The legislation eliminates the 7 pc cap for employment-based immigrant visas, a provision that will facilitate removal of the massive backlog of Indian IT professionals in the US
WASHINGTON (TIP): The US Senate has unanimously passed a bill that eliminates the per-country numerical limitation for employment-based immigrant visas and raises it for family-based visas, a legislation that will hugely benefit hundreds of thousands of Indian professionals in America who have been waiting for years to get their green cards. The passage of the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act by the Senate on Wednesday, December 2, comes as a big relief to Indian IT professionals who come to the US on H-1B work visas and their current waiting period for Green Card or permanent residency is running into decades.
Originally passed by the US House of Representatives on July 10, 2019, by a bipartisan 365 to 65 votes, the legislation increases the per-country cap on family-based immigrant visas from seven per cent of the total number of such visas available that year to 15 per cent. It was sponsored by Republican Senator Mike Lee from Utah in the Senate. The legislation eliminates the seven per cent cap for employment-based immigrant visas, a provision that will facilitate removal of the massive backlog of Indian IT professionals in the US. It also removes an offset that reduced the number of visas for individuals from China. Because of arbitrary per-country caps, the legal status of Indian IT professionals was constantly in jeopardy.
In fiscal year 2019, Indian nationals received 9,008 category 1 (EB1), 2,908 category 2 (EB2), and 5,083 category 3 (EB3) Green Cards. EB1-3 are different categories of employment-based Green Cards.
In July, Senator Lee had told the Senate that the backlog for an Indian national to get permanent residency or Green Card is more than 195 years.
The new legislation also establishes transition rules for employment-based visas from FY2020-FY2022, by reserving a percentage of EB-2 (workers with advanced degrees or exceptional ability), EB-3 (skilled and other workers), and EB-5 (investors) visas for individuals not from the two countries with the largest number of recipients of such visas.
Of the unreserved visas, not more than 85 per cent shall be allotted to immigrants from any single country. Running against time, the Senate on Wednesday moved the process very quickly. It was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee by unanimous consent and soon thereafter it was considered by the full Senate. The Senate passed it quickly with unanimous consent.
Currently, there is a backlog of almost one million foreign nationals and accompanying family members lawfully residing in the US who have been approved for, and are waiting to receive, employment-based Green Cards. The largest number of them are from India. The Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act creates a more merit-based system that levels the playing field for high-skilled immigrants, said Senator Kevin Cranmer, who worked to ensure that the legislation includes safeguards against fraud and abuse in the visa system. The Senate passed the bill as Senator Cramer presided over the chamber. “Immigration is often a contentious issue but we should not delay progress where there is bipartisan consensus,” he said.
In February 2019, Cramer brought Debjyoti Dwivedy (“DD”), a North Dakota State University alumnus and Vice President of Immigration Voice, a group which advocates for this bill, as his guest to the State of the Union.
“As Congress debates the many aspects of our broken immigration system, Debjyoti offers expertise and experiences that reflect North Dakota priorities and values,” Senator Cramer said at the time, adding: “It is my hope we can finally pass a version of the Fairness for High Skilled Immigrants Act this Congress.”
“Being invited as his guest to the State of the Union was a great honor. To me, this demonstrates his appreciation for the important role immigrants play to North Dakota. His ardent support for the Fairness for Immigrants Act is found in both his conservative principles and his commitment to the people of North Dakota,” DD wrote after the event. In August, Senator Lee on the Senate floor said he had always been struck by the fact that the government has conditioned green cards and a pathway to citizenship based solely on the applicant’s country of origin.
There may have been some legitimate reason many decades ago in fact for this, but this has led to a system that largely discriminates against green card applicants from one country, he told his Senate colleagues.
“I mean literally one country. This is inconsistent with our founding principles. This is not how we try to do things as Americans, and it’s not right. Today, if you’re a work-based immigrant from India entering into the EB- green card application process, you will wait almost 200 years before your application is even considered solely because of where you were born,” he had said.
“Almost 200 years on a waiting list. Some people don’t even live that long. Our country isn’t much older than that and that’s the amount of time they would have to wait based solely on the basis of the country in which they were born,” Lee had said, urging his colleagues to lift the country-cap on Green Card applicants.
“If you’re born anywhere else, anywhere else other than China; let’s say in Ghana, Sweden, Indonesia, basically any other country other than India your application will be considered immediately. This sort of discrimination is simply inconsistent with the principles of a merit-based immigration system and with our founding principles and the principles that unite us as Americans,” he had said.
Most of the nearly 600,000 H-1B visa holders in the U.S. are from India and China
WASHINGTON (TIP): In a huge relief to tens of thousands of Indian professionals and top American IT firms, a US court has blocked two H-1B regulations proposed by the Trump administration to restrict the ability of American companies to hire foreign employees. H-1B visas is a non-immigrant visa that allows American companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The US issues up to 85,000 H-1B visas each year. Usually, they’re issued for three years and renewable. Most of the nearly 600,000 H-1B visa holders are from India and China. In his 23-page order on Tuesday, US District Judge Jeffrey White of Northern District of California blocked the Trump administration’s recent policy that required employers to pay foreign workers on H-1B visas significantly higher wages. He also set aside another policy that narrowed the eligibility of H-1B valued by US tech firms and other employers.
As a result of the ruling, the Department of Homeland Security rule on occupations and other issues that were to come into effect from December 7, stands invalid. The Department of Labor rule on wages, which took effect on October 8, is also now no longer valid.
The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the nation’s health, and millions of Americans have been impacted financially by restrictions imposed on businesses, large and small, during the pandemic; the consequences of those restrictions have been a fiscal calamity for many individuals, the judge wrote.
“However, the history of the US is in part made of the stories, talents, and lasting contributions of those who crossed oceans and deserts to come here. The national government has significant power to regulate immigration. With power comes responsibility, and the sound exercise of national power over immigration depends on the nation’s meeting its responsibility to base its laws on a political will informed by searching, thoughtful, rational civic discourse,” he said.
The lawsuit, in this case, was filed by US Chambers of Commerce, Bay Area Council and several universities, including Stanford, and trade bodies representing top Silicon Valley companies, including Google, Facebook and Microsoft.
The lawsuit argued the new restrictions are not only illegal on their face but that the rushed process for implementing them was flawed.
“This is a major win for our economy and for our ability to recover from the worst downturn in generations,” said Jim Wunderman, Bay Area Council President and CEO.”H-1B workers fill an important need in our economy and provide immense benefits not only to the companies they work for but the communities where they live. Many of the leading and fastest-growing technology companies in the Bay Area have been founded by entrepreneurs from other countries who first came here on visas,” he said.
Closing the door to talent from around the world will drive those skills and the opportunities they create to other countries who are more welcoming. In the end, that means fewer US jobs, Wunderman said.
“This ruling has many companies across various industries breathing a huge sigh of relief today,” said Jon Baselice, director of immigration policy for the Chamber of Commerce. “Both of these rules had the potential to be incredibly disruptive to the operations of many businesses,” he added.
FWD.us President Todd Schulte said the ruling is great news for Americans and for the ability of the US to remain the top destination for talented individuals – including international graduates of American universities – who are looking to contribute their skills here and build a stronger economy.
“These rules were another rushed attempt by the Trump administration to restrict legal immigration. If implemented, they would be deeply harmful to both American families and our nation’s global competitiveness by imposing obligations completely disconnected from real-world labor markets,” Schutle from the pro-immigration lobbying group said.
NEW YORK (TIP): New York State has made it easier to renew Driver License online. Almost anyone whose license expired or will expire March through December can renew online and submit their vision test up to one year later. It takes just a few simple steps to complete the process.
NEW YORK (TIP): The United Nation’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Wednesday, December 2, that 2020 is set to enter the record books as one of the top three hottest years, and has the potential to surpass 2016’s distinction as the warmest year on record. According to the U.N.’s provisional report, the 2020 State of the Global Climate, the past decade will be the hottest on record, with the past consecutive six years, 2015 through 2020, being the planet’s warmest. “2020 has, unfortunately, been yet another extraordinary year for our climate, WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas said in a press release. “We saw new extreme temperatures on land, sea and especially in the Arctic. Wildfires consumed vast areas in Australia, Siberia, the US West Coast and South America, sending plumes of smoke circumnavigating the globe,” he said. “We saw a record number of hurricanes in the Atlantic, including unprecedented back-to-back category 4 hurricanes in Central America in November,” Taalas continued. “Flooding in parts of Africa and South East Asia led to massive population displacement and undermined food security for millions.” In a speech at Columbia University, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “Humanity is waging war on nature.”3 “This is suicidal. Nature always strikes back — and it is already doing so with growing force and fury.” When U.S. President Donald Trump attended a briefing on wildfires in California in September, a state official spoke of the science that could explain climate change. The president responded by saying, “I don’t think science knows, actually.” “Biodiversity is collapsing,” Guterres said. “One million species are at risk of extinction. Ecosystems are disappearing before our eyes. Deserts are spreading. Wetlands are being lost.”
