Energy bill provides $8.5 billion in subsidies, incentives for companies News
Energy bill provides $8.5 billion in subsidies, incentives for companies

[JURIST] An energy bill likely to pass the US House and Senate this week with the support of President Bush includes over $8.5 billion in tax incentives, loan guarantees, and other subsidies for energy companies. Conservation and efficiency groups are slated to receive $1.3 billion in benefits with another $3 billion earmarked for renewable resources. The bill calls for over $14 billion in energy incentives. Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) [official website], the ranking Senate Democrat for the energy negotiations, told reporters that he was disappointed in the cut from the original $3 billion the Senate approved for conservation efforts, but that he would support the bill anyway since, "this is as good a bill as I think we could hope to get." Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) criticized the bill for not doing enough to improve automobile efficiency and reduce dependence on foreign oil. A late amendment to the bill by Rep. Denny Hastert [official website] (R-IL) did provide a tax credit for installing ethanol gas pumps. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.