Latest news with #Auch
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
British expat WINS French court battle to restore pre-Brexit right that could open floodgates for Brits
A British woman living in France is overjoyed to have her voting rights restored in a move that could shake up post-Brexit rules. Alice Bouilliez said she was 'extremely surprised' that a court in Auch, south-west France, ruled she would be able to vote in local elections. Experts now believe the shock ruling could set a precedent for all Brits who had permanent resident status in the European country before the referendum. Ms Bouilliez, who has lived in France for nearly four decades, was able to vote before the Brexit deal went through in 2020 but it was not made clear what her rights would be afterwards. Despite having residency and being married to a Frenchman, Ms Bouillez never became a citizen - in part down to her oath she took to the British Crown while working as a civil servant in the Foreign Office. The retiree, alongside several other disgruntled Brits, eventually took the case to the European court of justice in 2022 after years of legal battles, although they ruled against her. Their argument, based on the advice of advocate general Anthony Collins, was that 'nationality of a member state' was an 'essential condition of a person to be able to acquire and retain the status of citizens of the union and to benefit fully from the rights attaching to that status'. Her being stripped of her voting rights was 'an automatic consequence of the sole sovereign decision taken by the United Kingdom to withdraw from the European Union'. But Ms Bouillez's lawyer argued that the court could not disenfranchise those who already had the rights protected under the EU treaty before Brexit - an argument that proved true. 'The court ruled that Alice had not committed any crime and that to lose her voting rights was a fundamental and disproportionate infringement of her voting rights,' Julien Fouchet said after today's ruling. 'The right to vote is a common good, it is more than just a right,' he was reported saying in The Guardian. An 'extremely happy' Ms Bouillez said 'when I went to get the ruling from the court I was extremely surprised because I was expecting a knock on the knuckles'. The barrister added that this ruling could now restore the rights of Brits on the continent if they wanted their name on the electoral register for local elections. He said: 'The French and UK governments should have a bilateral treaty reciprocating the right to vote in municipal elections. 'I see this judgment as an opportunity, especially in light of the recent UK-EU summit, to get an agreement on this.' Before the Brexit referendum, Brits living in France could vote in municipal and European parliamentary elections but not in national, presidential or legislative elections. This was generally the same rules across most European countries. Europeans also had these same rights living in the UK but most countries - apart from Ireland, Cyprus and Malta - are now unable to vote here. The British government had tried to make reciprocal voting rights part of the Brexit deal but the EU insisted on having bilateral treaties instead. And in 2018, the House of Commons passed a motion which insisted British nationals who have an EU citizenship should have 'the range of rights and protections afforded to individuals as European Union citizens are integral to a person's European identity'.
The Guardian
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
British woman wins back pre-Brexit right to vote in France
A French court has ordered electoral officials to restore a British woman's pre-Brexit right to vote in local elections, triggering calls for a renewed push for a bilateral treaty on electoral enfranchisement in each others countries. Alice Bouilliez, a former British civil servant, who has lived in France for 38 years, said she was 'extremely surprised' but delighted that the Auch court in south-western France had ordered that the authorities put her name back on the electoral register for local elections 'I am extremely happy about the result. When I went to get the ruling from the court I was extremely surprised because I was expecting a knock on the knuckles,' she said. Bouilliez first mounted legal action against the disenfranchisement in 2020 with a case going all the way to the European court of justice, which ruled against her in 2022. The court followed the advice of advocate general Anthony Collins who said the EU treaty had made 'nationality of a member state' an 'essential condition of a person to be able to acquire and retain the status of citizens of the Union and to benefit fully from the rights attaching to that status'. Fouchet said the court did not determine conclusively what happened to those acquired rights British citizens such as Bouilliez had received when she became a permanent resident of France under the free movement rules that were available to Britons before Brexit. The ruling by the Auch tribunal judiciary could now be used to restore rights across France for British citizens living in France before Brexit who did not opt to apply for French citizenship and wanted to win back their right to vote, he said. 