Friday News Roundup

Written by: Sheri Divers on Feb 16, 2007 11:00 PM EST

American Students Help Cambodian Counterparts

After learning that children in Cambodia’s countryside were in dire need of support, the students of Overlake School in Redmond, Washington began working with the group American Assistance for Cambodia to build a school there.  Through bake sales, talent shows and raffles, these students raised $15,000 for construction of the school.  Once the building was complete, they continued to raise money for teachers, books and computers.  “Words can’t express how proud I am of what we’ve accomplished,” said 12th grader Kelsey Schmidt.  Some of these students traveled over to Cambodia to view the progress and have been keeping in touch with their new acquaintances. 

House Rejects Escalation Plan in New Resolution

Today, the Democratic-controlled House voted 246-182 on the non-binding resolution to oppose President Bush’s plan for deploying thousands of more troops to Iraq.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, “[t]he stakes in Iraq are too high to recycle proposals that have little prospect for success.”  However, Bush’s Republican allies have said several times that the resolution would lead to attempts to cut funding for the troops.

Tax Cut Vote Could Pave the Way for Minimum Wage

The House is also expected to vote today on a tax-package that’s worth approximately $1.8 billion over the next 10 years.  This vote could set the wheels in motion for the final passage of a bill that would raise the minimum wage.  The $2.10 per hour increase (from the current $5.15 to $7.25) is one of the top priorities of this new legislature.  The question, that many are wondering, is how much of a tax break will small businesses receive from this package.

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