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The Hamas terrorist attack on Israel is reprehensible. Israel is under heavy attack right now by Hamas and taking action to defend itself and its people. Israel has every right to defend itself.”Sen. Jon Tester, Montana Democrat“I strongly condemn the terrorist attacks launched by Hamas against our ally Israel. I will continue to closely monitor the situation.”Sen. Maggie Hassan, New Hampshire Democrat“Hamas’s terrorist attack on Israel is nothing short of horrifying. Israel has every right to defend itself from this unjust war.”Sen. Ron Wyden, Oregon Democrat“The terrorist attack on Israel is appalling.

Persons: Hakeem Jeffries, “, Steve Scalise, ” Kevin McCarthy, ” Chuck Schumer, –, Herzog –, ” Mitch McConnell, ” Tom Emmer, ” Katherine Clarke, ” Dick Durbin, ” John Thune, ” Sen, Debbie Stabenow, Michigan Democrat “, Israel, Amy Klobuchar, Mark Warner, Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Democrat “, Bernie Sanders, Cory Booker, Cory Booker , New Jersey Democrat “, Joe Manchin, West Virginia Democrat “, Tammy Baldwin, Wisconsin Democrat “, Gary Peters, Gary Peters , Michigan Democrat “, Catherine Cortez Masto, Brian Schatz, Hawaii Democrat “, Jeff Merkley, Oregon Democrat “, John Barrasso, Joni Ernst, Iowa Republican “, Sen, Shelley Moore Capito, West Virginia Republican “, Steve Daines, Montana Republican “, Mike Lee, Mike Crapo, Chuck Grassley, Tommy Tuberville, Katie Britt, Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, Kyrsten, Mark Kelly, John Boozman, Tom Cotton, Arkansas Republican “, Alex Padilla, Laphonza Butler, California Democrat “, today’s, Michael Bennet, Colorado Democrat “, John Hickenlooper, Richard Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat “, Chris Murphy, Tom Carper, Delaware Democrat “, Chris Coons, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, Jon Ossoff, Georgia Democrat “, Anat Sultan, Raphael Warnock, “ I’m, Mazie, Tammy Duckworth, Todd Young, Mike Braun, Jerry Moran, Kansas Republican “, Hamas’s, Roger Marshall, Netanyahu, Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican “, Bill Cassidy, John Kennedy, Susan Collins, Maine Republican “, Ben Cardin, Maryland Democrat “, Chris Van Hollen, Ed Markey, Tina Smith, Minnesota Democrat “, Roger Wicker ,, Roger Wicker , Mississippi Republican “, Cindy Hyde, Josh Hawley, Eric Schmitt, Jon Tester, Montana Democrat “, Deb Fischer, Nebraska Republican “, Pete Ricketts, Jacky Rosen, Nevada Democrat “, Jeanne Shaheen, Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Democrat “, Maggie Hassan, Maggie Hassan , New Hampshire Democrat “, Bob Menendez, Bob Menendez , New Jersey Democrat “, Martin Heinrich, New Mexico Democrat “, Biden, Ben Ray Lujan, Kirsten Gillibrand, New York Democrat “ I'm, Thom Tillis, Ted Budd, North Carolina Republican “, John Hoeven, John Hoeven , North Dakota Republican “, Kevin Cramer, Sherrod Brown, Ohio Democrat “, J.D, ”, Vance, James Lankford, Markwayne Mullin, Israel –, Ron Wyden, Bob Casey, John Fetterman, craven, Jack Reed, Sheldon Whitehouse, Lindsey Graham, Tim Scott, South Carolina Republican “ I’m, Mike Rounds, South Dakota Republican “ Shocked, Marsha Blackburn, Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee Republican “ Israel, Bill Haggerty, Tennessee Republican “, John Cornyn, John Cornyn , Texas Republican “, Ted Cruz, Mitt, Vile, Peter Welch, Vermont Democrat “, Tim Kaine, Patty Murray, Washington Democrat “, Maria Cantwell, Ron Johnson, Wisconsin Republican “ Israel, Cynthia Lummis, Wyoming Republican “, Jim Jordan, Jared Moskowitz, Abigail Spanberger, Elissa Slotkin, Don