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If every state had primaries like Washington's, with candidates of all parties competing against each other, would our politics be less extreme? What if every state had an independent commission to draw legislative and congressional districts? Would our legislatures, our Congress, be more representative? Or what if we elected our national representatives using ranked choice voting, which Seattle voters adopted for city primary elections a couple of years ago? Would our politics be less partisan? U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez thinks, or at least hopes, the answers to all these questions could be yes. Gluesenkamp Perez and U.S. Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, want to establish a select committee of 14 members of Congress to look at ways to reform our electoral processes in the hopes of reducing political polarization. Gluesenkamp Perez and Golden, both moderate Democrats, are among the dwindling few U.S. House members who represent districts carried by the presidential candidate of the opposite party. "I think an increasing number of the American population is viewing Congress as more partisan, more dysfunctional, less productive, and they have less confidence in the body," Gluesenkamp Perez said in an interview. "I think 90% of us agree on 90% of the issues, and yet we see a legislative policy that does not match our shared interests." The Electoral Reform Select Committee Act would convene a committee of lawmakers to look for alternatives to the ways we currently elect members of Congress. Because it is a House resolution, it would only need to pass the House for the committee to be created. The legislation has support from more than 170 political scientists, who wrote in support that "changing how we elect our representatives can promote cooperation, temper polarization, and generate more consensus-building in policymaking." The political scientists, in their letter, wrote that America has a long history of electoral reforms, even if they have been more rare in recent years. The House continuously grew in size, as the country grew in size, until a 1929 law froze it at 435 members. The House also had multimember districts, in some states, until a 1967 law required that representatives be elected in single-member districts. Jake Grumbach, a professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, called the move to examine electoral reforms a step in the right direction but also only a first step. Grumbach, who has written a book on the effect of partisanship on political institutions, said our electoral systems were designed for a different age, when partisanship was much less important than it is now. "A huge amount of research suggests that US political institutions have become less functional in the age of nationalized politics and polarization," he wrote in an email. "Voter and media attention, political fundraising, as well as activist and party activity, have all transformed over the last generation, but US political institutions remain built for an age of localized and regional politics in which partisanship doesn't matter as much." The reforms the committee would look at, Grumbach said, wouldn't necessarily favor either party but would make it easier for voters to influence their elected representatives. Party primaries, for instance, with Democrats competing against Democrats and only Democrats voting (and the opposite for Republicans) often result in the most extreme candidate making it through. General election voters are then left with an extreme candidate from either side without one that may match their preferences. Only a small percentage of the electorate votes in primaries, "so the table is really kind of set before most of us get there," Gluesenkamp Perez said. "And I think having open primaries can deliver a less partisan approach." Establishing a committee to look at possible changes would only be a first step. And it is extremely difficult to make some of the changes the committee would consider. But, Grumbach said, "they won't ever happen if people don't start talking about them." Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Google: 2024 capital investment in NE is $930M, for a five-year tally of $4.4B
