Tag: Budget
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Watchdogs urge Marcos to act on P633 billion pork items in 2026 budget
Capitalizing on a snarl of pork barrel concerns The call comes as budget watchdogs demand decisive action from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. over an alarming portion of the proposed P6.793-trillion national budget for 2026. According to watchdog groups, about P633 billion worth of line items could be vulnerable to corruption or misclassification, risking ineffectiveness and…
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Questions for Trump, Democrats and the GOP as 2026 Politics Take Shape
Overview: 2026’s defining Questions As the new year unfolds, political strategists, voters, and policy advocates alike are weighing the pivotal questions that will shape Washington and state capitals in 2026. With President Trump pursuing a second act in national politics, Democrats aiming to regain momentum, and Republicans recalibrating their agenda, the questions are less about…
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Trump Administration Freezes Childcare Payments to States
Overview of the Freeze The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has frozen all childcare payments to every state, according to an official familiar with the matter. The move, described by a senior official to ABC News, comes shortly after department officials had announced earlier steps related to the same program. The abrupt halt…
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Democrat Renee Hardman Wins Iowa Senate Special Election, Keeps GOP From Reclaiming Supermajority
Democrat Renee Hardman Seals Victory in Iowa Senate Special Election In a late-December contest that drew renewed attention to the balance of power in the state Capitol, Democrat Renee Hardman defeated Republican Lucas Loftin in the Iowa Senate special election. The win preserves a more constrained political landscape in Des Moines and keeps the GOP…
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P2 Million Christmas Bonus? Congress in the Spotlight as 2026 Budget Moves Forward
Overview: What’s at stake with the 2026 GAB signing As the Philippines moves toward finalizing the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB), whispers have grown into headlines about a substantial Christmas bonus for members of the House of Representatives and party-list groups. Reports initially described a potential P2 million payout for each congressman as a gratuity-like…
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P2 Million Christmas Bonus for Congress Members? What’s Really Happening with the 2026 Budget
Scope of the Discussion: P2 Million Per Congress Member? The Philippine Congress could be poised to distribute a per-member amount estimated at P2 million as a “Christmas bonus” as the 2026 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) is signed into law. Reports indicate that the amount could go to all 318 lawmakers, including party-list representatives. The proposition…
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How NASA in 2025 Could Reshape the Agency Forever
The Year of Uncertainty and Opportunity 2025 has been a watershed year for NASA, a period defined less by a single mission and more by strategic recalibration. Amid debates over funding, staffing, and the fate of several science missions, the agency has been forced to reexamine its playbook for advancing the Moon-to-Mars pipeline. This piece…
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House Leadership Independence in Voting, Suansing Says — Philippines
Intro: A Clear Stand on Independence In a recent statement, Rep. Mikaela Angela “Mika” Suansing, chairperson of the Committee on Appropriations, affirmed that the leadership of the House of Representatives does not influence individual lawmakers in their voting choices. Suansing’s comments come amid ongoing discussions about the role of party leadership and committee pressure in…
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Suansing: House Leadership Has No Say Over Solons’ Voting Choices
Independent Voting, Independent Voices: Suansing Responds to Leviste The floor of the House of Representatives continues to be a space where lawmakers argue for independence in their voting choices, even as leadership roles and committees shape the agenda. In a recent statement, Nueva Ecija 1st district Rep. Mikaela Angela “Mika” Suansing—chairperson of the Committee on…
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LGUs to Receive P1.19 Trillion National Tax Share in 2026
LGUs to Receive P1.19 Trillion National Tax Share in 2026 The local government units (LGUs) of the Philippines are set for a substantial financial boost in 2026, with a projected national tax share totaling about P1.19 trillion. This expected allocation underpins a broader plan to strengthen local governance, accelerate public service delivery, and fund development…