Bacon, perpetrating, Cori Bush, Missouri Democrat “, Kevin Hern, Kevin Hern , Oklahoma Republican “, ” Rep, Ritchie Torres, Ritchie Torres , New York Democrat “, Michael McCaul, Michael McCaul , Texas Republican “ I, Ilhan Omar Organizations: Palestinian, Hamas, Biden, House, Michigan Democrat, Minnesota Democrat, Virginia Democrat “, Senate Intelligence, Massachusetts Democrat, Islamic, Cory Booker , New, Cory Booker , New Jersey Democrat, West Virginia Democrat, Wisconsin Democrat, Gary Peters , Michigan Democrat, Nevada Democrat, Hawaii Democrat, State, Oregon Democrat, John Barrasso , Wyoming Republican, Iowa Republican, West Virginia Republican, Montana Republican, Utah Republican, Idaho Republican, Alabama Republican, Alaska Republican, Alaska Republican “, Arizona Democrat, John Boozman , Arkansas Republican “, Jewish, Arkansas Republican, California Democrat, Colorado Democrat, Connecticut Democrat, Delaware Democrat, Israel, Florida Republican, Georgia Democrat, Hawaii Democrat “, Indiana Republican, Indiana Republican “, Kansas Republican, Kentucky Republican, Louisiana Republican, Maine Republican, Maryland Democrat, Roger Wicker , Mississippi Republican, Smith , Mississippi Republican, Josh Hawley , Missouri Republican, Missouri Republican, Montana Democrat, Nebraska Republican, Jeanne Shaheen , New, Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire Democrat, Maggie Hassan , New Hampshire Democrat, Bob Menendez , New, Bob Menendez , New Jersey Democrat, New Mexico Democrat, New, New York Democrat, United, North Carolina Republican, John Hoeven , North Dakota Republican, Kevin Cramer , North Dakota Republican “, Ohio Democrat, Vance , Ohio Republican, James Lankford , Oklahoma Republican, Oklahoma Republican, “ Hamas, Rhode, Lindsey Graham , South Carolina Republican, South Carolina Republican, South Dakota Republican, Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee Republican, Tennessee Republican, John Cornyn , Texas Republican, Ted Cruz , Texas Republican, Vermont Democrat, Washington Democrat, Wisconsin Republican, Wyoming Republican, ”, Ohio Republican “, Missouri Democrat, Kevin Hern , Oklahoma Republican, Ritchie Torres , New, Ritchie Torres , New York Democrat, Jewish State, Michael McCaul , Texas Republican Locations: Israel, United States, Tehran, The United States, Iran, Michigan, U.S, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Vermont, Cory Booker ,, Cory Booker , New Jersey, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Gary Peters , Michigan, Nevada, Hawaii, Oregon, John Barrasso , Wyoming, America, Iowa, West, Montana, Iranian, Utah, Idaho, Alabama, Alaska, Alaska Republican “ America, @Israel, Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona, John Boozman , Arkansas, Jewish State, Arkansas, Saudi Arabia, California, Gaza, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Mazie Hirono, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Palestine, Roger Wicker , Mississippi, Smith , Mississippi, Josh Hawley , Missouri, Missouri, Nebraska, Jeanne Shaheen ,, Jeanne Shaheen , New Hampshire, Maggie Hassan , New Hampshire, Bob Menendez ,, Bob Menendez , New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North, John Hoeven , North, Kevin Cramer , North, Ohio, Vance , Ohio, James Lankford , Oklahoma, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Lindsey Graham , South, South, States, Marsha Blackburn , Tennessee, Tennessee, John Cornyn , Texas, Ted Cruz , Texas, Mitt Romney, Virginia, “ Hamas, Washington, Wyoming, Ohio Republican “ America, Kevin Hern , Oklahoma, Ritchie Torres ,, Ritchie Torres , New York, Michael McCaul , Texas

