thebigp

US sent $221 million to Palestinians in obama's last hours--45fh.,b5
Officials say the Obama administration in its waning hours defied Republican opposition and quietly released $221 million to the Palestinian Authority that GOP members of Congress had been blocking.
A State Department official and several congressional aides said the outgoing administration formally notified Congress it would spend the money Friday morning. The official said former Secretary of State John Kerry had informed some lawmakers of the move shortly before he left the State Department for the last time Thursday. The aides said written notification dated Jan. 20 was sent to Congress just hours before Donald Trump took the oath of office.
In addition to the $221 million for the Palestinians, the Obama administration also told Congress on Friday it was going ahead with the release of another $6 million in foreign affairs spending, including $4 million for climate change programs and $1.25 million for U.N. organizations, the congressional aides said. The aides and the State Department official weren't authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity.
Congress had initially approved the Palestinian funding in budget years 2015 and 2016, but at least two GOP lawmakers — Ed Royce of California, the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Kay Granger of Texas, who sits on the House Appropriations Committee — had placed holds on it over moves the Palestinian Authority had taken to seek membership in international organizations. Congressional holds are generally respected by the executive branch but are not legally binding after funds have been allocated.
The Obama administration had for some time been pressing for the release of the money for the Palestinian Authority, which comes from the U.S. Agency for International Development and is to be used for humanitarian aid in the West Bank and Gaza, to support political and security reforms as well as help prepare for good governance and the rule of law in a future Palestinian state, according to the notification sent to Congress.
The $1.25 million for U.N. agencies is to be used as voluntary contributions to the U.N. Peacebuilding Fund; the U.N. Special Coordinator on improving the U.N. response to sexual exploitation and abuse; the Montreal Protocol Secretariat, which oversees the protection of the ozone layer; the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; and the U.N. System Staff College.
The $4 million for climate programs includes assistance for clean energy, sustainable landscapes, cutting greenhouse gas emissions and creating a climate technology center.
The last-minute allocation also contained $1.05 million in funding for the State Department's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan office and the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.
The Palestinian funding is likely to draw anger from some in Congress as well as the Trump White House. Trump has vowed to be a strong supporter of Israel and has invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Washington next month.
He has also pledged to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, although White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Monday a final decision on that had yet to be made. Despite speculation in Israel that an announcement of the move is imminent, Spicer said the decision-making process is only in its very early stages.
"If it was already a decision, then we wouldn't be going through a process," Spicer told reporters.
source--matthew lee, richard lardner, ap, ed royce, kay granger, sean spicer

America Only Loc: From the right hand of God

Guess what? Trump said OH HELL NO! Had that money FROZE...no transfer of funds! Oh happy day!

bobebgtime Loc: Virginia

Your right, I read about that a little while ago. Man, Trump is on it all.

hukipau19

LEGACY! Just remember this will look good to Obammy while writing the list of
"accomplishments".
What do you expect from the first
Black, Gay, Radical Islamic, Activist
president!
He was always a sneaky punk all the way back to worming his way through
Punahou! Shame!!

silvereagle

Hang em all.Obama only signed the paper done by demos a repukletons.They are all guilt of doing this.obama didn't have to sign it tho.

vernon

Hell unfreeze it and use it to build the wall.how can we be in debt and they have enough money to give away billions it seems like anytime they want?

Michael Rich Loc: Lapine Oregon

Obama's treasonous trail can be backtracked with.... Honesty and excepting simple truth.

pftspd

I'll simplify this and tell you how this has come about. What we have here, Obozo, the democraps, and.. to be candid, and honest, at least half or more of the Republi-cons, is called STUPID. We have NO representation. Those who actually think and believe that there is a difference in D.C. between the two, Democraps and Republi-cons are just STUPID. They are all together, and we, the American people are just stupid. Now we have all the lard ass stupid women out there, and the looney toons don't even know what they are doing or why they are there. Yes, they are THAT stupid. There's much more, a lot more, to this but it is all so sickening that I haven't the energy to say. This nation is over. Ended. The lardbucket stupid women, the blacks, the rest of the trash this is forming crowds.. the worthless bunch of morons, BLMers.. screw all of them. Best thing that can be done, and needs to be done, is to kill all of them. Mow them down. Start all over. Just like that.

Louie27 Loc: Peoria, AZ

F I have a good place for that money. First installment on the wall at the Southern Border.

tugboat

It's always amazed me how these crooked politicians can just give away tax payer money to countries whose fundamental beliefs are against ours.And I really love how they describe it as humanitarian relief.There needs to be accountability from any and everyone who let things like this happen.They should be put on tv and grilled for every registered voter to see.

pftspd

You SAY, "for every voter to see" .. Sir, please.. do not be offended because what I am compelled to say about this is NOT ABOUT YOU.. But.. the every voter thing is just not something that will work, because.. BECAUSE.. so many Americans are so efking stupid.. they are!! JUST IMAGINE, this SOB, the lying fake, Manchurian Candidate, fake birth certificate, ENEMY, and EVIL DEMON, Obama.. GIVING YOUR MONEY, THAT MUCH, to the enemy who is vowed, and sworn, TO destroy you, your children, your wife, your siblings, all of your family, and all of everyone else who does not change and disavow God .. or God, and swear allegiance to that the efking ALLAH.. PLEASE, do not be offended by this, my msg. to you.. please.. this is not about you. but.. I would only hope that you get my drift and view this crap differently.. TAKE ALL OF THE TRUTH IN. .not just part of this.. Obama is a MUSLIM. Just that simple.

pftspd

THANK YOU LOUIE!!!! Thank you!

buffalo Loc: Texas

It just keeps getting better and better, Thank you President Trump!

tugboat

No offense taken. I'm keenly aware of Obama's muslim beliefs.He made my skin crawl with every anti-American stunt he pulled.What really burns my ass is no one called him out on his bs.To think he was given a free pass to do what he wanted because of the proverbial race card in his pocket was more icing on the cake.I'm tired of the zero accountability of all politicians on both sides.Hopefully Trump’s win will get through to some of these turds and a change can start.I'm not holding my breath though.

Louie27 Loc: Peoria, AZ

I think a lot of us have that same thought.