Latest news with #Bill1414
USA Today
19-05-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Gavin Newsom is no moderate. California's progressive failures are on him.
Gavin Newsom is no moderate. California's progressive failures are on him. | Opinion Gov. Gavin Newsom can't escape his record or the record of other California Democrats who've tarnished the Golden State's reputation, squandered its resources and sunk its quality of life. Show Caption Hide Caption Newsom seeks Medi-Cal freeze for undocumented immigrants in California California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a budget proposal that would scale back Medi-Cal coverage for low-income undocumented immigrants. Medi-Cal is the state's free healthcare program for low-income residents. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is angling to be the Democratic presidential nominee in 2028 by trying to appeal to voters outside his progressive base. But he's not fooling anyone. Newsom, for example, has proposed limiting health care coverage for migrants who entered the country illegally. He's told local leaders in California to clear homeless encampments, which are a bane for urban dwellers from San Francisco to San Diego. And he's even engaged on his podcast in thoughtful, cordial conversations with conservatives like Charlie Kirk, cofounder of Turning Point USA. But Newsom can't escape his record – or the record of other California Democrats who've tarnished the Golden State's reputation, squandered its resources and sunk its quality of life. California is the land of bad ideas California is the place where bad ideas go to find acceptance. Take, for instance, the California State Assembly's recent heated debate on the sex trafficking of children. Opinion: Sean 'Diddy' Combs accusations are appalling. But sadly, not surprising. Based on her experience as a prosecutor, Assemblymember Maggy Krell, D-Sacramento, coauthored a bill that would have made it a felony to solicit 16- and 17-year-old minors for sex. It's the kind of commonsense legislation that should have attracted bipartisan support. But Krell's fellow Democrats gutted the legislation, despite the fact that Newsom supported it. The bill, which Krell wrote with a Republican legislator, was an attempt to fix loopholes in Senate Bill 1414. The Assembly passed that bill last year, making it a felony to pay for sex with minors – with the exception of 16- and 17-year-olds. In debating the bill, Assembly members also argued vehemently about how to clean up a mess of their own making − the real-world fallout that occurred after they enacted a law that decriminalized loitering while selling sex on the streets. A local news report noted that the law has led to "vast swathes of urban areas in California" becoming "open prostitution zones." It's ordinary citizens who often have to suffer the unintended consequences of so many progressive ideas. Opinion: Scott Jennings gives conservatives a voice on CNN. The media should listen. After a public outcry and a nudge from Newsom, Krell's bill, resurrected by a fellow Democrat, has now passed the Assembly and awaits action in the state Senate. But it's frustrating and sad to see California progressives waste so much time and energy fighting legislation that would protect children − and yes, a 16-year-old is still a child, legally and developmentally − from the horrors of sex trafficking. Homeless crisis another sign of failed progressive policy When visiting Los Angeles, I am always saddened by the extraordinary number of people in the city − more than 45,000 − who are struggling with homelessness. I also think that a state that boasts the largest GDP in the country − and the fourth-largest economy in the world − surely has the financial resources necessary to get Californians in need back on their feet. Yet, progressives in California, Newsom included, have tried for decades to reduce homelessness in the state. They have failed − badly and repeatedly. Even Newsom admits that failure. In a May 12 press conference commenting on the homeless crisis, the governor suddenly sounded tough. "I'm not interested anymore, period, full stop, in funding failure," he said. Newsom might not be interested in funding failure any longer, but that's precisely what he's done for years. Since Newsom took office in 2019, the state has spent more than $20 billion on efforts to reduce homelessness. The result? The number of people without a home to call their own has gone up. If he does run for president, Newsom will have a hard time explaining away that debacle to voters in Florida, Pennsylvania and Texas who will rightly wonder if he'll waste their tax dollars on expensive failures. Newsom may fool some moderate Democrats with his sudden shift to the middle, but the rest of us won't forget the long history of progressive failures that have hurt Californians under his watch. Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids. Sign up for her newsletter, The Right Track, and get it delivered to your inbox.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Landowners, energy industry at odds over bills limiting CO2 pipelines in North Dakota
