05 million in funding for the State Department's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan office and the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. Funded: The cash was a boost to Palestinian Mahmoud Abbasm who met King Abdullah II of Jordon on Sunday The Palestinian funding is likely to draw anger from some in Congress as well as the Trump White House. Trump has vowed to be a strong supporter of Israel and has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Washington next month. He has also pledged to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, although White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Monday a final decision on that had yet to be made. Despite speculation in Israel that an announcement of the move is imminent, Spicer said the decision-making process is only in its very early stages. 'If it was already a decision, then we wouldn't be going through a process,' Spicer told reporters. 
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#1. To: cranky (#0)
So, since this was not authorized by Congress, what will happen ? Somebody just say " Shit Happens ?, too bad, tuff shit for taxpayers". And both assholes will dnce off into the sunset singing " fuck u taxpayers, we are special and can do what ever we want, & you all can't do anything about it, so again FUCK YOU !!! " It would appear that this was one by O'BUTTHOLE, and his sidekick Lurch. Seems charges should be filed, both assholes placed in jail, and use civil ASSET forfeiture laws to have the govt seize every single asset they have now, or in the future.
#2. To: Stoner, cranky (#1)
It was authorized by Congress. After authorization, Congress or a congressma put a non-binding "hold" on the authorization. Heretofore, Presidents have honored such "holds." Obama chose to ignore the "hold."
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest" State Department quietly sent $221 million in aid to the Palestinian Authority which Congress had voted to block Advisory vote by Republicans is usually respected - but Obama administration formally advised Congress on Friday morning that it was sending money anyway "
Replies to Comment # 1. So, since this was not authorized by Congress, what will happen ?
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