Friday, 11.18.11 ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net the world PRESS DAKOTAN NEWS DEPARTMENT: [email protected] 5A Chu Says White House Did Not Pressure Him WASHINGTON (AP) — An unapologetic Energy Secretary Steven Chu defended a half-billion-dollar federal loan to a solar-panel man- Protesters March Nationwide ufacturer that went belly up, even as he told a House committee Thursday he was unaware of dozens of key details that led to the debacle over Solyndra Inc. Hundreds Arrested, Under hours of hostile questioning from Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Chu declined several op- portunities to say he was sorry, but acknowledged that in hindsight Mostly In New York the deal was “extremely unfortunate” and “regrettable.” BY KAREN MATTHEWS “Certainly knowing what I know now, we’d say ‘no,”’ Chu said Associated Press during a daylong hearing before the energy panel’s subcommittee on investigations. “But you don’t make decisions fast-forwarding NEW YORK — Occupy Wall Street protest- two years in the future and then go back. I wish I could do that.” ers clogged streets and tied up traffic around Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Fla., chairman of the subcommittee, said the U.S. on Thursday to mark two months after the hearing that Chu should be fired. since the movement’s birth and signal they “I just think he has failed the test. The fact that he’s unaware of aren’t ready to quit, despite the breakup of so many things makes me think that he’s not the best person for many of their encampments by police. Hun- the position,” Stearns said. dreds of people were arrested, most of them in New York. The demonstrations — which took place House Approves Bill Averting Shutdown in cities including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, WASHINGTON (AP) — A weekend government shutdown that Boston, Washington and Portland, Ore. — neither party wants would be averted under a compromise spend- were for the most part peaceful. Most of the ing bill the House approved Thursday despite complaints from law- arrests were for blocking streets, and the traf- makers left and right about provisions ranging from school lunch fic disruptions were brief. standards to the size of federally backed loans. Chanting “All day, all week, shut down The House approved the measure 298-121, and the Senate was Wall Street,” more than 1,000 protesters gath- ered near the New York Stock Exchange and likely to pass it and send the measure to President Barack Obama SHARON GEKOSKI-KIMMEL/PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER/MCT later in the day. sat down in several intersections. Helmeted Occupy Philadelphia and supporters get arrested after blocking Market Street at 30th Street during Despite the bill’s passage, the vote highlighted fissures in the police officers broke up some of the gather- rush hour in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Thursday, November 17, 2011. House GOP majority as 133 Republicans voted for the legislation ings, and operations at the stock market were not disrupted. and 101 voted against. Though none spoke against the bill during officers dressed in wind breakers, rather than gineer from Montclair, N.J. “It seems like debate, conservatives were unhappy that the bipartisan legislation As darkness fell, a coalition of unions and progressive groups joined Occupy demon- riot gear, arrested at least two dozen people there’s a concerted effort to stop the move- would spend too much and potentially leave taxpayers on the hook who walked out onto the bridges’ roadway ment, and I’m here to make sure that doesn’t for even more by expanding the size of mortgages that could be in- strators in staging rallies at landmark bridges in several U.S. cities to protest joblessness. but otherwise let the marchers pass without happen.” sured by the Federal Housing Administration in wealthy areas from incident. At least 300 people were arrested in New $625,500 to $729,750. In New York, a crowd of several thousand people, led by banner-carrying members of The protests came two days after police York. Some were bloodied during the arrests. “We have a moral obligation to not lay additional burdens on raided and demolished the encampment at One man was taken into custody for throwing our posterity,” Rep. Scott Garrett, R-N.J., said in an interview earlier the Service Employees International Union, jammed Manhattan’s Foley Square and then lower Manhattan’s Zuccotti Park that had liquid, possibly vinegar, into the faces of sev- Thursday. served as headquarters of the Occupy move- eral police officers, authorities said. Many Democrats supported the measure overwhelmingly, with only marched peacefully across the Brooklyn Bridge on a pedestrian promenade. ment and as demonstrators and union allies demonstrators were carrying