Latest news with #Houlahan
Forbes
29-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
What Pennsylvania Teaches Us About Bipartisanship
Screenshot - Pennsylvania Climate Change - 'My district itself is 40% Democrat, 40% Republican, and 20% independent. So I'm a good kind of little Petri dish case study of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the country at large,' Pennsylvania Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan told me in an exclusive interview on Electric Ladies Podcast. With all walks of life – urban, suburban, rural, Democrats, Republicans, independents, Pennsylvania is the ultimate swing state and could teach us about how to move forward on a bipartisan basis. They voted for Donald Trump in 2016, for Joe Biden in 2020, and then back to Donald Trump by less than 1% in 2024. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA 06). ca. 14 November 2018. (Photo by: HUM Images/Universal Images Group ... More via Getty Images) Houlahan represents Pennsylvania's sixth district as a Democrat, bringing her experiences as an Air Force veteran, an educator who worked with Teach for America and taught 11th grade science in Philadelphia, and an entrepreneur. She also comes from an immigrant background, with her grandparents and parents as Holocaust survivors, and from a military family (her father and grandfather served in the Navy). She's also one of only a couple of dozen Members of Congress with a STEM background – in science, technology, engineering and math – which concerns her since nearly every issue intersects with STEM today. She earned her engineering degree at Stanford (with an ROTC scholarship) and her Master of Science degree in Technology and policy from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). That's why she founded and Co-chairs the Women in STEM Caucus too, which she told me is bipartisan. She's also Co-Chair of the 60-member Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus. Pennsylvanians reflect bipartisan support for clean energy and the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Act. The majority supports increasing clean energy in the state, 76% overall, including 84% of independents and 59% of Republicans, according to research by the Global Strategy Group. 'I just believe that we're fundamentally a very pragmatic people who really think hard, are well educated, in different ways, to understand the complexity of all problems that we have,' including energy, 'and we can find solutions that are pragmatic as well,' Houlahan insisted. Graphic on support for energy in Pennsylvania, Global Strategy Group research - 2025 'Our planet is under attack and we do have an energy crisis and we do need to move towards renewable and sustainable energies more rapidly than we are. And I think the people of our community, my community, recognize that.' Despite the report's finding that 'Overwhelming majorities of voters support significantly increasing the use of clean energy in Pennsylvania,' in 2024, Pennsylvanians voted for Donald Trump and a Republican Senator both of whom are against those programs, while also voting for Houlahan and other Democrats, who do support those programs. So, how do you reach bipartisanship on climate and clean energy issues? Here are issues Houlahan said she focuses on to do so: Pennsylvania is slated to receive over $16.7 billion in funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), with the majority earmarked for desperately needed repairs and upgrades to roadways, bridges, water systems, public transit, and airports, according to the US Department of Transportation. It's all at risk in the GOP-led bill. American Society of Civil Engineers, Pennsylvania infrastructure report card 2025 Sherri Goodman book - Threat Multiplier, Island Press 2024 Sherri Goodman, former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Environmental Security, coining the phrase 'threat multiplier,' to describe climate decades ago, because it exacerbates all other security threats. She explained it in her new book, 'Threat Multiplier: climate change, military leadership and global security.'
Otago Daily Times
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Unusual backdrop to DCC plan hearing
Walk-outs, insults, political manoeuvring and cackling councillors. It was anything but your usual Dunedin City Council meeting. Ruby Shaw and Grant Miller explore why this year's long-term plan hearing was overshadowed by the drama. As the volunteer driver of Dunedin's campaign ambulance answered questions on his long-term-plan submission, a ''guffawing'' or perhaps a sniggering caught him by surprise. To his left, Mike Waddell saw Dunedin city councillor Carmen Houlahan rolling her eyes and heaving an exasperated sigh, actions he says were mirrored by Cr Jim O'Malley. Their response to his concerns on a proposed Smooth Hill landfill struck him as ''appalling'', and he told them so - ''it's a sad reflection when people are starting to laugh around the table,'' he said. ''Where is the respect?'' Speaking to the Otago Daily Times a few days later, Mr Waddell said the interaction was ''pretty awful''. The council had called for submissions and it was the councillors' job to listen, ''not to belittle people''. The reaction from Crs Houlahan and O'Malley was unprofessional - '''could do better' would be on the school report,'' he said. There were plenty of moments at last week's long-term-plan hearing that suggested more than usual was on the line. On the second day, three councillors walked out in protest, one was ejected and two submitters said they were being disrespected by councillors. By the final day, mayoral hopeful Andrew Simms and developer Allan Dippie were squaring up over the Smooth Hill landfill - airing ''colourful'' emails which disparaged the current crop of elected officials as ''weird'', ''woke'' and talentless. Cr Houlahan apologised if she upset Mr Waddell and Cr O'Malley had apologised for snorting during submitter Sarah Ramsay's presentation, who also opposed the Smooth Hill landfill. Mrs Ramsay