Please enable JavaScript to read this content. President William Ruto and Principal Secretary for Citizen Services Prof Julius Kibet Bitok during the first anniversary of the e-Citizen Directorate, at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, (KICC )Nairobi on Nov 28, 2024. [PCS] President William Ruto on Thursday painted a picture of how the digitisation of government services has been instrumental in the fight against corruption and the prevention of the wastage of public resources. While presiding over the first anniversary of e-Citizen directorate in Nairobi, Ruto highlighted the achievements the agency has had in the government’s resolve to digitise systems in an increasingly technologically advanced world. For instance, Ruto said that the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has been able to save Sh2 billion since the inauguration of eCitizen in November last year, money that “used to end up in people’s pockets.” “We have reduced the gaps in revenue leaks. We have seen growth in revenue collection from Sh5.3 billion to Sh7.6 billion within KWS alone,” Ruto said. “These savings are also being redirected towards critical sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, and job creation,” he added, stating that his office is working with the Kenya Revenue Authority, along with other partners, to ensure that revenues collected are not subject to pilferage or losses. ALSO READ: Embrace e-citizen or quit, President Ruto warns parastatal bosses Similarly, the President observed that the platform has been able to accommodate diaspora citizens who no longer need to send local representatives to facilitate the acquisition of services on their behalf, thus reducing the risk of fraud. He said the “burden of navigating physical obstacles, standing in long queues, and enduring unnecessary delays and inconveniences” when accessing services has become a thing of the past. With the programme, Ruto’s government also aimed to dismantle inefficiencies, delays, bureaucracies, and seal loopholes for the pilferage of taxpayers’ money. One of the key initiatives in the fight against graft has been the digitisation of State services, “because, through digitisation, we connect service delivery to revenue collection.” Currently, Kenyans are able to access 22,515 services on the digital platform, up from 394 since its inception, according to Ruto, with at least 13 million “thriving community users.” “Now, from the comfort of your home and with just a mobile phone, you can renew your driving licence, register a business name or entity, or apply for a marriage certificate,” he said. The latest update indicates that the platform collects Sh800 million daily. Stay informed. Subscribe to our newsletter In his effort to build confidence in the use of the platform, the President recognised several entities and individuals who have embraced and actively used the system over time. The National Transport and Safety Authority topped the list for the most transactions using eCitizen, with 21.3 million services offered, followed by the Directorate of Immigration Services and KWS, which received an award for being the most improved in revenue collection. However, it emerged that about 35 state agencies have failed to onboard services onto eCitizen, one year after the platform’s launch. The President issued a seven-day ultimatum to the heads of these agencies to comply or face dismissal. Some of the notable agencies put on notice include Kenya Power, the Independent Police Oversight Authority, Kenya Airports Authority, the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the newly established Digital Health Authority. Other agencies include the Kenya Reinsurance Corporation, Private Security Regulatory Authority, Kenya Space Agency, Health Records and Information Managers Board, National Cancer Institute of Kenya, and the Kenya Nutritionist and Dietitians Institute. Professional bodies such as the Kenya Institute of Supplies Management Board and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants were also put on notice, among other State corporations. ALSO READ: Ruto issues ultimatum to agencies over E-citizen platform “These entities have yet to comply with my directive that their services and revenue payments must be on eCitizen so that the Treasury can track the revenues collected. They have one week to comply. Otherwise, they know what to do—they can make use of the door,” the President said. He added, “Some agencies occasionally use alternative payment methods. I want to refer to the last three months, where some government agencies, already on eCitizen, decided to use alternative means to offer services.” Ruto described this as part of a shift from “citizen-centred approaches to citizen-driven approaches” in addressing corruption, a challenge the Kenya Kwanza administration is tackling. To further facilitate public access to services digitally, Ruto pledged to implement favourable tax policies and incentives to make smartphones and data affordable for every citizen. The President also announced the government’s plan to integrate Artificial Intelligence into the digital platform to enhance the efficiency of service delivery and minimise fraud. “AI offers opportunities to reimagine service delivery. For instance, an AI-powered bot on eCitizen could provide instant solutions to inquiries, reducing wait time and minimising opportunities for fraud,” he stated. “Technology translates to lower costs and less bureaucracy means faster service delivery.’’
