By Stephen Kopko

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON D.C., United States-Since the Senate passed their version of legislation reforming the health care system of the United States, President Obama has received a great deal of criticism.  Both leaders in Congress and the general public have been critical of health care reform for being too costly.  Despite setbacks, the House of Representatives is set to vote again on a health care reform bill this Sunday. The House will vote on the legislation through the reconciliation process.

Reform of the United States health care system has been a controversial issue for a number of years.  Previously, President Bill Clinton tried to reform the system in the early 1990’s but was unsuccessful.  President Obama promised to reform the health care system while running for President last year.  With the vote on the legislation expected to happen tomorrow, President Obama is on the verge of fulfilling his promise. 

Approximately forty-five million people in the United States do not have health insurance.  According to the proposed legislation, the reconciliation bill will help to provide coverage to an estimated thirty-two million Americans.  The cost of expanding coverage is approximately nine-hundred and forty billion dollars spread over a ten year period.  The proposed reform bill will provide subsidies to low and middle class families that cannot afford health insurance currently. It prohibits health insurance companies from denying coverage to people who have pre-existing conditions.  In order to encourage people to purchase health insurance, those people who do not have health insurance would pay a penalty each year.  The bill would also expand Medicaid, the government run health insurance program designed for those in poverty. 

As the vote on the reconciliation bill nears, President Obama has been rallying support for the legislation all over the country.  President Obama stated; “In just a few days, a century-long struggle will culminate in a historic vote.”  He further stated that “the time for reform is now.” 

The vote on the reform legislation is expected to be on party lines.  Congressional Republicans have greatly criticized the reconciliation bill.  Their main concern with the proposed legislation is that it amounts to a government takeover of an entire industry.  They also believe that the bill would cost more to middle class families by raising premiums.

For more information, please see:

CNN-House Rules Committee setting guidelines for health care vote-20 March 2010

MSNBC-9 major changes in the new health care bill-19 March 2010

NY Times-Proposed Changes in the Final Health Care Bill-19 March 2010

By Stephen Kopko

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON D.C., United States – Another chapter was added to the struggle over the ongoing effort to repeal the United States military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy yesterday. The policy bars United States homosexual soldiers from serving openly while on duty. Lieutenant Daniel Choi and Captain Jim Pietrangelo were arrested in front of the White House after chaining themselves to the White House fence in protest of the policy.

Both Lt. Choi and Capt. Pietrangelo are openly gay soldiers serving in the United States Army.  As a leader in the fight to overturn the “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy, Lt. Choi has become an outspoken activist for a quick repeal of the law.  Lt. Choi is a 2003 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point.  He also is a veteran of the Iraq war.  Lt. Choi is one of the few Army soldiers who is an Arab languages expert.  During an appearance on a newscast he stated that he was gay.  This occurred while Lt. Choi was serving in the New York National Guard. His announcement led the Army to begin discharge proceedings against him.  Pietrangelo is a former captain in the United States Army.  Capt. Pietrangelo also is in a fight with the Army over discharge proceedings based on his homosexuality.

To heighten their protest of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, Lt. Choi and Capt. Pietrangelo rallied with other opponents of the policy in front of the White House.  Dressed military fatigues, Lt. Choi and Capt. Pietrangelo decided to chain themselves to the fence surrounding the law of the White House.  Police gave them three warnings to stop protesting and to unchain themselves from the fence before they were arrested.  They were charged with failing to obey a lawful order.  The protestors did not have a permit for their demonstration.

Over the last few months, Congress and President Obama have begun to reassess the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.  The policy’s repeal is supported by President Obama and some leaders in the military.  Other military leaders support the idea of repeal but believe that the repeal process should be slow and deliberate.  Lt. Choi previously stated that the repeal process is moving too slow and favors a quick repeal.  Lt. Choi stated, “but we learned this week that the president is still not fully committed” to ending the policy.

For more information, please see:

Newsweek – Lt. Dan Choi to See Judge Today, One Day After Handcuffing Himself to White House Gate – 19 March 2010

Washington Post – Two gay men arrested in White House protest – 19 March 2010

CBS – Lt. Dan Choi Arrested at White House During Gay Rights Rally – 18 March 2010

NY Daily News – NYer Dan Choi, Iraq war vet, held after chaining himself to White House to protest policy on gays – 18 March 2010

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

OTTAWA, Canada – The United States is quietly looking for a way to return one of the five Guantanamo detainees set to be tried at a military tribunal. An anonymous source told Canwest news service that the United States does not want to try Omar Kadar, the youngest detainee to be held at the prison for war crimes.

Khardr who is a Canadian citizen was only fifteen years old when he was first sent to Guantanamo in 2002. He was taken prisoner in Afghanistan after he allegedly threw a grenade at United States solders killing one. He is the youngest person and the only westerner still being held at the Guantanamo Bay Prison in Cuba.

According to an anonymous source within the Obama administration the United States “[does] not have the stomach to try a child for war crimes.” The anonymous source also said that there might be political repercussions to not trying Khadr. As a result the United States is looking to Canada to make the first move.

