Latest news with #Democrat-held
Ottawa Citizen
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Ottawa Citizen
B.C. government's father-knows-best approach to housing mirrors U.S. trend
Article content It's the cliché of all corporate clichés: 'We need to cut red tape.' Article content Article content B.C. NDP Premier David Eby, in a turnaround from earlier days, has fervently embraced this overworked business slogan to weaken regulatory guardrails. He's particularly doing so in response to the housing industry. Article content The most obvious way Eby has been trying to cut so-called bureaucracy in recent weeks is by attempting to ram through Bills 13, 14 and 15 in a way that critics say would hand his government immense centralized power. Article content Article content So far, most news coverage of the many complaints being made against the fast-tracked bills, which aim to expedite the province's pet schemes, has been on the dangers the proposed legislation poses to the environment and Indigenous groups. Article content Article content But it's also emerging that Eby's power grabs, in the name of getting big things done efficiently, will severely restrict the independence that thousands of B.C. civic politicians once had to shape their cities and towns. Article content Without saying so, Eby is, in effect, adopting the ideology of a new movement among centre-left politicians in the United States called 'abundance liberalism.' Article content This push represents an about-face from the left's traditional approach: Not long ago, progressives were spotlighting the importance of choice, citizens' views and environmental, safety and social regulations. Article content Instead of aiming for careful, sustainable growth, however, 'abundance liberalism' shouts yes to gung-ho expansionism. It's coming out of the U.S. in response to the decline of Democrat-held states, like California, which have been falling behind less regulated jurisdictions held by Republicans, like Florida and Texas. Article content Article content The shift is spelled out in two new books from the centre-left. Why Nothing Works, by Mark Dunkelman of Brown University, and Abundance, by prominent journalists Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, argue that excessive regulation has hurt America by blocking house building and infrastructure. Article content Article content There is little doubt red tape has slowed down some important projects. But it shouldn't be ignored that Eby, by wholeheartedly adopting the unrestricted capitalist attitudes of 'abundance liberalism,' is basically saying goodbye to his earlier self. Article content Since Eby joined the NDP caucus in 2013, his party did everything it could to block some mega projects, such as the Site C dam and the expanded Trans Mountain pipeline. Eby also brought in rules to slow down how foreign capital was distorting housing prices. Article content Back then he was attempting to protect locals.
Vancouver Sun
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. government's father-knows-best approach to housing mirrors U.S. trend
It's the cliché of all corporate clichés: 'We need to cut red tape.' B.C. NDP Premier David Eby, in a turnaround from earlier days, has fervently embraced this overworked business slogan to weaken regulatory guardrails. He's particularly doing so in response to the housing industry. The most obvious way Eby has been trying to cut so-called bureaucracy in recent weeks is by attempting to ram through Bills 13, 14 and 15 in a way that critics say would hand his government immense centralized power. So far, most news coverage of the many complaints being made against the fast-tracked bills, which aim to expedite the province's pet schemes, has been on the dangers the proposed legislation poses to the environment and Indigenous groups . Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Westcoast Homes will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. But it's also emerging that Eby's power grabs, in the name of getting big things done efficiently, will severely restrict the independence that thousands of B.C. civic politicians once had to shape their cities and towns. Without saying so, Eby is, in effect, adopting the ideology of a new movement among centre-left politicians in the United States called 'abundance liberalism.' This push represents an about-face from the left's traditional approach: Not long ago, progressives were spotlighting the importance of choice, citizens' views and environmental, safety and social regulations. Instead of aiming for careful, sustainable growth, however, 'abundance liberalism' shouts yes to gung-ho expansionism. It's coming out of the U.S. in response to the decline of Democrat-held states, like California, which have been falling behind less regulated jurisdictions held by Republicans, like Florida and Texas. The shift is spelled out in two new books from the centre-left. Why Nothing Works, by Mark Dunkelman of Brown University, and Abundance, by prominent journalists Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, argue that excessive regulation has hurt America by blocking house building and infrastructure. There is little doubt red tape has slowed down some