stopped her presentation to chastise poor behaviour, saying ''I don't appreciate councillors laughing at me''. Both councillors said they were irked at submitters peddling incorrect information on Smooth Hill put forward by election candidates. So what was different about this year's long term plan hearing? Three councillors have pointed to an unusual set of circumstances, which meant the hearing was held in election year instead of halfway through the council term. In 2024, the Dunedin City Council deferred its long-term-plan a year amid uncertainty about transport funding and Three Waters reform. On top of this, mayoral candidate Andrew Simms launched an early, well-funded campaign for office in January, which was in full swing as long-term-plan hearings began. This meant the usual diet of earnest appeals for council to build more cycleways and improve playgrounds has been spiced up with a healthy helping of political point-scoring. Mr Simms has been vocal in his opposition to the council's planned $92.4m landfill at Smooth Hill, near Brighton - ads from his Future Dunedin campaign have said waste should be sent to an existing, privately operated site in Winton. Mr Waddell and Mrs Ramsay happened to be making submissions about the topic which has so far dominated the election year. Clearly Mr Simms' campaign had hit a nerve and, when his talking points were recounted by others during the hearing, councillors were drawn into debate as they tried to explain the council's position. Cr O'Malley said there was little point in having hearings if ''misinformation and political manoeuvring'' entered the process. ''Having these hearings during an election year has resulted in some presenters coming... armed with positions put forward by council and mayoral candidates that are factually incorrect,'' Cr O'Malley in turn said. ''When those presenters are informed the position is incorrect, some have then doubled down and some have been very casual in their language to councillors.'' Cr Houlahan said she was frustrated at the amount of false information ''being pushed'' by election candidates. Cr Sophie Barker said she was unhappy the long-term plan was being done in an election year. ''There's too much politics entering into the process and too many distractions for people,'' she said. ''It also means that we sign off the plan, then go straight into an election - the next council could quickly change the plan and budget.'' A defining point of last week's hearing came on its final day, when Mr Dippie and Mr Simms butted heads over the Smooth Hill landfill. Mr Dippie called Future Dunedin's ads opposing the landfill ''wild, alarmist [and] extremist'' trying to ''be populist'' ahead of the election. He told councillors he and Mr Simms had exchanged ''colourful'' emails on the matter. In response, Mr Simms read from Mr Dippie's colourful emails. ''Just look at the lack of talent and the general weirdness and wokeness of some of the present councillors - probably the best money they have ever been on and ever will be,'' Mr Simms read, before Cr Bill Acklin raised a point of order, upheld by the mayor. Mr Dippie told the ODThe received unusual responses when he later apologised to councillors. Some of replies to his apology included: ''I totally agree with your weird and woke comment, no apology needed from me'' and ''Thanks for your email. No offence taken. Your submission was so refreshing thank you. It was great.'' Cr Steve Walker said: ''I'm hard to offend Allan, so no issue from me. To be honest, I've begun taking it as a compliment being referred to as woke!'' Mr Simms said he was surprised some councillors had supported Mr Dippie's comments though long-term-plan decisions would ''inevitably'' be impacted by the looming election, he said. ''I can absolutely see that Mr Dippie's personal attack on me will have suited some of them who may feel threatened by my campaign, but that doesn't excuse them condoning that type of language and that type of behaviour. ''I have no doubt that some of the hostility that I received during those hearings... was as a result of being a candidate essentially - it's human nature, isn't it?'' Future Dunedin had no sitting councillors, which gave them the ability to focus on campaigning earlier, Mr Simms said. ''And I guess to try and establish a profile, particularly in respect to the big issues that are facing the city.'' One of those issues he had established a profile on was the Smooth Hill landfill, which he acknowledged he and Mr Dippie had ''very different'' views on. ''I'm still yet to understand why Allan found it necessary to launch a scathing attack on myself and candidates and sitting councillors in order to express that view. Cr Lee Vandervis said the ''spat'' between Mr Dippie and Mr Simms was an entertaining look into how ''some wealthy people viewed elected representatives''. Last year, council chief executive Sandy Graham had found a single word to express a similar view to Mr Dippie's, Cr Vandervis said, referring to an ODT article last year which revealed Ms Graham had referred to the mayor and councillors as ''f... tards''. Hearing chairman Mr Radich was blamed by some councillors for allowing poor behaviour. The hearing's constant obstruction was Mr Radich's ''general incompetence... and the mystery and inconsistency of his rulings'', Cr David Benson-Pope said. ''After a term as mayor things ain't coming together.'' Cr Steve Walker said departure from previous LTP hearings was on Mr Radich. ''Councillor conduct is only EVER as good as the chair's ability to run a good meeting.'' Cr Lee Vandervis said the mayor yielded to ''precious sensitivities of councillors'' by allowing rudeness towards submitters critical of council. Mr Radich said it was disappointing to see some councillors blame him as chairman, rather than taking personal responsibility for their own behaviour. ''But my focus remains on the big issues facing our city. Submitters' concerns raised about councillor conduct were addressed at the time, he said. ''I encourage councillors to learn