Philippine Daily Inquirer

Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio Gil delos Reyes. PHOTO FROM GOV.PH

Rumors of a cabinet revamp are swirling around Malacaang but presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda indicated he was not aware of any immediate changes in the works.

There was rife speculation the other week that Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio de los Reyes was on the way. Now, there is supposedly a statement from some lawmakers to remove those Cabinet ministers who have been bypassed thrice by the Commission on Appointments.

Among the Cabinet secretaries who have yet to be confirmed by the CA are Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman, Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.

[President Aquino] believes that these people, the Cabinet secretaries that he has appointed to those departments are capable. These people enjoy his trust and confidence, Lacierda said.

The President believes that while they have not been rejected, it is important that they continue to deliver the services which they were tasked to do. So thats his position as far as I remember speaking to him about this issue, Lacierda added.

Aquino bill

The latest round of political rumors come with well-timed reminders that Mr. Aquino, when he was still a senator in 2007, had filed a bill (SB 1719) that would stop the executive department from reappointing someone who has been rejected by the legislative CA three times.

The issue at that time was then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyos repeated reappointment of some Cabinet members who had been repeatedly bypassed by the CA.

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Palace: No cabinet revamp, DAR chief staying

Wednesday, Jun 27, 2012 12:23 PM UTC The GOP has no Obamacare replacement; AG targets dark money; incumbents survive; and other top Tuesday stories By Alex Seitz-Wald FILE - This June 20, 2012, file photo shows a view of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington. Saving its biggest case for last, the Supreme Court is expected to announce its verdict Thursday, June 28, 2012, on President Barack Obamas health care law. The outcome is likely to be a factor in the presidential campaign and help define John Roberts legacy as chief justice. But the courts ruling almost certainly will not be the last word on Americas tangled efforts to address health care woes. The problems of high medical costs, widespread waste and tens of millions of people without insurance will require Congress and the president to keep looking for answers, whether or not the Affordable Care Act passes the test of constitutionality. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File) (Credit: AP)

The GOPs Obamacare replacement plan: Nada:If the Supreme Court strikes down the Affordable Care Acttomorrow, House Republicanshave nothing prepared to replace it with. The GOP wont rush to pass anything in its place, Politico reports, and will instead let legislation slowly wind its way through committees and get debated, dissected and amended. This go-slow approach is a shift from where the party was a few weeks ago. Earlier this month, top GOP officials were privately deliberating what legislation they would push to fill the gap caused by a full strike-down of Obamas healthcare law. Corralling lawmakers behind hefty legislative proposals in an election year would also be a tough task.

Democrats, meanwhile, are a bit farther along. We have differentproposed draftsfor different contingencies, saidSenatorTom Harkin, the chairman of the HealthCommittee.

AG goes after big political spenders: New YorkAttorney GeneralEric T. Schneiderman, who has become a bit of a progressive hero for his tough action against banks, has begun investigating contributions to tax-exempt groups that are heavily involved in political campaigns, focusing on a case involving theU.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has been one of the largest outside groups seeking to influence recent elections but is not required to disclose its donors. The New York Times reports: Mr. Schneiderman issued a wide-ranging subpoena on Tuesday to executives at a foundation affiliated with the chamber, seeking e-mails, bank records and other documents to determine whether the foundation illegally funneled $18 million to the chamber for political and lobbying activities, according to people with knowledge of the investigation.

Justices health struggles could influence thinking: The HillsElise Viebeck notes that the personal medical histories of the Supreme Courts nine justices may influence their thinking on the Affordable Care Act. While much of their medical record is private, some emergencies, such as Cheif Justice John Roberts seizure in 2007, have been reported in the press. Justices live in society and are no doubt affected by their own life experiences, said George Washington University Professor Paul Wahlbeck. Their [healthcare experiences] might actually feed into their policy preferences on what is good law and what is good public policy. That could, in turn, shape their judicial views.

Freedom-lover Rand Paul hates DC freedom:Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul talks a big game on the importance of states rights and liberty, but he thwarted an effort to give the 600,000disenfranchisedresidents of the District of Columbia a modicum of self-control yesterday. Washington, DC currently doesnt fully control its own budget, andPaul killed a bill designed to do just thatby attaching a slew of unrelated amendments on gun control, abortion and labor unions. DC mayor Vincent Gray called on fellow Democrats to pull support from the measure, saying, Senator Pauls proposed amendments are an insult to the people of our city. Paul explained his motivations:We dont have [control] over the states, but we do for D.C.

