Senate defeats Democrat efforts to soften bankruptcy bill News
Senate defeats Democrat efforts to soften bankruptcy bill

[JURIST] The GOP-dominated Senate Wednesday pushed ahead proposed bankruptcy overhaul legislation [PDF] by defeating a series of Democratic amendments that would have sheltered seniors and sick people. Senators voted 59-40 [Senate roll call] to reject an amendment [text] which would have given older Americans a special exemption which would have allowed them to keep their homes even if they file for bankruptcy. Also defeated were two proposals which eased bankruptcy rules for people with significant medical expenses. On Tuesday, the Senate voted 63-32 [Senate roll call] to allow an amendment [text] which gives a break to active-duty military personnel and some veterans who file for bankruptcy. The Republican leadership, led by Senator Orrin Hatch [official website], has been attempting to keep out "killer amendments" which could jeopardized passage of the bill in the House of Representatives. 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.