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The Senate has swiftly and unanimously approved legislation to remove the word lunatic from federal law, proving the chamber is not entirely stuck in partisan gridlock.

The bill was introduced in late April by Sens. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., and Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, moved quickly through the chambers banking committee, then was passed Wednesday without a single amendment.

Conrad told The Hill newspaper that he decided to sponsor the bill after a constituent contacted his office to encourage legislation to remove such "outdated and inappropriate language from federal law.

"Sen. Crapo and I agree that federal law should reflect the 21st century understanding of mental illness and disease, and that the continued use of this pejorative term has no place in the U.S. Code," he told the newspaper.

The House has not introduced companion legislation.

The word "lunatic" appears in the U.S. Code in Title 1, Chapter 1, which covers rules of construction. Language in the chapter states that when determining the meaning of a law "the words 'insane' and 'insane person' and 'lunatic' shall include every idiot, lunatic, insane person, and person non compos mentis."

Conrad's bill states such language also appears in banking laws that deal with the authority to take receivership of estates.

The legislation has the support of a coalition of 38 groups related to mental health, including the American Psychiatric Association.

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Senate votes to strike word 'lunatic' from federal law

By JOSEPH WHITE

May 22, 2012

WASHINGTON Brian McNamee finally got to name names in front of the jury. Andy Pettitte. Chuck Knoblauch. Mike Stanton. Roger Clemens' accuser also apologized for the medical condition that caused him to take frequent breaks. He came across as a sympathy figure in the final moments of some 26 hours on the stand, a small counterweight to three days of brutal cross-examination.

The government's case got a needed boost as it hit the homestretch Monday in the sixth week of the perjury trial that will determine whether Clemens lied to Congress in 2008 when the 11-time All-Star pitcher denied using performance-enhancing drugs.

McNamee, Clemens' former strength coach, is the only person to claim firsthand knowledge of Clemens using steroids and human growth hormone, and his integrity and credibility were attacked relentlessly last week by Clemens' lawyer. The government embarked on a rehabilitation job with its key witness during follow-up questioning Monday, then moved on to a beer expert who put a date on the infamous Miller Lite can that became a key piece of evidence and a witness who placed Clemens at a pool party at Jose Canseco's house in 1998.

Lawyers indicated to the judge that the government might wrap up its case this week, even though Tuesday will be a day off because of a conflict with U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton's schedule. Clemens lawyer Rusty Hardin then said he would need seven or eight working days to present the defense's case. Both sides are working to finish before June 8, when further conflicts with Walton's schedule could cause the trial to go on recess for a month.

Before Monday, McNamee had not been allowed to say that he provided former Clemens teammates Pettitte and Knoblauch with human growth hormone, or that he helped ex-Clemens teammate Mike Stanton obtain HGH from drug dealer Kirk Radomski. The judge had ruled that such information could prejudice the jury against Clemens.

But Hardin's grueling cross-examination tipped the balance in the other direction, prosecutors argued. Hardin suggested before the jury last week that McNamee had solely or primarily targeted Clemens, and that no one had been charged in connection with McNamee's accusations, raising the issue of McNamee's credibility.

Walton therefore ruled that McNamee could name Knoblauch and Stanton as receiving HGH in 2001 when they were with the New York Yankees, and Pettitte in 2002 when he was with the Yankees. The judge instructed the jury that the names could only be used to help establish McNamee's "credibility as a witness" and cannot be used to "infer Mr. Clemens' guilt."

The government took full advantage, with prosecutor Daniel Butler using all three names repeatedly. McNamee said he was present when all three players used their HGH. Pettitte already has testified that he used HGH in 2002, so now the jury knows that McNamee was the source.

See the article here:
McNamee gets final word after 26 hours on witness stand

Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker released a Web video Sunday emphasizing his support for President Obama and clarifying remarks he made earlier in the day that criticized the president's campaign tactics as "nauseating."

I used the word 'nauseating' on 'Meet the Press' because thats really how I feel when I see people in my city struggling with real issues, said Booker in the video. I get very upset when I see such a level of dialogue that calls us to our lowest common denominators and not the kind of things that can unify us as a nation and move us forward as a nation.

Earlier Sunday, on NBC's 'Meet the Press,' Booker strongly criticized an Obama campaign ad that attacked presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney's tenure at private-equity firm Bain Capital.

This kind of stuff is nauseating to me on both sides, Booker said.

Its nauseating to the American public. Enough is enough. Stop attacking private equity. Stop attacking Jeremiah Wright, he added, also referring toa proposal floated and quickly rejected by a pro-GOP super-PAC to attack Obama over his connection to his controversial former pastor the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

On 'Meet the Press,' Booker went further, saying he would not indict private equity.