☆ Some of America's richest people are just not paying their taxes — and millionaires alone could owe up to $34 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

New IRS data shows that some of America's highest earners are just not paying taxes. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon requested data from the IRS on taxpayers who are not filing returns. Nearly 1,000 taxpayers making over $1 million aren't paying up and could owe billions. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe average American taxpayer pays $16,615 in income taxes annually — but for some of the wealthiest Americans, that number is zero. Nearly 1,000 taxpayers who make over $1 million annually didn't file taxes multiple times from 2015 to 2020, according to an IRS memo viewed by Insider.

Persons: Sen, Ron Wyden, —, they're, they've, Wyden, Danny Werfel, you'll Organizations: IRS, Service, Finance, Congressional Republicans, Treasury Department, Department of, Treasury, Harvard University, University of Sydney, Biden, Republican Locations: Oregon

☆ IRS will 'substantially' reduce audits on low-income tax credit, commissioner says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The IRS is shifting how it examines tax returns of lower earners as part of its broader effort to address inequity in enforcement. Starting in fiscal year 2024, the agency will "substantially" reduce the number of so-called correspondence audits — which happen by mail — for certain tax credits. This includes the earned income tax credit, claimed by low- to moderate-income filers, according to a letter sent on Monday by IRS Commissioner to Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore. The letter comes roughly one week after the IRS unveiled plans to use boosted technology and artificial intelligence to collect unpaid taxes from higher earners, partnerships and large corporations. More from Personal Finance:IRS halts processing of a small business tax breakThe IRS plan to use AI may affect wealthy taxpayersBlack taxpayers more likely to face audits, IRS confirms"It's part of this whole rebalancing," said Chuck Marr, vice president for federal tax policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

Persons: Ron Wyden, Chuck Marr Organizations: IRS, Finance, Budget

Fewer than half of rural hospitals now have maternity units, prompting government officials and families to scramble for answers. The closures have worsened so-called “maternity care deserts" — counties with no hospitals or birth centers that offer obstetric care and no OB providers. Ultimately, doctors and researchers say, having fewer hospital maternity units makes having babies less safe. “It feels like you’re held in a way.”Some states and communities are taking steps to create more freestanding birth centers. It was a novel and “innovative” idea to request federal nurses to boost staffing at a rural maternity unit, Wyden’s office said.

Persons: Alisha Alderson, ”, Alderson, “, Eric Scott Palmer, It’s, —, Peiyin Hung, Saint Alphonsus, Odette Bolano, Dina Ellwanger, John Tucker, Tucker, we’ve, ’, Lacy Kee, she’ll, She’s, Kee, Henry, Pamela Evans, Evans, she’s, Katie O’Brien, Paris, Bennett —, O’Brien, Corina Fitch, Fitch, Betsy Baarspul, you’re, Ned Lamont, Alecia McGregor, ” McGregor, Tina Kotek, Sen, Ron Wyden, Shane Alderson, Alisha's, ” ___ Rush, Kuna , Idaho . Ungar, Robert Wood Johnson Organizations: OB, Henry County Medical Center, American Hospital Association, University of South, University of South Carolina’s Rural, Minority Health Research Center, Saint, Henry County Medical, Associated Press, Medicaid, Midwifery, Connecticut Gov, Harvard, of Public Health, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, Medicine, AP, Oregon Gov, U.S . Public Health Service, Corps, Associated Press Health, Science Department, Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science, Educational Media Group, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Locations: Oregon, Boise , Idaho, U.S, Tennessee, University of South Carolina’s, Baker City, Paris , Tennessee, Kentucky, Henry County, Summertown , Tennessee, Connecticut, Chan, “, Baker, Baker City , Oregon, Kuna , Idaho

☆ Senate Committee Backs Bill to Deepen U.S. Economic Ties With Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Alan Rappeport | More About Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The United States established diplomatic ties with China in 1979 and broke off formal relations with Taiwan. Since then, every U.S. administration has tried to maintain an ambiguous position on Taiwan based on the “One China” policy. Usually, U.S. administrations strike tax treaty agreements with other countries that are ratified by the Senate. The Biden administration has expressed support for ending double taxation with Taiwan. Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, said on Thursday that the legislation would help make those plans possible.

Persons: Biden, Ron Wyden Organizations: United, Senate, House, Lawmakers, Democrat, Finance Locations: States, Taiwan, United States, China, U.S, Oregon

☆ Student-loan borrowers risk losing Social Security benefits if they fall behind on payments. Democrats want to make sure that doesn't happen when repayment starts back up next month.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Ayelet Sheffey | Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Student-loan borrowers who miss payments risk having their Social Security benefits garnished. "It's past time Congress protects seniors and the Social Security benefits they have earned with every paycheck." Those Social Security recipients are at risk of seeing around $2,300 in benefits garnished every year if they go into default. On October 1, millions of federal student-loan borrowers will once again be footing an extra monthly bill. "For many, Social Security benefits are the only source of income they can depend on and it's time we restore that certainty for seniors."

