Latest news with #SamGraves
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
It's Your Call for May 29
Useless spending I see the city is coming up and spending more money for an aquatic center indoors. I don't know how they spend our money. I wish Donald Trump would come here and fire everyone on the school board and everyone in the city hall. And if the Police Department doesn't step up, they need to be gone, too. Maybe then they'll get somebody in there to watch them spending our money on useless things like Krug Park Bowl, a drug hangout. So, why don't St. Joe wake up and quit spending our money on useless stuff? Catch the speeders I was wondering why the speeders can't be caught in St. Joe. They have closed 752, so there is plenty of traffic going down 22nd St. The big dirt hauling trucks are going anywhere from 50 to 60 miles an hour and using their Jake Brake to stop. Just my opinion I'd like to make a few comments. First of all, they're wanting to raise the sewer rates, and the rates now are impossible for people to afford. I'm just saying it's ridiculous, period. Also, they're wanting to build new schools to bring in people, but St. Joe has high utilities, high crime. The city and MoDOT don't take care of the highways or the streets. This city looks like crap. Why would anybody want to come here and live when everything is so high, crime is bad and nobody cares? Sorry, that's just my opinion. How they voted I urge the editor to publish how our local representative Josh Hawley, Sam Graves and others vote on Trump's beautiful bill. Editor's note: As of May 28, the Senate has not voted on the bill. Local House Rep. Sam Graves voted 'yea.'
Auto Blog
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Got an EV? You Might Be Paying New Hidden Fees, Thanks to Congress
EV and hybrid owners have ample reasons to be unhappy If you have listened to the evening news this week, you probably would have known that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' early on Thursday, May 22, right before lawmakers are set to return to their districts. The 'beautiful' bill has already drawn a lot of attention due to landmark measures packed into the document, including significant tax reform based on major cuts, Medicaid and SNAP reform, increased immigration spending, and an increase to the national debt ceiling, to name just a few. Electric Vehicle Charging Station In Central California If passed in the Senate, EV and hybrid ownership may get a little more expensive However, packed into the text of the nearly 1,000-page bill are some measures that will affect American motorists, especially those who seek to free themselves from the crutch of the gas pump. Hidden very deep in the bill's text is an amendment titled Section 10004, or 'REGISTRATION FEE ON MOTOR VEHICLES.' This amendment states that the federal government will impose annual registration fees of $250 for electric vehicles and $100 for hybrids, which individual states' motor vehicle departments will collect. Lawmakers like Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), the chairman of the influential Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said after the bill was passed that such a provision would help fund the Highway Trust Fund, the main source of federal highway funding. He argues that as EV ownership increases and drivers adopt more fuel-efficient cars and hybrids, the gas tax could lose its relevance very quickly. House Rules Committee Meets On FAA Reauthorization Bill 'The bill includes provisions from the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to provide historic investments in the United States Coast Guard to strengthen our national and border security, as well as […] ensuring that electric vehicles begin contributing to the Highway Trust Fund,' Graves said. The Highway Trust Fund is funded in part through the gas tax, which is reflected in the price of gasoline and diesel fuel. Currently, the gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel, a rate that has not been raised since October 1, 1993. Graves originally tabled this provision in the US House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in late April, where it passed and was added onto the 'Big Beautiful Bill' after a 36-30 vote. Graves's proposal in the BBB will impose enforcement responsibility on the states. Specifically, states will be charged 25% on top of the calculated amount of funding they were expected to bring into the Highway Trust Fund if their motor vehicles departments do not collect the respective EV and hybrid fees. 'The Administrator shall withhold, from amounts required to be apportioned to any State under section 104(b), an amount equal to 125 percent to the amount required to be remitted under subsection (c)(2),' the bill says. 'The Administrator shall withhold the amount on the first day of each fiscal year beginning after September 30, 2026, in which the State does not meet the requirements of subsection (c).' This is not the first time that congressional lawmakers have proposed some sort of 'fairness' fee targeted at EV owners. In February 2025, Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) introduced the Fair Sharing of Highways and Roads for Electric Vehicles (Fair SHARE) Act, which would add a $1000 fee to EVs at the time of purchase, aimed at recouping around 10 years' worth of federal gas tax revenue per car. However, it should be noted that this sort of doctrine has already been enforced at the state level. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), 39 states have a special registration fee for EVs to recuperate lost gas tax funding. For example, EV drivers in New Jersey, which has reached nearly 200,000 strong as of December 2024, will have to pay a $250 annual electric vehicle fee in addition to their registration fee. This fee will increase by $10 per year for four years and exceed $290 starting in 2028. New Jersey's yearly EV registration tax proceeds will fund the state's trust fund for transportation projects and NJ Transit. Tesla charging stations in Berlin — Source: Jens Kalaene/picture alliance via Getty Images Final thoughts It should be noted that this provision affecting EV and Hybrid drivers is sandwiched in the BBB along with dozens of other amendments affecting critical programs such as Medicaid and SNAP, as well as raising the debt ceiling. According to Politico, several Republican Senators say they'll be making changes to the BBB, as many of the provisions could affect constituents in their states. Politics aside, looking at the numbers, it is easy to see how the shift from traditional to alternative fuels could upend decades-old rules and legislation, especially regarding the gas tax and the Highway Trust Fund. However, finding a straight-line solution will require a lot of time, work, and understanding of EVs and the needs of EV buyers by our leaders.