vinegar as an 20 of them voting “no.” Liberals mocked a provision blocking tried to regain their momentum. antidote for pepper spray. Obama administration efforts to prod schools to put healthier As they walked, a powerful light projected the slogan “We are the 99 percent” — a refer- “This is a critical moment for the move- A police officer, Matthew Walters, needed foods on their lunch menus, including a proposal to no longer con- ment given what happened the other night,” 20 stitches on his hand after he was hit with a sider the tomato paste on pizza to be a vegetable. ence to the Americans who aren’t super-rich — on the side of a nearby skyscraper. Police said demonstrator Paul Knick, a software en- piece of thrown glass, police said. Perry Picks Fight With Pelosi PEARL, Miss. (AP) — Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who’s running for president, is picking a fight with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, who’s not. Perry, who is struggling to steady his bid for the GOP nomination, launched an outsider’s campaign against Wash- Man Charged With Trying Barbs, And Little Else, ington culture this week and on Thursday challenged Pelosi to de- bate his plan to overhaul Congress. She declined the offer, then mocked Perry’s forgetful moment in To Assassinate Obama Exchanged On Deficit a recent candidates’ debate. Pelosi said: “I’m going to be in Portland in the morning. I’m BY JESSIE L. BONNER would end in 2012. BY DAVID ESPO at stake. going to be visiting some of our labs in California in the afternoon. AND JESSICA GRESKO “He said, ‘Well, you know the AP Special Correspondent Democrats are hoping to use That’s two. I can’t remember what the third thing is I’m going to be Associated Press president is getting ready to the legislation to enact at least a doing.” make an announcement that WASHINGTON — Republicans portion of President Barack In the debate, Perry couldn’t remember the third of three fed- BOISE, Idaho — An Idaho man they’re going to put GPS chips in and Democrats exchanged barbs Obama’s jobs program as part of eral departments he wants to eliminate. accused of firing an assault rifle all the children, so they’re safe,”’ but little else Thursday as Con- the bill, including an extension of at the White House believed he McCall said. “... And then he said, gress’ super-committee limped to- payroll tax cuts and unemploy- was Jesus and thought President ‘That’s just what the Antichrist is ward a Nov. 23 deadline with no ment benefits, and infrastructure Israel Finds Common Ground With Africans Barack Obama was the An- going to do to mark everybody.”’ tangible evidence of progress on construction. JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has identified eastern Africa as an im- tichrist, according to court docu- Kimberly Allen, the mother of a deficit-reduction plan. In addition, lawmakers in both portant strategic interest and is stepping up ties with nations in the ments and those who knew him. Ortega’s former fiancie, said he “They’ve never really put parties favor legislation to pro- region in a joint effort to control the spread of Islamic extremists, At one point, he even sug- had been well-mannered and kind paper on the table. It’s very frus- tect upper middle class con- officials said Thursday. gested to an acquaintance the in the four years she had known trating,” House Speaker John stituents from the impact of the In effect, Israel would become a player siding with Christian-led president was planning to im- him. But he recently began mak- Boehner, R-Ohio, said of Democ- alternative minimum tax, and African nations in conflicts with Muslim movements, a fault line plant computer tracking chips ing statements to her daughter rats. money is needed to make sure that has sharpened around the continent in recent years. Israeli into children. that were out of character, in- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., a doctors treating Medicare pa- moves come as the United States as well has hiked up military sup- Oscar Ramiro Ortega-Hernan- cluding that he believed he was committee co-chair, countered. tients are paid after Jan. 1. port for African governments, in large part to combat al-Qaida- dez, 21, was charged Thursday Jesus. Allen said the family was “I believe that we have opened Overall, the talks have been linked groups. with attempting to assassinate worried when he went to Utah re- a door to negotiations in these stymied over taxes — which Re- Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, hosted the leaders the president or his staff. He is cently, where he said he had last final hours that if they (Re- publicans historically refuse to raise — and benefit programs of Uganda and Kenya earlier this week, following a meeting at the accused of firing nine rounds at business, and didn’t come back.