The New York Times is reporting that lobbyists have been paid at least $400,000 so far to lobby Congress on behalf of the defacto Micheletti government after Manuel Zelaya was deposed.  Cold War warriors Otto Reich, Roger Noriega, and Daniel Fisk, who served under Bush and Reagan and authored much of the US policy toward Central America, have signed on to support Micheletti.  They apparently view the struggle as crucial to striking a blow against Hugo Chavez, whose influence they equate with that of the former Soviet Union.

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Language in the 2002 Homeland Security Act prohibited federal contracts for companies that put most of their operations offshore to limit their tax liabilities.  You may remember that the Obama White House has been trying to find some of those accounts in the Cayman Islands, Switzerland, etc.  They have been negotiating with Swiss Banks to get their lists.

 This week the Senate financial services bill is including language that would ease the ban.  The US Chamber of Commerce, that bastion of free and unfettered enterprise has been lobbying heavily for it, along with other groups.  Some think it is answer to President Obama slapping a tariff on Chinese tires; I don't think they need a reason.

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These are recipes to keep you healthy, save you money, and provide comfort for the winter.  One even uses all those bloomin' green tomatoes your neighbors keep trying' to give you!

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