Honduran Crisis

Last Tuesday Honduran Security with thousands of supporter ousted President Manuel Zelaya outside Brazil's embassy. Zelaya after being overthrown took refuge in Brazil's embassy. Brazil's president Luis Ignacio Lula de Silva guaranteed Zelayas's safety and does not expect the coup leaders to touch the embassy instead to negotiate with them. 

The Honduras pro-coup government wants to arrest Zelaya for corruption and trying to change the constitution. The Honduran de facto leader Robert Micheletti said he would stop the storming of the embassy if they hand over Zelaya. 

The U.S. wants all parties to remain calm and avoid actions that will provoke violence in Honduras. Latin American government have accused President Obama of not doing enough to force Zeleya's return to power. Obama cut down aid to Honduras since the coup, he has tried to pushed Zelaya back into power but refused his demands for tougher sanctions against the coup leader. 

Right now Obama is working on internal improvements though he is trying to do the best he can to help allies.  

Obama Heckler Gets Formal Reprimand

The House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to reprimand Joe Wilson for your shouting "you lie" during Obama's speech. Wilson apologize to Obama and he accepted still the House voted 240- 179. The Democratic Party didn't want Obama to accept the apology because it was inappropriate. While the Republicans mocked the debate and they saw it as a pointless distraction to the real big issues of the U.S. 

Republicans said that Wilson should of apologize to his colleagues too. Wilson's outburst was a reaction to Obama's saying that the new plans to ensure health insurance for all Americans would not cover illegal immigrants. Though the House of Representatives were thinking to vote him out they didn't.

  

 

Saving Initiatives Affecting Retirement

Obama announced new federal initiatives to have savings in retirement services. About $2 trillion in retirement savings Americans have lost in the past 2 years. Obama presented a plan that will save money and improve retirement services for employers with the 401 (k) or other retirement saving plans. 

Most Americans don't have retirement funds what they only have are the Social Security benefits. The first way to save is automatic enrollment in retirement accounts. This means that small business could easily enroll workers in 401 (k) plans or any other retirement savings plan. The IRS issued an approved automatic enrollment language that employers can use to administer their retirement plans. 

Saving tax refunds is another strategy that can be use. Workers can get their tax refunds to be deposit into IRA accounts. Not only that but workers can purchase Series I Saving Bonds that can be redeemed after five years and are withheld up to 30 years. 

Workers who received cash payments for unused sick and vacation time may be able to contribute that amount to the 401 (k) plan. These three new strategies are great way to save money for the retirement age.

Americans on Food Stamps

Since June, the Department of Agriculture said on Thursday that more than 35 million Americans have food stamps. The number is increasing with 22 percent more Americans since June 2008. The numbers of Americans increase more than 700,000 have food stamps and they are in need in help. 

The USDA administers the food stamps program and help Americans in need of help, it was established by the Congress in 1964 and later on revised by the Food Stamp Act of 1977. The average recipient gets around $133 in assistance while the household is around $239. 

The statistics show that many Americans are still struggling with the economic downturn. Americans need help even the $4.6 billion in food stamps doesn't help in much.