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After recent floods, Legislature must act now to strengthen climate resilience

After recent floods, Legislature must act now to strengthen climate resilience

Boston Globe5 days ago
These incidents are becoming
These costs in life, property, and infrastructure are why the Massachusetts Legislature needs to take action now to build climate resilience. Governor Maura Healey's
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It includes elements to support biodiversity and food security, remove excess carbon pollution, and support other resilience measures. However, two key areas of the proposal need to be improved: strengthening building codes and funding property buyouts in flood-prone areas.
The state's building code does not adequately account for the risks posed by climate change. One way to address this in the Mass Ready Act is through a 'stretch' resilience code, like what the state has done with building energy codes.
In Massachusetts, cities and towns cannot adopt stricter building codes than the state, so the state offers incentives to cities and towns to adopt a stricter state 'stretch' code. Massachusetts adopted an energy stretch code in 2009 and strengthened it to support even higher efficiency standards in 2024. Since then,
Boston and Cambridge have already taken steps toward better flood resilience. Boston has created a special zoning district to ensure that new construction in flood-prone areas meets higher standards for flood protection. These measures include requirements for elevated buildings and materials that can withstand flooding. In February 2023, Cambridge adopted flood resilience
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Another component of the Mass Ready Act that needs strengthening is the approach to properties in flood-prone areas. The American way has been to act in defiance of extreme weather events, boldly stating, 'We will rebuild.' But it's time to consider that some places may no longer be safe to rebuild in.
A few US
Massachusetts has
The impacts of climate change are already here. The Mass Ready Act is a crucial step in combatting its effects, but it needs to be stronger and more comprehensive. The Legislature should act now, before the next disaster strikes.
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The House is looking into the Epstein investigation. Here's what could happen next
The House is looking into the Epstein investigation. Here's what could happen next

San Francisco Chronicle​

time19 minutes ago

  • San Francisco Chronicle​

The House is looking into the Epstein investigation. Here's what could happen next

WASHINGTON (AP) — A key House committee is looking into the investigation of the late Jeffrey Epstein for sex trafficking crimes, working to subpoena President Donald Trump's Department of Justice for files in the case as well as hold a deposition of Epstein's former girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell. The Republican-led House Oversight and Government Reform Committee acted just before House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., sent lawmakers home early for a monthlong break from Washington. The committee's moves are evidence of the mounting pressure for disclosure in a case that Trump has unsuccessfully urged his supporters to move past. But they were also just the start of what can be a drawn out process. Here's what could happen next in the House inquiry as lawmakers seek answers in a case that has sparked rampant speculation since Epstein's death in 2019 and more recently caused many in the Trump administration to renege on promises for a complete accounting. Subpoena for the Epstein files Democrats, joined by three Republicans, were able to successfully initiate the subpoena from a subcommittee just as the House was leaving Washington for its August recess. But it was just the start of negotiations over the subpoena. The subcommittee agreed to redact the names and personal information of any victims, but besides that, their demand for information is quite broad, encompassing 'un-redacted Epstein files.' As the parameters of the subpoena are drafted, Democrats are demanding that it be fulfilled within 30 days from when it is served to Attorney General Pam Bondi. They have also proposed a list of document demands, including the prosecutorial decisions surrounding Epstein, documents related to his death, and communication from any president or executive official regarding the matter. Ultimately, Republicans who control the committee will have more power over the scope of the subpoena, but the fact that it was approved with a strong bipartisan vote gives it some heft. The committee chairman, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., said he told the speaker that 'Republicans on the Oversight Committee were going to move to be more aggressive in trying to get transparency with the Epstein files. So, we did that, and I think that's what the American people want.' Will Congress depose Ghislaine Maxwell? Comer has said that he is hoping that staff from the committee can interview Maxwell under oath on Aug. 11 at or near the federal prison in Florida where she is serving a lengthy sentence for child sex trafficking. In a congressional deposition, the subject typically has an attorney present to help them answer — or not answer — questions while maintaining their civil rights. Subjects also have the ability to decline to answer questions if it could be used against them in a criminal case, though in this instance that might not matter because Maxwell has already been convicted of many of the things she will likely be asked about. Maxwell has the ability to negotiate some of the terms of the deposition, and she already conducted 1 1/2 days of interviews with Justice Department officials this past week. Democrats, however, warn that Maxwell is not to be trusted. 'We should understand that this is a very complex witness and someone that has caused great harm and not a good person to a lot of people,' Rep. Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on the oversight committee, told reporters this week. The House wants to subpoena others Committee Republicans also initiated a motion to subpoena a host of other people, including former President Bill Clinton, former Sen. Hillary Clinton as well as the former attorneys general dating back to Alberto Gonzales, who served under George W. Bush. It's not clear how this sweeping list of proposed subpoenas will actually play out, but Comer has said, 'We're going to move quickly on that.' How will Pam Bondi comply? Trump is no stranger to fighting against congressional investigations and subpoenas. And as with most subpoenas, the Justice Department can negotiate the terms of how it fulfills the subpoena. It can also make legal arguments against handing over certain information. Joshua A. Levy, who teaches on congressional investigations at Georgetown Law School and is a partner at Levy Firestone Muse, said that the results of the subpoena 'depend on whether the administration wants to work through the traditional accommodation process with the House and reach a resolution or if one or both sides becomes entrenched in its position.' If Congress is not satisfied with Bondi's response — or if she were to refuse to hand over any information — there are several ways lawmakers can try to enforce the subpoena. However, that would require a vote to hold Bondi in contempt of Congress. It's practically unheard of for one political party to vote to hold one of its own members in contempt of Congress, but the Epstein saga has also cut across political lines and driven a wedge in the GOP. Growing pressure on the Trump adminitration for disclosure Ultimately, the bipartisan vote to subpoena the files showed how political pressure is mounting on the Trump administration to disclose the files. Politics, policy and the law are all bound up together in this case, and many in Congress want to see a full accounting of the sex trafficking investigation. 'We can't allow individuals, especially those at the highest level of our government, to protect child sex traffickers,' said Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., a committee member. The Trump administration is already facing the potential for even more political tension. When Congress comes back to Washington in September, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers is working to advance to a full House vote a bill that aims to force the public release of the Epstein files.