Persons: that's, Raúl Grijalva, John Larson, Ron Wyden, Wyden, they're, she's, Grijalva Organizations: Social, Service, Social Security, Center for Retirement Research, Retirement Research, Education Department, eBay, Seniors Locations: Wall, Silicon

AQUIFERS AQUIFERS AQUIFERS WASH. MAINE MONT. MONITORING WELLS MONITORING WELLS MONITORING WELLS WASH. MAINE MONT. FLA. DECLINING WELLS DECLINING WELLS DECLINING WELLS WASH. MAINE MONT. FLA. UNCHARTED WATERS America Is Using Up Its Groundwater Like There’s No Tomorrow Overuse is draining and damaging aquifers nationwide, a New York Times data investigation revealed. Groundwater level trends Rising Declining Groundwater level trends Rising Declining Groundwater level trends Rising Declining Groundwater level trends Rising Declining Note: Colors depict the median trend for each site over the previous 20 years.

☆ EV battery imports face scrutiny under US law on Chinese forced labor
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Nichola Groom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

More than a year of enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) has already stymied development of solar energy projects as detained panel shipments languish in U.S. warehouses. When shipments are detained, CBP provides the importer with a list of examples of products from previous reviews and the kind of documentation required to prove they are not made with forced labor, CBP told Reuters. "The timing of these changes does not reflect any specific changes in strategy or operations," a CBP spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the list of eight product types was "not exhaustive." In a report to Congress last month on UFLPA enforcement, CBP listed lithium-ion batteries, tires, "and other automobile components" among the "potential risk areas" it was monitoring. The stepped-up focus on automakers follows a study by Britain's Sheffield Hallam University published in December that said nearly every major automaker has exposure to products made with forced labor in Xinjiang.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Mark Schiefelbein, Dan Solomon, Chevalier, Solomon, Britain's, Ron Wyden, Wyden, we've, Tesla, Brandon Daniels, Nichola Groom, David Shepardson, Jan Schwartz, Daniel Leussink, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Reuters, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, Beijing, Uyghur, Labor, U.S . Solar Energy Industries Association, Biden, CBP, Miller, Britain's Sheffield Hallam University, U.S, Senate, Benz, Volkswagen, Friedrichshafen AG, Bosch, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Continental AG, Thomson Locations: United States, Diaoyutai, Beijing, China, Xinjiang, U.S, Detroit, UFLPA, Los Angeles, Washington, Hamburg, Tokyo

☆ The White House blasts Republicans' budget plans, saying they want to slash Social Security and Medicare and 'force seniors to pay even higher drug costs so Big Pharma can fill more swimming pools wit
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Ayelet Sheffey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

They said the GOP wants to slash earned benefits and hand out tax cuts for the wealthy. For instance, the Republican Study Committee released a report on spending priorities and reforms that would, among other measures, adjust the Social Security retirement age. "We will not now or ever support cutting or delaying retirement benefits for any senior in or near retirement," it said. "While the GOP tries to cut its funding, Democrats are committed to protecting Social Security for all Americans." "It's Medicare, Social Security, interest on the debt."

Persons: Biden, Andrew Bates, Bates, reconvenes, that's, California Sen, Alex Padilla, Kevin McCarthy, McCarthy, Sen, Ron Wyden Organizations: House, Republicans, GOP, Service, Privacy, White, Republican, Security, Labor, Health, Human Services, Education, Social Security, Big, Democratic, Social, Fox News, Senate Finance, AP News Locations: Wall, Silicon, California

☆ Microsoft's role in data breach part of US cyber inquiry -Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A Microsoft logo is seen in Los Angeles, California U.S. November 7, 2017. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File PhotoCompanies Microsoft Corp FollowAug 10 (Reuters) - A U.S. cybersecurity advisory panel will investigate risks in cloud computing that will also include Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) role in the recent breach of government department email systems by suspected Chinese hackers, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. That access was used to spy on the communications of U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and senior State Department diplomats. The U.S. House of Representatives Oversight Committee last week said it was opening an investigation into China's suspected involvement in recent breaches of Commerce and State department email systems. Reporting by Gokul Pisharody in Bengaluru; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Jamie FreedOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lucy Nicholson, Ron Wyden, Gina Raimondo, CISA, Gokul, Himani Sarkar, Jamie Freed Organizations: Microsoft, Los Angeles , California U.S, REUTERS, Bloomberg, Federal Trade Commission, Infrastructure Security Agency, Justice Department, U.S . Commerce, State Department, U.S . House, Commerce, Thomson Locations: Los Angeles , California, U.S, Oregon, Bengaluru

☆ US cyber body to review cloud computing safety, Microsoft breach
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A man types into a keyboard during the Def Con hacker convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. on July 29, 2017. REUTERS/Steve Marcus/File PhotoWASHINGTON, Aug 11 (Reuters) - A U.S. cyber safety body will review issues relating to cloud-based identity and authentication infrastructure that will include an assessment of a recent Microsoft (MSFT.O) breach that led to the theft of emails from U.S. government agencies, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Friday. The review by the Cyber Safety Review Board will look at the malicious targeting of cloud computing environments, the DHS said in a statement. Senator Ron Wyden in July asked the Federal Trade Commission, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and the Justice Department to "take action" against Microsoft following the hack. The Cyber Safety Review Board's review will provide recommendations to help organizations protect against malicious access to cloud-based accounts , DHS said.

