The Federal Reserve's chief policymaking group has vast power over the finances of ordinary people, businesses and investors. The consequences of its interest-rate decisions range wide: from people's ability to get affordable loans to the price of cereal at the grocery store or gasoline at the corner station.Here's a look at the policymaking group Wilson tennis cheap Wilson rackets, called the Federal Open Market Committee.Q: What is the FOMC's primary role?A: Its mission is to keep the economy, inflation and employment on a healthy track. When the economy weakens, Fed policymakers cut rates or keep them low Keen Shoes. The idea is to cause people and businesses to borrow and spend more, which sustains the economy. But when the economy grows so fast that inflation becomes a threat, Fed policymakers will raise rates or keep them high. That makes it costlier for people to borrow. Spending and other economic activity will slow. Companies find it harder to raise prices. Inflation pressures ease.Q: How does the FOMC move interest rates?A: Its policymakers decide whether to buy securities Women Supra. Doing so expands the flow of money into the financial system and lowers the Fed's key interest rate Supra TK Society. Conversely, the policymakers could decide to sell securities. That would drain money from the system and tighten credit by raising rates. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York is responsible for conducting these operations.Q: Who's on the committee?A: It's composed of:— The Fed's Board of Governors in Washington, which now totals six members but at full strength has seven members.— The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.— Four of the remaining 11 presidents of the Fed's regional banks. They serve one-year terms on a rotating basis.Here is Tuesday's roster of voting members: Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke, Vice Chairwoman Janet Yellen, and Fed Governors Elizabeth Duke, Daniel Tarullo and Sarah Bloom Raskin, all based in Washington; William Dudley, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; Charles Evans, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago; Charles Plosser, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia; Richard Fisher, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas; and Narayana Kocherlakota, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, who steps down at the end of this month, didn't vote at Tuesday's meeting.Q: How often does the FOMC meet?A: It regularly meets eight times a year in person at the Fed's headquarters in Washington. During the financial the FOMC also held emergency meetings, mostly by video conference. This year and last year, half the meetings were two-day sessions, the rest one-day.By contrast, all the regularly scheduled meetings in 2009 took two days. That was because the Fed needed time to devise unconventional programs to fight the financial crisis. Traditionally, one-day meetings are more common. Each one-day meeting runs roughly five hours. Two-day meetings run about eight hours spread over the two days.Q: Why are the FOMC's rate decisions issued around 2:15 p.m.?A: Having a consistent time helps investors digest and react to the Fed's policy decisions. Issuing decisions when the markets are open gives Fed policymakers instant feedback from investors.Q: How are the FOMC's rate decisions approved?A: By a majority of the voting members, who now total 11. (At full strength, there would be 12.) That said, a close decision could spell trouble for the Fed chairman www.tennisracketshome.com. It would suggest he can't win over policymakers to his side and could leave him weakened. Most votes are overwhelming, however, indicating that Fed chiefs are typically able to build consensus.Q: How are Fed officials selected?A: The president nominates the Fed chairman and his colleagues on the board of governors in Washington Keen Shoes Women. They must be confirmed by the Senate. The presidents of the 12 regional Fed banks are appointed by each bank's board of directors, with approval from the Fed's board.The new law revamping the nation's financial system, however, bars bankers who sit on the regional boards from voting. (Other

The leader of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe is asking President Barack Obama for a formal apology for the government's use of the code name "Geronimo" for Osama bin Laden. Tribal Chairman Jeff Houser sent a letter to the president Tuesday, saying equating the legendary Apache warrior to a "mass murderer and cowardly terrorist" was painful and offensive to all Native Americans. The letter was posted Wednesday morning on the Oklahoma tribe's website. "Right now Native American children all over this country are facing the reality of having one of their most revered figures being connected to a terrorist and murderer of thousands of innocent Americans," Supra shoes sale; Houser wrote. "Think about how they feel at this point." Houser noted Obama was elected on a message of compassion and change. Forever linking the memory of Geronimo to "one of the most despicable enemies this country has ever had" shows neither compassion to Native Americans nor change in perception of Indians or their struggle, he said. The