Its just were getting to a ridiculous point in America, especially that I know I live in a state where pension funds, unions and other people are investing in companies like Bain Capital. If you look at the totality of Bain Capitals record, theyve done a lot to support businesses, to grow businesses. And this to me, Im very uncomfortable with.

The Obama campaign ad in question, released last week, blamed Bain Capital for the closure of a steel plant and the loss of American jobs and accused Romney and other executives of profiting from the decision.

In his YouTube video, Booker backed away from those comments and said Romney's business record at Bain was fair game.

Mitt Romney has made his business record a centerpiece of his campaign, he's talked about himself as a job creator and therefore it is reasonable and in fact I encourage it for the Obama campaign to examine that record and to discuss it. I have no problem with that, Booker said.

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Cory Booker walks back criticism of Obama tactics as ‘nauseating’

DGAP-News: SMA Solar Technology AG / Key word(s): AGM/EGM SMA Solar Technology AG: Annual General Meeting of SMA Approves Dividend Payout of EUR1.30 per Share

22.05.2012 / 14:05

SMA Solar Technology AG Press Release

Annual General Meeting of SMA Solar Technology AG Approves Dividend Payout of EUR1.30 per Share

Niestetal, Germany, May 22, 2012 - At the 2012 Annual General Meeting of SMA Solar Technology AG (SMA/FWB: S92) in Kassel, Germany, shareholders granted full discharge to the Managing Board and Supervisory Board for the 2011 fiscal year with a clear majority of more than 99 percent. The remaining items on the agenda were also passed with a large majority. About 450 shareholders attended the 2012 Annual General Meeting of SMA Solar Technology AG, and 83.27 percent of those with voting rights were present. The Annual General Meeting followed the suggestion of the Managing Board and Supervisory Board and approved the distribution of a dividend of EUR1.30 per qualifying bearer share for the 2011 fiscal year (2010: EUR3.00 per share).

SMA is one of the highest-dividend solar stocks on the TecDax. The dividend payments also reflect the excellent results, which SMA achieved in the 2011 fiscal year in a difficult market environment, explains Pierre-Pascal Urbon, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of SMA Solar Technology AG. With sales of EUR1.7 billion and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of EUR240 million in 2011, SMA achieved the second-best results in the companys history. The depository banks will begin dividend payments on May 23, 2012.

The presentation given by the CEO at the Annual General Meeting, along with further information, can be found on the Internet at http://www.sma.de/en/investor-relations/annual-general-meeting.

About SMA The SMA Group generated sales of EUR1.7 billion in 2011 and is the global market leader for solar inverters, a key component of all PV plants. It is headquartered in Niestetal, near Kassel, Germany, and is represented in 19 countries on four continents. The corporate group employs more than 5 500 people worldwide, plus a number of temporary employees that varies on a seasonal basis. SMAs broad product portfolio includes a compatible inverter for every type of module on the market and for all plant sizes. The product range includes inverters both for grid-connected PV plants and for off-grid systems. SMA can therefore provide an ideal inverter solution for all plant sizes and types. Since 2008, the Groups parent company, SMA Solar Technology AG, has been listed on the Prime Standard of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (S92) and also in the TecDAX index. In recent years, SMA has received numerous awards for excellence as an employer and in 2011 and 2012 achieved first place in the nationwide Great Place to Work(R) competition.

SMA Solar Technology AG Sonnenallee 1 D-34266 Niestetal Germany

Head of Corporate Communication: Anja Jasper Tel. +49 561 9522-2805 Presse@SMA.de

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DGAP-News: SMA Solar Technology AG: Annual General Meeting of SMA Approves Dividend Payout of EUR1.30 per Share

Richard Pallot TWICE called black players 'coloured' ITV apologise saying report should have been more carefully checked Ofcom investigated the incident but decided to take no further action

By Tammy Hughes UPDATED: 01:33 EST, 22 May 2012

Offensive: ITV reporter Richard Pallot twice referred to black footballers as 'coloured'

ITV news producers have been given a reprimand after they allowed a reporter to use the word 'coloured' to describe soccer players and coaches.

The word was used during a lunchtime news bulletin on February 26 about Prime Minister David Cameron hosting a summit on tackling racism in sport.

Twenty viewers complained to ITV and four to broadcasting watchdog Ofcom after the gaffe on the ITV1 programme.

ITV executives quickly apologised on Twitter, edited the word from the news report and removed the word from the report that appeared on the ITV News website.

They gave warnings about use of the word to the producer, programme editor and reporter.

Now, as a result of this, Ofcom has decided to take no action.

It said: 'We noted that ITV recognised the editorial mistake almost immediately after broadcast, and took swift and appropriate action to mitigate the potential for further offence.'

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ITV reprimanded after it allowed reporter Richard Pallot to use word 'coloured' to describe black football players