important projects. But it shouldn't be ignored that Eby, by wholeheartedly adopting the unrestricted capitalist attitudes of 'abundance liberalism,' is basically saying goodbye to his earlier self. Since Eby joined the NDP caucus in 2013, his party did everything it could to block some mega projects, such as the Site C dam and the expanded Trans Mountain pipeline. Eby also brought in rules to slow down how foreign capital was distorting housing prices. Back then he was attempting to protect locals. This new cut-red-tape, father-knows-best version of Eby is radically different from his earlier public persona, particularly when, as a civil rights lawyer for Pivot Legal Society, he co-wrote the book How to Sue the Police . The 108-page book details how B.C. residents should fight tooth and nail against any overreach by the state. In the name of cutting 'red tape' around housing and other projects, the B.C. premier is grasping too much power, say critics. That was then. Now the Union of B.C. Municipalities complains that Eby's Bill 15 is basically a sledgehammer that 'provides the cabinet with extraordinary powers to override regulations, including local government official community plans, zoning bylaw amendment and subdivision approval processes.' Dense, complex and opaque to non-professionals, Bills 13 and 15 are coming down the pike while mayors and councillors are still trying to recover from sweeping legislation the NDP brought in two years ago. Victoria's earlier upzoning bills forced municipalities with at least 5,000 residents to approve four- to six-unit dwellings on single-family lots, and to automatically OK extensive highrise clusters of up to 20 storeys around SkyTrain stations and transit hubs. 'As has been proven in the past, a fast-tracked approach that skips over consultation is more likely to lead to unintended consequences,' says the UBCM's most recent public alarm. Municipal planners, including the mayors of Surrey, Burnaby, and Port Coquitlam, have been saying for two years the NDP's blanket provincewide upzoning is set to overwhelm sewer, water and electricity hookups , reduce parking and cut into green space. Worse yet, they say, the upzoning is not doing what Victoria intended: easing the housing affordability crisis. Instead, it's raising both land prices and property taxes. It's also limiting civic politicians' leverage in demanding community amenities from developers. Cityhallwatch, an independent organization monitoring Metro Vancouver politics for 15 years, says Bills 13 and 15 represent 'a full transfer of land use authority from municipalities to the province.' 'The misleadingly named Bill 13 (Miscellanous Statutes Amendment Act) and Bill 15 (Infrastructure Projects Act) give the province the legislative power to fully implement and approve all zoning and development regulations directly, while bypassing municipalities,' says Cityhallwatch's co-founder, Randy Helten. 'This is extreme provincial overreach into municipal jurisdiction and gives the province the powers to directly implement what they approved (in earlier bills) if municipalities don't co-operate or do it fast enough.' In an opinion piece in Tuesday's Vancouver Sun, UBC planning instructor Erick Villagomez cogently argued that Bills 13 and 15 'mark a profound departure from the planning principles that have governed B.C. cities for decades.' 'Where previous legislation set targets, these bills enforce compliance,' Villagomez said. 'Provincial mandates become de facto zoning. It's a change in who gets to decide what cities look like.' It's also not being lost on watchdogs that Eby's draconian moves to streamline, to put it euphemistically, the housing rules set by municipalities aligns with the demands of B.C.'s property developers and their allies. The B.C. government has regularly met with the Urban Development Institute, which represents developers, and these latest bills give it more of what it wants. It's the same with members of a pro-developer group called Abundant Housing: Daniel Oleksiuk and Peter Waldkirch. The sirens of concern being raised about an overactive NDP government are not meant to deny that some regulations have become too convoluted and costly. But unintended consequences will flow from the dominance Eby's government is determined to grab on urban policy. These bills could be quite damaging — and not only to the livability of B.C.'s towns and cities. But also to democracy, and especially to the public's already wavering trust in its elected leaders. dtodd@
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Popular GOP Gov Brian Kemp announces whether he'll run for Senate in battleground Georgia