Incumbents okay: Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Republican from Utah, survived his Republican primary last night against one of the toughestchallengershes faced in more than three decades in theSenate. Tea Party groups and super PACs had spent heavily to defeat Hatch.

Meanwhile, in New York City, embattledDemocraticRep.Charles Rangelfended off four challengersto win a nomination (and thus likely a general election win) for a 22nd term in Congress. Rangel was censured in 2010 after the House Ethics Committee found him guilty of 11 counts of ethical violations, including failure to pay taxes, improper solicitation of donations and failure to report his personal income accurately.

Topics: Arizona, Election 2012, Immigration, Jan Brewer

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer accused President Obama of wanting undocumented immigrants to illegally vote for him in a radio interview yesterday. Speaking with550-KFYI, Brewer slammed the Obama administrations decision to cut the state out of a federal immigration programon the same day the Supreme Court upheld a key provision of Arizonas landmark immigration law.

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GOP lacks Obamacare replacement plan

Athens (dpa) - Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras was to hold a meeting with the two junior partners of his coalition government Tuesday to discuss a suitable replacement for the countrys finance minister, just days after the cabinet was formed.

Vasilis Rapanos, the chairman of the National Bank of Greece, had been named finance minister last week following the creation of a coalition government, comprised of conservative New Democracy, socialist PASOK and the small Democratic Left party.

The veteran banker resigned for health reasons on Monday, three days after being rushed to the hospital after complaining of stomach pains and dizziness.

The prime minister accepted Rapanos resignation hours after himself being discharged from another hospital following an operation to repair a detached retina over the weekend. Doctors have advised him to rest and not to travel to a European Union summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday.

As Rapanos had not yet been sworn in, outgoing Finance Minister Giorgos Zanias, a key negotiator for Greeces international bailout, still holds the post.

Zanias is to accompany President Karolos Papoulias to the EU leaders summit.

The unforeseen developments have forced inspectors from the European Union and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to postpone a visit to Athens which was scheduled for the start of the week.

Samaras government is looking to revise some of Greeces bailout conditions with its creditors, including the reversal of decisions to fire thousands of public sector workers and raise taxes. dpa cp hm Author: Christine Pirovolakis

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Greece in search of finance minister

OTTAWA The Defence Department might be on the verge of its most sweeping change in two decades, with the top four jobs possibly switching hands by the fall.

There is widespread speculation that Central Nova MP Peter MacKay will lose his job as defence minister in a federal cabinet shuffle expected next month.

Internal reports are that staff are already bracing for the move.

MacKay has had the job for almost five years, which is a long time in defence minister terms. If he holds on until late July, he will pass Art Eggleton as the longest-serving defence minister in Canadian history.

Eggleton served from 1997 to 2002 before Jean Chretien dumped him for handing an untendered contract to an ex-girlfriend. In contrast, MacKay is expected to move to another high-profile portfolio such as justice or foreign affairs.

MacKay is an avid champion of the Armed Forces but has had a stormy year. Much of it has been personal.

In the fall, internal emails contradicted his story that he was witnessing a demonstration when a search and rescue helicopter picked him up from a vacation at a fishing lodge.

But Prime Minister Stephen Harper takes great care to avoid the appearance of punishing his ministers, says Scott Taylor, a longtime military analyst and editor of Esprit de Corps magazine.

The controversy is probably whats keeping him in the post for the moment, Taylor said of MacKay.

Its kind of crazy, but they need to calm the waters enough to put him in a boat.

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Defence Dept. braces for MacKay's ouster, other upheaval

Parade Magazine shoutout for ethnic food in Ohio Parade Magazine shoutout for ethnic food in Ohio Ethnic food specialties in northeast Ohio are sharing the national spotlight this weekend.More >> Ethnic food specialties in northeast Ohio are sharing the national spotlight this weekend.More >> Riding mower slides into pond, killing Pa. man Riding mower slides into pond, killing Pa. man Authorities say a 70-year-old man is dead after his riding mower slid into a pond in central Pennsylvania.More >> Authorities say a 70-year-old man is dead after his riding mower slid into a pond in central Pennsylvania.More >> Pa. woman drowns trying to rescue grandchildren Pa. woman drowns trying to rescue grandchildren Authorities say a woman drowned while trying to rescue her grandson and granddaughter after they slipped into the Lehigh River in eastern Pennsylvania.More >> Authorities say a woman drowned while trying to rescue her grandson and granddaughter after they slipped into the Lehigh River in 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KUWAIT CITY (AP) - Kuwait's minister of information says the Cabinet has submitted its resignation following the dissolution of parliament last week.

