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China: Nation steps up efforts to bolster import and export growthOn the first day of the new legislative session, Assemblymember Avelino Valencia, D-Anaheim, introduced Assembly Constitutional Amendment 1 (ACA 1). The proposal would double the amount of state funds that could be placed in the Budget Stabilization Account (BSA) from 10% to 20% of the annual budget. The ostensible reason for the increase is to address the very real problem of revenue volatility. Because California is overly reliant on high income earners who generate massive amounts of capital gains and stock option funds in boom years, it is vulnerable to big drop-offs in revenue during the bust years. Indeed, revenue volatility has been such a large problem that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger created the California Commission for the 21st Century Economy to come up with solutions. Regrettably, while there was a broad consensus that something should be done about the boom and bust cycle, the commissioners could not agree on what to do about it. The goal of placing more funds in reserve because of volatility makes sense, if it can be accomplished without violating the letter and the spirit of Gann spending limit. Unfortunately, ACA 1, in its current form does just that. Here’s how. Just a year after Proposition 13’s passage in 1978, California voters approved the Gann spending limit which, like Prop. 13, sought to restrain the size and growth of government. But unlike Proposition 13, which was a direct limit on taxation, Gann attempted to limit government spending. It limited the growth of state and local government expenditures to a base-year level adjusted annually to reflect increases in population and inflation. Initially, the Gann limit performed as designed and resulted in a modest rebate to taxpayers in 1987. But subsequent measures backed by special interests weakened the Gann limit by creating exceptions for education and transportation spending as well as substituting a far more generous inflation factor. Ironically, after these changes, most public finance observers – including yours truly – wrongfully assumed that California would never again bump up against the limit. But a big surplus in fiscal year 2022-23 put the state on the brink of reaching that limit. While that collision was briefly avoided due to COVID-19, California once again is confronted with a Gann issue that can no longer be ignored. For taxpayers, the best outcome would be to let the Gann limit run its course and return money to taxpayers “by a revision of tax rates or fee schedules within the next two subsequent fiscal years.” Cal.Const., Art. XIIIB, Section 2(a)(2). This is consistent with the plain language of Gann and is more than warranted given California’s heavy tax burden. Related Articles Opinion Columnists | End the IRS’s worldwide tax grab Opinion Columnists | Mass deportations are bad for everyone’s liberties Opinion Columnists | The draconian penalties that Hunter Biden escaped affect people whose fathers can’t save them Opinion Columnists | California politicians suddenly discover inflation in aftermath of election Opinion Columnists | How California ranks as the most active political state But ACA 1 might prevent taxpayer refunds due to the change in treatment of transfers into the budget stabilization account. Under Gann, the state and local governments may create reserve accounts, like the BSA, but those transfers are subject to Gann’s spending limits. On the other hand, spending out of a reserve account is not so limited. As currently drafted, it appears that ACA 1 would exempt transfers out of the reserve account – currently permissible under Gann – but would also exempt appropriations into the BSA: Section (i) provides, “Transfers to the Budget Stabilization Account pursuant to this section do not constitute appropriations subject to limitation as defined in Article XIII B.” This appears to create a fund into which unlimited funds can be appropriated, guaranteeing that taxpayers will never get a refund of their tax dollars. There are better ways to address revenue volatility without injury to the goal of the Gann Spending Limit, which was enacted to provide a modicum of spending restraint in a state that doesn’t have any. California taxpayers need something more than a rainy day fund that’s all slush. Jon Coupal is president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
Enaya Medical Foundation And CEO Dr. Salman Al Mutairi Earns Honor For Business Society Contributions And Executives Awards At HBC 2024 International AwardsThe 118th session of Congress was one of the most chaotic and partisan-plagued sessions of Congress in recent political history, particularly among Republicans in the lower chamber. The House witnessed the historic ousting of a speaker; chaos within House Republicans almost caused the government to shut down twice and brought three failed attempts to remove members of the Biden administration, including the president himself; two representatives were also indicted while in office, and one was actually removed. And that was hardly the extent of the drama and dysfunction. READ: As the current session draws to a close, here’s a look back at the 118th Congress by the numbers: 3: The number of speakers of the House. The session began in January 2023 with Kevin McCarthy of California winning the gavel in a contentious vote. After his historic ousting in October 2023 led by former Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, Republican Rep. Patrick McHenry of North Carolina was named speaker pro tempore and served for 22 days. Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana was then elected in late October by the caucus as the new speaker. 2: The number of attempts to oust a speaker. For the first time in history, McCarthy was removed from the speakership after Gaetz led the movement to put forth a “motion to vacate.” McCarthy’s removal sparked a scramble to replace him, with Johnson taking over. Johnson himself then faced the same attempt in May , but it ended up failing during votes. 