Two-term Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, who was the GOP's top Senate recruit in battleground Georgia for next year's midterm elections, announced Monday that he is passing on launching a campaign. "Over the last few weeks, I have had many conversations with friends, supporters, and leaders across the country who encouraged me to run for the U.S. Senate in 2026. I greatly appreciate their support and prayers for our family. After those discussions, I have decided that being on the ballot next year is not the right decision for me and my family," Kemp said in a social media post. The popular conservative governor, who is term-limited and prevented from seeking re-election in 2026, was the GOP's dream candidate to take on Democrat Sen. Jon Ossoff, who is considered vulnerable, as Republicans aim to expand their 53-47 Senate majority next year. First On Fox: Republican Launches Second Straight Bid To Flip Democrat-held Senate Seat In Key Battleground Ossoff, who is running for a second six-year term in the Senate after flipping the seat with a razor-thin victory in a January 2021 runoff election, is a top target of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) in a state that President Donald Trump narrowly carried last November. Only On Fox News: Senate Republican Campaign Chair Reveals How Many Seats He's Aiming For In 2026 Read On The Fox News App "Republicans have a number of strong candidates who can build a winning coalition to add this seat to President Trump's Senate Majority," NRSC communications director Joanna Rodriguez told Fox News in a statement. Kemp, in his social media post, said that he "spoke with President Trump and Senate leadership earlier today and expressed my commitment to work alongside them to ensure we have a strong Republican nominee who can win next November." The governor, who has been courted to run for the Senate for months, told Fox News Digital in a February interview that while he was in the middle of Georgia's legislative session, "I know I can't keep holding out forever, so we'll have something to say on that down the road." Why Pete Buttigieg Said No To Running For The Senate Next Year In Michigan Kemp, who is currently chair of the Republican Governors Association, also said "we need to flip that seat. We should have a Republican in that seat, and I believe we'll have one after the '26 election." But with Kemp out of the picture, the GOP faces the prospect of a crowded and potentially divisive primary that could include Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a top Trump supporter in the House who enjoys massive name recognition but is seen by pundits as too toxic to court crucial independent voters needed to win the general election. Among the other Republicans who have expressed interest in running if Kemp were to bow out are Reps. Buddy Carter, Mike Collins, and Rich McCormick, and state Insurance Commissioner John King. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, asked about Kemp's announcement, told "obviously we're disappointed about that. He, of course, would have been a great candidate, but as I've said before, that race is going to be competitive either way. And the good news is there's a lot of interest. I mean, there are a lot of people who want to run for that -- for the Republican nomination. So it'll be competitive." The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee highlighted Kemp's announcement. "Brian Kemp's decision to not run for Senate in 2026 is yet another embarrassing Republican Senate recruitment failure as they face a building midterm backlash where every GOP candidate will be forced to answer for Trump's harmful agenda. Senate Republicans' toxic agenda and recruitment failures put their majority at risk in 2026," DSCC communications director Maeve Coyle said in a statement. Fox News' Kelly Phares contributed to this reportOriginal article source: Popular GOP Gov Brian Kemp announces whether he'll run for Senate in battleground Georgia
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Candidate filing begins for 9 Washington state legislative seats
The Washington state Capitol on April 18, 2025. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard) The curtain is officially rising on Washington's 2025 election season. Candidates can begin filing at 8 a.m. Monday for more than 3,200 seats on city councils, county commissions, school boards, and special districts. They must turn in declarations and pay any fees by 5 p.m. Friday. There are contests for nine Democrat-held legislative seats. Eight involve lawmakers appointed for the just-completed session who are seeking to stay in office. Winners will serve through 2026. One race is to fill the vacancy created by the death of Democratic state Sen. Bill Ramos in April. The victor in November will serve the remaining three years of the term. Here's where things stand as filing gets underway. 26th District: Sen. Deb Krishnadasan, a Gig Harbor Democrat, wants to keep the seat she was appointed to after the district's former state senator, Emily Randall, was elected to Congress. The district covers parts of Kitsap and Pierce Counties. Republican state Rep. Michelle Caldier of Gig Harbor is the lone GOP challenger to emerge so far. 33rd District: Sen. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, served in the state House until she was chosen to succeed Sen. Karen Keiser, who retired. Orwall was the only candidate with a campaign committee as of Friday. The district includes Burien, Normandy Park, Des Moines, SeaTac, and much of Kent. 34th District: Sen. Emily Alvarado, D-Seattle, moved from the House to the Senate to replace Joe Nguyen when Gov. Bob Ferguson named him to lead the state Department of Commerce. The district includes West Seattle, Vashon Island, White Center, and part of Burien. 