Miami Herald
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Got an EV? You Might Be Paying New Hidden Fees, Thanks to Congress
If you have listened to the evening news this week, you probably would have known that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" early on Thursday, May 22, right before lawmakers are set to return to their districts. The "beautiful" bill has already drawn a lot of attention due to landmark measures packed into the document, including significant tax reform based on major cuts, Medicaid and SNAP reform, increased immigration spending, and an increase to the national debt ceiling, to name just a few. However, packed into the text of the nearly 1,000-page bill are some measures that will affect American motorists, especially those who seek to free themselves from the crutch of the gas pump. Hidden very deep in the bill's text is an amendment titled Section 10004, or "REGISTRATION FEE ON MOTOR VEHICLES." This amendment states that the federal government will impose annual registration fees of $250 for electric vehicles and $100 for hybrids, which individual states' motor vehicle departments will collect. Lawmakers like Rep. Sam Graves (R-Mo.), the chairman of the influential Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said after the bill was passed that such a provision would help fund the Highway Trust Fund, the main source of federal highway funding. He argues that as EV ownership increases and drivers adopt more fuel-efficient cars and hybrids, the gas tax could lose its relevance very quickly. "The bill includes provisions from the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to provide historic investments in the United States Coast Guard to strengthen our national and border security, as well as […] ensuring that electric vehicles begin contributing to the Highway Trust Fund," Graves said. The Highway Trust Fund is funded in part through the gas tax, which is reflected in the price of gasoline and diesel fuel. Currently, the gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon of gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon of diesel, a rate that has not been raised since October 1, 1993. Graves originally tabled this provision in the US House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in late April, where it passed and was added onto the "Big Beautiful Bill" after a 36-30 vote. Graves's proposal in the BBB will impose enforcement responsibility on the states. Specifically, states will be charged 25% on top of the calculated amount of funding they were expected to bring into the Highway Trust Fund if their motor vehicles departments do not collect the respective EV and hybrid fees. "The Administrator shall withhold, from amounts required to be apportioned to any State under section 104(b), an amount equal to 125 percent to the amount required to be remitted under subsection (c)(2)," the bill says. "The Administrator shall withhold the amount on the first day of each fiscal year beginning after September 30, 2026, in which the State does not meet the requirements of subsection (c)." This is not the first time that congressional lawmakers have proposed some sort of "fairness" fee targeted at EV owners. In February 2025, Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) introduced the Fair Sharing of Highways and Roads for Electric Vehicles (Fair SHARE) Act, which would add a $1000 fee to EVs at the time of purchase, aimed at recouping around 10 years' worth of federal gas tax revenue per car. However, it should be noted that this sort of doctrine has already been enforced at the state level. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), 39 states have a special registration fee for EVs to recuperate lost gas tax funding. For example, EV drivers in New Jersey, which has reached nearly 200,000 strong as of December 2024, will have to pay a $250 annual electric vehicle fee in addition to their registration fee. This fee will increase by $10 per year for four years and exceed $290 starting in 2028. New Jersey's yearly EV registration tax proceeds will fund the state's trust fund for transportation projects and NJ Transit. It should be noted that this provision affecting EV and Hybrid drivers is sandwiched in the BBB along with dozens of other amendments affecting critical programs such as Medicaid and SNAP, as well as raising the debt ceiling. According to Politico, several Republican Senators say they'll be making changes to the BBB, as many of the provisions could affect constituents in their states. Politics aside, looking at the numbers, it is easy to see how the shift from traditional to alternative fuels could upend decades-old rules and legislation, especially regarding the gas tax and the Highway Trust Fund. However, finding a straight-line solution will require a lot of time, work, and understanding of EVs and the needs of EV buyers by our leaders. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Rep. Graves asking RFK Jr. to look into cancer cases at Liberty school
