SELECTIONS FROM PR NEWSWIRE'S PUBLIC INTEREST NEWS FEED

Illicit Financial Flows Out of the Developing World Overwhelm Foreign Aid

Global Financial Integrity (GFI) released today a study estimating the annual value of illicit financial flows from all poor nations at approximately $900 million. Titled "Illicit Financial Flows From Developing Countries: 2002 - 2006," (http://www.gfip.org/) the ground-breaking report shows that the developing world is losing an increasing amount of money through illicit capital flight each year. Moreover, the value of the illicit flows surpasses the amount of Official Development Assistance (ODA) entering those countries by an order of magnitude. Full release

GOP Members Deadlock FEC, Undermining Positions on 527s, Embezzlement, Disclosure

In their first six months in office, newly appointed members of the Federal Election Commission have rolled back major precedents and transformed the agency's enforcement policies in key areas, according to a BNA review of FEC documents made public since the new commissioners arrived last summer. Full release

Saving for College? Treasury and IRS Increase Flexibility for 529 Plans

In response to a request from the College Savings Plans Network (CSPN) and other college savings groups, the U.S. Treasury Department (Treasury) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have issued a ruling that allows 529 plan account owners to change their investment strategy twice per calendar year. Section 529 plans are tax-advantaged college savings vehicles which have become the preferred way for Americans to save for college. Full release

CAIR: U.S. Muslims Condemn Israeli Massacre of 60 in One Gaza Family

A prominent national Islamic civil rights and advocacy group today condemned a reported Israeli massacre of more than 60 members of an extended Palestinian family in the Gaza Strip. The Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) cited a report in Britain's Telegraph newspaper, which states: "[A]s many as 60 members of the extended Samouni family were killed near their homes in the Gazan town of Zeitoun while nine more died in hospital. Dozens of bodies are believed to remain under the rubble of a large house hit repeatedly by Israeli shelling in the incident. The International Committee of the Red Cross has formally requested permission from the Israeli army to visit the scene of the attack to establish the exact scale of the slaughter." Full release

Lawmakers and Experts to Examine Energy Options for Obama and Congress, on Tuesday, January 13, 2009, From 8:30 - 10:00 A.M., at The National Press Club, in Washington, D.C.

U.S. News & World Report's National Issues Briefing will look at the policies and decisions President-elect Obama and the 111th Congress will consider in response to America's energy and climate-change challenges. The Briefing will examine how lawmakers will address volatile energy prices and economic challenges while encouraging efficiency and conservation and developing long-term policy initiatives and incentives around key components of the national energy debate: proposals to cap greenhouse gas emissions, expansion of domestic drilling, natural gas policy, biofuels, nuclear power, and the development of alternative and renewable fuels and cleaner technologies. Full release

CAIR Asks President to Condemn 'Massacre' at U.N. School in Gaza

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today demanded that the Bush administration condemn the "massacre" of more than 40 Palestinian civilians who sought shelter from Israeli attacks at a United Nations school in the Gaza Strip. Full release

'No Time to Vote' for Many Military Personnel Overseas, Pew Study Finds

One-third of all U.S. states do not provide enough time to vote for military personnel stationed overseas and as many as half of all states need to improve their absentee voting process to ensure that the votes of servicemen and women abroad will be counted, according to a report from the Pew Center on the States released today. The report, titled "No Time to Vote: Challenges Facing America's Overseas Military Voters," is the first-ever detailed public analysis of states' voting systems for military personnel stationed overseas. Full release

New National Campaign Urges Obama Administration and the Public to Improve Public Education

Just days before President-elect Barack Obama takes the oath of office, a major education group is launching a national web-based campaign that challenges all Americans to transform the optimism of the election season into the promise of collective action to improve public education. Full release

AARP Sets Priorities for 2009 to Promote Health and Economic Security

At an event today where he outlined the organization's annual legislative and advocacy priorities, AARP CEO Bill Novelli pledged to work with Congress and the Administration to address our nation's most serious challenges. In outlining the AARP agenda for the 111th Congress, Novelli stressed the urgent need to provide economic relief for America and to fix our health care system. Novelli also identified key areas that will ensure that older workers have the skills they need to compete for 21st Century jobs, help put all Americans on the path to retirement security and strengthen communities across the nation by addressing the housing crisis. Full release

Republican National Committee Special Meeting

The Republican National Committee (RNC) today announced that a RNC Special Meeting will take place on Wednesday, January 7, 2009. All potential candidates for RNC Chairman, Co-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer have been invited to participate in a candidate forum, which will take place at the Capitol Hill Club in Washington, DC. During the meeting, candidates for each office will have an opportunity to deliver remarks and answer questions from Members of the RNC. Full release