Latest news with #PAC
Axios
an hour ago
- Business
- Axios
Charlotte Democrats who voted to weaken carbon goals have history of Duke Energy donations
Two Charlotte Democrats who voted Tuesday to roll back Duke Energy's carbon emissions reduction mandate have accepted thousands in campaign contributions from the utility's political action committee. Why it matters: The override of Gov. Josh Stein's veto of Senate Bill 266 has raised concerns about the influence of corporate and dark money in the legislature. What's inside: " The Power Bill Reduction Act" eliminates an interim goal that requires Charlotte-based Duke Energy to reduce carbon emissions by 70% by 2030, while maintaining a longer-term goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. It would also change how Duke Energy can set its rates and recover costs from its under-construction plants. Zoom in: Supporters say this will give Duke flexibility to meet rising energy demand and save a projected $15 billion over the next two decades. The other side: Critics and some researchers, on the other hand, say it will cost consumers more, while slowing down Duke's transition to clean energy sources at a time of record extreme heat. Catch up quick: Former Sen. Paul Newton, a former Duke Energy executive, helped introduce the bill. Republicans then convinced 11 Democrats in the House and three in the Senate to support it. Earlier this month, Gov. Stein vetoed the bill, citing an independent analysis that showed the changes could cost ratepayers up to $23 billion through 2050 "due to higher fuel costs." Follow the money: Duke Energy's PAC is among the top donors for Mecklenburg County Reps. Nasif Majeed and Carla Cunningham, who both joined Republicans in passing the measure. Neither responded to a request for comment on Tuesday. From Duke Energy's PAC, Majeed received $2,000 in the 2024 race, $500 in 2022 and $1,000 in 2020, according to Follow The Money. The PAC is his sixth biggest contributor. Cunningham has received $19,400 since 2016, including $6,000 for the 2024 campaign, $5,000 for 2022 and $5,400 for 2020. Duke Energy is her fourth-largest donor, per the campaign finance data website. What they're saying: Sustain Charlotte, an environmental advocacy group, called out Majeed and Cunningham in a press release, saying the officials should be held accountable for prioritizing "utility profits over the people they represent." "This vote releases Duke from any legal obligation to reduce climate pollution until 2050, despite overwhelming scientific consensus that we must act much sooner," says Shannon Binns, the group's executive director, who called the vote an "out-of-touch decision," especially during a heat wave in North Carolina, and months after Helene. Between the lines: Majeed and Cunningham are known swing voters, siding with the GOP majority 72% and 79% of the time, respectively. In May, Cunningham was the only Democrat to vote in favor of a bill for tougher immigration rules. Another swing voter, Rep. Shelly Willingham of Edgecombe County, joined in the override. Duke Energy's PAC has contributed $23,000 to his campaigns since the 2018 election, according to Follow The Money. The committee is his second-largest donor. Willingham did not respond to Axios' request for comment. What they're saying: "Policies which build on our state's strong customer protections while helping meet growing energy demands from population growth, business expansion and a resurgence of manufacturing can play a critical role in supporting North Carolina's thriving economy," a Duke Energy spokesperson previously told Axios. Duke Energy has ties to a newly registered nonprofit, "Citizens for NC Jobs," which paid for mailers to constituents in the districts of Democrats who supported the bill, NC Newsline reported. The messages ask the recipients to thank their legislators for their vote "to lower our power costs." The entity launched on Facebook just three days after Senate Bill 266 was presented in March.
