Author: Staff

Mexico aims to bring shadow economy into the light | Reuters

Mexico aims to bring shadow economy into the light | Reuters

Posted by | Jun 26, 2013 | |

Seeking to dismantle a black economy dragging on economic growth, Mexico wants to lure informal workers into the social security net – and the reach of the tax man.Six in 10 Mexican workers, or 30 million people, live in the informal economy, eroding Mexico’s already-low tax base and hindering plans to set up a universal social security system.“The country loses 3 or 4 percentage points of GDP every year because 60 percent of its workers don’t generate any taxes and also don’t have social security benefits,” Labor Minister Alfonso Navarrete said on Tuesday.“If there are no real incentives to...

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Immigration Bill Faces Tough Odds in the House | TIME.com

Immigration Bill Faces Tough Odds in the House | TIME.com

Posted by | Jun 26, 2013 | |

Barring a surprise, the bipartisan immigration bill on the floor of the Senate will be approved by the end of the week. Two-thirds of the chamber, including 15 Republicans, voted to break a filibuster in a key procedural vote Monday night, clearing a path for a similar number to support final passage before members scatter for the July 4 recess. Perhaps the bill’s architects will win the splashy 70-vote majority they have sought. Perhaps they fall a few votes shy of that target. Either way, success in the Senate is a significant milestone in the push to overhaul U.S....

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White House ‘cannot support’ House US-Mexico drilling bill – The Hill’s E2-Wire

White House ‘cannot support’ House US-Mexico drilling bill – The Hill’s E2-Wire

Posted by | Jun 26, 2013 | , |

The White House said Tuesday that it opposes House legislation to implement a 2012 administration pact with Mexico on Gulf of Mexico drilling cooperation, citing “unnecessary, extraneous provisions that seriously detract from the bill.”The formal statement of administration policy backs the “goal” of the bill that’s coming to the House floor Wednesday to implement the U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Hydrocarbons Agreement.But it cites provisions in the GOP-crafted bill that exempts oil companies operating under the pact from controversial federal rules that force energy producers to disclose their payments to foreign governments.“As a practical matter, this provision would waive the requirement for...

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Immigration reform passes key Senate test – CNN.com

Posted by | Jun 24, 2013 | |

The Senate signaled its support on Monday for a bipartisan measure strengthening border security in the comprehensive “Gang of Eight” immigration reform bill, a sweeping blueprint that promises to overhaul America’s immigration policies for the first time since 1986.The 67-to-27 vote was considered a key test of support for the bill as a whole, as the measure also includes language echoing most other parts of the legislation.The Senate kept the vote open for a significant amount of time for lawmakers who experienced travel delays due to bad weather in Washington. Some senators did not make it in time.Supporters needed at least 60 votes to move forward with the revised border security provisions, which were drafted partly to boost GOP support for the overall package.Backers of the bill were hoping to win about 70 votes to demonstrate growing bipartisan momentum for the larger proposal as it nears final passage in the Democratic-controlled Senate and heads to the GOP-controlled House of Representatives.Senate leaders are currently on track to hold a final vote on the bill itself before Congress breaks for its July 4 recess at the end of the week.via Immigration reform passes key Senate test –...

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Last-minute wrangling on sweeping immigration bill

Last-minute wrangling on sweeping immigration bill

Posted by | Jun 24, 2013 | |

As the Senate prepares for a vote on Monday evening that all but assures final passage of a sweeping immigration bill that provides legal status to millions of undocumented immigrants, critics were putting on a last-minute, all-out push to stop it.Republican senators opposed to the plan flooded the airwaves Sunday complaining about “fatal flaws” that remain in the bill. Conservative think tanks urged supporters to flood the Capitol switchboard with calls opposing the plan. And a group of 14 Republican senators sent a letter to Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Monday morning complaining about his plan to limit amendments...

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