David Moch of Hazelton testifies Jan. 30, 2025, on a bill related to carbon dioxide pipelines. (Jeff Beach/North Dakota Monitor) David Moch signed an easement agreement with Summit Carbon Solution allowing the carbon capture project developer to put a pipeline through his land, but he said signed only because of the threat of eminent domain — a court ordering him to provide a right-of-way for the pipeline. Moch, of Hazelton, said he spent $9,600 on a lawyer to ensure he had the strongest agreement possible, but he is still opposed to the pipeline and its potential use of eminent domain. Moch was among those who testified Thursday in favor of bills that limit the ability of Summit and other carbon pipeline developers to use eminent domain. Carbon pipeline bills set for hearings in North Dakota this week Summit Carbon Solutions is an Iowa-based company seeking to build a $9 billion five-state network of pipelines capturing CO2 emissions from ethanol plants. Summit's pipeline would send the CO2 for permanent underground storage in western North Dakota. Summit Carbon Solutions officials and representatives from the ethanol, coal and oil and gas industries testified against the bills. 'This will disqualify current projects in development and immediately stop the investment in the North Dakota CO2 industry,' said Charlie Adams, manager of agriculture and stakeholder relations with Summit. Several opponents of the bills pointed to a study by the North Dakota tax commissioner projecting the tax revenue that could come from oil production if enhanced oil recovery — using carbon dioxide to force more oil out of wells — were adopted in North Dakota. David Nehring, who also works as manager of agriculture and stakeholder relations with Summit, said Summit has not been approached about using its CO2 for enhanced oil recovery but could be in the future. 'I would like to see it be used in the Bakken for EOR,' he said. Summit's pipeline permit in North Dakota specifies that the carbon dioxide be stored permanently. Moch and Nehring testified on House Bill 1292 that strips common carrier status from carbon pipelines. Being a common carrier pipeline — transporting goods for hire — is a factor in pursuing eminent domain. Two other bills heard Thursday, Senate Bill 2322 and House Bill 1414, would also strip common carrier status from carbon dioxide pipelines and more specifically state that eminent domain could not be used for carbon pipelines. Adams testified that Summit has signed about 85% of landowners to voluntary easement agreements. Frances Robinson of Emmons County said Summit bullied landowners with the threat of eminent domain to obtain easements. 'If they tried the same tactics now, there would be a very different result,' she testified. Study pegs potential $9 billion tax impact for CO2 in North Dakota oil wells Sen. Jeff Magrum, R-Hazelton, the sponsor of the Senate bill, argued that it is too easy to claim common carrier status in North Dakota and that the only way to show a company like Summit is not a common carrier is to take the company to court, which is expensive for landowners. He also cited a South Dakota Supreme Court ruling that said Summit has not shown that it is a common carrier. Ron Ness, executive director of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, said the bills are not just about the Summit project but other pipelines yet to be planned that could carry carbon dioxide to North Dakota oil wells. 'What are we going to need in two years, five years, 10 years down the road?' Ness asked. 'It's going to take a lot of gas to supercharge the Bakken.' Zach Cassidy of the Dakota Resource Council, an environmental group, was among those who questioned the safety of such a large high-pressure hazardous materials pipeline. 'People's lives are potentially at risk,' Cassidy said. 'It should be their choice whether or not to take that risk for their family, for the paycheck that they get.' No action was taken on the bills, which represent just a few related to carbon capture. Senate Majority Leader David Hogue, R-Minot, and House Majority Leader Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, on Thursday issued a news release supporting carbon pipelines. 'Our baseload coal industry must capture and store its CO2 to stay viable. Our corn and ethanol industries must access low-carbon fuels markets to stay competitive and keep the internal combustion engine competitive,' Hogue said. Also Thursday, the House voted 86-7 to advance House Bill 1258, which gives the state authority over setback rules for electric transmission lines, similar to the rules for pipeline regulation. The bill goes to the Senate for further consideration. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