Express Tribune
9 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
PAC lambasts govt's faulty sugar policies
Listen to article As a sugar crisis persists in the country, officials on Tuesday shared with the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) the names of the 67 sugar mills that exported 750,000 tons of sugar worth Rs111 billion to 21 countries over the past year. During a PAC meeting chaired by Junaid Akbar, the industries and production secretary said in 2023-24 Pakistan had surplus sugar of 1.3 million tons, of which 790,000 tons were approved for export. He said that 1.9 million tons of sugar was still available in stock, which could last until November, adding that the sugar crushing season runs from November 15 to March 15. Despite these figures, several committee members expressed dissatisfaction with the situation. The secretary for national food security claimed that the average retail price of sugar was Rs173 per kg but members, including Omar Ayub, said sugar was sold for more than Rs200 in their constituencies. Senator Fauzia Arshad reported that sugar was nearly unavailable in the market and what was available was unaffordable for ordinary citizens. PAC members heavily criticized the government's inconsistent sugar policiesexporting sugar one year and importing it the next. MNA Khawaja Shehraz Mehmood called it a "daylight robbery" and said that the same companies making huge profits from exports are now benefiting from imports. MNA Amir Dogar made direct allegations against political leaders, claiming that the highest number of sugar mills are owned by President Asif Ali Zardari, politician Jahangir Tareen, and the Sharif family. He alleged that Rs287 billion had gone into the pockets of a few powerful individuals. The remarks caused heated arguments between Dogar and other members, including Senator Afnan Ullah of the PML-N and Shazia Marri of the PPP, who demanded that such serious claims be backed with evidence. Further tension arose when Chairman Akbar questioned why the list of sugar mill owners and directors had not been submitted to the committee earlier. Officials from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) assured that the list has now been obtained and will be presented soon. He questioned how long sugar remains usable in storage, to which the secretary of industries responded that sugar begins to spoil after 3-4 months unless special precautions are taken. The meeting was told that the government is planning to import 300,000 tons of sugar to meet demand before the next crushing season begins. Lawmakers demanded that the government ensure this import does not harm farmers and that sugar is not brought in from countries where it was earlier exported. The PAC directed all relevant ministries to submit detailed reports and warned that future briefings would not be accepted without complete documentation. According to documents seen by The Express Tribune, JDW Sugar Mills topped the list by exporting 73,000 metric tons of sugar worth Rs11.1 billion. Tandlianwala Sugar Mills came second with 41,412 metric tons worth Rs5.98 billion. Ramzan Sugar Mills exported sugar worth Rs2.41 billion. Chaudhry Sugar Mills exported sugar worth Rs1.49 billion while Al-Arabia Sugar Mills exported Rs1.2 billion worth of sugar. The Auditor General of Pakistan revealed that sugar mills earned over Rs300 billion from recent sugar price fluctuations.
Hans India
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Jagan vows YSRCP's resurgence, slams ‘vendetta' politics
Tadepalli: YSRC Ppresident Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy launched a scathing attack on the N Chandrababu Naidu-led coalition government, accusing it of pursuing 'vindictive politics' towards its adversaries and neglecting all sections of society by failing to deliver on its electoral promises. Addressing a meeting of party's political affairs committee (PAC) here on Tuesday, he urged the party cadre to expose the government's shortcomings and strengthen the YSRCP from the grassroots, asserting that the future awaits their leadership. Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that the current coalition government is mired in corruption and is fabricating false cases against YSRCP leaders and senior officials with 'vendetta' to instill fear and divert attention from its own failures in implementing welfare schemes. He provided a detailed account of what he termed the government's vindictive actions, citing the arrests of leaders like P Midhun Reddy, Nandigama Suresh, Kakani Govardhan Reddy, and Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy. The YSRCP chief stated that the total loans taken during his 2019-24 tenure were Rs 3.32 lakh crore, while Naidu has allegedly spent 52 per cent of that amount in just 14 months. He suggested Naidu's recent trip to Singapore was merely to 'stash the looted funds.' During the meeting, PAC members expressed serious concern over alleged security lapses during Jagan's tours, terming them 'deliberate', citing an incident at Bangarupalem. Jagan announced the upcoming launch of a party app aimed at documenting government injustices, enabling citizens to report harassment by individuals or officials. 'We will hold the guilty accountable and ensure justice,' he said. 'We have lost a good government, but the people's support is with us. Together, we will restore justice, rebuild our state, and bring YSRCP back to power,' he added.