Much of the funds were used for purposes other than PPP was meant for, which calls for investigation
WASHINGTON (TIP): The Trump administration has emphasized PPP loans to small firms, but most of the $522 billion went to a tiny slice of borrowers More than half of the money from the Treasury Department’s coronavirus emergency fund for small businesses went to just 5 percent of the recipients, according to data on more than 5 million loans that was released by the government Tuesday evening in response to a Freedom of Information Act request and lawsuit. According to data on the government’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), about 600 mostly larger companies, including dozens of national chains, received the maximum amount allowed under the program of $10 million. Officials from the Treasury Department and the Small Business Administration (SBA) have argued the program primarily benefited smaller businesses because a vast majority of the loans ― more than 87 percent ― were for less than $150,000, as of August. But the new data shows more than half of the $522 billion in the same time frame went to bigger businesses, and only 28 percent of the money was distributed in amounts less than $150,000. Liz Hempowicz, director of public policy for the nonprofit Project on Government Oversight, said the new data shows how the Trump administration chose to focus its coronavirus relief efforts on helping wealthy organizations at the expense of truly small firms. “The data shows that this program primarily benefited the well-banked and well-lawyered at the expense of the small businesses it was supposed to benefit,” Hempowicz said.
The newly released data comes after a federal lawsuit filed by The Washington Post and 10 other news organizations under the Freedom of Information Act challenging the SBA’s refusal to release records on borrowers and loan amounts. A federal judge ordered the release of the data by Tuesday and the agency did not appeal. Devised as a way to temporarily pay small companies to keep their employees on staff for eight weeks, the Paycheck Protection Program is widely credited with helping millions of businesses make payroll during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, benefiting tens of millions of employees. A bipartisan group of senators unveiled plans Tuesday for another $908 billion in stimulus, including nearly $300 billion in new funding for the Paycheck Protection Program and other SBA programs.
The data released Tuesday disclosed for the first time the exact dollar figures received by some of the top recipients, showing that a number of restaurant chains received the maximum $10 million, among them the parent companies of Uno Pizzeria & Grill, Legal Sea Foods, Boston Market and Cava Mezze Grill. Law firms, churches and professional staffing services were also among recipients of $10 million loans.
The SBA calculated loan amounts based on monthly payroll figures and capped loans at a maximum of $10 million. Businesses with up to 500 employees were eligible, though that limit was relaxed for restaurant and hotel companies.
Hempowicz said that because the first round of PPP funding favored those with established banking connections, smaller operations lost out on funding at a critical time. “Businesses in that top 5 percent likely have access to other capital,” she said. “These are not the ones you would traditionally think of as a small business. It really raises questions about what the priorities of this SBA are. … Is it to help small business, or is it to return money to the top segment of the economy?”
Amanda Ballantyne, executive director of the advocacy group Main Street Alliance, said the data shows the impact of relying on banks to distribute the funds.
“This new data verifies what we have heard directly from our small-business members — that the PPP program advantaged big businesses over small and exacerbated long-standing disparities in access to credit and capital for underbanked communities,” Ballantyne said.
WASHINGTON (TIP): The Internal Revenue Service today, December 2, announced that interest rates will remain the same for the calendar quarter beginning Jan. 1, 2021. The rates will be:
Three (3) percent for overpayments [two (2) percent in the case of a corporation]; one-half (0.5) percent for the portion of a corporate overpayment exceeding $10,000; three (3) percent for underpayments; and five (5) percent for large corporate underpayments.
Under the Internal Revenue Code, the rate of interest is determined on a quarterly basis. For taxpayers other than corporations, the overpayment and underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points.
Generally, in the case of a corporation, the underpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3 percentage points and the overpayment rate is the federal short-term rate plus 2 percentage points. The rate for large corporate underpayments is the federal short-term rate plus 5 percentage points. The rate on the portion of a corporate overpayment of tax exceeding $10,000 for a taxable period is the federal short-term rate plus one-half (0.5) of a percentage point. The interest rates announced today are computed from the federal short-term rate determined during Oct. 2020 to take effect Nov. 1, 2020, based on daily compounding. Revenue Ruling 2020-28, announcing the rates of interest, is attached and will appear in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2020-52, dated Dec. 21, 2020.
WASHINGTON (TIP): Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser who was pardoned by the president last week for lying during the Russia investigation, wants Trump to declare martial law and “temporarily suspend the Constitution” until a new election is held. Flynn, who had been awaiting sentencing for lying to the FBI about his Russian contacts before Trump’s pardon, on Tuesday retweeted a news release from a right-wing Ohio group called We The People Convention asking the president to declare martial law so troops can supervise a do-over of the 2020 election. Flynn tagged many conservative celebs in his post and added: “Freedom never kneels except for God.” The news release cites “massive, planned, illegal election fraud” carried out by Democrats. Trump lost the election handily to President-elect Joe Biden and no widespread fraud has been found. If the president doesn’t declare martial law, the statement retweeted by Flynn warns, “we will also have no other choice but to take matters into our own hands and defend our rights on our own.” A retired Army general’s support for the military takeover of U.S. government shocked many people on Twitter. Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California wondered if elected Republicans would condemn the call for martial law. Some people pointed out that Flynn’s suggestion could be considered sedition. Others called out the right wing’s hypocritical notions of personal freedom. One person tried to see the bright side, saying the tweet shows it’s good Flynn didn’t last long as national security adviser.
NEW YORK (TIP): Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic: Envisioning a Better World by Transforming the Future of Healthcare, authored by Ambassador Pradeep Kapur, a practitioner of Public Policy, and Dr. Joseph Chalil, an expert in healthcare policy, is now on Amazon’s Best Sellers List.
Around the world, providing quality and affordable healthcare remains a challenge. As the COVID-19 pandemic began, it quickly became apparent that public policy and current healthcare systems were ill-prepared to deal with the challenges. Ambassador Kapur and Dr. Chalil discuss the lessons learned and the way ahead in the book, Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic: Envisioning a Better World by Transforming the Future of Healthcare.
The authors offer sustainable and revolutionary solutions to change healthcare delivery in the United States and a model for other countries. With a combination of a public SafetyNet and free-market competition, they offer their “Grand Plan.” The advances and adoption of current and new technology will revolutionize the field of healthcare. They offer critical strategies that countries can adopt during natural disasters, wars, or a pandemic.
The authors focus on breaking the chain of employer-based health insurance, where your health insurance is not tied to your employment. Too often, the benefits of providing healthcare for all is lost in discussions about health insurance. Yet, this book does not allow these issues to control the analysis of healthcare delivery.
This book offers practical solutions, addressing citizens’ needs now and into the future while empowering them to be more responsible for their health. As envisioned by the authors, the emerging global scenarios address healthcare needs, education, and sustainable lifestyle choices, reducing the need for more intensive and costly interventions to improve the overall quality of life. There is a roadmap for U.N. and WHO, which are not living up to their initial promise, beyond just reform. They challenge the world to have the political consensus to create meaningful change for all, both in the United States, the United Nations, and around the globe.
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that ensuring affordable and timely access to health care is a priority for all. It has shown us the limitations of each country in combating a healthcare crisis like the one we are experiencing today. As the pandemic began, it quickly became apparent that public policy and current healthcare systems were ill-prepared to deal with a pandemic’s challenges. Providing quality and affordable healthcare remains a challenge.
Esteemed personalities worldwide have much acclaimed the timely and insightful edition of the book released in October this year. Gurudev Sri Ravi Shankar, a globally revered spiritual and humanitarian leader, wrote: “Ambassador Pradeep Kapur and Dr. Joseph Chalil discuss the lessons learned in the book, Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic: Envisioning a Better World by Transforming the Future of Healthcare. The authors offer sustainable and revolutionary solutions to change healthcare delivery in the United States and a model for other countries. With a combination of a public SafetyNet and free-market competition, they offer their “Grand Plan.” The advances and adoption of current and new technology will revolutionize the field of healthcare. They offer critical strategies that countries can adopt during natural disasters, wars, or a pandemic.”
The authors are donating the profits from the sale of their book to AAPI Charitable Foundation and WHEELS!
