Latest news with #Bill1
NDTV
6 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Green Card Holders Banned From Buying Land? What Ohio's New Bill Means
Ohio lawmakers have proposed two bills that could ban foreign nationals and some green card holders from owning land in large parts of the state. The proposed laws, House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 88, if passed, would restrict land purchases within 40 km of military bases and key infrastructure like water plants, gas lines, and power stations. The bills are part of a national push to curb foreign land ownership over security concerns. If passed, they would prevent people from so-called "foreign adversary" countries, including China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and Venezuela, from buying property near sensitive sites. The ban would also apply to foreign-owned companies and, in some cases, lawful permanent residents. "We owe it to our citizens to be vigilant & until federal legislation passes, it's up to states to keep our power stations, water treatment, facilities, gas pipelines, rails & military installations safe from foreign espionage & surveillance," said Representative Angela King, who co-sponsored the bill with Rep Roy Klopfenstein. We owe it to our citizens to be vigilant & until federal legislation passes, it's up to states to keep our power stations,water treatment, facilities, gas pipelines, rails & militarily installations safe from foreign espionage & surveillance. — Angie King (@AngieNadineKing) May 23, 2025 Green card holders who already own property in these zones would be allowed to keep it. Earlier versions of the Senate bill would have required them to sell within two years, a provision that was later dropped. Senator Terry Johnson, who sponsored the Senate version, said the goal was to shield American land from those who "seek to destroy the American way of life," The Ohio Capital-Journal reported. The legislation tasks the Ohio Secretary of State with maintaining a list of restricted entities and updating it every six months. Critics argue the bills are overly broad and could discriminate against immigrants, especially from Asia. "They are targeting all of civilisation," said Vincent Wang, chair of the Asian American Coalition of Ohio, as per State News. "We must call out this (as) a racist agenda." Opponents, including lawmakers, civil rights groups, and community members, packed a Senate committee hearing last Tuesday. Over 230 people submitted testimony against the bill, calling it unconstitutional and xenophobic. "Imagine somebody who risked their life, escaped North Korea and ended up in Ohio," said Xu Lu, a US citizen and professor from Findlay. "This bill will tell them they do not belong here." "You are telling people they are not American enough, no matter how hard they try," said 14-year-old Melody Miao of Oxford, testifying that she grew up pledging allegiance to the US flag and memorising the Bill of Rights. Democrats like Rep Munira Abdullahi (D-Columbus) warned the bills may hurt immigrants trying to build a life in the state. "This is not addressing a national security concern," Abdullahi said. "This is a bill that is signifying hate." Legal experts from the ACLU also warned of swift lawsuits if the bills become law. "It is fundamentally wrong, it is profoundly unfair, and it is fueled by racial animus," said ACLU lobbyist Gary Daniels. The bills are modelled on similar laws passed in states like Florida and Texas. In 2023, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine vetoed similar land ownership restrictions, although he did approve a measure banning foreign adversaries from buying agricultural land. As of now, neither HB 1 nor SB 88 has been scheduled for a vote.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas poised to add $100 million to child care scholarship program
Texas lawmakers are providing an extra $100 million in child care scholarships and giving regional workforce development boards more freedom to allocate money to key providers. Nearly 95,000 Texas children are on a waitlist for child care scholarships. Meanwhile, brick and mortar facilities are closing and the cost of child care in Texas is making it difficult for working parents to make ends meet. 'Because of this funding, thousands more parents will be able to go to work while their children thrive in high-quality child care,' said David Feigen, the director of early learning policy for the child care advocacy group Texans Care for Children. 'This is a huge step, and we are grateful and energized to help get these funds to the families who are counting on them.' Feigen's group is one of several that have put pressure on Texas lawmakers this session to address critical issues affecting child care centers. Texas' decision to use previously unallocated federal dollars to address these issues is a massive step forward, experts say. The funding was added to Senate Bill 1, the budget bill, after the Senate finance committee removed it from the House's supplemental appropriations bill. Rep. Armando Walle confirmed the move Tuesday in a statement to the Texas Tribune. 