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Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pillen withdraws line-item budget vetoes Nebraska lawmakers said were unconstitutional
Gov. Jim Pillen talks with reporters after his annual State of the State speech to the Nebraska Legislature. Jan. 15, 2025. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN — Gov. Jim Pillen on Tuesday withdrew his intended $14.5 million in general fund line-item vetoes to Nebraska's next two-year budget, ending a possible constitutional dispute among the state's three branches of government. Pillen joined Secretary of State Bob Evnen and Speaker of the Legislature John Arch to announce an end to the short-lived line-item veto saga Tuesday. The line-item vetoes were first identified last Wednesday in a letter to the Legislature, but the actual budget bills with his marked-up objections were not filed with the Legislature until Thursday morning. The latter is important because each line-item veto can be individually overridden, or the changes can be overridden as a group. The Nebraska Constitution requires vetoes to be filed with the Legislature within five days, excluding Sundays, while the Legislature is in session. Pillen had said Thursday he would consult with the Attorney General's Office and other legal counsel on next steps, with the thinking being that a court order could have enforced the vetoes. On Tuesday, Arch, Evnen and Pillen said that while they continue to disagree whether the constitutional requirement for the line-item vetoes was met, 'given how closely the budget bills match the governor's originally introduced budget,' Pillen signed Legislative Bill 261 and LB 264 as passed by the Legislature on May 15. The bills were then refiled in Evnen's office. 'That will render the underlying constitutional dispute moot and bring the matter to a close,' the three officials said in a joint statement. Arch told reporters last week that to his knowledge, nothing like this had happened before. The Legislature, as well as the offices for Pillen and Evnen, are in the Nebraska State Capitol. A spokesperson for Evnen told the Nebraska Examiner that both budget bills intended to be vetoed were received by the office's administrative assistant just before 5 p.m. last Wednesday. 'We fulfilled our responsibility by receiving the bills for filing,' the spokesperson said. No one from Evnen's office delivered the bills to the Clerk of the Legislature's office, which is a responsibility of the Governor's Office. The Legislature remained in session until 9:20 p.m. last Wednesday, but the copies of LB 261 and LB 264 that the governor issued line-item vetoes to, not just the veto letter, were not delivered to the Legislature by a midnight deadline. The line-item vetoes sought $14.5 million in less spending from the state's general fund, Nebraska's main pocketbook that will cover a total of $11 billion in total spending through June 2027: $11.99 million reduction of an increase to the Nebraska Supreme Court because the governor argued 'every branch of government' had to contribute to budget balancing. $2 million cut from public health departments, zeroing out COVID-19 pandemic-era increases because the 'pandemic is over' and 'spending must be shrunk to pre-pandemic size.' $511,972 from the State Fire Marshal for salary and health insurance premium increases because he argues the agency has 'sufficient funding' already. Those spending decreases would not have increased the state's coffers as they would have similarly been offset by $14.5 million in fewer funds being transferred from the cash reserve fund. A fourth veto sought to prevent an $18 million diversion of cash funds for Lake McConaughy recreational upgrades. Pillen said the project's scope has changed over many years, and further discussion is needed about how local casino revenue could support improvements. A copy of those specific objections obtained by the Examiner indicates line-item vetoes in: Six of the eight budget sections for the Nebraska Supreme Court (LB 261). Two of the three sections for the State Fire Marshal (LB 261). One of the 25 sections for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (LB 261). One of the 24 sections for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (LB 261), as well as a companion cash fund transfer (LB 264). One section for cash reserve fund transfer (LB 264). Lawmakers would have had until this Friday to override the vetoes had the reductions been delivered properly. Pillen and Arch said budget adjustment measures for the 2025-27 fiscal years 'will be a priority' when lawmakers reconvene in 2026, just seven months away. 'To avoid a similar future dispute,' the statement continues, 'all parties have agreed to meet during the interim to clarify and confirm procedures that meet the constitutional requirements for transmittal of budget vetoes, and ensure they are maintained in a clear written guidance for future implementation by all offices.' The Governor's Office has not responded to a request for comment on the current process of delivering vetoes and whether there were any variations in this process this time. Pillen in 2023, for example, vetoed $38.5 million in general fund spending for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 fiscal years. Lawmakers overrode about $850,000 of that. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX


India Gazette
27-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
Stress in the microfinance sector should recede over the next two quarters: Report
New Delhi [India] May 27 (ANI): The worst is over for India's microfinance sector, with stress levels posed to ease over the next two quarters, said Axis Securities in its latest report. Microfinance companies are hopeful that growth will return to normal from the second half of the financial year (FY) 2026. However, the report added that the first half of FY26 is likely to remain tough, with higher loan defaults and slower business expansion. The report says that key factors such as the ongoing impact of the Karnataka ordinance and the possible effects of a similar law in Tamil Nadu will be worth watching, which could affect lending operations. On the brighter side, secured lending such as home and diversified loans is expected to benefit from favourable conditions, helping those lenders grow at a strong pace of 24 per cent year on year between FY25 and FY27. The vehicle financiers are expected to benefit from the improved infrastructure spending, better rural incomes and improving capacity utilisation of fleet, enabling vehicle financiers to deliver a robust 19 per cent CAGR growth over FY25-27. Furthermore, the report added that despite fresh delinquency accretion peaking out, micro-financiers will continue to see elevated slippages and accelerated write-offs in the first half of fiscal 2026. 'Credit costs will continue to remain elevated for micro-financiers for the coming couple of quarters. For other financiers, we could expect asset quality improvement,' the report added. The Axis Securities report expects recovery in both microfinance and credit from H2FY26. 'we expect gradual normalisation in credit costs, thereby supporting earnings. Navigating the headwinds effectively, we expect NBFCs under our coverage to deliver an earnings growth of 23 per cent CAGR over FY25-27E, with improving credit costs being a key improvement driver,' the report added. As per Industry data the business of Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) industry has risen from Rs17,264 crores in March'12 to Rs3.93 lakh crores as of November 2024. The microfinance industry operates in over 723 districts, including 111 aspirational districts across 28 states and 8 Union Territories. It also caters to the financial needs of almost 8 crore borrowers. MFIs contribute 2.03 per cent of the gross value added to GDP and support 1.3 crore jobs. (ANI)