Ambassador Pradeep Kapur is an acknowledged “luminary diplomat,” with a distinguished career working with leaders and policymakers in different continents of the world: Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, and South America. He was the author and editor of many books. Kapur was Ambassador of India to Chile and Cambodia and Secretary at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs before joining as an academic in reputed universities in the USA and India. A graduate of the globally acclaimed Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT-D), he is Executive Director of Smart Village Development Fund (SVDF); International Economic Strategic Advisor, Intellect Design Arena; and Chairman, Advisory Council, DiplomacyIndia.com. His healthcare contributions include setting up of BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Eastern Nepal, which is acclaimed as an exemplary bilateral India Nepal initiative.
Dr. Joseph Chalil, an author of several scientific and research papers in international publications, is the Chairman of the Complex Health Systems Advisory Board, H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Nova Southeastern University in Florida and a member of Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine (NSU MD) Executive Leadership Council. A veteran of the U.S. Navy Medical Corps, he is board certified in healthcare management. He has been awarded a Fellowship by the American College of Healthcare Executives, an international professional society of more than 40,000 healthcare executives who lead hospitals, healthcare systems, and other healthcare organizations. Dr. Chalil is the Chairman of the Indo American Press Club (IAPC). He is an expert in U.S. healthcare policy and a strong advocate for patient-centered care. With years of experience working in the U.S. healthcare system, he discusses healthcare delivery challenges, including providing quality, affordable patient care to all and alternate templates for health insurance.
The authors challenge the world to have the political consensus to create meaningful change for all, both in the United States, the United Nations, and around the globe. For more information, please visit https://beyondcovidbook.com.
WASHINGTON (TIP): There’s movement on the coronavirus stimulus front after all. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is circulating a new relief proposal with hopes of passing it by year’s end. But it will be an uphill battle: He needs more GOP support, but a good number of his fellow Republicans favor a different approach. McConnell is also in talks with White House officials to get a better sense of what President Trump would be willing to sign into law as his term comes to an end. Democratic leaders are making their own counteroffer to jump-start talks. All in all, this renewed relief energy is yet another sign of how serious the pandemic is. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has pledged more than $77 billion more in additional stimulus as his country struggles to contain its own burgeoning Covid-19 wave.
By assaulting U.S. democracy in so many ways, Trump has shone a light on its weaknesses. We should seize this moment to strengthen our institutions. That way, if another Trump-like politician (or Trump himself in four years) tries to pervert the system again, American democracy will be better equipped to withstand it. We need a set of post-Trump reforms to bolster U.S. democracy. Independent, nonpartisan boards should be established to manage elections rather than partisan officials. Standardized rules should be set about voter registration, mail-in voting, ballot challenges and the reporting of results.
It is much too soon to be thinking about a post-Trump America. President Trump remains the most popular figure among Republicans, and he will continue to play a huge role in U.S. politics in the years to come. But it is not too soon to begin thinking about a post-Trump democracy — a political system that learns from the challenges and threats it has endured over the past four years. To those who think this concern is overblown, that America has proved resilient, I would simply say, “Look out the window.” Even now, the president of the United States is attempting to use the powers of his office and public platform to overturn the results of an election. Happily, Trump’s efforts have not borne fruit. The courts have refused to bend the rules; even Republican-appointed judges have followed the law rather than their political party of choice. Local officials did their job.
All of this is encouraging. Even so, this past month has exposed fundamental weaknesses in America’s electoral system.
American elections are mostly run not by apolitical federal officials but rather by local politicians. Elected or appointed representatives of both parties monitor elections and must collectively sign off on them. The system has worked because both sides have upheld their duty to certify election results that were free and fair, no matter the winner. But in this election, the Republican Party – the president, the party’s national chair, key senators and state party bosses – put unrelenting pressure on these local officials to delay or reject the routine certification of results. In Georgia, the state’s two current Republican senators called on Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to resign because he affirmed that the state’s vote was free and fair. In Michigan, arty officials hounded the two Republicans on the four-person Board of State Canvassers that certifies the state’s results. In the face of this assault, one of the two folded. It was only because the other Republican, 40-year-old Aaron Van Langevelde, stood his ground that Michigan’s results were certified. (President-elect Joe Biden won by more than 150,000 votes.)
And remember, the story is not over yet. In all likelihood, Trump will keep up his attacks on those Republican officials in the key swing states who refuse to do his bidding. If Raffensperger and Van Langevelde are drummed out of politics, the message to Republican officials in the next close election will be clear: Put party over country or you can say goodbye to your career. The next set of local officials might prove to be less honorable. So might a younger and more partisan batch of judges. America’s election arrangements are rooted in a venerable Anglo-Saxon system in which citizens or private groups are periodically called upon to perform official functions. The Anglo-Saxon approach contrasts with the French continental system in which the state has more control. But the Anglo-American system depends on the idea that these citizens will place the public interest ahead of their private interest. Trump has put that assumption to the test, plunging our democracy into crisis.
We need a set of post-Trump reforms to bolster U.S. democracy. Independent, nonpartisan boards should be established to manage elections rather than partisan officials. Standardized rules should be set about voter registration, mail-in voting, ballot challenges and the reporting of results.
We also need a broader set of reforms that draw on the experience of the Trump years, ones that codify into law what have been traditions and practices. Candidates should have to disclose their tax returns so that the public can be aware of any potential conflicts of interest. Winners must be required to place any of their businesses or assets into genuine blind trusts. Additionally, we can now see that the lag between the election and inauguration is much too long — far longer than most other countries — and that the incumbent enjoys far too much power during this period. The Trump administration has made the dangers clear by initially withholding funds for the transition and refusing to provide intelligence briefings to Biden. Laws should be written to ensure a smooth transition and minimize the possibility that the outgoing president can act to enhance his personal fortunes and cripple his successor. By assaulting U.S. democracy in so many ways, Trump has shone a light on its weaknesses. We should seize this moment to strengthen our institutions. That way, if another Trump-like politician (or Trump himself in four years) tries to pervert the system again, American democracy will be better equipped to withstand it.
Apart from the fresh amendments, the Centre must consider a legal guarantee for MSP
The Samyukta Kisan Morchgooga, a federation of around 500 farmer organizations, has resolved to intensify its agitation against three farm laws hurriedly enacted by the Centre. After dismissing the protests as ill-informed and motivated initially, the Centre has offered to make some changes to the laws, but the farmers have now called for a Bharat Bandh on December 8. Thousands of farmers camping on the outskirts of the national capital are skeptical of the government claim that these laws would make agriculture more lucrative and secure by allowing market forces to play. The fear that the new regime will dismantle the system of procurement under Minimum Support Price (MSP) and leave farmers at the mercy of corporations is real. Responding to concerns, the Centre has suggested safeguards to prevent land alienation via contract farming; strengthening the State-run mandi system and ensuring its equal footing with private buyers through equalizing taxes; allowing grievance redress in civil courts rather than just in the offices of Sub-Divisional Magistrates; and ensuring proper verification of private traders. It has not, however, offered a legal guarantee of MSP and the question of power subsidies also remains contentious.
The Narendra Modi government has a declared policy of ensuring farm prices that are at least 50% more than the input costs. This has remained more an intent than reality, and the discussion has also been muddled by the government’s refusal to include rental value of the land in input costs. Agriculture has to remain environmentally sustainable and remunerative for farmers. Significant challenges have emerged with regard to these benchmarks, though India has ensured substantial food stock and a robust distribution mechanism that covers the entire country. There is a strong case for reworking the incentive structures and cropping pattern in order to account for changes in water availability and changing dietary requirements. The problems faced by farmers are by no means the same across India. But a sense of hostility from the state and market is now pervasive. Changes in land acquisition laws and the general thrust towards industrialization together with the pressure on agriculture subsidies have increased the feeling of vulnerability of farmers in recent years.
The abrupt changes in the sector brought in through the three laws have aggravated the trust deficit of the government. The combative attitude of the government and the Bharatiya Janata Party towards criticism worsened it further. Food security is considered a component of national security by all countries. The Union Agriculture Minister has said the government has no ego. The Centre must strive for reaching an agreement with the farmers that addresses their concerns.
Neera Tanden (left) with Vice President -elect Kamala Harris.
WASHINGTON (TIP): President elect Joe Biden has named Indian American Neera Tanden to head the powerful White House Office of Management and Budget. Tanden, 50, who currently heads left leaning think tank Centre for American Progress, will be the first Indian American to get a cabinet level position in a Democratic administration. But overall it will be the second such position for the community as Republican Nikki Haley held cabinet-rank as President Donald Trump’s US ambassador to the UN. Besides Tanden, key members of Biden’s economic team include Janet Yellen as Secretary of the Treasury, Wally Adeyemo as her deputy, Cecilia Rouse, as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers with Jared Bernstein and Heather Boushey as members.
“This crisis-tested team will help President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris lift America out of the current economic downturn and build back better,” an announcement from Biden transition said.