from this and avoid repeating the types of behaviour that disrupt meetings and erode the confidence our community should have in us all.'' Cr Barker said elected members lack of respect was a low-point and Cr Benson-Pope said there was certainly more poor behaviour from councillors than previous long-term-plan hearings. Cr Kevin Gilbert said despite a few lapses, councillor conduct was broadly fine. ''I am still perplexed at the ease with which points of order get raised from some seats, and with the freedom that opinion and fact can get confused.'' In an email sent to staff after the hearing, Cr Christine Garey commended them and said: ''elected members could well take a leaf out of your book''. Despite being critical of their peers' conduct, several councillors noted the high quality and variety of submissions and speakers who broadly understanding finances were stretched across households, organisations and the council alike. Council deliberations on the long-term-plan will run from May 26-29. The plan is expected to be formally adopted in June.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Completion of Reading High School Innovation Academy in jeopardy
Completion of the new Reading High School Innovation Academy is in jeopardy, the Reading School District announced. The U.S. Department of Education in March revoked more than $51 million in previously approved federal funds designated for the project, the district said in a news release, noting the significant funding gap could delay or jeopardize construction of the academy. 'It has been recommended that we stop progress on the Innovation Academy,' Dr. Jennifer Murray, district superintendent said Wednesday at the school board's voting meeting. The new facility, underway at Ninth and Douglass streets, is designed to reduce overcrowding at Reading High and expand science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, academic opportunities for students. 'Our community has made tremendous progress, and this facility is critical to continuing that upward trajectory,' Murray said in a statement. 'To lose these funds now would not only harm our students, but it would also reverse years of work to provide them with the opportunities they deserve.' The district is working with its solicitor, the state Department of Education, state and federal legislators, representatives of Gov. Josh Shapiro's office and others, Murray said. 'Anybody who will listen to us,' she noted. 'We are waiting for guidance.' Earlier this month, Gov. Shapiro joined a multistate lawsuit with 15 other states and the District of Columbia challenging the Trump Administration's decision to abruptly revoke $185 million in funding owed to Pennsylvania, much of which the U.S. Department of Education had already approved for distribution. These funds include $183.6 million owed to 116 Pennsylvania school districts, charter schools, intermediate units and career and technical centers, and $1.8 million owed to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, according to the state website. Last week, local and state leaders, including U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan and state Sen. Judy Schwank, toured the partly built academy to observe construction progress and meet with district leaders. Houlahan praised the facility's potential but expressed concern about the loss of federal support, the district said. 'Let me be clear: our government must stand by its word,' Houlahan said in a statement. 'These federal funds, secured by the American Rescue Plan Act that I proudly voted for in 2021 and duly appropriated by Congress, must be distributed as promised. For President Trump and his administration to claw back Congressionally approved and appropriated funding is illegal.' Houlahan said she fully supports Gov. Shapiro's lawsuit to challenge this decision in court. 'If these funds are not delivered as promised, the people of Reading will suffer financial consequences and that's not right,' Houlahan said. The students of Reading want and deserve a high school to prepare them for the competitive jobs of the 21st century, she said. 'That's exactly what they will gain with a STEM education,' Houlahan said. 'There's nothing efficient about a halfway built school. The Trump administration's decision is absolutely punitive and foolish.' The district was originally awarded more than $104 million in American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief, or ARP ESSER, funds. Of that, approximately $77 million has been spent or committed to the academy and other construction projects, including heating, ventilating and air conditioning improvements across the district. The initial deadline for expenditure of the funds was September 30, 2024, with additional 90 days to distribute all the funds, but the district was granted an extension for another 14 to 18 months to complete the project, Murray said Wednesday at a meeting of the school board. The extension was needed primarily due to the unexpected discovery of bedrock that required blasting at the academy site, she said, and post pandemic issues with obtaining adequate building supplies. U.S. D.E.P. has now reversed its earlier decision on the extension, citing regulatory timelines and a shift in federal priorities post-pandemic. As a result, Murray said, the district risks losing more than $51 million in total. This includes $23.8 million already spent but not yet reimbursed, and another $27.5 million in pending obligations. 'We followed every guideline and were granted an extension that aligned with our project timeline,' said Wayne Gehris, district chief financial officer. 'Now we've told those funds are no longer available. This puts the future of the Innovation Academy in question and creates a financial challenge we haven't seen in more than a decade.' Despite the challenge, district leaders say they are committed to exploring every available option to close the funding gap. The district said it is also evaluating potential legal options. 'Our students deserve access to state-of-the-art learning environments, just like students in other communities,' said Gehris. 'We're doing everything we can to ensure this building is completed.' For updates on the RHS Innovation Academy project, visit