White House referred questions on the matter to the U.S. Defense Department, which said no disrespect was meant to Native Americans. The department wouldn't elaborate but said code names typically are chosen randomly so those working on a mission can communicate without divulging any information to adversaries    Meanwhile, news about the code name spread quickly across Indian Country and on social network sites, resulting in a groundswell of criticism against the U.S. government. Other tribes and tribal leaders issued statements of disapproval, while countless Facebookand Twitter users chimed in, some using historical photos of the Apache leader for their profile pictures. Geronimo is a legend among Apaches and other Indian tribes for the fierce fighting he brought on during the 19th century as he tried to protect his land, his people and their way of life from encroachment by U.S. and Mexican armies.Stories have been passed down about the Chiricahua Apache leader being able to walk without leaving footprints, helping him evade the thousands of soldiers and scouts who spent years looking for him throughout the Southwest. In his letter, Houser told Obama that his tribe -- like the rest of the nation -- was ecstatic about learning of bin Laden's death during a raid in Pakistan. But those feelings were tempered as details about the code name emerged. "Unlike the coward Osama bin Laden Supra Skytop, Geronimo faced his enemy in numerous battles and engagements," Houser wrote Wilson tennis Babolat Racket. " Wilson tennis rackets;He is perhaps one of the greatest symbols of Native American resistance in the history of the United States."Geronimo was born in 1829 in what would later become the state of New Mexico. Aside from leading resistance efforts for his people, he was also known as a spiritual leader. After the families of Geronimo and other Apache warriors were captured and sent to Florida, he and 35 warriors surrendered to Gen. Nelson A Supra vaider. Miles near the Arizona-New Mexico border in 1886. Geronimo eventually was sent to Fort Sill in Oklahoma Supra Baby, where he died of pneumonia in 1909 after nearly 23 years of captivity. He was buried in the Fort Sill Apache prisoner of war cemetery. (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)Related Topics Articles：

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Michelle Obama made her first foray into the 2012 presidential campaign Thursday, telling donors that her husband needs them to "work like you have never worked before" so he can finish the job he started.Though the first lady said President Barack Obama has accomplished much in almost 2½ years Women Supra, she told a Democratic Party women's group that there's a lot more to do, with a long and difficult campaign ahead.Addressing the Democratic National Committee's Women's Leadership Forum's annual national issues conference, the first lady hit many of the same notes as the president has in his recent campaign speeches.She talked about turning around an economy in decline, cutting taxes for the middle class, overhauling the health care and financial systems and providing more financial aid for college students. She mentioned repealing the ban on gay military service and bringing home troops from Iraq after the end of formal combat operations."He needs you to work like you have never worked before, people," she said.Since part of her mission was to appeal to women, a core Democratic constituency, Mrs. Obama noted that the president had put two "brilliant" women on the Supreme Court and had made signing an equal pay law one of his first acts in the White House." Supra Cuban;I think that it's fair to say that we've seen some change and we should be proud of what we've accomplished," she told the more than 500 women in the audience. "But we should not be satisfied."In 2008, Mrs. Obama overcame early reservations about Obama's decision to run for president and ended up becoming a popular stand-in for him on the campaign trail. On Thursday, she discussed her cynicism about that campaign and politics in general and said she'd work harder this time, too.Mrs. Obama spoke last Sunday at a private fundraiser for younger Obama supporters in Atlanta, but Thursday's speech was her first before a large group during this campaign cycle.Last fall, she made about a half-dozen appearances on behalf of Democratic Senate candidates campaigning for the midterm elections but has no formal campaign schedule for the year.In her remarks Thursday, Mrs. Obama didn't mention any of the Republicans who are running or thinking about running against her husband. But implicit in the 20-minute speech was the sentiment that Obama is the one who will make the country a better place for their children and grandchildren."So I have one question for you. Are you in?" she said, riffing on the Obama campaign's re-election theme www.topkeenshoes.com. "I hope that all of you are fired up Wilson tennis Babolat Racket. I hope that all of you are ready to go."Proceeds from the conference were going to the Obama Victory Fund to be shared between the Democratic National Committee and Obama's re-election campaign.Democratic officials declined to say how much money was raised, citing competitive reasons Wilson