“These choices reflect the president-elect’s commitment to building an administration that looks like America, drawing on the diverse backgrounds and lived experiences of some of our nation’s foremost economic experts,” it added. “As we get to work to control the virus, this is the team that will deliver immediate economic relief for the American people during this economic crisis and help us build our economy back better than ever,’ he said.
“This team looks like America and brings seriousness of purpose, the highest degree of competency, and unwavering belief in the promise of America,” Biden said. “They will be ready on day one to get to work for all Americans.” “Our top priorities upon entering the White House are getting this virus under control and opening our economy responsibly,” said Harris.
“The outstanding economic team that President-elect Biden is bringing together will help us deliver on our commitment. They are not only some of America’s most brilliant economic minds, they are also proven leaders who reflect the very best of our country,” she said.
“And they share a fundamental commitment to ending this economic crisis and putting people back to work, while rebuilding our economy in a way that lifts up all Americans.”
“With the selection of these crisis-tested public servants, the American people are getting the economic team they need — and deserve,” Harris said. The announcement noted that If confirmed, Yellen will be the first woman to lead the Treasury Department in its 231-year history, and the first person to have served as Treasury Secretary, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, and Chair of the Federal Reserve.
If confirmed, Tanden would be the first woman of color and first South Asian American to lead the OMB, it said.
Tanden, according to her official bio released by the transition, “has focused on pursuing policies designed to support working families, foster broad-based economic growth, and curb rampant inequality.”
Her experience as a child relying on food stamps and Section 8 housing as a child — a social safety net that offered her single mother the foundation she needed to land a good job and punch her family’s ticket to the middle class,” it said. “A veteran of multiple presidential administrations, Tanden has been a leading architect and advocate of policies designed to support working families, foster broad-based economic growth, and curb inequality throughout her career,” the announcement said.
Prior to her tenure as President & CEO, Tanden held the post of Chief Operating Officer at the Center for American Progress. She currently serves on the New Jersey Restart and Recovery Commission, and previously served as senior adviser for health reform at the US Department of Health and Human Services developing policies and provisions of the Affordable Care Act.
Tanden also worked as director of domestic policy for the first Obama-Biden presidential campaign, and in a variety of other roles in government and on the campaign trail.
A native of Bedford, Massachusetts, Tanden received her Bachelor of Science degree from UCLA and her JD from Yale Law School. Tanden’s nomination is a part of Biden plan to build a team of liberal and centrist economic advisers to serve alongside planned Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen, The Wall Street Journal said.
Tanden, the media said, will be under pressure from conservatives to rein in government spending but will probably play an instrumental role in crafting the Biden administration’s response to the current economic downturn. “Big job and a real important first in the Cabinet,” said Shekar Narasimhan, a top fundraiser for Biden who has known Tanden for a long time.
She has a great story (single mother, knows what it is to be poor) but went to Harvard and is the most well-versed person in progressive economics I have ever met,” he said adding, “I am (a) huge Neera fan!”
Tanden, who went to Yale, was born in Massachusetts in 1970 to parents from India, who divorced when she was five. Tanden and her brother were brought up by their mother.
“On the heels of Kamala Harris set to become the next vice-president, it is great to see another well qualified Indian American woman be nominated for a Cabinet level position,” said MR Rangaswami, founder of Indiaspora, an advocacy group for the community.
“It is gratifying to see someone who has dedicated herself to public service be recognized for this important role to manage the budget of the country.”
Biden defends ‘smart as hell’ Neera Tanden
Indian American Neera Tanden is a brilliant policy mind with critical practical experience across governments, President-elect Joe Biden has said after he formally announced her nomination as the Director of Office of Management and Budget at the White House.
The opposition Republicans would look to pick a fight on some nominees “no matter what” he told the media in an interview published Wednesday.
“That disqualifies almost every Republican senator and 90 percent of the administration,” Biden said noting Tanden has come under fire from some Republicans over her at-times confrontational Twitter presence.
“But by the way, she’s smart as hell. Yeah, I think they’re going to pick a couple of people just to fight [over] no matter what,” he quipped.
“Biden’s comments are an indication he will stand by Tanden, even as her nomination shapes up as one of the toughest forthcoming confirmation fights of the new administration,” Politico said
Tanden worked on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign has previously referred to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell as “Moscow Mitch” and recently deleted tweets that appeared to be critical of Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine). Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), an adviser to the Senate Republican leadership, on Monday called Tanden Biden’s “worst nominee so far.”
“She’s been pretty partisan in some of her previous positions and in many cases with respect to Republican senators who have to vote on her potential nomination,” Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.) was quoted as saying.
Like Kamala, Neera stands on the shoulders of her Indian mother
Neera Tanden, the first Indian American named for a cabinet level position in a Democratic administration, fondly recalls how her India born mother helped her rise like that of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
“Like the Vice President-elect’s mother, Shyamala, my mother, Maya, was born in India,” recalled Tanden Tuesday after being introduced by President-elect Joe Biden as his nominee to be the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
“Like so many millions, across every generation, she came to America to pursue a better life,” Tanden said at an event in Wilmington, Delaware where Biden and Harris introduced their economic team.
“I was raised in a suburb of Boston — a middle-class kid,” said Tanden. “But when I was five, my parents got divorced and my mom was left on her own with two children — and without a job.”
“She faced a choice — return to India, where at the time divorce was stigmatized and opportunity would be limited — or keep fighting for her American Dream,” she said. “She stayed, and America came through for her when times were tough,” said Tanden recalling her single mother’s grit to keep her family afloat through adversity.
“We relied on food stamps to eat. We relied on Section 8 vouchers to pay the rent. We relied on the social safety net to get back on our feet,” she said. “This country gave her a fair shot to reach for the middle class and she made it work.”
“She got a job as a travel agent, and before long, she was able to buy us our own home in Bedford, Massachusetts, and see her children off to college, and beyond,” recalled Tanden.
“I’m here today thanks to my mother’s grit, but also thanks to a country that had faith in us, that invested in her humanity, and in our dreams,” she said.
Tanden said she was “here today because of social programs. Because of budgetary choices. Because of a government that saw my mother’s dignity and gave her a chance.”
Now, it’s her turn “to help shape those budgets and programs to keep lifting Americans up, to pull families back from the brink,” she said. “To give everybody the fair chance my mother got, and that everyone deserves.”
“That’s the America Maya and Shyamala were drawn to — the America the President-elect and Vice President-elect are ready to grow,” she said.
“I believe so strongly that our government is meant to serve all the American people — Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike, all of whom deserve to know that their government has their back,” Tanden said.
Thanking Biden and Harris for the trust placed in her, Tanden said, “I’m especially proud to work alongside leaders who understand that budgets are not abstractions.”
“They are a reflection of our values. They touch our lives in profound ways. Sometimes, they make all the difference,” she said.
Introducing Tanden as a “a brilliant policy mind with critical practical experience across government,” Biden noted, “She will be the first woman of color and first South Asian American to lead the OMB.”
“She will be in charge of laying out my budget that will help us control the virus, deal with the economic crisis, and build back better,” he said.
Congratulating Biden on “choosing this outstanding economic team,” Harris said, “This is the team we need to deliver immediate economic relief to the American people, to get our economy back on track, and to make sure it works for working people.” “We were raised to respect the dignity of work,” she said. “That’s why I’ve always fought for working people — from standing up for middle class families who’d lost their homes in the Great Recession to joining picket lines to advance workers’ rights.”
“And I look forward to collaborating with this extraordinary team to put working people front and center in this administration,” Harris said describing them as “some of America’s most brilliant minds.”
Giving a glimpse of their agenda, Harris spoke of the team’s “commitment to building an economy — an America — where everyone has access to a higher minimum wage and affordable health care.”
“Paid family leave and paid sick leave. Homeownership, and capital to start a small business,” she said. “An America where opportunity is within reach for everyone. For all The People.”
“So, we’ve got a lot of work to do, to build that America. And President-elect Biden and I, with this economic team, will be ready to hit the ground running on day one,” Harris promised.
WASHINGTON (TIP): Indian origin Republican politician Nikki Haley has slammed President-elect Joe Biden’s immigration policy as an “insult” to legal immigrants and called his choice of Neera Tanden as budget director “deeply concerning.” “Biden’s immigration policies will create another border crisis that will undermine the rule of law, hurt American workers, and insult the legal immigrants who did the right thing,” she said in a series of tweets Tuesday, December 1. “It’s one more reason why America needs a conservative-led Senate to stop Biden’s plan in its tracks,” said the former US ambassador to the UN campaigning for two Republican Senators in the Georgia runoff election next month. The control of the powerful 100-member Senate hangs in the balance with the Republican Party currently having 50 seats to Democrats’ 48 after losing the White House. Democrats have retained their majority in the House of Representatives. “Biden has promised to reverse the Trump admin’s immigration policies, halt all deportations, & introduce amnesty legislation for illegal immigrants on day 1,” Haley said.