'The court ruled that Alice had not committed any crime and that to lose her voting rights was a fundamental and disproportionate infringement of her voting rights,' he said. 'The right to vote is a common good, it is more than just a right,' he said. Though married to a French citizen, Bouilliez never sought citizenship, partly as she made an oath to the British crown when she worked for the Foreign Office. Before Brexit, British citizens living in France had the right to vote in municipal and European parliamentary elections but not legislative elections for the national government or presidency. In a mirror situation, EU citizens including French people living permanently in the UK had the right to vote in local and European elections but not national, with the exception of citizens of Ireland, Cyprus and Malta who can vote in all elections in the UK. The UK had wanted to make reciprocal voting rights part of Brexit deal but the EU did not agree. leaving the UK to negotiate bilateral treaties. So far just five countries, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Poland and Luxembourg have agreed that each others citizens could continue to have rights in local elections, but there is no such treaty with France. Fouchet called on the French and British governments, who are now benefiting from the reset in the overall EU-UK relationship to open negotiations to restore citizens voting rights. 'The French and UK government should have a bilateral treaty reciprocating the right to vote in municipal elections. I see this judgment as an opportunity, especially in light of the recent UK-EU summit, to get an agreement on this,' he said. The UK government has been approached for comment.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
COVID-19 experience strengthens Countryside Public Health for challenges ahead
Apr. 23---- Five years after the COVID-19 pandemic reached far western Minnesota, the public health agency serving the Upper Minnesota River Valley finds itself in a stronger position than when the pandemic began, but its director is also keeping a keen eye on storm clouds on the horizon. An infusion of funding brought about by the pandemic — and the opportunity to better assess its role and the needs of its population — has really strengthened the work that Countryside Public Health is doing, according to Liz Auch, its director. The first case of COVID-19 was recorded on April 19, 2020, in the five counties served by Countryside Public Health: , , and . It was an "all hands on deck" moment, said Andrea Mills, communications specialist for the agency. Countryside was as ready as it could be for the new virus, according to Auch. Before retiring and turning over the baton to co-worker Dawn Bjorgan, infectious disease expert Gloria Tobias had been monitoring the virus and its spread in China. She had local staff "practicing and practicing" for the response, Auch explained. Nationally, there has been some distrust and disconnect about the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Auch said, but Countryside saw nearly the opposite effect. In western Minnesota, Countryside realized early its important role as the source of information. It worked to improve its ability to provide the information everyone — from restaurant owners to law enforcement officers — needed. What made it all work? Auch credits her staff and, importantly, a good track record of working with partners in health care in the region, schools and law enforcement. There were "bumps," but those partners trusted Countryside Public Health and supported it, she said. The infusion of funding the pandemic triggered allowed Countryside to increase its staffing from 30 to about 32 positions. Importantly, it was able to assess its role, and focus on its key service areas and better align staff members' responsibilities. New funding that resulted from the opioid crisis and subsequent legal settlement also has allowed Countryside to do more to educate people about substance abuse, as well as equip an educator to bring lessons to classrooms in the five counties. Despite serving an aging population, five years after the pandemic's start is seeing a steady creep upward in the number of young families it serves through programs such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, often known as WIC. An emphasis on outreach to serve clients in some of the smallest and relatively remote corners of the rural counties with regular clinics has helped, Auch said. So did the fact that more people were seeking health information during the pandemic. Countryside leveraged the trust people had in it. "It gave us an audience that we maybe didn't have before," Mills said. In a fragmented media world, Mills takes advantage of multiple social media platforms, along with traditional newspaper and radio outlets, to reach that audience. Keeping the attention of its audience in the days ahead may be more important than ever. "My growing concern as a public health leader right now is we're going to see a