'I am proud to announce that, through diligent negotiations and collaboration with stakeholders across the board, we secured $100 million in the state budget for child care scholarships,' Walle said. 'Access to quality child care is essential for both economic stability and our children's future. By exploring every budgetary option and building consensus, we achieved a result that will make a real difference in the lives of Texas families.' Marilyn Hartsook, the interim director for the Deep East Texas Workforce Development Office, is cautiously optimistic about what the money means for the region. She expects the region's budget for the child care program will grow by about $14 million. The workforce region currently receives about $17.8 million for direct care, which translates to $23.73 per child per day. Hartsook's team aims to reach 2,945 children per day under the current budget. That number would increase substantially with new funding, but it is only one part of the solution to child care. It is also important to recognize that no one-size solution fits all – regions don't just need additional funding, but some flexibility in how they work with providers, said Kim Kofron, the senior director of early childhood education for ChildrenAtRisk, a child advocacy group. House Bill 2294, which was sent to the governor, allows for more flexibility in how local workforce boards spend money. The bill gives the boards the discretion to allocate more funding to providers struggling financially, especially in high-need areas. 'We need scholarships,' Kofron said. 'We have 95,000 kids on the waitlist. But we also have to make sure that we have the buildings. We also have to make sure we have the teachers. And we have to make sure that it's affordable. This bill allows us to hopefully address all three of those things in various ways.' It costs a lot to keep a childcare facility running, and most operate at around a 1% profit margin, Feigen said. In 2024, the cost was too much for many facilities, and they closed. Texas lost 75,000 child care seats and more areas found themselves to be child care deserts, according to Kofron. 'These child care providers are trying to run a business, but they can't charge a lot because parents can't afford it,' said Mandi Kimball, vice president & chief government affairs officer for ChildrenAtRisk. 'Even though they're quality, they're not getting reimbursed for their quality, and that is impacting the sustainability of child care. Which is why we're seeing these deserts.' Sen. Judith Zaffirini, a Laredo Democrat who sponsored the bill in the Senate, said the bill will help high-quality child care centers that serve families in low-income areas catch up. Providers often must keep their rates low to remain affordable and current law prevents the workforce development boards from reimbursing them above those rates, even if they earn high ratings in the Texas Rising Star program. 'That's not fair, and it threatens the sustainability of high-quality care in the communities that need it most,' Zaffirini said. This bill allows the commission to reimburse those providers at a higher rate. The senator believes that this bill will create more options for quality child care, which would increase enrollment and have broader implications on Texas' workforce. Disclosure: Texans Care for Children has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Calgary Herald
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Your letters for May 27: Senate numbers a tricky thing
Senate representation in Canada doesn't matter much; our Senate has no real power. Suggesting we copy the American model is ludicrous. The U.S. Senate has real power, although allowing anti-science Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be in charge of health attests to its current impotence. Article content Article content The reality of U.S. representation is that less than 20 per cent of the population elects over half of the Senate. Wyoming, with half of Saskatchewan's population, has as much power in the Senate as California, with roughly the population of Canada. One of the principles of democracy is representation by population; each vote should have equal weight. Redistribution added three Alberta MPs for the 2025 election. Ontario has 3.3 times Alberta's population and 3.3 times the number of MPs. Albertans might appreciate having the same power as Ontario, but what about P.E.I. having the same power as Alberta, with less than four per cent of Alberta's population? Article content Article content Article content The public record initially had Magliocca adamantly proclaiming his innocence. Now he apologizes for his actions. If he had integrity, he could have taken responsibility for his actions several months ago and saved the cost of an expensive trial. Article content As a public servant with 37 years of service, I and countless others like me, had to work diligently to provide our services to the public in a trustworthy and ethical manner. The actions of Magliocca taint us all, and for that, I am deeply saddened. Article content Jerry Christensen, Calgary Article content Article content Lone Calgary MP should be in cabinet Article content Mark Carney is not my prime minister. He told me so. How, you