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Ukrainian girls’ team finds hockey haven at Wickenheiser festival
CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — A Ukrainian girls’ hockey team is in Canada for a few days of peace and hockey in an arena that doesn’t have a missile-sized hole in its roof. After 56 hours of travel to Calgary, including a 24-hour bus ride from Dnipro to Warsaw, Poland, that required army escort for a portion of it, the Ukrainian Wings will join Wickfest, Hayley Wickenheiser’s annual girls’ hockey festival, on Thursday. The squad of players aged 11 to 13 was drawn from eight different cities in Ukraine, where sport facilities have been damaged or destroyed since Russia started its invasion in February 2022. “They all have a personal story of something awful happening,” said Wickenheiser. “We give them a week of peace and joy here, and I hope they can carry that with them. “We know full well they’re going back to difficult circumstances. It’s tough that way.” Nine players are from Kharkiv, where pictures show a large hole in the roof of the Saltovskiy Led arena where the girls’ team WHC Panthers once skated. “It was our home ice arena, and we played all our national team championships in this ice arena,” said Kateryna Seredenko, who oversees the Panthers program and is the Wings general manager. Ukraine’s Olympic Committee posted photos and wrote in a Facebook post Sept. 1 that Kharkiv’s Sport Palace, which was home to multiple hockey teams, was also destroyed in an attack on the city. Seredenko says the Wings’ arduous journey to Calgary was worth it because it gives the girls hope. “It’s not a good situation in Ukraine, but when they come here, they can believe that everything will be good, everything will be fine, of course we will win soon and we must play hockey. We can’t stop because we love these girls and we will do everything for them,” she said. “So many girls on this Ukrainian team are future players of the national team.” Wickenheiser, a Hockey Hall of Famer , is the assistant general manager of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs and a doctor who works emergency room shifts in the Toronto area. The six-time Olympian and four-time gold medalist organized her first Wickfest after the 2010 Winter Games. She’s had teams from India, Mexico and the Czech Republic attend over the last decade and a half, but never a team that ran the Ukrainians’ gauntlet of logistics. The Canadian Partnership for Women and Children’s Health took on the task of arranging visas and paying for the team’s travel. “We care about women and children’s health. Sport is such a symbol. When you see a group of girls coming off the ice all sweaty and having worked hard on the ice, it’s a symbol of a healthy girl,” said chief executive officer Julia Anderson. “That’s a healthy kid that’s able to participate in sport. We really believe if we can get girls there, whether they’re in an active war zone, or here in Canada, those girls will change the world.” The Wings aren’t the first Ukrainians to seek a hockey haven in Canada since the war began. An under-25 men’s team played four games against university squads in early 2023 to prepare for that year’s world university games. Ukrainian teams have also twice played in the Quebec City International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. “It’s the first time in Ukrainian history where a girls’ team is coming to Canada to a very good tournament,” Seredenko said. “They can see how they can play in their future. And they can see how it is to play hockey in Canada.” AP sports: https://apnews.com/sportsOverthinking what you said? It's your 'lizard brain' talking to newer, advanced parts of your brain
49ers’ Purdy throws without pain, while it’s wait and see with Bosa, WilliamsSri Lanka’s book industry has renewed its call for books to be exempt from tax, with four industry bodies submitting a proposal to the new government for inclusion in the next national budget. Urging the government to consider the financial as well as social ramifications of taxing sources of knowledge and learning, these associations representing publishers, writers, retailers, importers and exporters have called for books to be returned to the list of items exempt from tax, as was the case before 1st January 2024. In their proposal, the four associations pointed out that with all inputs for the publishing industry with the exception of local labour being imported, Sri Lanka’s book industry is already taxed at 33.045%, and the imposition of a value-added tax (VAT) of 18% at the point of sale has made books unaffordable to many, and is putting small-scale publishers out of business. Addressing media at a news conference, Sri Lanka Book Publishers Association (SLBPA) President Samantha Indeewara pointed out that representatives of the new government while in the parliamentary opposition had criticised the imposition of VAT on books, and had the government of that time to reverse this. “We are therefore cautiously optimistic that the concerns of the book industry would be addressed in the next budget,” he said. “We have brought to the government’s attention the numerous anomalies affecting the industry that are directly attributable to the imposition of VAT on books,” he said. “This includes the fact that the majority of publishing companies are not eligible to pay VAT, and therefore are unable to deduct the VAT they pay on inputs for locally produced books, or the VAT they pay on the imports,” Indeewara elaborated, disclosing that only about 12 large publishing and printing companies are eligible to pay VAT on their sales and can therefore deduct the VAT they pay on inputs. However, many of the smaller publishers sell their books via the bookshops and distribution networks of the large companies, and the imposition of VAT results in all of their books being taxed, he said. Another matter of serious concern is that by imposing taxes on books, Sri Lanka continues to be in violation of the UNESCO Florence Agreement of 1950, to which the country was an early signatory and continues to be a Contracting State. The UNESCO Florence Agreement is a treaty that binds Contracting States to not impose customs duties and taxes on certain educational, scientific, and cultural materials that are imported.
Libby Mettam says she is not a ‘quitter’ and will put leadership on the line at Liberal partyroom meeting