Monday's move is seen as a formality, but it further muddies the OPEC member's political future. Kuwait's constitutional court last week ruled that parliamentary elections held in February were unconstitutional, and it restored the previous legislature.

Information Minister Mohammed Abdullah Al-Sabah described the Cabinet's latest decision as a procedural step aimed at complying with the court ruling.

If Kuwait's ruler accepts the resignation, lawmakers will be able to form a new government.

The previous parliament set to be reinstated is seen as more liberal and supportive of the government than the one elected in February, which is dominated by hard-line Islamists and conservative tribal allies.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Kuwait's Cabinet tenders its resignation

We asked members of our Kitchen Cabinet to briefly share some of their strongest holiday memories with us, and well share them with you all this week. Today, our resident wine experts talk about looking into their holiday kitchens and staring into the abyss.

From Steven Kolpan, professor and chairman of wine studies at the Culinary Institute of America:

Twenty-five years ago, when I was not yet a JewBu (a Jew listing toward Buddhism, a bubbaleh for Buddha), I celebrated Hanukkah with a latke party fraught with scandal and miracle.

Getting the Champagne was easy, but making the latkes was hard. I wanted them to be thin, almost crepe-like, but a thin potato batter fried in a very hot Griswold is a recipe for burning. I added more potato, more matzo meal, more onions and more eggs to bind it together, and soon the latke batter just laid there in a lump.

In a subdued panic, I called my mother, who told me the secret to making the lightest latkes was to use seltzer in the batter. The bubbles, according to my mother, would open the pores of the dough, unlike flat water, which just makes things wet. I had no seltzer, but a couple of bottles of Gerolsteiner fizzy mineral water in the fridge. My mother was dubious, even scornful: German mineral water for Jewish latkes was her idea of a shandah a scandal.

I added the Gerolsteiner, and suddenly the batter was perfect; the pancakes were transformed into potato pillows. Idaho spuds, Italian extra virgin olive oil, Hudson Valley eggs, apple sauce and sour cream, and that German mineral water conspired to produce hot, crunchy, oily, rich, light, sweet, savory delights all to be enjoyed with French Champagne. My friends enjoyed themselves immensely all smiles and shiny, oily lips.

The symbolism of latkes is really about the oil theyre fried in: During the revolt of the Maccabees, the story goes that there was only enough oil in the temple to provide light for one night, but by some miracle it lasted eight. On that Hanukkah 25 years ago, in a small way, I discovered more than I realized I had, too. And now I always have seltzer in the house; it reminds me of my mother.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

From Tara Q. Thomas, senior editor at Wine and Spirits magazine:

My sister married a Thai guy. Super sweet, with a mom whos even sweeter. That first Christmas when she joined our family for the holidays, we wanted to do whatever it would take to make her feel welcome.

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Obama’s empty cabinet

WASHINGTON With John Bryson's resignation as Commerce secretary, President Obama lost the member of his Cabinet with the most extensive business background, and it's doubtful a replacement could be confirmed until after the fall election.

Bryson, 68, stepped down after eight months on the job, citing a recent seizure that led to two San Gabriel Valley, Calif., hit-and-run accidents.

"I have concluded that the seizure I suffered on June 9 could be a distraction from my performance as secretary and that our country would be better served by a change in leadership of the department," Bryson wrote to Obama in a letter dated Wednesday.

Obama accepted the resignation, which was announced Thursday.

"As secretary, John fought tirelessly for our nation's businesses and workers, helping to bolster our exports and promote American manufacturing and products at home and abroad," Obama said a few hours before meeting Bryson in the Oval Office to thank him for his service.

Bryson, a former chief executive at Edison International parent company of Southern California Edison was found unconscious June 9 behind the wheel of his Lexus. He had struck two cars, one of them twice, authorities said. He was hospitalized overnight, and tests showed no alcohol or drugs were involved.