might ask? When he did not appoint the only Calgary Liberal MP to his cabinet. But he did appoint Steven Guilbeault to cabinet. Then he did not immediately fire Guilbeault when he mouthed off, erroneously, about pipelines. Article content Article content Mr. Carney, your message has been received loud and clear. Nothing changes in political Laurentian Canada. Perhaps something will change in Alberta? I think the PM wants us to go away. Article content Terry Lauder, Calgary Article content Article content I have eagerly checked the Letters page daily, hoping someone had taken up Catherine Ford's idea of other, more relevant, referendum topics. No luck so far, but here are a few ideas: Article content The provincial government should stay out of municipal areas and repeal changes to the Local Authorities Election Act (paper ballots only, municipal parties, etc.). Article content The provincial government should support diversification of Alberta's economy, including renewable energy and battery storage options. Article content UCP MLAs who support Alberta separation should be required to resign from the caucus that promoted a 'united Canada' by introducing and passing Bill 1. Article content On the 'united Canada' front, how about suggesting our provincial government speak out against separation and work collaboratively with the federal government to resolve current issues, even look for areas of compromise? Article content
CBC
25-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Winter session at N.S. Legislature nears close as bills clear third reading
Social Sharing The end of the winter session at the Nova Scotia Legislature is within sight after multiple pieces of government legislation cleared third reading on Monday night at Province House. Bill 1, a controversial piece of omnibus legislation that saw intense public blowback, passed with amendments to two of its most contentious aspects. As previously promised, the government withdrew provisions that would have allowed it to fire the auditor general without cause and give cabinet ministers the power to suppress reports from the office. The government also amended changes to access to information laws so a government employee can't reject an application for being frivolous or vexatious without the approval of the province's privacy commissioner. Other aspects of Bill 1 that remain unchanged, however, include the end of fixed election dates, pay and expense increases for MLAs, and the ability for the government to fire non-unionized civil servants without cause. It's that last aspect of Bill 1 that received the most attention from opposition MLAs on Monday night. When a little controversy unites N.S. politicians 4 days ago Duration 3:33 It hasn't exactly been a conventional spring sitting in the House of Assembly. CBC's Jean Laroche and Michael Gorman explain how some controversial bills and amendments have created some unexpected unity. Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette said it has civil servants fearing for their jobs and it's affecting morale. People who have opposed the bill note it will mean civil servants outside a union will have less job protection than what is afforded long-serving retail workers through the provincial labour code. "It's the absolute worst message you could send to the civil service," Mombourquette said during debate. The minister responsible for the Public Service Commission, Twila Grosse, has said the government needs the flexibility to adapt the public service as necessary during the uncertain times of U.S. tariffs. Grosse has pledged that anyone who loses their job would be compensated beyond labour code requirements, but she's also said there are no plans for layoffs or reorganization within government. University bill passes third reading The government's legislation giving it more oversight of the province's universities also cleared third reading. Critics have said Bill 12 would allow the government to have more power over how universities function and who serves on boards, and risks interference in their independence and operations. But Advanced Education Minister Brendan Maguire has countered that the bill is instead about ensuring universities remain fiscally sustainable for the long term and are in a position to succeed. Maguire has said recommendations in a recent auditor general's report on university funding are in line with what the government is trying to achieve with Bill 12. He's repeatedly said the government does not intend to tell universities how to operate. Bill 21, which creates a mechanism to repeal legislation that has been passed but not proclaimed after a decade, cleared third reading. The families of two men killed outside bars following interactions with bouncers voiced concerns that the Security and Investigative Services Act could potentially be one of those pieces of legislation that will be repealed by Bill 21. Acting justice minister Barb Adams told the House on Monday night that the government has already made some changes to make cabarets safer and is committed to talking with the families about how to do more. She noted that no bills could be repealed before sometime in 2026. "It is also important