Latest news with #SB202
Miami Herald
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
North Miami Beach mayor: Our side of a water dispute with neighboring Miami Gardens
As mayor of North Miami Beach, it is my duty to set the record straight about the ongoing water dispute between our city and neighboring Miami Gardens. There's been a lot of emotion, plenty of speeches, a news story about possible rate hikes for water service, an opinion article published in the Miami Herald and even some political theater — but the truth still matters at the end of the day. For over 70 years, North Miami Beach has operated the Norwood Water Treatment Plant, which we purchased and maintained long before Miami Gardens became a city. Today, that plant serves more than 170,000 residents across the region, including parts of Miami Gardens, Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach, Golden Beach and unincorporated Miami-Dade areas like Biscayne Gardens. We charge a 25% surcharge to non-NMB resident customers — including approximately one-third of Miami Gardens— to ensure the cost of maintaining this infrastructure is shared equitably. That's not exploitation — it's responsible governance and reflects the reality of how a free-market utility model functions. You use a service, you pay your fair share. It's simple. Let's not forget: When the COVID-19 pandemic froze the economy and families were struggling, NMB stepped up. We absorbed delinquencies, halted shutoffs and kept our utility running smoothly for every customer — without compromising service or safety. While other systems faltered, not one household went without water on our watch. We didn't ask for a bailout; we sacrificed and honored our commitment to the community. Now, there's a push in Tallahassee to strip away the surcharge, through SB202/HB11 — but only for one city. Let me be clear: You can't rob Peter to pay Paul. A blessing for one group cannot become a burden for everyone else. If this legislation passes, the loss of roughly $5 million a year — including over $100,000 in annual surcharge revenue from the Hard Rock Stadium alone — will have to be covered by every other water customer. That's not justice. That's communism. And what's worse, we're being asked to accept this while Miami Gardens continues charging its own residents a 10% utility tax — on water they don't even treat or deliver. If this were truly about helping residents save, they could start there. But it's easier to pass the buck than to cut your tax. North Miami Beach has made every attempt to work this out neighbor-to-neighbor. We waived surcharges for government accounts. We invited discussion. We offered options. But instead of negotiation, Miami Gardens went to Tallahassee to flex political muscle. Nonetheless, Miami Gardens has real alternatives to choose from: transition fully to Miami-Dade Water and Sewer, which already serves two-thirds of their city; build and operate their own water utility or, if they want full control, buy out NMB water treatment plant. What they shouldn't do is try to legislate a shortcut that punishes an award-winning and successful utility to subsidize inefficiency and sidestep responsibility. If voted into law, SB202/HB11 would set a bad precedent for government overreach. It's an unnecessary burden — another cost compounded on the backs of working families at the worst possible time. It undermines the principles of local control, free enterprise and personal accountability. If we're going to talk about fairness, it has to be fairness for everyone — not just those with louder voices or better political connections. As we say in church, 'What's done in the dark will come to light,' and 'The truth shall set you free.' This issue deserves light, not shadows — truth, not politics. Michael Joseph is the mayor of North Miami Beach.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Georgians deserve secure elections': Trump Administration to drop suit over election law
While there is no election going on, Georgia voting is back under the national spotlight. On Monday, the Department of Justice issued a news release detailing how they had been directed to dismiss a lawsuit from last year about a 2021 Georgia elections law. Here's what we know: SB 202 a.k.a. the "Election Integrity Act of 2021" was signed into law following the 2020 presidential election which many Republicans have called into question. The law placed new restrictions on early and absentee voting, imposed stricter ID verification requirements on mail-in ballots, and shortened the window of time in which voters could request absentee ballots be sent to them. Free tax services: Still need to file your tax return? University of Georgia will do it for free. Here's how The law also capped the number of absentee ballot drop boxes to one per 100,000 residents, and removed a pandemic-era provision that allowed voters to access drop boxes outside of regular business hours. It also restricts third-party organizations from distributing absentee ballot applications and imposes a $100 penalty for each duplicate absentee ballot application sent to voters in Georgia. The chief sponsor of the Election Integrity Act was Georgia Sen. Max Burns with its sponsor in the Georgia House being Barry Fleming. The law also had more than 20 other sponsors. On Jan. 31, 2024, the DOJ, under President Joe Biden, filed a consolidated lawsuit called "In Re Georgia SB 202." The argument was that it intended to disenfranchise Black voters and failed to provide people with disabilities an equal opportunity to vote. "Rather than celebrating Georgians' record-breaking turnout and success in conducting two secure elections in a span of two months, the Georgia General Assembly instead enacted Senate Bill 202 ... through a secretive and extremely accelerated legislative process, with little to no opportunity for public input or review," the lawsuit noted. "SB 202 directly and severely burdens Plaintiffs' core political speech, which includes communications and expressive activities aimed at encouraging voters to participate in the political process through absentee voting." In the news release, Trump Administration officials said the Biden administration "fabricated an untrue narrative" around Georgia's election law and said officials at the time were "demonizing Georgians for political gain and triggering boycotts." "Georgians deserve secure elections, not fabricated claims of false voter suppression meant to divide us," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "Americans can be confident that this Department of Justice will protect their vote and never play politics with election integrity." Gov. Brian Kemp said via X, "Despite the lies and misinformation from Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Stacey Abrams, and their allies, Georgia is one of the top states in the country for early voting and experienced record voter turnout in multiple elections since the passage of the Elections Integrity Act. I am grateful that under the leadership of [Attorney General Pamela Bondi] and [President Donald Trump], the DOJ has followed the truth: in Georgia, it is easy to vote and hard to cheat." Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda Executive Director Helen Butler expressed her disappointment, saying the law does suppress votes and plans to pursue their own legal challenge. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said "This reaffirms that the Election Integrity Act stands on solid legal commitment has always been to ensure fair and secure elections for every Georgian, despite losing an All-Star game and the left's boycott of Georgia as a result of commonsense election law." April England-Albright, national legal director for Black Voters Matter, said "Just as Black people have historically stood firm against a weaponized and radicalized Department of Justice and continued to fight back to increase political and economic rights in this response to this and other harmful and egregious decisions from Trump's DOJ will be no different, and we will win." Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for Gannett/USA Today. Find him on X and Instagram @miguelegoas and email at mlegoas@ This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: DOJ to drop Biden-era lawsuit over Georgia election law
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
U.S. Attorney General dismisses Biden-era lawsuit to overturn Georgia's 2021 election overhaul
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee during her confirmation hearing on Jan. 15, 2025. (Photo by) U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi Monday ordered the dismissal of a longstanding Department of Justice lawsuit challenging Republican Georgia lawmakers' overhaul of the state's election laws in 2021. Bondi said in a statement Monday that the federal lawsuit against Senate Bill 202 will be dismissed because it contained false claims that the Georgia election legislation was a politically motivated retaliation against Black voters and other Democratic-leaning voters who supported Democratic President Joe Biden. Biden narrowly won Georgia's 16 electoral votes in 2020 by less than 12,000 votes. Republican legislators defended changes they made to Georgia's election as part of an effort to restore public confidence in elections by tightening absentee ballot requirements, improving voter security and other aspects of the voting process. Bondi is dismissing the Biden-era lawsuit challenging a law that critics called 'Jim Crow 2.0.' The turnout of Black voters in Georgia actually increased following the passage of the election overhaul, Bondi said. 'Contrary to the Biden Administration's false claims of suppression, Black voter turnout actually increased under SB 202,' she said. 'Georgians deserve secure elections, not fabricated claims of false voter suppression meant to divide us. Americans can be confident that this Department of Justice will protect their vote and never play politics with election integrity.' Various progressive voting and civil right organizations and the Democratic Party targeted SB 202, a package of nearly several election bills Republican lawmakers pushed through with only five days left in the 2021 legislative session. Georgia's controversial 2021 voting law overhaul survives preliminary legal challenge Prior to the 2024 election cycle, a Georgia federal court judge declined to temporarily block the state's controversial election rules. Trump won a second term in the White House in 2024 after securing 312 electoral votes to defeat Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris. Georgia cast all 16 of its electoral votes for Trump. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bondi instructs Justice Department to dismiss Biden-era legal challenge to Georgia election law
Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday directed the Department of Justice to dismiss a lawsuit challenging a Republican-backed Georgia election law that the DOJ previously alleged intentionally suppressed Black voters. The lawsuit — filed under former President Joe Biden in June 2021 — alleged the law would disproportionately hinder Black voters' access to the polls. But Bondi framed the case as politically motivated, saying it misrepresented the law's effects. 'Contrary to the Biden Administration's false claims of suppression, Black voter turnout actually increased under SB 202,' Bondi said in a press release for the announcement. 'Georgians deserve secure elections, not fabricated claims of false voter suppression meant to divide us.' The law was part of a broader GOP effort to tighten voting rules nationwide following President Donald Trump's 2020 loss, which prompted allegations of voter fraud in U.S. elections among Republicans. Among other provisions, the legislation established a voter ID requirement for mail-in ballots, shortened the time period to request a mail-in ballot and limited the number of ballot drop boxes in metro Atlanta. Critics argue laws like these disproportionately affect marginalized communities and unfairly target Democratic-leaning voters. This isn't the Trump administration's first move to support more restrictive voting rules. Last week, Trump signed a sweeping executive order targeting mail-in voting, directing the Justice Department to ensure all states reject ballots not received by Election Day. The order also calls for proof of citizenship to be added to the national voter registration form.
Politico
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Bondi instructs Justice Department to dismiss Biden-era legal challenge to Georgia election law
Attorney General Pam Bondi on Monday directed the Department of Justice to dismiss a lawsuit challenging a Republican-backed Georgia election law that the DOJ previously alleged intentionally suppressed Black voters. The lawsuit — filed under former President Joe Biden in June 2021 — alleged the law would disproportionately hinder Black voters' access to the polls . But Bondi framed the case as politically motivated, saying it misrepresented the law's effects. 'Contrary to the Biden Administration's false claims of suppression, Black voter turnout actually increased under SB 202,' Bondi said in a press release for the announcement. 'Georgians deserve secure elections, not fabricated claims of false voter suppression meant to divide us.' The law was part of a broader GOP effort to tighten voting rules nationwide following President Donald Trump's 2020 loss, which prompted allegations of voter fraud in U.S. elections among Republicans. Among other provisions, the legislation established a voter ID requirement for mail-in ballots, shortened the time period to request a mail-in ballot and limited the number of ballot drop boxes in metro Atlanta. Critics argue laws like these disproportionately affect marginalized communities and unfairly target Democratic-leaning voters. This isn't the Trump administration's first move to support more restrictive voting rules. Last week, Trump signed a sweeping executive order targeting mail-in voting, directing the Justice Department to ensure all states reject ballots not received by Election Day. The order also calls for proof of citizenship to be added to the national voter registration form.