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — An alarming number of cancer cases at a Kansas City-area school has a local congress member asking for government help. U.S. Rep. Sam Graves wrote a letter this week to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., asking for his agency's help in looking into a 'concerning number of cancer diagnoses' reported among staff from Warren Hills Elementary School in Liberty. The school is located within the Republican congressman's district. Unpaid parking fines? New Lawrence regulation means you could get the boot In response, Liberty Public Schools acknowledged that while community members have questions, the district has been assured by local and state health agencies that the school is safe. In his letter dated May 12, Rep. Graves wrote that since 2013, at least six staff members have developed breast cancer, with another unexpectedly dying after a short battle with liver cancer last fall. He said many parents 'have deep and growing concerns' about sending their children to school there. While the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services conducted a radon testing study in 2015 that found no issues at the school, and the Clay County Public Health Center conducted a public health study in 2022, Rep. Graves stated there hasn't been a comprehensive study into what's going on, and that's why he's asking Secretary Kennedy for help. The school has fewer than 650 students and about 40 teachers, according to the letter. FOX4 has reached out to Rep. Graves' office for any updates on his request. Read the full letter from Rep. Graves here. The school district created a section on its website about this issue, including a January letter from the Clay County Public Health Center that maintained the breast cancer rate at the school is 'no higher than expected for the community.' The school district sent the following statement Wednesday to FOX4: 'Liberty Public Schools is committed to providing safe and healthy learning environments at all of our schools and facilities. Specifically to Warren Hills Elementary, in recent years our team has been in close contact with the Clay County Public Health Center, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Children's Mercy Environmental Health, and the Missouri Cancer Registry, as we have responded to specific health and environmental concerns expressed by Warren Hills staff. We are thankful for their expertise and partnerships and will continue to work with them as we move forward. Their work has been, and will continue to be, essential in leading and guiding us. In following the guidance and determinations made by the health agencies listed above, we have been assured that the school is safe for the Warren Hills community. Having said this, we also fully recognize that this school community has had questions related to this, and it is of the utmost importance to us to support them with information and resources. Throughout, our focus has been on the well-being of our staff and students as we have worked to provide support to the Warren Hills school community. An account of all of the work completed to date has been published and made available on the Warren Hills school website, which is updated regularly. We will continue to remain engaged with the staff, families, and school community and provide them updates, as necessary.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Fox News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump, lawmakers at odds over whether FEMA should be elevated to Cabinet-level agency or completely overhauled
While President Donald Trump wants to gut the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are seeking to elevate FEMA to a Cabinet-level agency. FEMA is currently housed under the Department of Homeland Security, but the House effort would solidify FEMA as its own separate agency, according to a discussion draft of the legislation released Thursday. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., and committee ranking member Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Wash., are spearheading the legislation. Other proposals included in the draft legislation are instructing the Office of Management and Budget to create a centralized website tracking disaster assistance recovery across the federal government, and allowing FEMA to foot the bill for repairs to homes suffering damage in disasters. Currently, FEMA only covers expenses that make a home livable following disasters. "By releasing this discussion draft legislation, we hope to engage our colleagues and stakeholders on comprehensive FEMA reform," Graves said in a Thursday statement. "This draft bill includes substantive changes that will transform FEMA and our emergency programs to be much more state and locally driven – not micro-managed into ineffectiveness by the federal government." While Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem have voiced support for eradicating FEMA, the former acting administrator of FEMA, Cameron Hamilton, warned against gutting the agency on Wednesday. "I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency," Hamilton told lawmakers on the House Appropriations committee on Wednesday. "Having said that, I'm not in a position to make a decision," Hamilton said. "That is a conversation that should be had between the president of the United States and this governing body." However, Hamilton, who previously served as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy with SEAL Team 8 and started leading FEMA in January, was ousted from his post Thursday. FEMA confirmed to Fox News Digital Thursday that Hamilton was no longer with the agency. Days after his inauguration in January, Trump visited North Carolina to oversee the state's efforts to recover from Hurricane Helene, more than 120 days after the storm struck the state. On the trip, Trump floated plans to gut FEMA, which oversaw the disaster relief efforts. "I'll also be signing an executive order to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA," Trump told reporters in North Carolina. "I think, frankly, FEMA is not good." The executive order established a review council to evaluate potential reforms to FEMA, including whether the agency's bureaucracy restricts its ability to appropriately respond to disasters. Likewise, Trump's budget proposal includes plans to slash nearly $650 million in FEMA grants. On Tuesday, Noem told lawmakers that Trump stands by his statements that FEMA's current setup should be quashed. "He believes that FEMA and its response in many, many circumstances has failed the American people, and that FEMA as it exists today should be eliminated," Noem said.