Business Recorder
13 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Surge in sugar prices: PAC seeks records of all sugar mill owners, exporters again
ISLAMABAD: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has sought records of all sugar mill owners and exporters again, aiming to investigate the underlying causes of the nationwide surge in sugar prices. Junaid Akbar chaired the meeting of the PAC. The members committee showed serious concerns over the sudden raise in sugar prices as the commodity is being sold at Rs 210 per kg in Karachi and Rs 215 in Haripur, while the average price is at Rs 173 per kg nationwide. New official sugar prices notified for Karachi The officials of the Ministry of Industries hesitated to disclose the sugar mill owners, forced the chairman committee to issue directives for submission of names and directorship of sugar mills. The PAC chairman warned that a privilege motion would be moved in case the list was not submitted shortly. The secretary for Food Security also faced strong criticism for allegedly presenting inaccurate data of sugar production, export and prices. According to the data provided by the Ministry of Industries, 5.09 million tons of sugar approved for export in last 10 years but only 3.927 million tons were actually exported, earning over $400 million in foreign exchange. Officials stated that Pakistan produced 7.66 million metric tons of sugar last year, with 1.3 million metric tons in surplus. Of that, 500,000 tons were reserved for the next year, while the government approved the export of 790,000 tons in three phases. At the time of export, the local market price of sugar was Rs143 per kg, which has now jumped to Rs 173. The lawmakers criticised the ongoing cycle of sugar export and import, calling it a decade-long deception. Members committee Riaz Fatyana and Muhammad Arshad alleged that the nation was defrauded of Rs 287 billion due to the manipulated price hike and artificial shortages. Junaid asked the officials why sugar mills were awarded export subsidies and the reason behind the sudden issuance of SROs granting tax exemptions. Moin Pirzada accused the government of looting the nation and blamed the Sugar Advisory Board for corruption, calling the sugar mafia an integral part of the government. The committee was apprised that the prime minister formed a committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar to probe the matter. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
6 arrested on kanwariya's complaint of attack
Varanasi: Police arrested six persons accused of attacking a saffron-clad kanwariya after an FIR was lodged on his complaint on Monday night. The kanwariya was allegedly assaulted by a shoe trader and his companions while the pilgrim was chanting 'Bol Bam' slogans while passing through the area. This led to a violent clash between locals and kanwariyas in Rajatalab area on Varanasi-Prayagraj highway tense. DCP Gomati Zone Akash Patel said on Tuesday that FIR was lodged against six persons on complaint of the injured kanwariya. The alleged attackers, Noor Hasan, Sharafat Ali, Mohammad Latif, Munawwar and Alauddin from different localities under the Rajatalab police station area and Salamuddin of Mehandiganj, were arrested. He added that further investigation was in progress, while police and PAC were deployed to maintain law and order, especially on the kanwariya route. On the third Monday of Shrawan, villagers from Jansa, Rameshwar and Harsos areas were carrying out Kanwar processions. While returning from Adalpura Sheetla Dham towards their village, two kanwariyas, Paltu Yadav and Shubham Yadav of Jansa, were passing through Panchkroshi Road in Rajatalab area. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Get Deals Undo They alleged that at Rajatalab railway crossing, a group of masked persons stopped them and forbade them from chanting 'Bol Bam'. When they protested, they were abused and beaten with sticks and sharp weapons. Shubham's head was injured and Paltu sustained injuries too. The assailants allegedly dragged them into a house near the shoe shop and beat them up. Both Kanwariyas escaped and informed their companions about the incident. In the meantime, a video of the beating also went viral, sparking anger among kanwariyas and villagers. They blocked the Jansa-Rajatalab road in protest and also indulged in vandalism and brick-batting. Police used mild force to disperse the gathering. After pacifying the situation, police lodged FIR and started arresting the assailants.