tennis rackets.Obama addressed the gathering Thursday evening and highlighted what his administration has done to help women, from changes in health care coverage to resisting an attempt by congressional Republicans to cut federal funding for Planned Parenthood.The president joked about being confused when told he'd be speaking to the forum." Wilson K Factor Tennis Racquets;I address a women's leadership forum every night at dinner," he said, noting meals with his wife, daughters Malia and Sasha, and his mother-in-law. "It's just me and Bo" -- the family's dog -- "trying to get a word in edgewise."Obama also attended a second fundraiser, a dinner for about 50 people at the Dupont Circle home of lawyer John Phillips. He is the husband of former administration official and network TV reporter Linda Douglass. She did not attend the fundraiser.Related Topics Articles：

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KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The spring fighting season in Afghanistan geared up this weekend with a war of words Nike Air Max Lebron VII.The Taliban announced they will begin their spring offensive Sunday, pledging to attack military bases, convoys and Afghan officials, including members of the peace council working to reconcile with top insurgent leaders. Saturday's declaration came a day after a new Pentagon report claimed the militants were experiencing low morale after suffering heavy losses on the battlefield."The war in our country will not come to an end unless and until the foreign invading forces pull out of Afghanistan," the Taliban said in a two-page statement released by the leadership council of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which is what the movement calls itself.Senior officers with the U.S.-led coalition said Friday that the Taliban — aided by the al-Qaida-linked Haqqani network — have plans to conduct a brief series of high-profile attacks Wilson tennis rackets, including suicide bombings, across the country in a display of power. The officers spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss recent intelligence, firmed up in the past couple days, that lead to the assessment.Lt. Col. John Dorrian, a spokesman for the coalition, said the Taliban planned to use the violence as a "propaganda ploy" to try to demonstrate their relevance and create the perception of momentum despite recent setbacks.In recent months, the U.S.-led coalition said it has seized insurgent weapons caches, pushed the Taliban from their historic strongholds in the south, and captured and killed hundreds of their fighters and field commanders. The Taliban have responded with suicide bombings and targeted attacks on Afghan and coalition troops and Afghan government officials.In Brussels, a NATO official said Saturday that international forces had already tightened security in anticipation of an uptick in assassinations and spectacular attacks by the Taliban, who are claiming that they have infiltrated the ranks of the Afghan security forces Keen Outlet. The official could not be identified in line with standing regulations at the alliance.Security agencies employed by Westerners working in Afghanistan have issued lockdowns and travel restrictions. The Afghan intelligence agency said the government had tightened security. Defense Ministry spokesman Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi, who also described the Taliban statement as "propaganda," said the peace process was advancing and that the Afghan security forces with the cooperation of international forces were in a strong defensive position to counter the expected acceleration in violence.The Pentagon report claimed coalition and Afghan forces had halted the insurgents' momentum in much of the country and reversed it in some important areas."The coalition's efforts have wrested major safe havens from the insurgents control, disrupted their leadership networks and removed many of the weapons caches and tactical supplies they left behind at the end of the previous fighting season," the report said.However, the report also said that progress in development and in expanding the Afghan government's influence and control outside Kabul had not kept pace with security gains. Progress across Afghanistan remained "fragile and reversible" but the momentum generated in the past six months has provided the conditions for Afghan security forces to start taking the lead in security in seven areas beginning in July, the report said.The Taliban, known for their resiliency www.sneakersau.com, have conducted a number of brazen attacks in recent weeks.This month Supra Skytop, insurgents have launched deadly attacks inside the Afghan Defense Ministry, the police headquarters for the city of Kandahar in the south and at an Afghan-U.S. base in the east. The Taliban also tunneled into the Kandahar city jail and spirited out more than 480 inmates — most of them insurgents.In announcing their spring offensive, the Taliban said insurgents would target "foreign invading forces, members of their spy networks and other spies, high-ranking officials of the Kabul puppet administration ... and heads of foreign and local companies working for the enemy and contractors."The Taliban ordered its figh