“The amnesty bill would send a clear signal to people across the world: Come to America illegally & get rewarded for it,” said the former two-term Governor of South Carolina.
In another tweet, Haley criticized Neera Tanden’s nomination as the Director of Office of Management and Budget saying she has shown “bad judgment” in the past.
“Tanden has shown bad judgment in the past. She said that @realDonaldTrump is ‘part of conspiracy against US’ & has a track record of disparaging Rep Senators,” she wrote.
“There’s a saying that ‘personnel is policy,’ which is why Biden’s nomination of Tanden is deeply concerning,” Haley added. “Biden’s pick for budget chief is Neera Tanden. Tanden is one of the architects of ObamaCare, has been described as a Clinton loyalist for her years of service to Hillary Clinton & spent years leading a liberal think tank where she oversaw proposals like “Medicare Extra for All.”,” Haley said in another tweet.
Several other Republican politicians have also criticized Tanden’s nomination with Senator John Cornyn calling her “radioactive” and perhaps the “worst nominee so far”.
Another, Tom Cotton tweeted that she was “filled with hate & guided by the woke left” and cited one of her tweets in which she said she loved Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell being called “Moscow Mitch”.
However, Biden has defended Tanden as “battle-tested” who will fight for your family as if it were her own.”
“Neera is battle-tested and ready to get the job done as our next Director of Office of Management and Budget. She has been at the forefront in creating policies designed to support America’s working families,” he told his supporters in an email. “She’ll fight for your family as if it were her own, because her experience as a child relying on food stamps and Section 8 housing instilled in her a belief that our economy must serve the dignity and humanity of all people,” he wrote. “If confirmed, she’ll be the first woman of color and the first South Asian American to lead the OMB, and I’m excited to watch her make history,” Biden added.
Meanwhile, South Asians for Biden’s National Director Neha Dewan said it was “thrilled” at the selection of Tanden as it “represents Biden’s commitment to pick qualified appointees who reflect the diversity of America.”
Biden and Harris “expressed the importance of having every American’s voice heard and represented in the administration, and Tanden’s selection to serve in such a high-profile role confirms this commitment,” she said.
WASHINGTON (TIP): Indian-American Ajit Pai has announced his intent to leave Federal Communications Commission on January 20, the day Joe Biden takes oath as the 46th President of the US. As Chairman of FCC, Pai is the highest ranking Indian-American official in the Trump Administration. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve at the Federal Communications Commission, including as Chairman of the FCC over the past four years,” 47-year-old Pai said in a statement on Monday. Pai thanked President Donald Trump for giving him the opportunity to lead the agency in 2017, to President Barack Obama for appointing him as a Commissioner in 2012, and to Senate Majority Leader McConnell and the Senate for twice confirming him. “To be the first Asian-American to chair the FCC has been a particular privilege. As I often say: only in America,” he said.
During his term as FCC Chairman, the federal commission over the past four years closed the digital divide; promoted innovation and competition, from 5G on the ground to broadband from space; protected consumers; and advanced public safety. “And this FCC has not shied away from making tough choices. As a result, our nation’s communications networks are now faster, stronger, and more widely deployed than ever before,” he said.
He was designated FCC Chairman by Trump in January 2017. He had previously served as Commissioner at the FCC, appointed by then-President Obama and confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate in May 2012.
Pai’s regulatory philosophy is informed by a few simple principles. Rules that reflect these principles will result in more innovation, more investment, better products and services, lower prices, more job creation, and faster economic growth, according to his profile on the FCC website.
He believes that consumers benefit most from competition, not preemptive regulation. Free markets have delivered more value to American consumers than highly regulated ones.
He believes that no regulatory system should indulge arbitrage; regulators should be skeptical of pleas to regulate rivals, dispense favors, or otherwise afford special treatment. Pai believes that particularly given how rapidly the communications sector is changing, the FCC should do everything it can to ensure that its rules reflect the realities of the current marketplace and basic principles of economics.
Pai was born in the US after his parents moved from India to the US in 1971. His mother grew up in Bangalore, and father was raised in Hyderabad.
WASHINGTON (TIP): Former US Ambassador to India Richard Verma has joined leading financial services company Mastercard as its executive vice-president for global public policy and regulatory affairs.
In this capacity, Richard Verma will oversee the company’s public policy, regulatory affairs and litigation teams around the world, Mastercard said in a statement. Mr Verma joins Mastercard from capital advisory firm The Asia Group, where he served as vice-chair and partner. He was US Ambassador to India from 2014 to 2017.
In addition, Mr Verma was the Assistant Secretary of State for Legislative Affairs, where he led the department’s efforts on Capitol Hill, and was the former National Security Advisor to the Senate Majority Leader for many years.
Rich (Verma) is a proven leader with extensive experience in public policy, geopolitics, trade and international law, said Ajay Banga, Chief Executive Officer, Mastercard. “In his role as US Ambassador to India, Rich oversaw one of the largest US diplomatic missions in the world and took integral steps to deepen bilateral ties,” Mr Banga said. With his expertise and strong relationships worldwide, Rich will be a key counselor to industry leaders and governments on the global move to a digital economy. We look forward to working closely with Rich to build on our strong foundation, Mastercard said in its statement. Richard Verma is a veteran of the US Air Force, and a recipient of multiple awards and decorations, including the State Department’s Distinguished Service Award. He is currently a Senior Fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and he serves on several boards and commissions, including the National Endowment for Democracy and Lehigh University. He holds degrees from Georgetown University (Ph.D.), the Georgetown University Law Center (LLM), the American University’s Washington College of Law (JD), and Lehigh University (BS).
WASHINGTON (TIP): US President-elect Joe Biden has selected two former Obama administration officials for senior roles to help fight COVID-19, including the appointment of Jeff Zients as White House coronavirus coordinator, media reported on Thursday, December 3.
Biden adviser Vivek Murthy will return to his role as Surgeon General but with a broader portfolio as the pandemic rages through the country, Politico said, citing two people familiar with the decision.
Dealing with the virus that has killed more than 274,000 Americans as well as the economic fallout from the crisis is one of Biden’s top priorities once he takes office on Jan. 20.
Politico also said Marcella Nunez-Smith, a co-chair of Biden’s COVID-19 advisory board, will play a key role in the incoming administration’s pandemic response, focused on disparities.
Current White House coronavirus task force member Anthony Fauci, the top US government infectious diseases expert, was scheduled to have his first substantive talks with the new administration on Thursday.
Fauci told media he expected to have a comprehensive discussion with members of Biden’s team working to establish priorities and ensure a smooth transition on Inauguration Day.
He said that although he had spoken with both Zients and Biden’s White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain in the past, this would be his first “substantive discussions” with the Biden team. “I’m looking forward to it. It likely will be the first of a series of normal type of transition undertaking,” Fauci told MSNBC. A Biden transition official confirmed the meeting. Fauci told CBS he wished the process had begun sooner. The administration of outgoing President Donald Trump only gave the green light for the transition to begin on Nov. 23.
Trump, a Republican, is contesting the Nov. 3 election, alleging electoral fraud but offering no evidence. Numerous legal challenges being pursued around the country have failed to bear fruit, most recently on Thursday when Wisconsin’s Supreme Court declined to take up a case filed against election officials in the battleground state.
SECOND SURGE
As director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, Fauci has been the most high-profile member of the White House task force since the pandemic began, often disagreeing with Trump on how to combat the virus. Fauci told MSNBC he expected to stay on in his current role under the Biden administration.
U.S. deaths from the coronavirus pandemic have surged past 2,000 for two days in a row as the most dangerous season of the year approaches. Nearly 200,000 new U.S. cases were reported on Wednesday, with hospitalizations approaching 100,000 patients.
With Pfizer’s vaccine already approved by regulatory authorities in Britain, hopes of a respite are resting on the start of widespread vaccinations as early as this month.
Zients, a wealthy businessman who has moved between the public sector and corporate America, will oversee the mammoth and unprecedented operation to distribute hundreds of millions of doses of the new vaccine in the United States, coordinating efforts across multiple federal agencies.
In recent weeks, Zients has served as a pandemic liaison of sorts with governors and state officials, frequently joining calls to share data and discuss concerns, according to two sources familiar with the calls.
Biden announced that Brian Deese, who helped lead then-President Barack Obama’s efforts to bail out the automotive industry during the 2009 financial crisis, will head the National Economic Council.
“I’m asking Brian Deese to do this job because he’s someone who looks at hard problems and finds solutions that help make life better for American families,” Biden said in a video posted by his transition team. “He’ll be the first who is a true expert on climate policy.”