Two days later, the Commerce Department said he had suffered a seizure and he was taking a medical leave. A department official said Thursday that initial tests by a neurologist show Bryson suffered a complex partial seizure. During such a seizure, a person has no control over movements, speech or actions and cannot remember them later, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.

Blood-test results are pending and the accidents remain under investigation, authorities said.

Bryson was not available for an interview, a Commerce Department spokeswoman said. In an email to department employees, Bryson thanked them for "many thoughtful and kind notes" since the seizure and promised to "continue to do everything I can to support the president and America's businesses."

Obama nominated Bryson a year ago to replace former Washington Gov. Gary Locke, who became ambassador to China.

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Commerce secretary resigns, cites seizure

By Associated Press

PARIS (AP) - For the first time in modern-day France, the country now has a Cabinet where women hold half the posts.

Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault named two new female ministers on Thursday in a minor government adjustment, bringing the total number of women in the 38-member Cabinet to 19.

Newly elected Socialist President Francois Hollande approved the lineup in keeping with long-standing custom.

The Cabinet now honors a campaign pledge by Hollande for parity among men and women in the government.

Besides Ayrault, the other key ministries, including finance, foreign affairs and defense, remained unchanged from the interim government that was named between the presidential election in May and last week's legislative election, which Holland's party swept.

Christine Taubira, the justice minister, is the top ranking woman in the Cabinet.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Women play big role in France's new Cabinet

WASHINGTON With John Bryson's resignation as Commerce secretary, President Obama lost the member of his Cabinet with the most extensive business background, and it's doubtful that a replacement could be confirmed until after this fall's election.

Bryson, 68, stepped down after eight months on the job, citing a recent seizure that led to two San Gabriel Valley hit-and-run accidents.

"I have concluded that the seizure I suffered on June 9 could be a distraction from my performance as secretary and that our country would be better served by a change in leadership of the department," Bryson wrote to Obama in a short letter dated Wednesday.

Obama accepted the resignation, which was announced Thursday.

"As secretary, John fought tirelessly for our nation's businesses and workers, helping to bolster our exports and promote American manufacturing and products at home and abroad," Obama said a few hours before meeting Bryson in the Oval Office to thank him for his service.

Bryson, a former chief executive at Edison International the parent company of Southern California Edison was found unconscious June 9 behind the wheel of his Lexus. He had struck two cars, one of them twice, authorities said. Bryson was hospitalized overnight, and tests showed no alcohol or drugs were involved.

Two days later, the Commerce Department said that Bryson had suffered a seizure and that he was taking a medical leave. A department official said Thursday that initial tests by a neurologist show Bryson suffered a complex partial seizure. During such a seizure, a person has no control over movements, speech or actions and cannot remember them later, according to the Epilepsy Foundation.

Blood test results are still pending and the accidents remain under investigation, authorities said.

The White House released several photographs of Thursday's Oval Office meeting in which Bryson appeared to be healthy, smiling and gesturing as he talked with Obama. Reporters were not allowed to attend the meeting.

Bryson was not available for an interview, a Commerce Department spokeswoman said. In an email to department employees, Bryson thanked them for "many thoughtful and kind notes" since the seizure and promised to "continue to do everything I can to support the president and America's businesses."

Excerpt from:
Commerce Secretary John Bryson's exit leaves gap in Obama's Cabinet

John Bryson has resigned from his Commerce post.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- John Bryson resigned his post as Commerce Secretary on Thursday, less than two weeks after an episode involving a seizure and a series of traffic accidents.

Bryson, a former energy industry CEO, had served in the position since October, and his departure leaves the Obama administration with one fewer private-sector luminary.

Bryson brought significant business experience to the Commerce Department, having served as CEO and chairman of the parent company of Southern California Edison (EIX, Fortune 500) for almost 20 years.

Bryson retired from Edison in 2008, and was working as a senior adviser at private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR) at the time of his nomination.

Bryson's selection was widely viewed as an example of the Obama administration's efforts to improve its occasionally rocky relationship with the business community.

But the former CEO's nomination was held up for months by Republican lawmakers who wanted to prioritize free trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea and Panama.

Bryson was eventually confirmed by the Senate in October.

It was not immediately clear who will succeed Bryson, but Obama voiced support in a written statement for acting director Rebecca Blank, an academic with ties to the Clinton administration.

With only a few months before Election Day, the Obama administration may not make any immediate moves to replace Bryson.

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Obama loses cabinet member with business ties