While you’re popping champagne and toasting the new year, hundreds of recently enacted bills will go into effect. Here are a few you should know about. The minimum wage for all employers in California will increase to $16.50. We currently have the second highest unemployment rate of any state behind only Nevada. This increase will only make it worse, particularly for California’s youth and others just starting to join the workforce. Paychecks will be hit by a tax increase. The State Disability Insurance rate is increasing from 1.1 to 1.2 percent. As KCRA in Sacramento noted, “That means a couple or individual with $100,000 in taxable annual wages will have $100 more total withheld from their pay this upcoming year, or about $8 a month because of the tax increase, for example.” For property owners, several attempts to destroy your rights to protest new and higher water rates go into effect. Under Proposition 218, water agencies must send notices to customers ahead of time with information on how to protest the rate hike. If a majority protest, the rate increase can’t go into effect. But Assembly Bill 2257 creates a protest procedure separate from the notice required by Prop. 218 and appears merely to layer on added – and superfluous – requirements for the sole purpose of hindering taxpayers’ constitutional ability to approve or reject taxes. Another assault on property owner rights is Senate Bill 1072 because it could leave taxpayers without proper compensation for overcharges on their water bills by offering only future credits instead of actual refunds. There is a huge difference between a “credit” for future charges and an actual refund. If a taxpayer moves, how will he or she be compensated for the violation of constitutional rights if the agency merely applies the overcharge to reduce rates paid by others in the future? AB 1827 is another concern because it tries to add potentially unconstitutional charges to your water bill based on speculative factors like “maximum potential water use” and “peaking” factors. This is in direct contravention of Prop. 218 which provides that, “No fee or charge may be imposed for a service unless that service is actually used by, or immediately available to, the owner of the property in question. Fees or charges based on potential or future use of a service are not permitted.” Basing a charge on “maximum potential water use” clearly then is not permitted under Prop. 218. Further, in the absence of time-of-use technology, peaking factors are generally make-believe. Legal challenges to AB 1827 are a near certainty. Related Articles Opinion Columnists | Trump’s claim that we need ‘extreme vetting’ is extremely baseless Opinion Columnists | Year in review: From a republic to a ‘kakistocracy’ Opinion Columnists | Will Democrats fix their brand problem ahead of California’s gubernatorial election? Opinion Columnists | Susan Shelley: Too many so-called emergencies in the Golden State Opinion Columnists | Larry Wilson: The lost art of college students talking to each other Regarding your rights as a voter, there were attacks this year on direct democracy. Fortunately, many of those got left on the cutting room floor, but one that did pass and goes into effect this year, Senate Bill 1441, is very concerning. If a citizen-initiated recall, initiative or referendum is determined to have an insufficient number of valid signatures, the proponents have the right to review rejected signatures and the reason for the rejection. But SB 1441 sets an unreasonable 60-day time limit on the review process and adds a new requirement for proponents to pay the costs of the review, which could be hundreds of thousands of dollars. Nothing in the bill prevents a county from running out the clock by providing inadequate access. But that’s probably the intent. Was it all bad news from your California government this year? No, of course not. For everyone who has been waiting for Sacramento to finally address the pressing concerns of state residents, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation giving the state three new official state symbols: the banana slug (state slug), Dungeness crab (state crustacean), and black abalone (state seashell). Don’t say they never did anything for you. Happy New Year! Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
The newly released gameplay footage showcases the game's stunning visuals and exciting gameplay elements. From intense team skirmishes to breathtaking in-game environments, "From The Forgotten" promises to deliver an immersive gaming experience that will keep players on the edge of their seats. The dynamic character designs and unique abilities add a layer of depth to the gameplay, allowing for diverse and strategic team compositions that will keep players engaged and coming back for more.
But that's not all – 'Elden Ring,' the long-awaited collaboration between FromSoftware and George R. R. Martin, is also set to make its debut on the PS platform in 2025. With its trademark blend of challenging gameplay, intricate world-building, and dark fantasy storytelling, 'Elden Ring' has captured the imagination of gamers worldwide since its announcement. The PS promo reel offers a tantalizing glimpse at the game's stunning visuals, epic battles, and rich lore, promising an unforgettable journey for players brave enough to venture into the lands of the Elden Ring.The investigation stems from allegations that Google and Meta have been engaging in a secret agreement to manipulate the online advertising market to their advantage. The EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager emphasized the importance of ensuring fair competition in the digital sector and preventing companies from abusing their dominant positions to stifle competition.
As the case of Wu Yingjie demonstrates, no one is above the law when it comes to corruption. The Party's commitment to rooting out corruption at all levels of government is essential to maintaining the integrity and credibility of the CPC and ensuring the continued prosperity and stability of China as a whole.Sports on TV for Sunday, Dec. 15Title: "LGBT Game 'The Journey of Dust' on Steam Left with Only One Player: A Lone Warrior"
SEC Chair Gary Gensler, who led US crackdown on cryptocurrencies, to step downIn addition to AI-driven personalization, the company has also focused on enhancing the digital shopping experience through the integration of virtual try-on technology and augmented reality features. Customers can now virtually try on different makeup looks or skincare products through the Nature Collection Group's mobile app, creating a more interactive and immersive shopping experience.