Associated Press
14-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Prominence Global Launches Skilled Talent Shortage Solution
Prominence Global's Remote Team Connect solves the talent shortage with fast, cost-effective, AI-led offshore hiring across key global regions. 'It wasn't easy letting go of a team structure that had worked well for years. It had worked for businesses before, so we had to figure out a completely new approach if the business was to survive.'— Adam Houlahan - Founder and CEO VARSITY LAKES, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA, April 14, 2025 / / -- Small-to-medium-sized businesses in the Western world are still in the grip of a worldwide talent shortage. Finding the right people is crucial to success in an increasingly volatile and competitive landscape. Not only that, but salary demands are escalating rapidly putting relentless pressure on business budgets. LinkedIn marketing agency Prominence Global has launched Remote Team Connect, a new approach to offshore talent acquisition designed to solve both of these challenges. With their philosophy of 'We eat our own cooking' Prominence Global first tested this new concept within their own business and have built a robust, flexible team spread across the Philippines, South Africa, India, Eastern Europe and three separate time zones in Australia. Houlahan describes Remote Team Connect as a marketing-led, AI-enabled offshore talent acquisition program that aims to deliver cohorts of qualified remote talent in a fraction of the time and cost of traditional recruitment. He points out that while that sounds easy in principle, it can be a tricky landscape to navigate and there are some key questions that must be addressed before starting any talent search. As most of Prominence Global's clients and existing team have English as their first language, it was imperative to target regions where most candidates would have very good English skills and time zones that would make communications manageable between team members as well as between team members and our clients. It was also a prerequisite to be sure the targeted regions had pay rate expectations that were affordable for our business yet still provided good earnings for the team members joining us. The regions that aligned best with all those criteria include The Philippines, South Africa, India, and parts of Eastern Europe, as well as Thailand and Vietnam. Given the massive impact this has had on their ability to remain in business, flexible and cost-effective during the pandemic and the aftermath, the company's clients saw the positive outcome and started requesting assistance to build teams for them in the same way the Prominence team was now structured. Remote Team Connect is Prominence Globals' response. It leverages their hard-earned knowledge of those specific labour markets and advanced experience with the LinkedIn algorithm and a purpose-built, AI-enabled process to deliver a list of at least 20 qualified candidates within 14 days. While that may still sound like recruitment - and it is - but their view is that the approach they take makes it more of a marketing play. The process is designed to position their clients in global talent markets as a trusted employer of choice for offshore talent. If you'd like to know more about how Prominence Global has created a global team at a fraction of the cost of doing it locally in your city, reach out to Houlahan on LinkedIn. Or visit their website. Adam Houlahan Prominence Global email us here Visit us on social media: Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
McConville was 'the difference' for Armagh
Ger Houlahan and Oisin McConville reminisced fondly on this week's GAA Social BBC gaelic games podcast about their time together in the Armagh football who secured an All-Star in 1993 and was part of the county's Ulster Championship winning squads in 1999 and 2000, said McConville was "the difference between Armagh being an ordinary team and being an All-Ireland team"."We had some great games but just couldn't get over the line. With him around, you always got over the line," said Houlahan, who made his county debut in 1983 and remained part of the squad until 2000."I remember Joey Donnelly who was a corner-back trying frees…..John Rafferty when you [McConville] were coming into the set-up taking frees but they were never free-kick takers. "It just came so naturally to Oisin and he was ballsy enough to score the big ones. That was the difference."In a highly entertaining podcast, McConville laughed as he recalled Houlahan's attempts to console after his sending off in the Ulster Football Championship replay against Donegal in 1999."Houlie [who was on the bench] followed me just to make sure I was OK because I went straight into the changing-room. I was absolutely devastated. I was accused of elbowing Niall McCready. I actually ended up getting it rescinded on the video evidence. "I remember saying at the time 'That's up the left now' and Houlie said 'yeah….you were our only chance'. But we actually won the game. [Diarmaid] Marsden had an absolute stormer."McConville added that he had watched the Pearse Ogs man "for 10 years with club and county"."He was an absolute wizard. His left foot was wonderful," added the current Wicklow manager."But he was so encouraging to me because he instilled confidence in me."Every single free-kick on the pitch, he's be saying 'that's your free-kick'…..no matter where it was on the pitch. He wanted me on it. I came on the panel at 18 and if you have that sort of backing, it's nice. We had great fun too."Their fun included owning a greyhound together with a couple of other Armagh squad members which raced on local sporting career included a soccer stint at Sligo Rovers and he revealed that then Portadown FC manager Ronnie McFall attempted to sign him at one point.
