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The Hill
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
GOP leaders seek to quell debt revolt
REPUBLICAN LEADERS are working to quash a revolt over debt in President Trump's agenda bill amid fierce criticism from Elon Musk and new projections from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The nonpartisan CBO said Wednesday that Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' would add $2.4 trillion to the national deficit over the next 10 years, largely driven by tax cuts, which will decrease government revenue by $3.6 trillion. Furthermore, the CBO said 11 million people would lose health insurance, either through Medicaid cuts or efforts to pare back the Affordable Care Act. The White House and GOP Congressional leaders are going on the offensive against the CBO, casting it as a partisan organization that's been wrong about their projections in the past. 'We've got a referee who likes to sack our quarterback a lot,' said House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.). Republicans insist the CBO is underestimating growth projections, arguing that deregulation and tax cuts will serve as an engine for economic growth. However, Trump's trade war got a boost from the CBO, which found government revenue from tariffs would reduce deficit levels by $2.5 trillion over the next 10 years. Still, GOP leaders are rushing to keep a lid on the brewing revolt over debt, which has been supercharged by Musk, who has fired off more than a dozen social media posts over the past 24 hours calling the bill an 'abomination' and threatening to oust Republican lawmakers who vote for it. Musk on Wednesday called on Republicans to 'kill the bill,' saying on X that 'a new spending bill should be drafted that doesn't massively grow the deficit and increase the debt ceiling by 5 TRILLION DOLLARS.' Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Trump is 'not delighted' that Musk 'did a 180' on the budget bill, which comes as the clock ticks down toward the GOP's self-imposed deadline to get the legislation through the Senate and then back through the House with almost no margin for error. Johnson cast Musk's dissent as driven by concerns about personal profits because the bill will end subsidies for electric vehicles (EVs) used by Tesla. 'I know that the EV mandate is very important to him; that is going away because the government should not be subsidizing these things as part of the Green New Deal,' Johnson said. 'I know that has an effect on his business and I lament that.' There are at least nine GOP senators who are undecided on the bill. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) can only afford to lose three members for the bill to pass the upper chamber. At least three GOP senators who oppose the bill are citing debt concerns for their opposition, including Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.). Paul says he won't vote for the bill because it raises the debt ceiling by several trillion dollars. Trump on Wednesday called for abolishing the debt ceiling altogether. Republicans on the Senate Finance Committee will meet with Trump to discuss a way forward on Wednesday afternoon. HOUSE CONCERNS GROW If the Senate reaches consensus, could debt concerns imperil the bill when the revised version is sent back to the House? The Hill's Mike Lillis and Mychael Schnell capture the House dynamics here: 'If they stand on principle and oppose the package over deficit concerns, they would sink legislation that combines virtually all of Trump's domestic policy goals and campaign promises, including an immigration crackdown and sweeping tax cuts Republicans consider must-pass items. If they support the package to lend Trump a huge win, they would be voting to grow the same deficit spending they've characterized as an existential threat to the nation's future well-being.' Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) warned Wednesday during The Hill's 'Invest in America' event that the national debt would put the U.S. at the mercy of the bond markets, which would effectively 'run the country.' Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who voted in favor of the bill last month, is having second thoughts. 'I fully understand what Elon is saying, and I agree with him to a certain extent,' she said. Greene also said she just learned about a provision in the bill that would ban state regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) for the next 10 years. She says she would have voted against the bill if she'd known about the provision. 'We don't get the full bill text until very close to the time to vote for it, and so that was one section that was two pages that I didn't see,' Greene told NewsNation. MEANWHILE… The conservative House Freedom Caucus is urging negotiators to lock in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cuts after the White House sent recissions to Capitol Hill. The recissions package would cut about $9.4 billion in government spending, much of it from public media and international aid. 'The Appropriations process provides Congress with an opportunity to demonstrate our shared commitment to fighting waste, fraud, and abuse by codifying DOGE cuts and embracing the America First agenda,' said the letter, which was sent to Reps. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the chair and ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee. 💡Perspectives: • Wall Street Journal: The American political realignment is real. • City Journal: The evolution of American conservatism. • Newsweek: Trump is ruining the country's image and economy. • The Liberal Patriot: The two-party face plant. • The Free Press: How Democrats lost men like me. Read more: • House spending hawks face moment of reckoning on Trump megabill. • Trump bill takes unfriendly fire from GOP allies. • Medicaid cuts in 'big beautiful bill' become flashpoint for GOP. • Republicans seek ObamaCare rollback in Trump's megabill. The Federal Trade Commission and Meta wrapped up a six-week trial over the Facebook and Instagram parent's alleged social networking monopoly, leaving the final decision in the hands of the judge. Here's what to know about where things stand. © Illustration / Courtney Jones; Associated Press; and Adobe Stock President Trump said Wednesday he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin following a stunning Ukrainian drone attack on Russian bombers. 'It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate Peace,' Trump posted on Truth Social. 'President Putin did say, and very strongly, that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields.' Trump said the leaders also discussed 'various other attacks that have been taking place by both sides.' Their conversation lasted for about 1 hour and 15 minutes. As peace talks have stalled, Ukraine has launched a series of audacious attacks aimed at repelling Russia's offensive posture. Ukraine used smuggled drones to strike Russia's nuclear armed air bases over the weekend. And Ukrainian officials say they blew up a bridge connecting Russia to Crimea, which is used as a supply route by Russian forces. Trump's Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg said nuclear risk levels 'are going way up' after the Ukrainian strikes. 'When you attack an opponent's part of their national survival system, which is their triad, the nuclear triad, that means your risk level goes up because you don't know what the other side is going to do,' he told Fox News. 'You're not sure.' It was Trump and Putin's first publicly known call since mid-May. Recently, Trump has been lashing out Putin over Russia's attacks against Ukraine. Officials from Ukraine and Russia met in Istanbul this week and agreed on a prisoner swap, but they remain far apart on a potential ceasefire. Trump also suggested Wednesday that Putin would help him negotiate a deal to end Iran's nuclear program. 'President Putin suggested that he will participate in the discussions with Iran and that he could, perhaps, be helpful in getting this brought to a rapid conclusion,' Trump said. President Trump on Wednesday doubled steel and aluminum tariffs to 50 percent, the latest salvo in his trade war. U.S. steelworkers praised the move, saying the tariffs will 'help prevent new surges in imports that would injure American steel producers and their workers.' Canada, a major steel exporter to the U.S., denounced the tariffs, with Prime Minister Mark Carney calling them 'unlawful and unjustified.' The new tariffs come after two federal courts found Trump's use of an emergency declaration was unlawful, although both rulings are on hold to allow for the appeals process to play out. New jobs data released Wednesday reignited debate over Trump's tariffs and the Federal Reserve's response. According to ADP, payrolls increased by only 37,000 in May, a steep drop from April's increase of 60,000, and the lowest total since March 2023. Trump pointed to the data to launch another round of attacks against Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, who has refused to lower interest rates over fears the trade war will lead to inflation. 'ADP NUMBER OUT!!! 'Too Late' Powell must now LOWER THE RATE. He is unbelievable!!! Europe has lowered NINE TIMES!' Trump posted on Truth Social. ADP chief economist Nela Richardson told reporters the 'hiring hesitancy' is a result of uncertainty around U.S. trade policies. 'It's like driving through fog for some of our firms here,' Richardson said. 'When you're in that situation, you can't really stop, but you might slow down. And so that's what we're seeing.' MEANWHILE… The White House sent a letter to trade partners urging them to cut new deals with the Trump administration during the pause in reciprocal tariffs. Trump weighed in on the state of trade talks with China, saying it's 'extremely hard to make a deal' with President Xi Jinping. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned: 'They either want to be a reliable partner to the rest of the world, or they don't.' Tensions with China are high after two Chinese citizens were charged with conspiracy for smuggling a fungus into the U.S. that the FBI described as a 'dangerous biological pathogen.' ELSEWHERE… U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is in Paris, where he met with his counterpart in the European Union to discuss trade policy. Greer said in a statement that negotiations are 'advancing quickly,' indicating a 'willingness by the EU to work with us to find a concrete way forward to achieve reciprocal trade.' © AP Photo/Susan Walsh Former President Biden's White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reveals in her forthcoming book that she's leaving the Democratic Party to become an Independent. The book, titled 'Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines,' will be released in October, with promotional materials describing it as a 'groundbreaking, revelatory assessment of America's broken two-party system.' The book comes as Washington has been gripped by revelations in the book 'Original Sin,' which details how Biden's inner circle hid his decline from the public and the press. As press secretary, Jean-Pierre had one of the most public-facing roles in the administration and would have been in regular contact with both the president and his closest advisers to shape their communications strategy. Jean-Pierre's book will 'takes us through the three weeks that led to Biden's abandoning his bid for a second term and the betrayal by the Democratic Party that led to his decision,' according to the publisher. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) is demanding interviews with some of Biden's top former aides as he expands his probe into the former president's mental acuity. • Former President Clinton is adding his voice to the bevy of political figures raising concerns that President Trump's agenda-setting 'One Big Beautiful Bill' will pile onto the country's debt. Clinton said during an event in Washington on Tuesday evening that leaders 'have to get ahold' of the national debt, which has more than tripled since he left office two decades ago. 'There are people who want to believe it doesn't matter, but it does,' Clinton said. His remarks came during a discussion with co-author James Patterson at D.C.'s Lincoln Theatre to discuss their new novel, 'The First Gentleman,' released this week. — Elizabeth Crisp • Trump and his allies are going hard after the Federalist Society, blaming the conservative judicial group for Trump's appointees that have at times intervened to block his agenda in the courts. The Hill's Zach Schonfeld and Ella Lee write in their latest issue of 'The Gavel': 'The boiling point has unleashed a rebellion pitting the Make America Great Again movement against the conservative legal stronghold that helped Trump reshape the courts during his first term by offering up conservative judges as suggestions to fill benches across the country.' 💡Perspectives: • Ross Barkin: The collapse of the professional left. • Wall Street Journal: Ukraine's drone strake a warning – for the U.S. • Spiked: Harvard brought the reckoning on itself. • The Hill: An era of political violence. • Politico: Dems set out to study young men. Here's what they found. Read more: • Army hits recruiting goal four months ahead of schedule. • Trump allies attempt DC Bar takeover. • NY Dems close ranks around Hochul amid deputy's primary revolt. • State board rejects University of Florida pick amid conservative backlash. Someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up to get your own copy: See you next time!
Politico
21-05-2025
- Health
- Politico
B-B-B-Bennies and regrets
When I first heard the term 'death spiral,' I figured it was the name of a new ride at Great Adventure. Turns out it's even more fun. It's what's happening to the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program for local government employees, and probably soon for educators as well. The Department of Treasury on Tuesday released a dead serious report about the problems plaguing the plans, which have faced huge premium increases over the last couple years and, according to the Murphy administration, are due for more without major structural reforms. The report led to finger-pointing as to who's the blame. The administration points to one big cause as the rich benefits offered, including paying for expensive hormonal weight loss drugs like Ozempic. And they say the governing bodies for the plans, split between management and labor, often deadlock. Public sector unions like the CWA and PBA call this 'scapegoating' their members, blaming 'greed' and healthcare cost, along with the administration's 'refusal to address the real drivers of increasing costs and long-term instability: profit-driven healthcare.' But nobody disputes the benefits plans are in deep crisis. Here's the death spiral part: Because rates are rising so fast, some local governments with comparatively healthy work forces can find cheaper rates in the private sector. The governments with less healthy work forces stay in, which further increases the rates. Just a few days before this report came out, Assemblymember Carmen Theresa Morales introduced legislation that would, starting in October 2026, require local governments that enroll in the local government-and-educators portions of the program to stay in at least five years. That's not a coincidence. And I doubt it's the last piece of legislation we'll see on this. FEEDBACK? Reach me at mfriedman@ WHERE'S MURPHY — No public schedule QUOTE OF THE DAY: 'I have passionate differences and disagreements with Charlie Kushner, but I supported his confirmation because he has been unrelenting in reforming our criminal justice system and has substantively helped achieve the liberation of thousands of people from unjust incarceration.' — Sen. Cory Booker, the only Democrat to vote in favor of Kushner's confirmation as ambassador to France. HAPPY BIRTHDAY — Sean Kean, Alaine Williams, Mollie Binotto, Brigid Harrison, Joshua Henne, Michael Gartland, Melissa Pollitt WHAT TRENTON MADE THE REPUBLICAN DEBATE — Republican gubernatorial candidates Jack Ciattarelli, Bill Spadea and Jon Bramnick disagreed on plenty during last night's 2.5 hour debate — much more than I can get into here. But here's one thing they agreed on:: The federal assault charges against Democratic U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver. 'If you touch a police officer, that's aggravated assault,' Bramnick said. 'You cannot obstruct. So if the video shows a congressperson or anybody else is obstructing the arrest of an individual, that's what the law is. … I just think in this environment she's got a little bit of a problem.' Spadea said: 'I would hope that a member of Congress would have more sense than to hit a police officer. I hope she is charged to the fullest extent of the law and serves whatever punishment is appropriate.' And Ciattarelli: 'Video shows that this person who you mention laid her hands on another person. So that to me says that the charges are legitimate.' (McIver is shown shoving and elbowing into officers on videos, and being shoved by one, but none show her hitting them). Where they differed on this was whether Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, whose arrest touched off the whole scuffle, should have been arrested in the first place. Habba dropped the charge against Baraka on Monday, which Bramnick said 'maybe those allegations weren't so strong.' Spadea, by contrast, said 'it's too bad' she dropped the charge against him. I thought President Trump's endorsement of Jack Ciattarelli would have played a bigger role in last night's two and a half hour presidential debate, but other than the opening statements — in which non-endorsed Bill Spadea actually brought it up first — it didn't feature heavily. 'Let me be very clear: the president endorsed a poll — a poll that was conducted and paid for by Jack's campaign,' Spadea said. Ciattarelli shot back that Trump endorsed him for a many reasons, including his electability and fundraising. 'He endorsed me because i'm the only person who can beat the Democrats in November, and the goal is to win,' he said. Bramnick, known as one of the few Republican New Jersey lawmakers who's critical of the president, just joked about it. 'I did not get the endorsement from Donald Trump. I waited up late at night. No phone call.' Bramnick, who moonlights as a stand-up comedian, had a lot of punch lines that landed. This was was my favorite, in response to a question about the Trump administration's $5,000 'baby bonus': 'I think people are good with having babies without having a bonus. They know how to do it.' —'NJ Transit strike halted but financial questions remain' —'As NJ Transit trains start to roll again on May 20, here's how talks played out' —'For the first time, group homes in N.J. would face fines for harming disabled residents' —'N.J. man arrested in Florida for alleged death threats against Gov. Phil Murphy' —"What NJ transit wage deal with union means for coming fare increase' —"NJ Transit extends ticket expiration dates after strike by engineers' TRUMP ERA HABBA: MAMMA MIA, HERE SHE GOES AGAIN — Alina Habba targeted Democrats when she became New Jersey's top prosecutor. Now she's following through, by POLITICO's Matt Friedman, Erica Orden and Ry Rivard: From the moment she was named New Jersey's interim U.S. Attorney, Alina Habba made it clear she would use the office as a political bludgeon … Habba talked to a far-right activist about turning 'New Jersey red,' announced investigations into its Democratic governor and attorney general over immigration, called out Sen. Cory Booker's hometown of Newark for crime and said 'I'm looking at you, Paterson' over the city's immigration policies. Habba, who had no prosecutorial experience but represented President Donald Trump in three civil trials in recent years, found an opening this month to make her mark, when three Democratic House members and a progressive mayor running for governor showed up to inspect a migrant detention center in Newark. … It wouldn't be the first time New Jersey's U.S. Attorney's Office has been tainted by politics. … 'Chris Christie used that office brilliantly for his own political purposes, but he didn't come at it with a meat cleaver the way she's approaching it,' said Gerry Krovatin, a prominent New Jersey defense lawyer and Democrat who has often represented clients prosecuted by the New Jersey U.S. attorney's office. — 'New Jersey Rep. LaMonica McIver faces felony assault charge in conflict at ICE facility, court filing shows" — 'DOJ sends a warning to judges and lawmakers who stoke Trump's wrath on immigration' —'Congressional hearing on ICE upended by charges against a House Democrat' —'I'm looking forward to my day in court': McIver claps back at Trump's charges —Snowflack: 'McIver case reveals the injustice of Trump's Dept. of 'Justice'' SALT — Blue-state Republicans, GOP leaders land tentative deal for $40,000 SALT deduction by POLITICO's Meredith Lee Hill and Benjamin Guggenheim: House Speaker Mike Johnson and a group of blue-state Republicans have reached a critical but tentative deal to boost the cap on state and local tax deductions to $40,000 in the GOP megabill, according to three Republicans with direct knowledge of the private agreement. The new deduction cap, which would be per household, will be limited to taxpayers making below $500,000. Under the tentative deal, the income cap and the deduction will grow 1 percent every year over a ten-year window. The deduction stays in place after the 10-year window and doesn't snap back to previous levels. President Donald Trump is expected to endorse the SALT agreement. However, GOP hard-liners and fiscal hawks who deeply oppose a higher SALT cap boost still need to sign off on the measure. FLYING BLIND — 'Newark's air traffic nightmare continues as controllers lose contact with planes a 4th time,' by NJ Advance Media's Ted Sherman: Federal Aviation Administration officials are investigating yet another outage at the air traffic control center handling flights to and from Newark Liberty International Airport — the fourth such incident reported in the past three weeks. This one was brief, lasting only seconds, and did not interfere with operations, according to the FAA. The outage affected Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control center, known as TRACON, which manages air traffic control in the airspace surrounding Newark Liberty. The facility has come under mounting scrutiny since a total radar and radio frequency blackout on April 28.' MEDICUTS — 'What GOP's Medicaid cuts could cost NJ,' by NJ Spotlight News' Lilo H. Stainton: 'New Jersey stands to lose $3.6 billion — nearly a quarter of the federal funding it expected to collect — for its Medicaid program in the new budget year under legislation now advancing in Congress, according to an analysis by state officials. A Republican proposal, consisting of 11 smaller bills bundled together into an immense 1,116-page bill over the weekend, would cut as much as $300 million in hospital aid, impose work requirements on thousands of low-income adults and eliminate coverage for at least 360,000 residents, state analyses of the bills show.' ANY WAY THE WIND BLOWS — 'Not dead yet? Trump reversal on NY/NJ wind farm stuns opponents of offshore wind power,' by The Press of Atlantic City's Wayne Parry: 'In a rare about-face, President Donald Trump has reversed his opposition to an offshore wind farm being built off New York and New Jersey, allowing it to proceed after New York Gov. Kathy Hochul promised to work with his administration on 'new energy projects.' Hochul and Equinor, the Norwegian energy company building the project off Long Branch in New Jersey and Long Beach on Long Island, said Monday night the U.S. Interior Department has lifted a stop-work order it imposed on the Empire Wind I project nearly a month ago. … The Ocean City-based Protect Our Coast NJ group called Trump's reversal 'shocking.' 'We were stunned to see this news,' said its president, Robin Shaffer. 'We believe that offshore wind anywhere is a terrible idea.' —'How would Medicaid cuts hit disabled community in NJ? Mom frets as GOP offers assurances' LOCAL R.I.P. — 'Longtime Fair Lawn mayor and Bergen County freeholder David Ganz dies,' by The Record's Amanda Wallace: 'David L. Ganz, former Fair Lawn mayor and a longtime member of the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders, has died, the borough announced May 20. His death was announced by the borough in a post on Facebook on May 20, which described Ganz as a 'devoted public servant, community leader, and esteemed resident whose legacy has left a lasting imprint on Fair Lawn and beyond.'' WAIT 'TILL WE GET OUR HAYNES OFF YOU — 'Newark school board member involved in Global Studies cases steps down from her role,' by Chalkbeat's Jessie Gómez: 'One of Newark's longest-serving school board members, who faced removal from her seat this year and has spoken out about racial harassment and tensions at a controversial district high school, has suddenly left the board, Chalkbeat has learned. Dawn Haynes, who was serving her third term, has stepped down from the Newark Board of Education effective immediately, according to multiple sources. First elected in 2018, Haynes recently faced criticism from Newark Public Schools Superintendent Roger León and other district leaders after her daughter filed a legal claim against the district alleging religious, racial, and gender discrimination and other harassment during her time as a Newark School of Global Studies student. In November 2024, the Newark school board voted to ask the state education department to recommend the removal of Haynes due to a conflict that stemmed from her daughter's legal claim, but the petition was shot down in January by the state's education commissioner.' DID CARMELA TAKE IT FROM THE BIRD FEEDER? — 'Cliffside Park reported $38,000 in cash tax payments missing from borough hall,' by The Record's Kristie Cattafi: 'The borough has reported that over $38,000 in property taxes paid in cash by property owners to the tax office last year is missing. The missing funds, which were reported stolen to the borough police, represent second-quarter tax bill payments. The borough has no answers yet about what happened to the cash payments, but it recently recouped the losses through an insurance claim. As a result, the borough will no longer accept cash property tax payments, said borough spokesperson Bill Maer.' COALITION FOR REGRESS — 'HCDO calls on Fulop-linked PAC, candidates, to denounce 'racist' mailer in LD-31,' by Hudson County View's John Heinis: 'The Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) is calling on a super PAC linked to Mayor Steven Fulop's gubernatorial run, as well as some of his down ballot candidates, to denounce a 'racist' mailer related to the 31st Legislative District Assembly race. … The mailer in question is from the Coalition of Progress PAC, Fulop's main backer in gubernatorial race that has also shown support for Schillari and the Jersey City mayor's Assembly candidates. … 'Billionaire Paul Fireman gave Jerry Walker hundreds of thousands of dollars to help turn Liberty State Park into a private golf course,' the campaign piece that hit mailboxes early this month says. … The photo of Walker, running with the HCDO's support in LD-31, was taken from a Hudson County Board of Commissioners meeting and is wearing a silver watch. The original photo, where both of his arms are mostly obscured, appeared in The Jersey Journal last year.' —'How Jersey Shore towns will respond to gangs of teens this Memorial Day weekend' —'Congresswoman Ilhan Omar supporting Mussab Ali for Jersey City mayor' —'So close, yet so far: how Barringer and Technology high schools diverge' —'Morristown police officer accused of driving drunk and crashing car while off-duty' —"Judge denies Hector & Alonso's request for waterfront voting sites in LD-33' EVERYTHING ELSE BORN ON THE PAYOU — 'New Rutgers president will earn $1M+. Inside his record-breaking contract,' by NJ Advance Media's Liz Rosenberg: 'Louisiana State University President William Tate IV will get a big raise when he takes over as Rutgers University's new president this summer. Tate was earning a base pay of $750,000 a year, plus the ability to boost his pay with bonuses, under a three-year contract extension he signed at Louisiana State in 2024. At Rutgers, he will earn a base salary of $1.1 million, plus significantly more in incentive pay and several other perks, according to the terms of his contract. That will make him Rutgers' highest paid president ever.' IT'S HO SCALE — 'A comedian saves a railroad with purchase of a New Jersey home,' by The Wall Street Journal's Betsy McKay: 'A model railroad club is back on track after a television comedian and his wife bought the suburban home where it is headquartered and invited the train buffs to stay. James 'Murr' Murray, a star of truTV's 'Impractical Jokers' and his wife, Melyssa Murray, bought the Rocky Hill, N.J., home where the Pacific Southern Railway operates its trains on a vast layout of miniature cities, mountains and railroad yards in the basement. The Murrays, who live a few minutes away in Princeton, had never heard of Pacific Southern, but learned about it after The Wall Street Journal published an article about the club and its possible derailment. … Far from putting the brakes on the model trains, they're signaling big plans. Murr calls himself a 'massive train buff.' 'You just don't find that in America anymore, that kind of dedication to a club and craft and the imagination and sweat and time has been put into it,' he said.' —'OceanFirst Bank improves to 'outstanding' grade from feds after $14M redlining fine' —'Japanese drugmaker lays off 57 from U.S. headquarters in New Jersey' —'I-80 eastbound lanes to reopen Wednesday in Wharton; two westbound lanes set to reopen next week' —'Person may have spread measles at Shakira concert in MetLife Stadium, health officials say' —'Moody's Ratings upgrades NJCU's financial outlook from stable to positive'
Newsweek
16-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Republican Governor Sparks MAGA Backlash With Betting Move
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Ohio Governor Mark DeWine has sparked a backlash from other Republicans after proposing to increase a tax on betting in the state. Newsweek reached out to DeWine's office via his website for comment. Why It Matters DeWine initially proposed doubling Ohio's tax on sports betting from 20 percent to 40 percent as part of his budget in February. He had already doubled it from 10 percent to 20 percent in a 2023 budget. According to the Ohio Capital Journal, the money will be used for youth sports initiatives and a new stadium for NFL team the Cleveland Browns. What To Know If the tax increases, Ohio will have the second-largest betting tax rate, eclipsed only by New York, which has a 51 percent tax rate. He is also proposing increasing taxes on cigarettes and vape products. DeWine has clashed with other Republicans in the past. In September 2024, he criticized Donald Trump and his then-running mate JD Vance's rhetoric on immigration in Ohio, though he said he supported both politicians. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine speaks at a news conference in Columbus on December 29, 2023. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine speaks at a news conference in Columbus on December 29, 2023. AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File What People Are Saying His idea has sparked a backlash from members of his own party. Donald Trump Jr. on X, formerly Twitter: "While my dad is trying to cut taxes for Americans, why is a REPUBLICAN Governor trying to raise taxes?" Gabe Guidarini, president of the University of Dayton College Republicans, said in a Dayton Daily News article: "I'm deeply concerned about Governor Mike DeWine's proposed tax hike on sports gaming — a plan that feels like a targeted attack on young people, particularly those of us working hard to build our futures." Republican State Representative Brian Stewart told News 5: "You know we started out with a 10 percent tax on sports gaming, we've not even finished two football seasons and now we're talking about quadrupling that tax. I think that's going to generate a lot of discussion." Conservative commentator Jack Posobiec, on X: "RINO Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's plan to raise taxes on sports betting to force taxpayers to pay for a new sports stadium is nothing more than government cronyism on the back of the working-class. Why can't billionaire team owners pay for their own stadiums?" Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, in February: "These are the companies that are taking all of this money outside, draining it outside of the State of Ohio on gaming. They ought to pay their fair share and this would make them pay their fair share." What Happens Next The two-year budget is due by July 1.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Area 6 candidates for Clinton County Legislature set
PLATTSBURGH — Patty Waldron, the only woman on the Clinton County Legislature for the better part of 11 years now is term-limited out after this year. However, both candidates running for Waldron's Area 6 seat in November are women and whoever is elected will get the chance to carry on her legacy. Jennifer Facteau Rabideau is the Republican candidate and Jessie Furnia is the Democratic candidate in the race for the Area 6 seat, which oversees all of the towns of Black Brook and Saranac as well as parts of the Town of Plattsburgh. REPUBLICAN Facteau Rabideau, a nurse practitioner at Plattsburgh Medical Care, announced her intention to run for the Clinton County Legislator Area 6 seat as a Republican early last month. Facteau Rabideau was appointed deputy coroner in 2020. She previously owned her own business, Small Town Health Care. She said she is a fourth generation Saranac resident, and a Saranac Central, Clinton Community College, SUNY Plattsburgh and Stony Brook University alumna. She also hopes to graduate with her doctorate in June from Frontier Nursing University. 'I probably see about 24 patients a day when I'm in the office, and I have had multiple opportunities to get an idea of both what the public needs and wants, and then from my coroner work with Chad (Deans), I'm getting an idea of how county government is working, and I want to be a part of that,' she said during her announcement at the Butcher Block in early March. 'Since Mrs. Waldron is terming out, I see this as an opportunity to maintain a woman's voice in the county legislature, and additionally, as a mother of young children, support and make decisions as a county legislator to benefit the young families and keep these families in Clinton County for multiple generations.' Facteau Rabideau also worked at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh for 15 years, 10 of which were in the intensive care unit. 'My whole adult life, I have served the community, whether as a nurse, I was a 4H member, I umped softball and baseball games in the summertime. So now I'm a nurse practitioner and I'm also the deputy coroner,' she said. 'I want to bring all of these experiences to the legislature, and serve the people of Clinton County in an albeit different approach, but in this more public service oriented capacity.' DEMOCRAT Furnia also announced her candidacy for the Area 6 seat in March. She was born and raised in the town of Black Brook. She graduated from AuSable Valley High School, Clinton Community College and SUNY Plattsburgh. Furnia has run her own business, the Paint with Jessie, in which she travels the North Country 'celebrating friends, family and art,' for the past 13 years. 'I'm a creative outside thinker and problem solver,' she said. 'In my many jobs, I've worked as a counselor. I've worked in the boys home. I've worked within the United States Olympic Committee, worked with athletes, and just have a different viewpoint sometimes and sometimes, just having somebody look from a different direction kind of seems like a bigger picture of things.' Her mother was also the president of the school board at AuSable Valley years ago and was an inspiration for Furnia to get and stay involved in the local community. 'She taught me to be part of the change and growth I would like to see,' Furnia said. In Clinton County, there's plenty she hopes to be involved in improving if she is elected in November. She said she would especially like to see the number of border crossings from Canada into the North Country improve so more revenue can come in. 'Right now, I think we're in really uncertain times,' Furnia said, about the decreased visitors from Canada in the past couple months. 'How is this going to affect our tax revenue, and what can we accomplish within our communities? and how is this going to affect the airport? So there's so many different avenues that can be impacted.' Furnia said the transition of Clinton Community College to SUNY Plattsburgh later this year has also been weighing on her. As an alumna of CCC, she wants to see its campus turned into something useful for the whole community. 'I believe it could be really a big gem.'
Miami Herald
25-04-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
See 8 Miami real estate trends reshaping issues of affordability and innovation
South Florida See 8 Miami real estate trends reshaping issues of affordability and innovation Miami's real estate scene in 2025 brims with reinvention, challenge and bold moves. This list of stories outlines a billion-dollar plan by Jackson Memorial Hospital to lease land for affordable and workforce housing, the arrival of advanced sensor systems that track condo safety on the barrier islands, and high-stakes battles over condo association foreclosures. Miami renters see rare relief as apartment rents dip, even as the gap between incomes and housing costs lingers. Meanwhile, luxury towers like Trump's Doral condos grab headlines, and frustrated homebuyers face bureaucratic showdowns as nonprofits and commissioners feud over unfinished affordable homes. The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. The riverfront area of downtown Fort Lauderdale. By CARL JUSTE NO. 1: APARTMENT RENTS HAVE TAKEN A SURPRISING TURN IN SOUTH FLORIDA. WILL THE TREND CONTINUE? What to know about the market in Miami and Broward. | Published November 15, 2024 | Read Full Story by Rebecca San Juan With headlines about condo associations and HOAs foreclosing on owners over unpaid assessments and other fees, state legislatures have been to address the situation. NO. 2: HOA, CONDO ASSOCIATION GROUP WEIGHS IN ON FORECLOSURES OVER UNPAID ASSESSMENTS, FINES Condo boards and HOAs foreclosing over unpaid fees getting attention in state legislatures. | Published January 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michael L. Hyman An aerial view of Jackson Medical Towers, at 1500 NW 12th Avenue in Miami, Florida on Jan. 2, 2025. The Public Health Trust of Jackson Health System has approved a deal with Related Urban to demolish two existing towers, known as Jackson Medical Towers, and construct affordable workforce housing and an extended stay hotel. By AL DIAZ NO. 3: CAN THESE TOWERS HELP AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN MIAMI? TAKE A LOOK AT THE PLANS The complex includes hundreds of rentals and a hotel. | Published January 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michelle Marchante Rebecca San Juan A rendering by PPKS of Doral of the proposed Doral International Towers, a residential and commercial complex on the grounds of former President Donald Trump's Doral resort. NO. 4: DORAL APPROVES TRUMP'S LUXURY CONDO DEVELOPMENT, WITH UNITS STARTING AT $2 MILLION Donald Trump's Doral resort has received final approval for his latest real estate venture in South Florida—an ambitious luxury condominium project. | Published January 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Verónica Egui Brito Aerial view of downtown Miami on Monday, May 10, 2021. By MATIAS J. OCNER NO. 5: FLORIDA CONDO COSTS OFFICIALLY DROPPED FROM SPECIAL SESSION AMID REPUBLICAN SHOWDOWN Elderly Floridians to become 'next wave of homeless,' one Republican ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis predicted as a result. | Published January 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alexandra Glorioso Mario Verciani, CEO of SmartCore Systems, displays a sensor same as the ones installed at the Bay House Miami Residences in Edgewater, by his company that provides structural health monitoring (SHM) services to buildings including condominiums, in Miami, on Tuesday February 11, 2025. By Pedro Portal NO. 6: STURDY, SINKING, SHAKY? MIAMI COMPANY OFFERS AN EARLY WARNING SENSOR SYSTEM FOR CONDOS 'We have monitoring in place, and our structure has not moved. We have real time data.' | Published February 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Denise Hruby A view of a resurgent Northeast Second Avenue in the heart of Miami's Overtown neighborhood in April 2021, with the Plaza at the Lyric apartments at left and a Red Rooster restaurant in the background at right. By Pedro Portal NO. 7: RENTERS ARE PAYING LESS FOR APARTMENTS IN MIAMI, BUT THERE ARE ISSUES. SEE THE COSTS Here's a look at housing costs and ways to navigate the crisis. | Published March 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Howard Cohen Angela Albury, expresses her frustration of waiting for 5 years for her house to be constructed, as she attended to a press conference held by the Neighbors and Neighbors Association (NANA), alongside the Circle of Brotherhood to address what they describe as ongoing attempts by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Keon Hardemon to hinder their work in the community and putting an affordable housing projects at risk in Liberty City, Miami, Florida. on Tuesday March 25, 2025. By Pedro Portal NO. 8: AFFORDABLE HOMES HANG IN THE BALANCE AS MIAMI-DADE COMMISSIONER, NONPROFITS SQUABBLE Black residents in Miami can't move into their homes. | Published March 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Raisa Habersham Douglas Hanks This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.