rise in infectious diseases," Auch said. She pointed to recent reports of cases of measles and pertussis in the country as reason for concern. Her agency works to communicate to the public the importance of vaccinations against infectious diseases, and offers clinics and referrals to get people vaccinated. The percentage of children ages 24-35 months who are up-to-date with vaccines in the five Countryside counties ranges from 59.7% in Chippewa to 77.2% in Lac qui Parle, with Big Stone at 64.2%, Swift at 67.4%, and Yellow Medicine at 65.4%. The statewide vaccination rate for that age group is currently 63%. When Auch began her public health career 25 years ago, the statewide rate was over 90%. Auch pointed out that most young people do not have the firsthand experience of having known polio and other infectious diseases. As a consequence, they may not have a full understanding about the benefits of vaccines. She also noted there is currently a tension in the public discourse over the right to choose and a social obligation to keep others safe. Auch said public health has generally been considered underfunded for all of her career. Those concerns are growing today in the midst of federal and state cutbacks to health funding, and it has her attention. Countryside receives about 28% of its funding from federal sources, 30 to 32% from the state, and 20% from local sources. Private insurance, Medicare and Medical Assistance, licensing fees and charges for services, as well as investment interest and opioid settlement funds, comprise the remainder. The funding is very much needed in this post-COVID era, as there remain a whole range of public health issues to address, Auch said. Obesity, mental health care for youth, how kids are doing after COVID, kids' resiliency, dental health access, and the numbers of people being injured and killed on the roads due to distracted driving and drinking and other substance use are among some of the concerns she cited. All the while, Countryside continues to maintain its readiness for the potential of another pandemic. "Are we better prepared? Sure we're prepared, but tell me what the strain is, its impact and mortality rate," Auch said. This is no time to let down our guard, or reduce our defenses and ability to respond to a pandemic, she explained. There was a lot to learn and do on the fly once COVID-19 arrived, but Auch said that without a doubt, the lesson of COVID-19 was clear for Countryside. The preparation and practicing paid off.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislature's investigation panel could get more power
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The South Dakota Legislature's committee that looks into problems within state government would no longer need permission to issue subpoenas under a proposal that is moving forward at the state Capitol. The House State Affairs Committee on Monday recommended passage of House Bill 1204. The full House of Representatives will consider it Tuesday afternoon. A new task force on prisons clears a Senate committee Its prime sponsor, Republican Rep. Julie Auch, wants to reverse a 2018 law that requires the Legislature's Government Operations and Audit Committee to receive clearance beforehand from the Legislature's Executive Board. That's an unnecessary step, according to Auch. 'It needs to be taken care of, managed, and move on,' she told the House panel. The 2018 law was in response to then-Sen. Stace Nelson requesting that GOAC use its subpoena authority as part of investigating the GEAR Up scandal. The legislation to add the Executive Board's approval came from then-Rep. Jean Hunhoff and then-Sen. Deb Peters, who were GOAC's chair and vice-chair at the time. The state Department of Revenue last year resisted subpoenas that GOAC members issued for Revenue Secretary Mike Houdyshell and another official to testify. The subpoenas have since been reissued for a GOAC meeting that will be held after the 2025 legislative session ends March 31. Houdyshell didn't testify against the bill but responded to a question about why he wouldn't testify. He said there was an ongoing investigation that prevented him as a lawyer from disclosing details to the legislators. GOAC has been looking into various state-government scandals that surfaced last year, including in the state Department of Revenue's motor-vehicle division. Republican Rep. Jon Hansen called Monday for the House committee to endorse Auch's legislation. He is the House speaker and co-chair of the current Executive Board. Requiring the Executive Board's approval adds time, provides an opportunity for state officials to lobby Executive Board members, handcuffs GOAC and brings an additional level of politics to the process. 'That all takes time – too much time under the circumstances,' Hansen said. A former House speaker, Republican Rep. Spencer Gosch, said it is 'appalling' that a legislative committee would ever have to subpoena someone. 'I hate that we even have to do this,' he said. Republican Rep. Karla Lems, the House speaker pro tem, described Auch's bill as 'the final tool' needed. 'It's giving us that extra piece to do the job,' Lems said. The one 'no' vote came from Republican Rep. Tim Reisch, who served on GOAC the past two years. 'The executive branch was very forthright,' Reisch said, defending Revenue for not openly discussing the case because the people accused were presumed innocent until found guilty. Reisch argued that the Executive Board acts on behalf of the Legislature during the nine months that lawmakers aren't in session and said he doesn't want the Legislature to surrender that authority by allowing GOAC to issue subpoenas on its own. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Two pricey 30-year leases are on Legislature's radar