48th District: Sen. Vandana Slatter, D-Bellevue, served in the House until being appointed to succeed Patty Kuderer, following her election as Washington's insurance commissioner. Rep. Amy Walen, D-Kirkland, who also sought the appointment, is challenging her former seatmate. The district covers communities in Redmond, Bellevue and Kirkland. 5th District: No one had publicly announced their candidacy as of Sunday. Meanwhile, a Democrat will be appointed to serve in the office through the election. That process is expected to get underway this month. The district covers Issaquah, Black Diamond, Covington, and part of Snoqualmie. 33rd District: Rep. Edwin Obras, D-SeaTac, was appointed to fill Orwall's House seat. Kevin Schilling, a Democrat and the mayor of Burien, is gearing up to challenge him. 34th District: Rep. Brianna Thomas, D-West Seattle, was tapped to succeed Alvarado in the House. 41st District: Rep. Janice Zahn, D-Bellevue, was appointed to replace Tana Senn who resigned to join Ferguson's administration as secretary of the Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The district includes Mercer Island, Newcastle and part of Bellevue. 48th District: Rep. Osman Salahuddin, D-Redmond, was chosen to replace Slatter.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
House Dem jumps into crowded Michigan Senate race
Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich. took aim at President Donald Trump on Tuesday as she launched a bid for the open U.S. Senate seat in the crucial Great Lakes battleground state. In a video announcing her candidacy, Stevens was flanked by vehicles as she criticized the Trump administration's tariff policies and vows to protect Michigan's auto industry. "[Trump's] chaos and reckless tariffs are putting tens of thousands of Michigan jobs at risk," Stevens charged. She also accused the Trump administration of bringing "chaos." "Haley will work to bring down costs for Michigan families, continue to boost Michigan's manufacturing and auto industries, and stand up to the Trump-Musk chaos agenda," a statement on Stevens' campaign website reads. Republican Launches Second Straight Bid To Flip Democrat-held Senate Seat In Key Battleground Stevens, who has represented a seat covering parts of suburban Detroit since first winning election to Congress in 2018, highlighted her work to improve America's auto industry during the Obama administration – and included a clip of former President Barack Obama giving her a shoutout. Read On The Fox News App Stevens is the third prominent Democrat to throw her hat in the ring in the 2026 race to succeed retiring two-term Democratic Sen. Gary Peters. Earlier this month, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a rising star in the party, announced her candidacy. McMorrow gained national attention in 2022, thanks to a viral speech she gave in the Michigan Senate as she forcefully pushed back against a Republican lawmaker who had accused her of "grooming" children. Abdul El-Sayed, the former director of Wayne County's Department of Health, jumped into the race last week. El-Sayed, who ran unsuccessfully for the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial nomination, was endorsed by progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., as he launched his Senate bid. Former Michigan state House Speaker Joe Tate is also seriously considering a run for the Democratic Senate nomination. Last month, Pete Buttigieg, a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate who later served as Transportation Secretary in former President Joe Biden's administration, ruled out a campaign after seriously considering a bid. Longtime House Republican Weighs Run To Flip Dem-held Senate Seat In Key Battleground As Fox News first reported, former Rep. Mike Rogers, who was the GOP Senate nominee in Michigan in last year's election, last week launched a second straight Republican run for the Senate. Rogers, a former FBI special agent who later served as chair of the House Intelligence Committee during his tenure in Congress, narrowly lost to Rep. Elissa Slotkin, the Democrats' nominee, in last November's election in the race to succeed longtime Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow, who retired. Slotkin, who vastly outspent Rogers, edged him by roughly 19,000 votes, or a third of a percentage point. But Rogers may not have the GOP field to himself. Earlier this month, longtime Michigan Republican Rep. Bill Huizenga told Fox News that his phone "hasn't stopped ringing" since Peters' announcement. The Senate race in Michigan is expected to be one of the most high profile and expensive contests of the 2026 election cycle. The seat is one of three held by the Democrats that the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is planning to heavily target as it aims to expand the GOP's current 53-47 majority in the chamber. The other two are in New Hampshire, where longtime Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is retiring rather than running for re-election in 2026, and Georgia, where the GOP considers a first-term Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff article source: House Dem jumps into crowded Michigan Senate race