Persons: Steve Marcus, Alejandro Mayorkas, Ron Wyden, Jasper Ward, Ismail Shakil, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: Def Con, REUTERS, Microsoft, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, Federal Trade Commission, Infrastructure Security Agency, Justice Department, Thomson Locations: Las Vegas , Nevada, U.S, Washington, Ottawa

☆ Here are six ways the rich save big on taxes, from putting mansions in trusts to guaranteeing inheritance for future generations
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Hayley Cuccinello | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Thanks to tax cuts made during the Trump administration, Americans can give or hand down nearly $13 million in assets without paying federal estate tax. Currently, individuals and married couples can gift or bequeath $12.92 million and $25.84 million, respectively, before a 40% federal estate tax kicks in. The heirs don't own the trust assets but rather have lifetime rights to the trust's income and real estate. Private-placement life insurance, or PPLI, can be used to pass on assets from stocks to yachts to heirs without incurring any estate tax. These trusts pay a fixed annuity during the trust term, which is usually two years, and any appreciation of the assets' value is not subject to estate tax.

Persons: Uncle Sam, Trump, Robert Strauss, Weinstock Manion, Wrigley, Jeff Bezos, Rich, Ron Wyden, PPLI Organizations: Taxpayers, IRS, Biden, Blackstone, Lombard International, Federal Reserve Locations: Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Florida, Wyoming, Plenty

☆ Trick That Helps Big Pharma Companies Avoid Paying Billons in US Taxes
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Brad Setser | Tess Turner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

But take a look at the corporate disclosures of America's largest pharmaceutical companies, and a puzzling hole opens. Large legal loopholesThe offshore migration of these pharmaceutical companies' profits may seem egregious, but the tax gymnastics are generally legal. On paper, America's corporate-tax rate is 21%, but the country's largest and most profitable pharmaceutical companies don't pay anything close to that. What's more, the superlow rate enjoyed by American pharmaceutical companies isn't necessary for these firms to be internationally competitive. A spoonful of medicine to make the taxes go downAmerica's pharmaceutical companies have made great contributions to medicine.

Persons: Democratic Sen, Ron Wyden, AbbVie, it's, Keytruda, Gilead, Eli Lilly, they've, Brad W, Whitney, Tess Turner Organizations: Merck, National Institutes of Health . Pharmaceutical, Democratic, Pfizer, US pharma, US Treasury, Trump, Treasury, US, Denmark's, Nordisk, Novartis, National Institutes of Health, Whitney Shepardson, Council, Foreign Relations Locations: Oregon, America, Caribbean, Europe, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Germany, Ireland, Singapore, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark

☆ UAW wins Democratic senators' support for joint venture battery workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-28 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - More than half of the Senate's Democrats are backing the United Auto Workers' push for higher wages and benefits for workers at Detroit Three automakers' joint venture battery plants, they said in a letter released on Friday. UAW leaders have sought to secure support from Washington as negotiations opened earlier this month, with UAW President Shawn Fain meeting with lawmakers and President Joe Biden last week. In their letter to the CEOs of the Detroit Three and battery joint ventures, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer joined Senators Sherrod Brown, Ron Wyden, Bernie Sanders, Richard Durbin and others in urging the automakers to embrace the joint venture battery workers before the current contract expires. Stellantis said it respects the UAW's right to organize future hourly employees at its joint venture battery facilities, adding: " The joint venture intends to offer very competitive wages and benefits." Last month, the union chief criticized $9.2 billion federal loan to a Ford/South Korea's SK On joint venture.