Bolton dismisses Gabbard's Obama allegations: ‘She's imagined evidence that doesn't exist'
Bolton dismisses Gabbard's Obama allegations: ‘She's imagined evidence that doesn't exist'

The Hill

timean hour ago

  • The Hill

Bolton dismisses Gabbard's Obama allegations: ‘She's imagined evidence that doesn't exist'

Former national security adviser John Bolton, a frequent critic of President Trump, dismissed the allegatio n Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard leveled against former President Obama, arguing she 'imagined evidence that doesn't exist.' 'She's strung together a series of things that aren't necessarily related, she's exaggerated what actual congressional reports have said, she's imagined evidence that doesn't exist,' Bolton, a foreign policy hawk, said during his Friday appearance on NewsNation's 'On Balance.' 'So, if anybody really gets into it, it collapses pretty quickly, but as a campaign to save her job, I think it actually worked out pretty successfully for her.' 'Whether it succeeded in distracting from the Jeffrey Epstein affair, I don't know,' Bolton added, referring to the ongoing controversy regarding the administration's handling of the late convicted sex offender's case. 'But there is, in substance, nothing to it and certainly no justification for the Justice Department to launch a criminal investigation.' Gabbard on Wednesday released a previously classified 2020 House Intelligence Committee report that cast doubt on Russia's President Vladimir Putin's interest in the 2016 presidential election and his willingness to help out then-candidate Donald Trump. The report said the CIA 'did not adhere to the tenets' of analytical standards and the takeaway that the Kremlin leader acted to aid Trump was based on 'one scant, unclear, and unverifiable fragment of a sentence from one of the substandard reports.' Gabbard said the report exposed 'the most egregious weaponization and politicization of intelligence in American history.' Still, numerous other intelligence assessments have said that Moscow tried to influence the Oval Office race and that Putin favored Trump. Last week, Gabbard also released a report accusing top Obama administration officials of manipulating intelligence regarding Russia's interference in the 2016 White House race, citing Obama specifically as well as CIA director John Brennan, former FBI director James Comey and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper. Trump on Tuesday accused Obama of committing treason and that he should be investigated by the DOJ. Gabbard sent criminal referrals to the department over the report. Still, on Friday, Bolton said Gabbard's effort has not produced any new information about the 2016 elections and warned against any criminal probe, pointing out past reports did 'take issue' with how the Obama administration handled 'certain assessments.' 'But nothing that goes to the level of anything of a predicate for a legitimate criminal investigation,' Botlon told guest host Chris Cillizza

Would a weaker dollar be a good thing for the US?
Would a weaker dollar be a good thing for the US?

