Argentina’s lower house voted to approve President Christina Kirchner’s plan to nationalize $26 billion in private pensions.  A 162 to 75 vote by legislators will send the bill to two senate committees for consideration next week.  A full senate vote will take place on November 20.   The plan has been controversial, sparking protests and discussion all over the country.  Nationalizing the funds would give the government a surge of continuing revenue at a time of uncertain economic growth.  Javier Kulesz, an economist at UBS Pactual in Buenos Aires, said the plan would allot $4.5 billion in new contributions next year.

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Legislation Will Create Jobs and Strengthen the U.S. Economy; Historic Achievement for Travel Community

Legislation Will End Multi-Billion Dollar Loss in Visitor Spending; Recapture $23 Billion in Lost Tax Revenue

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 3232, the "Travel Promotion Act of 2008," by voice vote. The legislation will create thousands of new jobs and spur economic growth nationwide by attracting millions of additional international travelers to the United States who, since 9/11, have found ever-changing security policies and negative foreign press coverage to be a deterrent to visiting the United States.

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