WASHINGTON (TIP): President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris have formed a Presidential Inaugural Committee with Indian-American Maju Varghese as executive director to plan the festivities surrounding their swearing-in on Jan. 20. Varghese, who played a key role in the duo’s campaign as its chief operating officer and senior adviser, will be joined by CEO Tony Allen, president of Delaware State University.
Nevada state Sen. Yvanna Cancela and Erin Wilson, the Biden-Harris campaign’s national political director, will both serve as deputy executive directors on the inaugural committee.
Accompanying Biden and Harris’ announcement on Monday was the committee’s digital rollout, including a new website featuring an online store “with exclusive inaugural merchandise and collectables.”
Articles on sale include Kamala Black T-Shirt for $30.00, Biden/Harris Navy T-Shirt for $30.00 and Biden/Harris Water Bottle for $25.00. A lawyer by training Varghese is the son of immigrant parents from Thiruvalla, Kerala. He ran the logistics for the nationwide, multi-million-dollar effort to elect Biden and Harris, mobilizing tens of thousands of staff and volunteers. Varghese had worked for former President Barack Obama as his special assistant and deputy director of advance, a position in which he worked on organizing his travel in the US and abroad.
One of those assignments was organizing Obama’s January 2015 historic trip to India where he was the chief guest at the annual Republic Day parade. Varghese later became assistant to the President for administration and management and oversaw the White House complex.
It remains unclear how the ongoing coronavirus pandemic will affect planning for the 59th presidential inauguration in less than two months, as public health experts warn of surging caseloads during the holiday season.
Allen, the committee’s CEO, acknowledged in a statement that “this year’s inauguration will look different amid the pandemic, but we will honor the American inaugural traditions and engage Americans across the country while keeping everybody healthy and safe.”
The social highlight of inaugurations has been the inaugural ball, a formal dance by the President and the Vice President and their spouses, and the invitees. Several entertainments are also organized for the rest of the crowds attending the inaugurations.
Congress is officially in charge of the formal swearing-in portion of the inauguration and has the bi-partisan Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies to hold the ceremony at the Capitol, the Congress complex.
The current committee is headed by Republican Senator Roy Blunt and includes Democrat Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
But the winning presidential candidates set up their own committees to work with it and to organize other celebrations and raise funds for the events.
Director Richard Lui with his ill dad. Credit: Sky Blossom Films.
DEAR SANTA
DIR: Dana Nachman l USA l 2020 l Doc/Family l 1h 24m
“DEAR SANTA,” from veteran documentarian and producer Dana Nachman. She is one of the great directors who are using their talents to tell inspiring stories in the face of the pandemic and economic downturn that have impacted so many families.
The film shines a light on the 100-year-old Operation Santa Program of the United States Postal Service. Each year, hundreds of thousands of letters to Santa arrive at Post Offices around the country. Through Operation Santa, the United States Postal Service makes it possible for the public to safely adopt these letters and make children’s dreams come true. The film invites audiences along for the magic of this massive endeavor. Traveling the country, much like Santa does on Christmas Eve, the film focuses on select Operation Santa centers: some in metropolitan areas like the massive operation in New York City and others in small towns where the post office is the heart of the community.
Vivian Liberto Cash, Johnny Cash with children. Credit: Courtesy, mydarlingvivian.com
The film highlights letters where a child is asking for something poignant, something that goes beyond the common wish for a toy. Santa will explain how he enlists kind-hearted strangers across the country for these special requests while he concentrates on toy making and his demanding delivery schedule.
This timeless documentary captures the warmth and spirit of Christmastime through the lens of this great American tradition, provoking audiences throughout the world to ask themselves how they can make the world a better place, one gesture at a time.
Watch the trailer – youtu.be/0MhSPWfBbtE
For more information, visit www.dearsanta.movie
Release: On December 4 in Theaters Nationwide and on VOD including Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube Google Play, Vudu, XBox, XFinity, Spectrum & DirectTV. Visit – dearsanta.movie/watch-at-home
SKY BLOSSOM: Diaries of The Next Greatest Generation
DIR: Richard Lui l USA l 2020 l Doc l 1h 20m
“I wanted to show caring for other people is still an honor. Young caregivers are also doing the most difficult, but for (the) family. This next greatest generation deserves all the effort we can muster.”
“I am one in three Americans who is touched by caring for an ailing loved one. And I’m part of the half a trillion annual dollars in work me and 53 million others do for loved ones. A major part of this community is military caregivers. Military caregiver journeys start earlier and last longer than most.
“Diversity and inclusion remained part of the film’s DNA in front and behind the camera. I wanted to stay true to this both with the families that I chose and my crew. They also lose on average, almost $200,000 in wages over their lifetimes.” – Richard Lui, Director
“SKY BLOSSOM” is an Academy-Award-qualifying-film salute to 2020. It is a raw, uplifting window into 24.5 million children and millennials stepping forward as frontline heroes. Caring for the family with tough medical conditions, they stay at home doing things often seen only in hospitals. They are cheerleaders, work part time, and go to college — but also live double lives — quietly growing up as America’s next greatest generation.
The filmmaker, veteran journalist and award-winning CNN/MSNBC news anchor Richard Lui says the interviews were so honest they genuinely surprised him, as they revealed insights into the lives of young people across America. Troops used to look up and say, “Here come the Sky Blossoms” – paratroopers rushing to their aid. Today, there is a new generation answering that call. These are their stories.
My DARLING VIVIAN – Gives Voice to Johnny Cash’s First Wife
DIR: Matt Riddlehoover l USA l 2020 l Doc l 1h 30m
‘VARIETY’: OSCAR CONTENDER for BEST DOC FEATURE
In “MY DARLING VIVIAN,” director Matt Riddlehoover traces the romantic, wrenching, and dizzying journey of Vivian Liberto, Johnny Cash’s first wife and the mother of his four daughters, who was targeted by hate groups over her perceived race. “After their divorce, [the public] saw her as, I don’t know, as nothing,” daughter Rosanne Cash says in this touching, often heartbreaking, and revelatory film. “So, my mother faded into a kind of negative obscurity.”
“My Darling Vivian” has exclusive, unprecedented access to never-before-seen footage, photographs, and love letters, as well as to all four Cash daughters themselves. Rosanne Cash, Kathy Cash Tittle, Cindy Cash, and Tara Cash Schwoebel share first hand, and for the first time, their mother’s entire untold story.
Watch the trailer – youtu.be/3bjwGJOE5VM
Website: mydarlingvivian.com
Facebook: facebook.com/mydarlingvivian
Instagram: @mydarlingvivianfilm
Twitter: @mydarlingvivian
KOKO-DI KOKO-DA
DIR: Johannes Nyholm l Sweden l 2020 l Swedish & Danish w/Eng subs l
Color l 1h 26m l NR
Elin and Tobias are a happily married couple who regularly vacation with their young daughter. The family is on a dreamy holiday when an innocuous case of food poisoning derails their plans and forever alters the course of their lives.
Three years later, the once loving couple is on the road again to go camping, looking for one last chance to go back to the way things used to be. But what once was is lost, and our characters instead find themselves having to relive the same nightmarish events, as that day and the horrors it brings repeat themselves infinitely. Together, they must overcome their trauma, reconcile with their past and fight for their lives. Over, and over, and over again.
Discerned through a dreamlike fabric, a story emerges about relationships in general, grief and reconciliation in particular, and love as a healing force.
Watch the trailer – youtu.be/TbOanKCcVWA
Vod Release: December 8 (US & Canada) Including: Apple TV/ iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Xbox, Vudu, You Tube, Fandango Now, Dish Network and all major cable providers (Including: Comcast/Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox and Verizon Fios)
18 TO PARTY
DIR: Jeff Roda l USA l 2019 l Eng l 1h 20m
It’s 1984 and outside a small-town nightclub, a group of 8th graders gather, grappling with a spate of recent suicides, UFO sightings, their absentee parents, and each other. 18 TO PARTY spans a single evening in the lives of these kids, but manages to transport us fully to a time when waiting for something to happen felt just as significant as the thing itself.
Gorgeously atmospheric, with a pulsating sense of anticipation that steadily builds, the film pulls us into the fears, wounds, and desires of each character, ultimately revealing that hope may arrive from the last place we expect. The meticulously authentic production design, killer soundtrack, and universally excellent performances recall the spirit of classic 80s teen movies like Stand By Me and The Breakfast Club. 18 TO PARTY is a spot-on love letter to Gen X, awkward teenagers, and the transcendent power of friendship.