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — South Dakota lawmakers are wrestling with what to do about two unusual 30-year leases of office property in Rapid City and Sioux Falls. The state House of Representatives on Thursday rejected a proposal from Republican Rep. Julie Auch that sought to require legislative approval of any lease exceeding 10 years or exceeding $5 million in payments during the term of the lease. House Bill 1205 failed 31-37. It also contained a provision that nullified any lease already in effect that exceeded 15 years or $5 million unless the lease received legislative approval. Her bill took aim at two leases that the state government has with a Rapid City-based firm, Dream Design International, for One Stop buildings in Rapid City and Sioux Falls. School-lobbyist ban fails in South Dakota House The Rapid City One-Stop at 221 Mall Drive has hardly been a secret. It opened in 2021 and was featured in the state Department of Revenue 2022 annual report. Dream Design International featured the Rapid City building in the company's successful submission when state government requested proposals for a similar one in Sioux Falls. The Sioux Falls One Stop at 1501 S. Highline Drive opened late last year. The rub for Auch and dozens of other lawmakers is how much state government is paying to lease the new space. In the case of the Sioux Falls One Stop, it's a difference of more than $5.5 million per year — roughly $2 million for the various old spaces vs. $7.6 million for the centralized new one — under a lease that will run until 2055. 'We are ultimately responsible to the taxpayers,' Auch said in her opening remarks Thursday. She acknowledged that the One Stop leases weren't necessarily illegal but questioned whether the decision to enter into them was fiscally responsible. 'The One Stop leases make little common sense,' she said. While Auch's bill failed, bobbing to the surface during the debate was that Republican Sen. Chris Karr has introduced a similar version — but minus the retroactive provision. Now in his ninth year, Karr is the new Senate president pro tem, meaning he's the chamber's top elected member, and one of the current Legislature's more veteran members. Republican Rep. Mike Weisgram said that state government would have difficulty entering leases if Auch's bill became law, especially because of the retroactive provision. 'And our name's going to be mud if we accept that, and it's going to do a number on our credit rating,' he warned. Weisgram acknowledged that he didn't 'think they (the Noem administration) were truly palms up on this deal' but urged a no vote. Supreme Court rules for neighbors on variance Republican Rep. Greg Jamison suggested that Auch should let her bill go and he offered to work to improve Karr's proposal, such as adding legislators to the state process of requesting proposals on leases. Auch is the lead sponsor in the House on Karr's bill. Regarding the One Stop leases, however, Jamison said, 'This is an unusual event, what has happened, very unusual.' Republican Rep. Jack Kolbeck defended the Sioux Falls One Stop, calling the concept of bringing many state agencies into one large building 'a great thing.' He said the Legislature's Joint Committee on Appropriations was aware of the One Stops and discussed them at several meetings in recent years. He said audio from those meetings remains available in South Dakota Public Broadcasting archives. According to Kolbeck, the concept as well as the reasoning and the overall expectations of the leases were discussed. 'At no time did a member of appropriations suggest that this project stop in committee,' he said. Public transportation was the biggest concern, according to Kolbeck, and state government was working with the city of Sioux Falls to adjust bus routes. None of that historical perspective mattered to Republican Rep. Jana Hunt, a first-year lawmaker. 'That seems like a really bad decision for our state,' she said. Karr's proposal, Senate Bill 145, is set for its first hearing on Feb. 18 in the Senate Committee on Appropriations. According to Auch, one of the goals she and Karr sought with their legislation is to make all 105 lawmakers aware of the One Step leases. Auch concluded her remarks in the House with this statement: 'I think this is irresponsible government. We were sent here with one job. We control the purse. And somebody has decided to run away with it.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