Persons: Shawn Fain, Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Sherrod Brown, Ron Wyden, Bernie Sanders, Richard Durbin, Ford, Stellantis, Jim Farley, Bill Ford, Biden, Biden's, Fain, David Shepardson, Susan Heavey Organizations: United Auto Workers, Detroit, automakers, General Motors, Ford Motor, Chrysler, UAW, Workers, EVs, SK On, South Korea's SK Innovation, Reuters, Ford, Korea's SK, LG Energy, Thomson Locations: United States, Washington, South, KS, Ohio

☆ Microsoft must be held responsible for China's U.S. government email hack, Senator Wyden demands
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Rohan Goswami | In Rohangoswamicnbc | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Chinese hackers accessed the Microsoft-powered email accounts of top China envoys, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Wyden asked that the Justice Department examine whether Microsoft had violated federal law through its negligence; that CISA examine whether Microsoft violated best practices for securing the highly sensitive "skeleton key;" and that the Federal Trade Commission examine whether Microsoft violated federal privacy statutes. Both the State Department and the Commerce Department were targeted by Chinese hackers. Wyden noted it wasn't the first time that a foreign government had hacked government agencies by exploiting Microsoft vulnerabilities. Both Microsoft and federal officials have disclosed relatively little about the hack, though Microsoft has disseminated additional information and made concessions to customers to mitigate the impact of the exploitation.

Persons: Sen, Ron Wyden, Joe Biden's, Gina Raimondo, Antony Blinken, Wyden, Merrick Garland, Lina Khan, Jen Organizations: Democratic, Finance, Justice Department, Microsoft, Federal Trade Commission, Infrastructure Security Agency, Google, FTC, State Department, Commerce Department, Department's Locations: Washington, China

☆ Billionaire investor Leon Black is accused of raping teen in Jeffrey Epstein’s NY townhouse
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —A woman is suing the billionaire investor Leon Black, accusing him of raping her at Jeffrey Epstein’s Manhattan townhouse when she was 16 years old. The lawsuit describes in gruesome detail the woman’s account of a sexual assault that left her bleeding and sobbing. A spokesman for Black, Whit Clay, echoed Estrich’s denial, saying the law firm “has an agenda” and that its credibility has been impugned by the dismissal of the previous suit. An internal Apollo investigation that documented his $158 million payment to Epstein found no wrongdoing. The latest suit is the third to publicly accuse Black of rape.

Persons: New York CNN —, Leon Black, Jeffrey, Jane Doe, ”, Black, Susan Estrich, ” Estrich, Whit Clay, “, Jeanne M, Christensen, ” Black, Epstein, Cheri Pierson, ” Epstein, Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell, Sen, Ron Wyden, ” Black’s, Doe, — CNN’s Elisabeth Buchwald, Ramishah Maruf Organizations: New, New York CNN, Apollo Global Management, New York Times, Street, CNN, Finance Locations: New York, Manhattan, New York City

☆ US Senator Wyden asks FTC, CISA, DOJ to 'take action' against Microsoft following hack
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) speaks during the Senate Finance Committee hearing on the nomination of Chris Magnus to be the next U.S. Customs and Border Protection commissioner, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, U.S., October 19, 2021. In a letter released Thursday, Wyden said that "even with the limited details that have been made public so far, Microsoft bears significant responsibility for this new incident." The FTC, the Justice Department, and the Cybersecurity Agency - known as CISA - did not immediately respond to request seeking comment. Microsoft did not immediately return a request for comment. Reporting by Raphael Satter; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ron Wyden, Chris Magnus, Mandel Ngan, Read, Wyden, Raphael Satter, Chizu Organizations: Senate, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, Federal Trade Commission, Infrastructure Security Agency, Department of Justice, Microsoft, FTC, Justice Department, Cybersecurity Agency, Thomson Locations: U.S, Dirksen, Washington , DC, Oregon, China

☆ Senate Committee Presses Leon Black on Epstein Tax Advice
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Matthew Goldstein | More About Matthew Goldstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A Senate committee is investigating whether $158 million that the billionaire investor Leon Black paid the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein for tax and estate planning services should have been classified as a gift, as part of a broader inquiry into tax-avoidance schemes by ultrawealthy individuals, according to a letter reviewed by The New York Times. In addition to the fees that Mr. Black said he had paid Mr. Epstein, the Senate Finance Committee is looking into several trusts that Mr. Black used to save on taxes and advice that Mr. Epstein gave on art purchases, according to the letter, which the committee’s chairman, Senator Ron Wyden, sent to the private equity mogul on Monday. Mr. Wyden, Democrat of Oregon, wrote that the committee was dissatisfied with the information that Mr. Black, a co-founder of Apollo Global Management, had provided it to date and requested his cooperation. “A significant number of open questions remain regarding the tax-avoidance scheme you implemented with Epstein’s assistance, including whether the exorbitant amounts paid to Epstein should have been classified as a gift for federal tax purposes,” the senator wrote. Gifts exceeding an annual threshold in value are subject to federal taxes ranging from 18 to 40 percent.

Persons: Leon Black, Jeffrey Epstein, Black, Epstein, Ron Wyden, Wyden Organizations: The New York Times, Senate Finance, Mr, Democrat, Apollo Global Management Locations: Oregon

☆ Billionaire Leon Black made a $158 million payment to Jeffrey Epstein. Senators want to know why
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Elisabeth Buchwald | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

New York CNN —The Senate Finance Committee is looking into whether billionaire investor Leon Black’s $158 million payment to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein was part of a greater strategy to avoid paying over $1 billion in federal gift and estate taxes. “The payments were inexplicably large; well in excess of what Black paid any other financial advisors and far higher than the median compensation of Fortune 500 CEOs at the time,” Wyden said in a statement released Tuesday. “At every stage of the committee’s investigation, Black has refused to answer questions or provide any documents that could demonstrate how Epstein’s compensation for tax and estate planning services was determined or justified,” Wyden said in the statement. Black has cooperated extensively with the Committee, providing detailed information about the matters under review,” Whit Clay, a spokesman for Black, said in a statement to CNN. An internal Apollo investigation that documented his $158 million payment to Epstein following the New York Times’ reporting, however, found no wrongdoing.

Persons: Leon Black’s, Jeffrey Epstein, Epstein, Ron Wyden, Wyden, Dechert, ” Wyden, “, Black, Mr, Whit Clay, ” Epstein, Dechert didn’t, Joanna Rose, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, Finance, Apollo Global Management, Oregon Democrat, Dechert LLP, Apollo, Fortune, CNN, New York Times Locations: New York

☆ Senate panel probes billionaire Leon Black's $158 million in payments to Jeffrey Epstein
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A Senate panel on Tuesday revealed a yearlong investigation into Apollo Global Management co-founder Leon Black's ties to the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, with a focus on $158 million Black allegedly paid Epstein for tax and estate planning services. The probe into Black's tax schemes is one of a series of investigations by the committee into how ultra-wealthy people skirt their tax bills, Wyden's letter said. The committee's latest round of questions are "inappropriately invasive" and potentially overstep the panel's oversight role, Black's memo contended. Overnight, the U.S. Virgin Islands lobbed new accusations against JPMorgan Chase in a lawsuit accusing the bank of enabling Epstein's criminal activity. Both the Virgin Islands and JPMorgan filed motions overnight for partial summary judgment in the lawsuit.

Persons: Leon Black, Leon Black's, Jeffrey Epstein, Epstein, Ron Wyden, Black, Wyden, Wealth Management David Brigstocke Organizations: Apollo Global Management, Milken Institute Global Conference, U.S . Virgin, JPMorgan Chase, JPMorgan, Asset, Wealth Management, Virgin Islands Locations: Beverly Hills , California, U.S, Slovakian

☆ Launch of arthritis drug biosimilars ramps up US pressure on pricing 'middlemen'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Patrick Wingrove | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Seven drugmakers this month launched their own versions, known as biosimilars, of AbbVie's (ABBV.N) flagship arthritis drug Humira, once the world's top-selling prescription medicine. Three have kept their list price within 5%-7% of AbbVie's, two priced at an 85% discount and two have offered both types of prices. For insured patients who are often on the hook for co-pays of 10% to 25% of the list price, the savings have been minimal. Reuters GraphicsThe Biden administration has made lowering drug prices a priority. Amgen offered 5% and 55% discounts to AbbVie's $6,922 per month Humira price tag, and both were included on drug coverage lists at two large PBMs.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Humira, Ameet Sarpatwari, Biden, PBMs, Cigna, UnitedHealth, Amgen, Robin Feldman, Ron Wyden, Wyden, Chuck Grassley, Grassley, Patrick Wingrove, Moira Warburton, Josephine Walker, Caroline Humer, Bill Berkrot Organizations: REUTERS, Association for Accessible Medicines, Harvard Medical School, Reuters, Lawmakers, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, CVS, Biosimilars, Healthcare, Novartis, Sandoz, Reuters Graphics Reuters, University California College of the, Democratic, Republican, Thomson Locations: U.S, Humira, San Francisco, New York, Washington

☆ Harlan Crow's jaunts on his yacht with Justice Clarence Thomas were a 'textbook billionaire tax scam,' Sen. Ron Wyden tells ProPublica
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Justice Clarence Thomas and GOP megadonor Harlan Crow's yacht trips have come under scrutiny again. Per ProPublica, Crow registered his yacht as a charter vessel but only took close friends on trips. As a result, he could pay his own company, report losses, and save on his tax bill, per ProPublica. Some of those were trips aboard Crow's yacht, the Michaela Rose, and were organized through Rochelle Charter, a company registered to charter the yacht. In April, Crow and Thomas first faced scrutiny related to the 20 years worth of undisclosed trips Crow is accused of gifting to Thomas, per ProPublica.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Harlan, Per, Crow, Thomas, Michaela Rose, Ron Wyden, ProPublica, gifting, Thomas —, — Organizations: Service, Privacy, ProPublica, Dallas Morning News, Democrats Locations: Wall, Silicon, Rochelle

It can boost security, especially for small organizations that lack the resources to run their own IT or security departments. But competitors squeezed by Microsoft's security offering are sounding the alarm over how wide swaths of industry and government were effectively putting all their eggs in one basket. Adair said he understood that Microsoft wanted to make money from its premium security product. He noted that the hackers - which Microsoft nicknames Storm-0558 - were caught only because someone at the State Department with access to Microsoft's top-of-the-line logging noticed an anomaly in their forensic data. "Having Microsoft further empower customers and security companies so they can work together is probably the best way," Adair said.

Persons: Steven, Adair, Gina Raimondo, Microsoft, Ron Wyden, Redmond, Adam Meyers, CrowdStrike, Raphael Satter, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Microsoft, NASA, Reuters, U.S, State Department, Storm, Thomson Locations: cyberdefense, U.S, Washington

☆ Tax prep companies shared private taxpayer data with Google and Meta for years, congressional probe finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Some of the tax-prep companies still do not know whether the data they shared continues to be held by the tech platforms, the report said. The Warren aide told CNN it was unclear whether Meta knew it was inappropriately using taxpayer data at the time. The investigation found that all three tax-prep companies had discontinued their use of Meta’s pixel after The Markup’s report last November. “The scope of ‘taxpayer information’ is broad by design,” Rosenthal said, adding that tax-prep companies can be sued for “knowingly” or “recklessly” leaking that information. Depending on the strength of the allegations, the tax-prep companies could quickly be forced into a binding settlement, said a former FTC official who requested anonymity in order to speak more freely.

Persons: “, ”, David Vladeck, Vladeck, Democratic Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Meta, Warren, ‘, Sens, Ron Wyden, Richard Blumenthal, Tammy Duckworth, Sheldon Whitehouse, Sen, Bernie Sanders, Katie Porter, TIGTA didn’t, Block, TaxSlayer didn’t, TaxAct, TaxSlayer, TurboTax, Steven Rosenthal, ” Rosenthal Organizations: CNN, Meta, Google, Georgetown University, Federal Trade Commission, Democratic, FTC, Internal Revenue Service, Justice Department, Tax Administration, Intuit, IRS, Urban, Brookings Tax Locations: United States, Google’s

☆ Google and Meta got customer data from tax prep firms, and lawmakers want a probe
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

A group of lawmakers led by Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren are calling on the Biden administration to investigate how tax prep software companies may have illegally shared customer data with tech platforms Google and Meta . Some statements the tax prep companies provided to the publications at the time seemed to indicate the data sharing was done accidentally. Our system is designed to filter out potentially sensitive data it is able to detect." Among their findings released Wednesday, the lawmakers said that millions of taxpayers' information had been shared with Big Tech firms through the tax prep software and that both the tax prep companies and tech firms were "reckless" in how they handled sensitive information. Although Meta and Google both said they have filters to catch sensitive data that's inadvertently collected, they seemed to be "ineffective," the lawmakers wrote.

Persons: Sen, Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Democratic Sen, Biden, General Merrick Garland, Lina Khan, Daniel Werfel, J, Russell George, TaxAct, Block, Ron Wyden, Richard Blumenthal, Conn, Tammy Duckworth, Bernie Sanders, Sheldon Whitehouse, Katie Porter, Warren, Meta Organizations: Capitol, Massachusetts Democratic, Google, Federal Trade, Tax, Facebook, Meta, CNBC, Big Tech, YouTube, Apple Locations: Washington ,, Sens, D

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