Latest news with #legislature
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Disgraced Chinese admiral Miao Hua suspected of ‘legal violations'
China said that Miao Hua, a disgraced admiral and member of the powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), was suspected of 'legal violations', suggesting his wrongdoings were more serious than previously thought. The CMC's political work department decided to expel Miao from the top legislature in March for 'suspected serious violations of discipline and law', according to a statement from the legislature dated May 15. The statement was made public recently and first reported by the media this week. While his expulsion was reported in March, this is the first official acknowledgement of possible legal misconduct by Miao. Miao previously served as the head of the CMC's political work department – an influential position responsible for ideological control and personnel management within the People's Liberation Army. In late November, he was placed under investigation for alleged 'serious violations of discipline' – a type of misconduct that could lead to conviction on corruption charges. However, the recent mention of 'legal violations' suggests a potentially more severe accusation. No further details about the case have been disclosed, underscoring the sensitive nature of military investigations in China. Corruption cases involving the military are handled by a separate military justice system, which is more opaque compared to civilian institutions.
CBC
5 days ago
- Health
- CBC
Nunavut passes legislation to allow pharmacists to perscribe medication
The territory's legislature has passed legislation making that change possible. We spoke with John Main about what's next.
South China Morning Post
26-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong to earn extra HK$104 million yearly from visa, passport fee rises
Hong Kong authorities have proposed raising application fees for a raft of visas and identity documents to generate an additional HK$104 million (US$13.3 million) in income annually, with a 48-page passport to cost as much as HK$520. Advertisement The Security Bureau revealed its proposal to increase fees for 28 services in a document submitted to the legislature on Monday, with rates projected to rise by between 3 per cent and 51 per cent and take effect in September. Last revised in 2000, the fee for issuing a 48-page passport for people aged 16 or above will rise by 13 per cent from HK$460 to HK$520. Children under 16 will be charged HK$260, up from HK$230. A 32-page passport for people 16 or above will cost HK$430, a 16 per cent increase from the current HK$370. Younger Hongkongers will have to pay HK$215, up from HK$185. The rates were last amended in 2006. The proposal is expected to generate an extra HK$104 million more for the public coffers every year, according to authorities. Advertisement The bureau explained that the price review was based on 'cost recovery' and 'user-pays' principles, as the fees should be 'adequate to recover the full cost of providing the goods or services' in general.
Bloomberg
25-05-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
Even Elected Officials Have First Amendment Rights
Imagine a legislature in a deep-red state deciding that members who support abortion rights won't be allowed to cast votes on any matter. Or a legislature in a bright-blue state decreeing the same disqualification for members seen sporting MAGA gear. Seems silly, I know — maybe even undemocratic. But that's what's at stake in the kerfuffle that led to last week's unexpected order from the US Supreme Court granting a stay in a lawsuit by Maine Representative Laurel Libby, whom her colleagues censured for refusing to remove a social media post that identified a transgender high school athlete who'd won an event at the state championship. As a result of the censure, Libby was not allowed to vote or even to come onto the floor.
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
North Dakota governor vetoes $35M housing budget ... by mistake
When North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong took up an agency budget bill approved by the legislature, he vetoed a couple of line items. At least, that was his intention Monday. Instead, he accidentally vetoed $35 million for the state's housing budget. Now the state is figuring out how to deal with the unusual problem of a mistaken veto. "I have no recollection of anything like this happening in the 37 years I've been here," John Bjornson, legislative council director, said Thursday. "So, yeah, I'd say it's a little extraordinary." Armstrong wasn't the only governor to possibly flub a line-item veto this week. Late Wednesday, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen announced that he would be striking about $47 million in funding and cash transfers over the next two years from budget bills passed last week by the Nebraska Legislature. Those cuts included about $12 million over two years for the Nebraska Supreme Court. But on Thursday afternoon, the Speaker of the Legislature John Arch announced the body would be sending a letter to Pillen, a fellow Republican, informing him he had missed a 5-day deadline, which came at midnight Wednesday, to properly file the line-item vetoes and that the line items are now law. Pillen's office responded that it handled the veto properly and would consult with the state attorney general about next steps. In North Dakota, the governor's staff called his veto of the housing budget in Senate Bill 2014 a markup error. Armstrong's staff met with the legislative council Thursday morning to discuss options. "This was an honest mistake, and we will fix it," a statement from the governor's office read. Armstrong, a Republican who served three terms in Congress, was elected governor in 2024. The legislative session that adjourned earlier in the month was his first as governor. In a message accompanying the veto, Armstrong wrote he had intended to veto a $150,000 grant to fund a Native American homelessness liaison position. The budget veto would take effect July 1. What happens next is largely up to the governor, Bjornson said, but it is likely that the legislature will need to reconvene in Bismarck for a special session. The governor's office said it will call a special session if needed but hopes to "avoid the expense." If the legislature overrides the veto, that would include funding for the grant Armstrong had wanted to strike. If the legislature wants to only fund the $35 million housing budget, lawmakers may need to pass a new bill, which could take as long as three days, Bjornson said. The Legislature has six days available to use of its 80-day session limit, and a special session could open the opportunity to override other vetoes by the governor. The governor vetoed all or parts of four bills this session.