Watch the trailer – youtu.be/k3jqnEzuHWI
Website: https://www.18topartymovie.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/18ToPartyMovie
Twitter: https://twitter.com/18ToPartyMovie
Instagram: 18ToPartyMovie
@18ToPartyMovie
#18ToPartyMovie
VOD Release: Currently available on Apple TV, Prime Video, Google Play, Vudu, Fandango and more to follow.
LEADING THROUGH CRISES: GOV. MURPHY ON NJ, THE PANDEMIC, & THE WAY FORWARD
NJ Governor Phil Murphy
Halfway through his first term as New Jersey’s governor, Phil Murphy was confronted by a crisis of extraordinary magnitude: A worldwide pandemic, which immediately impacted NJ, followed by an unprecedented financial downturn.
Murphy fought these dual emergencies with every tool at his disposal — daily briefings, limits on indoor gatherings, a celebrity-studded COVID relief fundraiser, even “Don’t Be A Knucklehead” signs on major highways to remind Garden Staters to embrace social distancing. Thanks to his leadership, New Jersey successfully “flattened the curve” of coronavirus infections — but the state still faces the pandemic’s second wave, lingering economic hardship, and delays before a vaccine is available.
Join the next NJPAC Business Partners “Roundtable @ Home” at 9AM on Friday, December 11, for an enlightening 30-minute conversation with Governor Murphy at the to find out what the Governor learned from the singular challenges of 2020, and his plans for the year ahead. Follow the registration link below; details for logging onto this Zoom meeting will be emailed to you.
njpac.org/support/bprt-registration-form/
For more information on the event, contact businesspartners@njpac.org
John Schreiber Pays Tribute to NJPAC’s Eunice Peterson
“Eunice insisted that every artist — from Aretha Franklin to a local student who’d never been on stage before — got the same high-level care.” Allison Wyss, NJPAC’s Senior Artist Assistant, (worked with Eunice for over 20 years)
In an open letter to NJPAC wellwishers, John Screiber, President & CEO of the Arts Center, pays tribute to recently deceased Staff member, Eunice Peterson. He considers NJPAC’s team members as NJPAC’s “owners” – because they see NJPAC as “their” place. They’re deeply invested in ensuring that it thrives. Schreiber considers the Arts Center (NJPAC) to be blessed in having a team of fierce advocates (“owners”) working to advance its mission. He believes that of all these “owners” of NJPAC, Eunice Peterson, who passed away recently, was “one of the proudest and one of the most effective.” From the Arts Center’s opening in 1997 through the Spring of 2019, Eunice was the Senior Artist Assistant. An artist assistant is the person who greets performers when they arrive at NJPAC’s stage door, brings them to their dressing rooms, and sees to their every need while they’re there. A good artist assistant will know how to give performers just what they require — silence or conversation, a cup of tea or a warm towel — so that when they appear on stage, they feel nurtured and valued.
“They feel, in short, like they’re at home. And no one did that the way Eunice did.
She just had the gift of hospitality. When performers came to NJPAC and spent time with Eunice, it was like they were hanging out in their momma’s kitchen, that’s how at ease they felt,” Eyesha Marable, Director of Community Engagement, tells John Schreiber. Before she came to the Arts Center, Eunice’s first career was as an in-demand backup vocalist who toured and recorded with Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston, Darlene Love, Dionne Warwick and many others from the 1960s through her arrival at NJPAC.
“I have this beautiful memory of hanging out with Dionne Warwick, Johnny Mathis, Lee and Eunice in the production office of NJPAC, and all of them just talking about the good old days,” says Chris Moses, NJPAC’s Senior Director of Production. Eunice and Chris Moses’s predecessor, Larry Goldman, created the artist assistant program at NJPAC before the opening night, basing their approach on that of Carnegie Hall.
“Eunice insisted that every artist — from Aretha Franklin to a local student who’d never been on stage before — got the same high-level care.”
“Because she remembered what it was like to be a performer. She would tell stories of all the times she was on the road, how hard it was, the things she encountered: No proper dressing rooms, no access to food, even the unacceptable names she was called as an African-American artist touring in the 1960s and 1970s. She vowed nothing like that would happen to any artist at NJPAC.”
Eunice’s performing days didn’t end when she came to NJPAC. In 1998, a year after the Arts Center opened, Larry decided to establish a community choir and encouraged staff members to audition. Eunice was a charter member of what became the ‘Jubilation Choir’. She sang soprano with the choir until she fell ill.
“She’d traveled the world with a lot of these artists, she knew them personally. We ended up on a lot of projects, like Dionne Warwick’s latest, really because of Eunice running her mouth about the choir. She’d say to them: ‘Oh, y’all sound good, but you need to hear my choir’ and give them a bunch of CDs,” Rev. Stefanie Minatee (Rev. Stef), Artistic Director of the Jubilation Choir, says.
“Genuine,” “sincere” and “loving” are the words almost everyone at NJPAC has reached for to describe Eunice as her passing was mourned.
That sincerity, that love, made the Center’s backstage a uniquely warm and welcoming space, and a particularly appealing one to artists. Great artists know when you’re for real and when you’re just going through the motions. Eunice never went through the motions.
“Although we miss Eunice’s hugs and her caring, her outfits and her remarkable voice, she’ll never really be gone. When you go backstage at NJPAC, you’ll feel her spirit. You may not know her the way we were privileged to, but her vibe — her great, comforting, warm, loving vibe — is embedded in our walls. This was her place; it always will be,” Rev. Stefanie Minatee.
(Mabel Pais writes on Health & Wellness, The Arts and Entertainment, Social Issues, and Spirituality)
“Keralites cannot be fooled any longer by these frequent denunciations of corruption and graft by one party and presenting themselves as righteous. They see through most of these characters, except a few with integrity, for their hypocrisy decrying corruption at high places. They have been witnessing these shenanigans for the past several decades. It is no longer an occasional revelation of wrongdoing but has become a way of life.”
It is time to end this ongoing heist and grand larceny while exposing the nexus of corruption and criminality that has gone behind the scenes unchecked for decades as both fronts have covered up for each other
If one follows the political dynamics in Kerala, the recent events surpass any drama on Broadway in terms of creativity, intrigue, and investigations. At the core of any storytelling lies a compelling array of character types. Unlike many novels, here, we have many three-dimensional characters with great backgrounds and experiences. Daily, the protagonists, antagonists, and all the supporting characters present Kerala as a little theatre where the audiences are condemned to watch this unfolding drama at a high cost to themselves in terms of resources, serious mental stress, and physical agony.
There must be a woman as one of the main characters in the story, and Swapna Suresh is playing that role with passion, and the former Chief Secretary M. Sivashankar is already branding himself as a dynamic man of mysteries. The Chief Minister of the State, Pinarai Vijayan, appears to be twisting in the wind unsure of his own destiny. The Communist Party that came to power attacking corruption seems to swallow their own words uttered against a former Chief Minister.
As this drama plays out in the open, one thing is sure. Keralites cannot be fooled any longer by these frequent denunciations of corruption and graft by one party and presenting themselves as righteous. They see through most of these characters, except a few with integrity, for their hypocrisy decrying corruption at high places. They have been witnessing these shenanigans for the past several decades. It is no longer an occasional revelation of wrongdoing but has become a way of life.
Kunhalikutty, a rising star of the emerging political reality in Kerala, revealed as much when he said at a press conference that during their time in power, many charges of corruption by the opposition were brought to their attention. However, they glossed over or did nothing about it. He appeared to have taken pride in their inaction about corruption, fraudulent conduct by those in power. It is quite amusing how our politicians view bribery, extortion, influence peddling, graft, and embezzlement with such a tongue-in-cheek attitude. In other words, Kunhalikutty is almost telling us that we not only protected our own corrupted souls but even the ones who belonged to the opposition! What a sorry state of affairs Keralites are in!
What has changed in the body politic of Kerala? Please take a close look at many of our leaders in the public arena today. Most of them came from humble or moderate backgrounds. Some of them might have come from comfortable settings but were not wealthy or big landlords. However, today, scores of them are said to be filthy rich, with most of their assets hidden under some Binami somewhere in India or abroad! Some of their submissions with the election commission may be characterized as an affidavit of avoiding the truth.
Keralites, to their credit, tend to topple corrupt governments. However, more and more, they look like facilitators of equal opportunity corruption schemes. They are sick to the stomach of games these career politicians are playing at their expense and are utterly helpless and unable to do anything about it. The swamp that includes these politicians, Administrators, and crony capitalists have been plundering the Treasury and dividing up the government lands for so long that it has become business as usual regardless of who is at the wheels of power. In all of Kerala’s history, only one politician has gone to prison for corruption, and then Chief Minister could not wait to get him out of jail so fast.