The Hill

timean hour ago

  • The Hill

Would a weaker dollar be a good thing for the US?

The strength of the U.S. dollar influences trade, inflation and investment, but as President Trump noted Friday, the currency's power comes with trade-offs. 'I'm a person that likes a strong dollar, but a weak dollar makes you a hell of a lot more money,' Trump told reporters Friday. The president added that a strong dollar helps keep inflation in check and feels good psychologically, but argued, 'You can't sell anything.' His mixed messaging highlights tension policymakers have long grappled with: There isn't a simple connection between the strength of a country's currency and the strength of its economy. On one hand, a strong dollar makes imported goods cheaper for American consumers, but on the other, a weaker dollar makes U.S. products more competitive abroad, benefiting exporters. What does it mean when the dollar is strong vs. weak? The dollar is considered strong when it rises in value against other currencies, as measured by the exchange rate. If a dollar can buy more of another currency than before, that means it's getting stronger relative to that currency. Tourists notice this when traveling abroad and exchanging money. Earlier this year, the U.S. dollar and the euro were nearly at parity, or worth practically the same. Today, $1 is worth about 0.85 euros, meaning Americans visiting Italy will notice they get fewer euros in exchange for their dollars than just a few months ago. In that sense, the dollar has weakened relative to the euro. But the value of the U.S. dollar — and other currencies — is constantly changing due to supply and demand, shaped by factors like monetary policy, inflation and investor sentiment. The dollar has been weakening recently, falling more than 10 percent in the first half of the year when compared to a basket of currencies from major U.S. trading partners. The last time the dollar weakened this much at the start of the year was 1973, according to The New York Times. What are the advantages of a strong dollar? American tourists get more value for their money abroad when the dollar is strong, but you don't have to leave the country to experience the upside. One of the main benefits is that it lowers the cost of imports, making foreign products cheaper for consumers. But shoppers buying Mexican tequila and Canadian maple syrup aren't the only ones who come out ahead — a strong dollar also lowers input costs for businesses that rely on imports, easing inflationary pressures. A U.S. automaker importing parts from Mexico would pay fewer dollars for the same peso-priced components when the dollar strengthens against the peso. Lower input costs for U.S. companies put pressure on foreign competitors to cut prices to stay competitive, another potential win for American consumers. More broadly, as the world's primary reserve currency, a strong dollar projects global confidence and reinforces trust in the U.S. financial system. It's often seen as a sign of economic strength. 'When we have a strong dollar, one thing happens — it sounds good,' Trump told reporters Friday. What are the disadvantages of a strong dollar? A strong dollar can hurt American exporters because it makes U.S. goods more expensive in foreign markets. Boeing, for example, exports large numbers of aircraft globally, and when the U.S. dollar strengthens, those planes become more expensive to foreign buyers paying in other currencies. American firms that don't export can also feel the pinch, as they often compete with imports. A strong dollar can make it harder for Made-in-the-USA products to hold their own against cheaper goods from abroad. 'You can't sell tractors, you can't sell trucks, you can't sell anything,' Trump said of a strong dollar on Friday. 'It is good for inflation, that's about it.' While a strong dollar tends to ease U.S. inflationary pressures, it also intensifies inflation abroad — a dynamic that, in today's interconnected global economy, can ultimately be bad for business. Another point: A strong dollar raises the cost of visiting the U.S., which can dampen tourism. In the end, the strength of the dollar is a balancing act, with trade-offs that ripple across the global economy. Whether it helps or hurts depends on where you sit and what you're trying to sell.

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