to know that the appeal timeline can be extended, allowing for further consideration of any bill." NDP Leader Claudia Chender called on the government to follow through on Adams's pledge. "There are very few cabarets and there are very, very many bars where very many people drink lots of alcohol in our province and where there are fights," she said. She called on the government to extend the same changes relating to cabaret safety to all bars in Nova Scotia. Concerns about deed transfer tax, income assistance rates The government's legislation that is intended to break down interprovincial trade barriers passed third reading. Bill 36 would clear barriers between Nova Scotia and any other province willing to pass mirror legislation. The government was forced to amend the bill after provincial regulators noted it would unintentionally remove their ability to regulate who is coming to the province to work. The Financial Measures Act also cleared third reading. That bill has been criticized for the lack of a meaningful increase to income assistance rates and for an increase in the deed transfer tax to 10 per cent from five per cent for non-Nova Scotia residents purchasing a seasonal home. Last week, MLAs also passed an amendment to the act that will remove the rebate on the purchase of new vehicles manufactured by Tesla because of CEO Elon Musk's connection to U.S. President Donald Trump. Finally on Monday night, Bill 11 passed third reading. Among other things, the legislation will end the annual publication of a report on emergency department closures in the province. Health Minister Michelle Thompson has said the document is months old by the time it is published and more relevant, timely information about the state of emergency departments is available online for the public to consult.
CBC
17-03-2025
- Health
- CBC
Contentious bill casts chill over job protection, access to information in N.S., committee hears
Members of the public lined up Monday to express concerns about an omnibus government bill they say risks placing a chill over public servants' ability to do their jobs and weakens people's access to information in Nova Scotia. Among other things, Bill 1 would give the government the ability to fire non-unionized civil servants without cause. Provisions would also exempt those workers from protections afforded through the Labour Standards Code, which apply to most employees in Nova Scotia. "It shakes me up that somebody who can do what Bob Strang [Nova Scotia's chief medical officer of health] does for us would have less job security than somebody who's been slinging coffee and doughnuts for 12 years," Pat Clahane, a former Justice Department lawyer, told the public bills committee. Another presenter told the committee that members of the public service owe their loyalty to the province and the public, not whatever political party is in power. Lily Sangster said the bill arms the government of the day "with the power to fire anyone who won't cook the books, lie to the public, hire their friends or spend public money on their donors." "Can you be sure that this power won't be used in a discriminatory way or to silence those who have been mistreated?" asked Sangster. "Do you trust public servants to tell hard truths to elected officials when they fear for their jobs if they don't paint a rosy enough picture?" Sandra Mullen, president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union, said the thousands of unionized workers she represents are also paying attention to Bill 1. Mullen has previously said the government is targeting job protection language in the latest round of bargaining with unionized employees. Another aspect of Bill 1 that received a lot of attention is a proposed change to access-to-information laws that would allow the heads of government departments, agencies and municipalities to reject applications if they determine the submission is "trivial, frivolous or vexatious." That change, like much of Bill 1, was not what the Progressive Conservatives campaigned on during the fall provincial election, said Sambro resident Hugh Thompson. "This is our information. We own it, and the government holds it for us — not the other way around," he told the committee. "I deserve to know what's going on." Although Premier Tim Houston has said amendments are coming that would put that power in the hands of the privacy commissioner, the amendments have yet to be made public. Like other presenters, Thompson called on the government to give the commissioner order-making power — something Houston promised to do while in opposition and after first forming government in 2021, but has so far failed to enact. The premier announced several weeks ago his government would withdraw a pair of controversial clauses in Bill 1 related to the province's auditor general. One would have given the government the power to fire the AG without cause if it had two-thirds support in the House. The other would have given cabinet ministers the ability to suppress auditor general reports from the public. Other measures in Bill 1 include: Witness testimony at the committee is scheduled to continue Tuesday. A total of six bills are before the committee.