In the past, Kerala was blessed with great leaders who ruled the states with high integrity and honor. Having roots in Chengannur, I could still recollect the story of late R. Sankara Narayanan Thampy, a communist leader who could have chosen to live his life in luxury and comfort but decided to give it up to fight for the rights of the poor and the disadvantaged from an entrenched caste system. He was harassed by the powerful, repeatedly threatened by law enforcement, and constantly on the run, often saving himself hiding in mud huts with those who were the victims of oppression. He was frequently arrested and detained for his powerful speeches aimed at Sir C P Ramaswamy Iyer, defending freedom, and promoting social justice.
In an interview with Times of India on the 23rd anniversary of Thampy’s death in 2012, P.L. Thankamma, his wife, reminisced her husband, saying he was an image of honesty, courage, and dedication. Thampy, who was part of the freedom struggle at a young age married Thankamma when she was 20 years old. She recalled when she had to bring their youngest newborn daughter to the Poojapura jail in Thiruvananthapuram as he was serving prison time at the time of her birth. Foregoing the little pleasures any married woman would desire and letting go of all dreams that a woman has for married life, she wholeheartedly supported his endeavors in the public arena. His hard work and dedication to the cause did not go unnoticed as he was selected as the first speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 1957.
As the saying goes, this is not your grandfather’s Communist Party anymore. It is a party in decline with its failed ideology becoming increasingly obsolete. It has survived so far in Kerala primarily due to its commitment to the Backward and Scheduled castes who truly attribute their improved lot to the decade-old reforms the party has championed. Another more recent phenomena for their success has been due to the growing perception among some quarters that they are more reliable to defend secular nationalism and protect the rights of the religious minorities. In the last election, scores of Christians, Muslims, and secular Hindus voted for the Hammer and Sickle against their own age-old aversion towards a totalitarian ideology.
However, today, the belly of the beast is cut open, baring the ugly secrets of a party that has sold out its soul for greed and obscene profits. The ruling hierarchy’s hypocrisy is wide open, having a lavish lifestyle with estates and posh homes with spoiled children creating a ruckus across the globe and engaging in criminal behavior. In the meantime, the young people at the cadre level are being asked to sacrifice their lives for the party, often engaging in riots and killings allegedly ordered from the top.
While the public witnesses the heated rhetoric, the parties hurl at each other, questioning each other’s integrity and motives; bear in mind that it is part of a grand deception, and their only goal is to snatch the power from each other, especially close to an election date. Behind the scenes, they are all close buddies, often engaging in joint ventures that bring in hefty profits. One of the IT companies involved in recent scandals alleged to have vital links with family members of both political fronts with strong financial support from prominent NRIs in the Gulf.
It is time to end this ongoing heist and grand larceny while exposing the nexus of corruption and criminality that has gone behind the scenes unchecked for decades as both fronts have covered up for each other. Keralites have been taken for a ride for so long, and their patience is wearing thin. They deserve a government that reflects their character and traditions and willing to serve the people with clean governance. An honest government will never shy away from exposing the wolves in the sheep’s clothing who have violated their oath engaging in corruption and graft. Poojapura Jail still has a lot of room, and honorable R. Sankara Narayanan Thampi never belonged there!
(The author is a former Chief Technology Officer of the United Nations)
Dec 7: Ganesha says though activities seen pretty well lined up when the day begins, plans can begin to fall apart. It will help to put aside habitual or narrow ways of reacting and instead view things from a more inclusive angle.
Dec 8: A rather tense or discouraging mood can prevail and stir up trouble, but only if you let it. Yesterday’s advice applies again today; don’t be inflexible. Open minds make quite a difference.
Dec 9: Excellent ideas flow and are exchanged, which can stimulate a more enlightened approach to relationship interests. Some carefully chosen words can work wonders.
Dec 10: Any one of a number of snags behind the scenes can make things touch and go today and tonight. Concentrate on neglected work. Let bygones be bygones.
Dec 11: Your heart may just not be in whatever you have to do in the outside world. Regardless, benefits can be derived from taking a time – out.
Dec 12: It’s a good policy to question yourself and others closely today, as perceptions can go askew and misunderstandings ensue, especially when you encounter unexplained or passive resistance.
Dec 13: Your way with others is confident, thanks to the Moon in your sign. Still, you should prepare to disarm some home-front resistance.
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Aries: Ganesha says your finances may not be on point at the starting of the week and also your expenses will increase. Don’t think about any long investments this week. You may travel short distance. Retrieve your focus this week. Obey the advices your well-wishers give you.
Praying Lord Shiva will help you stay calm this week. Neptune says you can reveal your secrets and you can meet new people. Untidy scenarios of last few days will be swept off. Projects will restart which stopped.
You will visit to spiritual places with your life partner and Soulmate.
Taurus: Your financial planning will show results this week. Don’t make emotional decisions this week. This week will require you to be physically and mentally strong. Also focus on family security. You can also think about small investment this week. Also, your organisational skills will show great results. You will find new approaches to meet your deadlines. Take a chance to re-join the creative group. You will be attracted to spirituality this week. Love will flourish for people with Taurus zodiac.
Praying Lord Hanuman will help you find peace this week.
Gemini: Ganesha says, you may face a financial crisis this week and therefore have a red eye on your spending habits.
You may also face losses in long term investments with siblings you make this week so be careful. You are going to have a nice family time this week. Don’t be negative for things, try to stay calm and positive.
Praying Lord Ganesha will help you this week.
You may experience a little sleep disturbance.Stars in your horoscope will boost up some confidence. Your relationship with your partner will enhance.
Things will be confusing by the end of the week but the next week will calm think down.
Cancer: Laziness may kick in at the starting of the week and due to less focus, you may feel demotivated but things will be fine. You may think of short-term investment but avoid taking haphazard decisions. Love is in the air this week. Try to restore connection in relationships. Health will improve this week and you may travel for studies.
This is the period of gratitude. Feel gratified for what you have achieved. You may face differentiation of opinions at work but staying calm with help. Praying Lord Hanuman will surely help you.
Leo: Financial conditions this week are looking strong. Be patient while making big decisions this week. Try to stay balanced and meditate. This week is lucky for monetary transactions. You may connect to old peers and family. You will be blessed by the Moon bringing in creativity in your approaches. This week be careful about how you spend your time. People in love will be able to spend time with their partners.
You may find that perfect job this week which you have been seeking since long and your talents will be put on display soon.
Virgo: You may find new projects this week. There are chances of good news coming this week. It would be good seven days to make financial moves. You are moving in correct direction and honestly do the work you have committed to. You may feel peevish but trust your intuitions about creativity and take recommendations from your superiors will help you make better decisions.
Libra: You must be careful about your health this week. Your mind is wavering around new business plans but widely research and analyse your plans before making a decision.
Praying Lord Vishnu will reap good results this week.
Practice self-care this week as it will remove the feeling of dullness. Buying luxury goods this will attract negativity so avoid it. Family issues about children may arise but try to deal patiently with them.
Scorpio: Think before spending this week. Your hard work is going to pay off this week. Don’t doubt yourself so much, you are heading towards the right direction. Your subordinates and superiors are going to appreciate your work and capabilities. Avoid taking monetary decisions this week as it is not the good time. Spend more time with family. Your over thinking issue is going to go away as Mercury will leave your zodiac. Also, flow of cash will increase in the business and small investments in family business will be alright.
Sagittarius: You will make a good short term plan this week and your finances will support your moves. You will also travel to short distances with your loved ones. Goddess Laxmi will send you blessings so worship her. You will make calm and clear choices. Health of elderly people will improve.
You will also attain good mental health. Singles will make unexpected connections.
Capricorn: You will set into a new routine and adapt new schedule. You may feel negative by the middle of the week but gradually it will improve. You will turn tables by making an announcement. Venus will help you captivate crowds. You will come over disappointments.
You will find higher strata in your family.
Students will find creative aspects of themselves and will do better in studies.
Aquarius: Your finances will be balanced. Your work will be supported by your subordinates and partners. Avoid taking any emotional decisions this week. You may also spend time with your family.
Praying Lord Hanuman will help you balance this week. Your love life may imbalance a little bit but gradually things will improve. Heavy gains of past investments will find its way to you this week.
Try to improve relationship with your life partner this week.
Praying Lord Ganesha will bring you domestic peace.
Pisces: As your horoscope suggests, you will have a very busy week and find it difficult to implement all your plans at once. Your overseas network will help you solve your business issues. Beware of your distant enemies.
Your family and friends will guide you in the right direction in the matter of love. This week will be the triumph time for you. Mercury will get your prime concerns on top.
You will have lots of opportunities this week but be careful about spending. Stay warned about your health and try to speed down on road.
Spend time with your children this period and pray Lord Shiva, he has his eyes on your period.
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