23-05-2025
- Sport
Braves activate Ronald Acuña Jr. from injured list almost 1 year after ACL injury to left knee
ATLANTA -- Ronald Acuña Jr. was activated from the injured list by the Atlanta Braves on Friday, almost one year after he tore the ACL in his left knee. The Braves announced the move before Friday night's game against the San Diego Padres. Infielder Orlando Arcia, a 2023 All-Star, was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot for Acuña, who was expected to hit leadoff and start in right field. Braves manager Brian Snitker announced after Thursday night's 8-7 loss at Washington that Acuña would make his season debut on Friday night. Acuña, the 2023 NL MVP, hurt his left knee last May 26 and had surgery on June 6. He played six games in the minors on a rehab assignment, going 6 for 15 with two home runs. He was scratched before Thursday night's game for Triple-A Gwinnett as the team made plans for him to join the Atlanta roster. Acuña played in only 49 games last season, batting .250 with four homers, 15 RBIs, 16 stolen bases and a .716 OPS. He was a unanimous winner of the NL MVP award in 2023 when he hit .336 with 41 home runs, 106 RBIs and a league-leading 1.012 OPS. Acuña also stole 73 bases that year to become the only player with 40 homers and 70 steals in one season. Arcia, 30, was a 2023 NL All-Star when he hit .264 with 17 homers and 65 RBIs. Arcia lost his starting job due to an inability to compensate at the plate while suffering a defensive decline. He hit only .194 in 31 at-bats this season. Nick Allen has taken over as the starting shortstop. ___


San Francisco Chronicle
23-05-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Braves activate Ronald Acuña Jr. from injured list almost 1 year after ACL injury to left knee
ATLANTA (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. was activated from the injured list by the Atlanta Braves on Friday, almost one year after he tore the ACL in his left knee. The Braves announced the move before Friday night's game against the San Diego Padres. Infielder Orlando Arcia, a 2023 All-Star, was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot for Acuña, who was expected to hit leadoff and start in right field. Braves manager Brian Snitker announced after Thursday night's 8-7 loss at Washington that Acuña would make his season debut on Friday night. Acuña, the 2023 NL MVP, hurt his left knee last May 26 and had surgery on June 6. He played six games in the minors on a rehab assignment, going 6 for 15 with two home runs. He was scratched before Thursday night's game for Triple-A Gwinnett as the team made plans for him to join the Atlanta roster. Acuña played in only 49 games last season, batting .250 with four homers, 15 RBIs, 16 stolen bases and a .716 OPS. He was a unanimous winner of the NL MVP award in 2023 when he hit .336 with 41 home runs, 106 RBIs and a league-leading 1.012 OPS. Acuña also stole 73 bases that year to become the only player with 40 homers and 70 steals in one season. Arcia, 30, was a 2023 NL All-Star when he hit .264 with 17 homers and 65 RBIs. Arcia lost his starting job due to an inability to compensate at the plate while suffering a defensive decline. He hit only .194 in 31 at-bats this season. ___ AP MLB:


Hamilton Spectator
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Braves activate Ronald Acuña Jr. from injured list almost 1 year after ACL injury to left knee
ATLANTA (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. was activated from the injured list by the Atlanta Braves on Friday, almost one year after he tore the ACL in his left knee. The Braves announced the move before Friday night's game against the San Diego Padres. Infielder Orlando Arcia, a 2023 All-Star, was designated for assignment to clear a roster spot for Acuña, who was expected to hit leadoff and start in right field. Braves manager Brian Snitker announced after Thursday night's 8-7 loss at Washington that Acuña would make his season debut on Friday night. Acuña, the 2023 NL MVP, hurt his left knee last May 26 and had surgery on June 6. He played six games in the minors on a rehab assignment, going 6 for 15 with two home runs. He was scratched before Thursday night's game for Triple-A Gwinnett as the team made plans for him to join the Atlanta roster. Acuña played in only 49 games last season, batting .250 with four homers, 15 RBIs, 16 stolen bases and a .716 OPS. He was a unanimous winner of the NL MVP award in 2023 when he hit .336 with 41 home runs, 106 RBIs and a league-leading 1.012 OPS. Acuña also stole 73 bases that year to become the only player with 40 homers and 70 steals in one season. Arcia, 30, was a 2023 NL All-Star when he hit .264 with 17 homers and 65 RBIs. Arcia lost his starting job due to an inability to compensate at the plate while suffering a defensive decline. He hit only .194 in 31 at-bats this season. Nick Allen has taken over as the starting shortstop. ___ AP MLB: