Latest news with #SB168
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sanctuary cities: What they are and why they're targeted in Trump's immigration crackdown
As part of President Donald Trump's broad immigration crackdown, the administration has vowed to financially and legally target 'sanctuary cities' accused of assisting undocumented immigrants evade deportation. In Trump's first week in office, the Justice Department issued a memo calling for investigations into state and local law enforcement officials who don't comply with the administration's immigration policies. 'Sanctuary jurisdictions aren't going to stop what we're going to do,' Thomas D. Homan, Trump's 'border czar,' told NewsNation in December. But there is no official definition of a sanctuary city, or 'safe place.' Rather, the term can refer to cities, counties or states that have policies limiting collaboration between federal immigration enforcement with local and state governments. No local or state government can legally prevent federal authorities from detaining and deporting people living in the country undocumented. Sanctuary policies essentially say the federal government can't compel local jurisdictions to take part in immigration enforcement, which is usually the job of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. For example, many sanctuary cities don't require a local jail to enforce an 'immigration detainer' issued by federal authorities to hold someone after bail is posted so agents can come pick them up. Here are some of the common sanctuary policies around the country: Restrict local law enforcement from making arrests for federal immigration violations Prohibit local officials from entering agreements with ICE Prevent local jails from holding immigrants while waiting for ICE Prohibit immigration detention centers from being built Offer English-language classes Restrict police or other public officials from asking about immigration status Ensure equal access to bail for immigrants Issue municipal identification documents and driver's licenses to all residents Most have to do with limiting the requirement for local law enforcement to share immigration status with ICE, unless it involves the investigation of a serious crime, according to Global Refuge. Florida bans all kinds of sanctuary jurisdictions. Florida requires 'state and local governments and law enforcement agencies … to support and cooperate with federal immigration enforcement,' according to SB 168, entitled Federal Immigration Enforcement, which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law in 2019. "We won't allow someone here illegally to commit criminal misconduct and simply be returned to our communities," DeSantis said at the time. Among its many provisions, the law allows courts to reduce an undocumented defendant's sentence by 12 days to allow federal immigration authorities to pick them up. The bill does not provide any funding or reimbursement for its enforcement. The central argument for sanctuary policies is they allow local governments more autonomy and help them build trust within their communities. If teachers, public health workers and police officers are seen as an extension of federal authorities, it might make it harder to provide services, according to the American Immigration Council. For example, immigrants, both citizens and undocumented, may not want to come forward to report a crime if they fear deportation. This brought police chiefs and local leaders in 2023 to testify before Congress that working with ICE erodes trust in their communities. Research shows sanctuary counties have lower crime rates than other counties. A Cambridge study also found immigrants are 60% less likely to be incarcerated than all U.S.-born men. Because the definition of sanctuary cities varies, it can be a challenge to count how many jurisdictions have this status. There are 220 sanctuary cities and counties in the U.S., according to the Center for Immigration Studies, a 'low-immigration, pro-immigrant' think tank. Here are the closest sanctuary cities to Florida: New Orleans, Louisiana Atlanta, Georgia Douglas County, Georgia DeKalb County, Georgia Athens-Clarke County, Georgia Columbia County, Georgia Charleston County, South Carolina The term sanctuary city doesn't always apply to immigration. The first city to claim this status was Berkeley, California, in 1971, when it declared itself a safe place for Navy members who resisted the Vietnam War. Sanctuary cities then shifted toward immigration in the 1980s when six churches around the country opened their doors to refugees fleeing war in Central America. What became known as the Sanctuary Movement was a rebuttal to the nation's refusal to receive people fleeing Cold War-era repressive regimes. On a local level: Local law enforcement steps up efforts to partner with feds on immigration, other issues Partnering with federal authorities: The role of local law enforcement in Trump administration immigration crackdown U.S. churches were once deemed off limits for immigration raids due to their 'sensitive status,' including schools and public health care facilities. Trump ended those protections during his first days in office. Jack Lemnus is a TCPalm enterprise reporter. Contact him at 772-409-1345, or follow him on X @JackLemnus. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Immigration crackdown: Here's how Florida handles 'sanctuary cities'
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘It's not over until it's over': Teachers ask Cox to veto union bill in silent protest
Teachers silently protest in front of Gov. Spencer Cox's office and call on him to veto HB267 on Feb. 14, 2025. (Photo by Vanessa Hudson/Utah News Dispatch) Educators gathered in front of the governor's office Friday morning to silently protest and ask Gov. Spencer Cox to veto HB267, the bill that would ban collective bargaining for unions in the public sector. The silent protest comes a week after almost 1,000 teachers, firefighters and other union advocates packed the Capitol to call for a veto. It's unclear if the governor will veto the legislation; if he does, Sen. David Hinkins, R-Ferron, confirmed Thursday he's working on a compromise that would still allow public unions to collectively bargain. SB168, a backup bill for HB267, would require support from a majority of the employees in the organization the union represents, regardless of whether they're part of the union, in order to negotiate on behalf of employees. The compromise bill also retains some restrictions on public sector unions from the original legislation, like restricting certain government resources from going toward union activity and removing access to the Utah Retirement System for employees who work for the union but not the public entity the union represents. Is it too late for a compromise on collective bargaining bill? One senator is still trying BreAnn Busbom is a teacher in Davis School District. She said when teachers' voices are silenced, an unhappy workforce is created, which becomes a problem for students. 'This silent protest is really symbolic of what would happen if the governor does not veto this bill,' Busbom said. 'It, in effect, silences teacher voice.' J. Cedric Smith, a science teacher in the Weber School District, said he's hoping the governor will veto the legislation and advocate on behalf of public sector employees, students, families and teachers. 'It's not over until it's over,' Smith said. If Cox vetoes HB267, Hinkins said his compromise bill would have an avenue forward, though Senate leadership called it a 'nonstarter' Thursday. Busbom said she hasn't looked at what Hinkins' backup bill would do but a compromise is something she would be 'very pleased' with. 'I know others would also be pleased with having some sort of compromise at the end of the day,' she added. A substitute to HB267 would have allowed collective bargaining if unions could get enough support from all employees, but the Legislature ultimately passed the original language, despite two weeks' worth of debate and discussions between public sector unions and lawmakers. Smith said because HB267 was controversial and faced significant opposition, the governor now has an opportunity to exercise his judgment and veto. 'At the very least, send it back … to say, 'Hey, you know, I think you need to make a better effort at working with these folks, developing a coalition, a partnership, so that everybody's needs can be met, but their rights can't be taken from them,' Smith said. If HB267 does end up becoming law, Busbom and Smith both said the Utah Education Association will continue to advocate for teachers and students. 'We are resilient as an association, and I know we can make it past this,' Busbom said. 'However, I will be extremely disappointed with the people that have been elected to represent the people. I'm not sure that they really are representing the people's voice in this action.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
If Gov. Cox vetoes labor union bill, a substitute could be brought forward
Last week the Utah Legislature passed a bill to ban public sector collective bargaining, but Gov. Spencer Cox still hasn't signed the bill. A new option has surfaced if he decides to veto the legislation. HB267 passed through the state Senate last Thursday and since then it has been sitting on Cox's desk waiting for him to sign or veto the bill. The governor has until next Wednesday to take action. Sen. David Hinkins, R-Orangeville, originally introduced a bill that was in opposition to HB267, which was introduced by Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan. But because HB267 passed, it essentially killed SB168. But if Cox decides to veto HB267, Hinkins said he will run a substitute of the bill that he earlier introduced. This substitute would take away the complete ban on collective bargaining, instead allowing it if a union had a majority of employees in favor of it. HB267 became one of the most controversial bills of the session, with public union members regularly coming up to the Capitol to protest the legislation. Hinkins said he was approached by the Utah Education Association and other groups asking him to run this substitute, if the original bill doesn't pass. These unions feel that the substitute is a better option for them than a complete ban on collective bargaining. Hinkins said he decided to run it because he doesn't believe that the version that passed is a fair bill. The senator says he also sees this as giving Cox another option. 'That gives him another choice. Right now, he's only got one choice, sign or don't sign, and so both people are sitting at a 50/50 chance,' Hinkins said. 'I mean, who knows what he's going to do?' But Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said he thinks Hinkins' substitute bill is a nonstarter. Adams and the HB267′s floor sponsor Sen. Kirk Cullimore, R-Draper, said they don't think anyone wants to pick this back up and move forward with the substitute. 'I think it would be tough to bring this up again and to address this again,' said Cullimore. 'For me, we landed in the right policy spot.' The bill that passed both chambers would prohibit public sector collective bargaining in Utah. Teuscher explained that collective bargaining is when an employer and a union come together to negotiate a contract for employees. 'In most of those collective bargaining agreements, it spells out specifically that the union representation is the sole collective bargaining agent, meaning that the public employer is not able to negotiate with anyone else, other than union representatives,' said Teuscher. Under Hinkins' bill, if a labor organization has a majority of employees in a bargaining unit vote for them then they can engage in collective bargaining. The substitute would allow a group of employees who want to engage in collective bargaining to hold a secret ballot election to contract with a collective bargaining representative. The election has to be done through a third party. An organization needs a majority of all employees, not just union members, to vote in favor of them in order to engage in collective bargaining. In order for the organization to continue collective bargaining, an election needs to be held every five years. A collective bargaining representative that does not receive a majority vote would have to wait 12 months before holding another election through a third party. Sen. Jen Plumb, D-Salt Lake City, said she thinks running the substitute would help those in opposition to the bill feel heard. 'I think that the folks who aren't quite done being heard or feeling like their voice hasn't been heard, are responding well to the possibility that they do get another opportunity,' Plumb said.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
State House Dome: Slots gaming bill looking like a good bet
Feb. 7—PLACE YOUR BETS if you think the odds are good for legislation to pass that allows charity casino owners to convert all their historic horse racing (HHR) into slot machines across the state. Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Timothy Lang, R-Sanbornton, is sponsoring a bill (SB 83) that would allow owners to decide how and when to convert from the HHR technology they've had the past few years. "I want to leave it up to the market so all these entrepreneurs can make decisions about the timeline that works for them," Lang said during an interview. These charity owners all have lease agreements on their HHR machines and it could cost them to cancel those contracts and go right to slots. "I suspect most of them will decide to eat that cost, but it should be their call," Lang said. Staff for Lottery Executive Director Charles McIntyre said that with massive charity casinos coming online in Salem and Nashua, the number of gambling machines will grow from 2,000 to 4,300 in the next year. Making this move to slots could dramatically increase state aid by $63 million a year. We're told that Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who is keeping her state budget plan very close to the vest until she presents it in a much-anticipated address Thursday, has taken an active interest in this issue. But why? In a shrewd move, Lang would earmark 50% of the state's slot machine revenue to a top Ayotte priority — sweetening the retirement benefits for Group II employees in public safety at the state, county and local levels. This $13 million a year into the system would reduce employer (i.e., public taxpayers) contribution rates by at least 1.5%. "I agree with the governor. We need to deal with the Group II recruitment issue and this seems a perfect vehicle to do it," Lang said. Another 25% of state revenue would reimburse property taxpayers for the costs they incur by giving property tax exemptions to eligible elderly, disabled, blind and deaf residents. "With this kind of revenue, there should be a property tax break component to the program," Lang said. House Speaker Pro Tem Fred Doucette, R-Salem, one of the biggest supporters of charities that benefit from casino games, has a bill (HB 728) that would compel all the operators to move over to slots by Jan. 1, 2028. Lang's committee heard another bill (SB 168) that would legalize online gambling beyond sports betting, but he realizes that's a much taller order. During her campaign, Ayotte said she's dead set against that idea and the House has routinely tossed it in the trash. Save Forest Lake got a shout-out Candidate for governor Ayotte said she opposed placing a landfill next to Forest Lake State Park. Last week she cranked that up a notch. Ayotte said landfill developer Casella Waste Systems would do well to hit the bricks. "I really hope those that have proposed that project in Dalton rethink what they are doing," Ayotte said. "It is not just me who doesn't think it is the right thing." But Ayotte stressed that the application process before state officials will not be disrupted as long as Casella wants to try. "The Department of Environmental Services has a legal process that it has to follow; I am not going to interfere in that legal process," Ayotte said. When a reporter asked if she was going to "do anything" to advance her opposition to the project, Ayotte answered, "I just did." Weyler apologizes, then sort of doubles down House Finance Committee Chairman Ken Weyler, R-Kingston, said he regretted making statements critical of victims of alleged sexual and emotional abuse who have filed for claims against the state after residing at the Youth Development Center. Weyler previously said the state shouldn't have set aside so much money for victims. "We can't break the budget with this ridiculousness for people who haven't obeyed the rules, and acting like, 'Oh, you are rewarded.' Rewarded for what? A misspent life," Weyler said. "It just doesn't make sense to me that someone who got abused, abused others and abused themselves should be rewarded and that's the way it looks: Someone on the streets says, 'YDC, I'll just say they abused me and I'll become a millionaire.' This is the example we're setting." A bipartisan group of lawmakers roundly criticized the comment and on Wednesday midday, Weyler issued an apology. "I sincerely apologize for my insensitive remarks regarding the Youth Development Center victims. Victim-blaming has no place in any conversation, especially when it comes to those who have endured such trauma. It is vital to recognize the deep harm these individuals have faced and to approach the matter with empathy and support," Weyler said. Three hours later, Attorney General John Formella was discussing his budget plan and Weyler said all victims should be required to receive psychiatric counselling to get any award money. "Not only should there be a cash award, there should be compulsory psychiatric counseling and if you refuse to take the counseling, you don't get the money," Weyler said. A short time later he added, "If we are really in the business of helping people who have been wronged that (counseling) is a big part of this. A lot of this is in someone's mind and it has made a mess of their mind." This advice can include advising how victims don't waste a payout, Weyler said. "There won't be as many huge payoffs that will go to waste," Weyler said. "Now we have to give you guidance on how to mend your life instead of, 'Wahoo, I'm going to Vegas.'" Cline gets another stint at BOE Ayotte renominated Drew Cline of Bedford for another four-year term on the State Board of Education meeting last week. She also endorsed a swap of member seats, proposing to move Ann Lane of Durham into an at-large seat because her town was no longer in District 2 on the board after redistricting. Ayotte nominated existing at-large member James F. Leboe of Hopkinton to move into the District 2 spot. Cline, president of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, was viewed as a credible person to become the next commissioner of education if Ayotte decided to move on past incumbent Frank Edelblut whose own four-year term runs out in late March. Some resignations not kumbaya A new administration gives the thousands of volunteers in state government an opportunity to take stock and decide if it's time to do something else. That's why there were 12 resignations from state boards last week. Most were amicable like Christina Gribben on the Board of Mental Health who wrote she's sold her home in Holderness and is moving to Troy, New York, to be closer to her grandchildren. But Heather Gray of Derry and Debi LaPlante of Salem both had sharp criticism for state government as they exited the Council for Responsible Gaming. The council has failed to meet since July 2023. Gray said she made "repeated efforts" to "reconvene or at least discuss pathways to moving forward." "I feel it is disingenuous to formally hold the title of commissioner without doing any associated work," Gray wrote. Thanks lottery and state treasurer Ayotte has the New Hampshire State Lottery and State Treasurer Monica Mezzapelle to thank for avoiding another depressing revenue month in January. Business taxes continue to underperform — through January the take is $102 million less than the prior year. The state took in $38 million from the two main taxes last month when $64.6 million had been expected according to the monthly revenue focus. A large Mega Millions jackpot was responsible for producing $28.5 million in lottery ticket revenue or nearly twice the $15 million that was forecast. The state took in $9.2 million more in "other" revenue, much of that greater-than-budgeted interest income Mezzapelle earned on investing public funds. Through January, the state is still $39 million below plan (off 2.8%) and $113 million less than prior year during the same period (off 7.6%). Executive Council tables transgender promotion With no public comment, the Executive Council tabled the promotion of New Hampshire National Guard Capt. Nathaniel Richter of Mansfield Center, Connecticut, to major. For 10 years, Richter has served with distinction in their current role as cyber defense operations officer assigned to the Communications Squadron Operations Flight Commander in the 157th Air Refueling Wing at the Pease Air National Guard Base. In 2021, Richter also was deployed to Kuwait and then on to Ali Al Salem Air Base in Qatar in support of Operations ALLIES REFUGE. Richter supervised 140 airmen and contractors that supported more than 5,000 personnel. All the personal information about Richter's request was redacted from the council agenda. The Union Leader has seen the "official use only" information that confirms Richter transitioned to female. "She commissioned in 2014 as a second lieutenant as a graduate from Officer Training School Maxwell Office Base in Alabama," the item read. A LinkedIn account that is public with all the identical biographical information as Richter including work at a Connecticut aerospace company is under the name Nathalie Richter. What caused the council to set the item aside for more review is President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order that banned transgender people from serving openly in the military. The guard leadership was correct to bring the promotion forward as the item came before Trump took the oath of office and his executive order was not in place. Trump gave new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth 30 days to implement it. Adjutant General David Mikolaities did not respond to emails sent to the guard's spokesperson seeking comment. Stephen weighs in for Medicaid work requirementExecutive Councilor John Stephen, R-Manchester, testified in support of legislation (SB 134) to try to resurrect a work requirement for able-bodied adults receiving Medicaid health insurance benefits. Sen. Howard Pearl, R-Loudon, who is championing this one effort has powerful allies including House Majority Leader Jason Osborne and Rep. Jess Edwards, both R-Auburn. For Stephen the issue is personal. As the former Health and Human Services commissioner, Stephen convinced the Legislature to create a work mandate but a federal judge in 2019 blocked the law here and in Arkansas, which adopted a similar provision. Sununu is smiling Former Gov. Chris Sununu is smiling in Newfields after the state completed its long-term lease for Dartmouth Health to take over management of Hampstead Hospital last Monday. Sununu made the plan one of his last big to-do items because the arrangement may save the state up to $20 million a year. Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Weaver said the state's emergency boarding room count for adults has already dropped near zero and predicted it will be erased for children in the coming months. A vocal critic of the past Hampstead Hospital private administrator, Stevens said Dartmouth Health got off on the right foot by opening nine more beds since taking over last week. Kevin Landrigan is the Union Leader's State House bureau chief. Contact him at klandrigan@
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Public labor union bill back to a complete ban on collective bargaining
After multiple changes were made to one of the most controversial bills of the 2025 legislative session, the latest House version of a public labor unions bill would once again completely prohibit public sector collective bargaining. The fourth substitute of HB267 was made public early Wednesday morning, just hours before Senate floor time began. The bill has been waiting on a vote from the Senate since last Friday when the first major change was made to the bill. Since the bill has gone to the Senate floor, members of public labor unions in opposition to the bill have gathered at the Capitol each day since in anticipation of a vote. The first version of HB267 completely prohibited public sector collective bargaining, but on Friday changes were made to the bill that made it so unions could collective bargain if they had a majority of all employees vote for them. The new substitute of the bill brings back a complete ban on collective bargaining. 'So as far as working with stakeholders and navigating a path for a bill, this has probably been as hard a bill as I've dealt with,' the bill's floor sponsor, Sen. Kirk Cullimore, R-Draper, said. Because the bill has been changed since the House passed it, it would have to return back to the House if it passes the Senate. The bill's sponsor is Rep. Jordan Teuscher, R-South Jordan. 'They seem really committed to ending collective bargaining for public employees, and they use words that make it sound like collective bargaining is an adversarial process,' said Susan Johnston, a Salt Lake County worker who is a part of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Last week, lawmakers decided to take away the complete ban on collective bargaining after working with unions to come to a compromise. The change introduced on Friday made it so labor unions could hold an election, and if they were certified by a majority of all employees, not just union members, then they could act as a collective bargaining agent. After the changes were introduced, multiple unions declared they were neutral on the bill, which means that they would accept the bill, but would still prefer that it didn't exist. A few unions remained opposed to the bill even after agreeing to the changes. Because not all of the stakeholder groups were on board, lawmakers decided to introduce the substitute that would once again ban collective bargaining. 'So, if HB267 does pass through the Senate it will essentially kill SB168.' — Sen. Kirk Cullimore, R-Draper 'We were getting indications that some of these groups were coming together and that there was going to be this consensus of neutrality, and that just hasn't crystalized,' Cullimore said. The fourth substitute substantially does the same things as the original version of the bill, with some definition and technical changes. 'I think this is reflective of the policy that most of the legislators that have to vote on this want, and if there wasn't consensus on the other stuff, this is the vehicle that moves forward,' Cullimore said. Cullimore and other members of Senate leadership would not say which version of the bill they will move forward with or when the Senate will be voting on the bill. While there are multiple lawmakers on board, both the House and Senate minority remain opposed to HB267. 'Both the House Democrats and the Senate Democrats are going to oppose anything that dismantles collective bargaining,' said Sen. Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, the Senate minority leader. Though the bill has yet to be voted on, there are still groups of public labor union members who show up to the Senate everyday for floor time. 'It seems as though, when we stop showing up, they'll try and slide it through. I don't know that to be true, but that's what it feels like,' Johnston said. Aside from members of AFSCME, those who gather each day include firefighters, nurses, teachers and other public employees. 'I think that this large presence of labor union members and allies has made a difference, and so we'll just continue to do it until the bill is dead,' said Shykell Ledford, who works with Johnston and is also a member of AFSCME. Many of these employees who come to the Senate are using vacation time in order to be at the Capitol. Johnston said since she is a longtime employee she has more vacation time to use than other people do. 'I feel like it's kind of my responsibility, because I have more vacation time that I can use for this, that it's important for me to show up, to represent those who don't have that and can't show up,' Johnston said. Ledford said that there are multiple employers around the state that do enjoy collective bargaining with the unions because it is an efficient process. Public employees are being encouraged by multiple organizations to go to the Senate to show that there are still people opposed to the bill, she said. 'Lots of organizations are saying this is serious. We need everyone who can, who has the ability to show up, to show up,' Ledford said. Collective bargaining is when an employer and a union come together to negotiate a contract for employees. This bill applies only to public sector labor unions and has nothing to do with the private sector. 'In most of those collective bargaining agreements, it spells out specifically that the union representation is the sole collective bargaining agent, meaning that the public employer is not able to negotiate with anyone else, other than union representatives,' Teuscher said. This bill wouldn't just ban collective bargaining contracts but also makes it so public employers can no longer recognize labor organizations as bargaining agents. The bill would also ban unions from making meet and confers, and memorandums of understanding with employers. Utah would not be the first state to ban public collective bargaining. Public sector collective bargaining is completely banned in North Carolina and South Carolina. In Texas and Georgia, only police and firefighters are given the right to collective bargain. Sen. David Hinkins, R-Orangeville, has introduced another bill that focuses on public employee and labor relationships with employers. SB168 establishes a labor relations board which would oversee public employee labor relations on a state level instead of on the federal level as it is currently done. 'I would really encourage everyone to turn their attention to Senate Bill 168, by Sen. Hinkins, which is a much better, it says let's manage public employee unions instead of abolishing them,' Ledford said. This bill is in opposition to the fourth substitute of HB267 because it enforces collective bargaining, and defines how it can be used. Hinkins said his bill and the provisions it allows would help to create a stabilized workforce. 'So this way you negotiate, everybody gets, pretty much whatever they're doing, they get paid for it,' Hinkins said. 'That's a stabilized workforce.' According to both Hinkins and Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, HB267 and SB168 are essentially opposites to each other. 'Well, they run head on to each other,' Cullimore said. 'So, if HB267 does pass through the Senate it will essentially kill SB168.'