Last month, Canada’s Supreme Court held that the Canadian government had violated Kadar’s rights but fell short of ordering the Canadian government to demand repatriation for Kadar. The court found that officials from the Canadian Foreign Affairs and Spy agency had violated Kadar’s rights by questioning Khadr rafter he had been exposed to torture. The Canadian government who has long sought to stay out of the situation has softened its position some by asking the United States government not to use shared evidence in prosecuting Kadar.

The United States Department of Justice declined to comment on the issue. Spokesman for the department Dean Boyd said “Omar Khadr Hs been referred for [a] military commission prosecution….I have no comment for you on whether or not there are any discussions between the United States or Canada regarding Omar Khadr’s case.”

Khadr will have to answer to five charges if brought before the military commission. Among those charges is the murder of Delta Force Sergeant Chris Speer who died from injuries resulting from the hand grenade Khadr allegedly threw. The department of justice has said they will not seek the death penalty if Khadr is convicted but will only consider his age as a mitigating factor. Inside sources in the department of justice have said that while Khadr will face a long prison sentence if convicted the Department of Justice will not seek a life sentence.

For more information, please see:

AFP – U. S. Weighs Guantanamo Inmates Return to Canada – 8 March 2010

All Headline News – U. S. May Repatriate Omar Khadr from Guantanamo – 8 March 2010

National Post – U. S. Looks For a Way to Return Khadr – 8 March 2010

By Stephen Kopko

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON D.C., United States – In the wake of an immigration reform march on Washington two Senators have proposed a plan that would overhaul the United States’ immigration system.  Senator Charles Schumer and Senator Lindsey Graham have worked on the proposed legislation for the past few months.  Their plan to reform the immigration system also received initial support from President Obama.

According to Senators Schumer and Graham, the reform legislation contains “four pillars.”  The first pillar requires workers to obtain a biometric Social Security Card.  The Senators wrote that the card would provide a better employment verification system.  The second pillar strengthens border security and border patrol.  Under this pillar, immigration officials would receive more funding for infrastructure and personnel.  Also, the creation of an entry/exit system would further help Border Patrol agents determine those immigrants that overstay their visas.  The third pillar of the reform bill deals with temporary workers.  Generally, temporary workers are those immigrants that come to the United States for a short period of time to perform seasonal jobs.  According to the proposed legislation, employers would be allowed to hire temporary workers after no United States worker took the position.  The fourth pillar creates a system through which illegal immigrants currently in the United States can begin a path to citizenship without first being deported.

Under the Senators proposed reform, illegal immigrants currently in the United States would be required to perform community service, pay fines and back taxes in exchange for not being deported.  Illegal immigrants also would be required to learn English and pass a background check.  After completing this process, illegal immigrants would then be placed on the path toward citizenship.

Both Senator Schumer and Senator Graham believe their proposed legislation balances the interests of those who support deportation of all illegal immigrants with those groups that support amnesty for illegal immigrants.  The issue of illegal immigration is a top priority for the Obama Administration.  The President issued a statement of initial support for the reform bill created by Senators Schumer and Graham.

The Illegal Immigration Reform Bill was released as Washington D.C. prepares for a rally in support of reform on Sunday.  Approximately one-hundred thousand supporters of legalizing illegal immigrants plan to attend the rally.  Besides holding a rally supporting the legalization of illegal immigrants, protestors will meet with their representatives in Congress to lobby for immigration reform.

For more information, please see:

Center For American Progress – Senate Leaders Reveal Immigration Framework – 18 March 2010

MSNBC – Immigrants head to D.C. to push reforms – 18 March 2010

Washington Post – The right way to mend immigration – 18 March 2010

By William Miller

Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

OTTAWA, Canada – Canada ratified the World Body’s Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on March 11, 2010. Shortly after the signing, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon announced that Canada would make promoting rights for disabled people a priority.

Cannon asserted that rights for disabled persons were “fundamental Human Rights” at a news conference on Thursday, shortly after he had delivered the ratification. In support of the ratification, Cannon said “this is another addition to Canada’s foreign policy, which is based on the promotion of democracy, the rule of law and certainly based on human rights.”

In ratifying the Convention, Canada has committed to promote non discrimination accessibility and inclusion of disabled persons. The Convention also commits ratifying countries to establish independent organizations to oversee the implementation of the conventions principles.

The ratification will benefit nearly four and one half million Canadian Citizens with disabilities. The signing comes one week before the opening of the Paralympic Games in Vancouver.

Several groups have long promoted Canadian ratification of the convention and welcome the decision to do so.  Ray Smith co-chair of the Persons with Disabilities National Working Group said “ this means the government of Canada is committed to promoting an protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.” Marie White national chairperson of the Council on Canadians with Disabilities referred to the ratification as historic.

The Canadian Human Rights Convention also welcomed the ratification but has said the real test will be implementing the provisions into practice. Canadian Human Rights Chief Commissioner Jennifer Lynch said “ultimately, the successes of this ratification will relate to the degree to which the Convention rights are being enjoyed on the ground, not how they appear on the page.” The Human Rights commission also indicated that it would like to be involved in the implementation of the monitoring organization.

For more information, please see:

Canada.ca – UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities Ratified – 13 March 2010

Benzinga – Announcement: Canadian Human Rights Commission – 12 March 2010

Vancouver Sun – Canada Makes Rights of Disabled a Foreign Policy Focus – 12 March 2010