9: The number of failed impeachment attempts against Biden administration officials. Biden has been the target of five impeachment resolutions. McCarthy announced an impeachment inquiry into Biden on Sept. 12, 2023, that the House Judiciary, Oversight and Ways and Means committees conducted, but the attempt went nowhere. Republicans filed impeachment articles against Attorney General Merrick Garland, Vice President Kamala Harris, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. Most failed to gain traction, but House Republicans voted in February to impeach Mayorkas – despite opposition from all Democrats and four GOP members. The charges were quickly dismissed by the Senate. 1: The number of failed contempt of Congress charges filed against a Biden administration official. House Republicans voted 216 to 207 on June 13 to hold Garland in contempt for refusing to hand over audio records of President Joe Biden to the House Oversight Committee. Garland said he viewed the request as politically motivated. 4: The number of continuing resolutions passed. The House in September of 2023 passed a stopgap bill to avert a shutdown. The House then voted and passed another stopgap bill in November. The first stopgap bill of this year was passed in September to avert a partial government shutdown . The bill was passed 78-18 and maintained the current funding levels through Dec. 20. A second stopgap bill passed days before Christmas, despite last-minute drama when President-elect Donald Trump and his allies scuttled a bipartisan deal in favor of a pared-down version of the funding bill. 1: The number of lawmakers removed from office. The House voted 311 to 114 on Dec. 1 to expel Republican Rep. George Santos of New York from Congress. He was indicted by the federal government for financial crimes and it was discovered he lied about key details, including his ancestry, his college degree and previous employment. 2: The number of lawmakers indicted while in office. Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife were indicted by the federal prosecutors in May and accused of taking an estimated $600,000 from a company tied to the Azerbaijan government and a bank based in Mexico City. The bribes were then said to have been laundered through shell companies owned by Cuellar’s wife. Aneeta Mathur-Ashton Dec. 23, 2024 Democratic Rep. Robert Menendez of New Jersey was indicted in September 2023 and accused of using his position to benefit three businessmen and the government of Egypt in exchange for bribes that included gold bars and cash. His wife was indicted alongside him in addition to the businessmen. After a lengthy trial, Menendez was found guilty on all 16 charges. 1: The number of lawmakers who changed their party affiliation while in office. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia disclosed in May 2024 that he would change his party affiliation to independent. Such moves are rare, yet Manchin’s decision came after Sen. Krysten Sinema of Arizona similarly changed her registration from Democrat to independent. While technically her decision, announced in December 2022, was part of the 117th Congress, its effects would be felt when the 118th Congress convened in January 2023. 4: The number of independents in the Senate. Manchin’s switch brought the total from three to four , the highest number in a single Congress since the ratification of the 17th Amendment in 1913 that allowed for the direct election of senators by voters. 19,297: The number of bills and resolutions introduced into the House 994: The number of bills passed or agreed to by the House 1,029: The number of bills passed or agreed to by the Senate 315: The number of bills passed or agreed to by the House and Senate
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Today, 25th December is a very special day for all of us. Our nation marks the 100th Jayanti of our beloved former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji. He stands tall as a statesman who continues to inspire countless people. Our nation will always be grateful to Atal Ji for architecting India’s transition into the 21st century. When he took oath as PM in 1998 our country had passed through a period of political instability. In about 9 years, we had seen 4 Lok Sabha elections. The people of India were getting impatient and sceptical about governments being able to deliver. It was Atal Ji who turned this tide by providing stable and effective governance. Coming from humble roots, he realised the struggles of the common citizen and the transformative power of effective governance.Sierra Leone consults to amend civil registration legislation
The Latest: UnitedHealthcare shooting suspect contests his extradition back to New YorkProsecutors have suggested to a New York judge the possibility of sparing Donald Trump any prison time for his conviction on charges involving hush money paid to a porn star in light of his US presidential election victory, but opposed dismissing the case. In a court filing made public on Tuesday, prosecutors with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office urged Justice Juan Merchan to deny the Republican businessman-turned-politicians' request to throw out the case so it does not hang over him and impede his ability to govern once he takes office on January 20. Noting that many of Trump's concerns involve the possibility that he could be incarcerated, prosecutors noted that there is no requirement that Merchan sentence him to prison - and said the judge could conclude that presidential immunity from prosecution would require a non-incarceration sentence. "Such a constitutional limitation on the range of available sentences would further diminish any impact on defendant's presidential decision-making without going so far as to discard the indictment and jury verdict altogether," prosecutors wrote. Merchan has not said when he will rule on Trump's bid for dismissal. Trump has called the case an attempt by Bragg, a Democrat, to harm his 2024 campaign. In a statement on Tuesday, Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung said, "Today's filing by the Manhattan DA is a pathetic attempt to salvage the remains of an unconstitutional and politically motivated hoax." The case stemmed from a $US130,000 ($A204,000) payment that Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels for her silence before the 2016 election about a sexual encounter she has said she had a decade earlier with Trump, who denies it. A Manhattan jury in May found Trump, 78, guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up his reimbursement of Cohen. It was the first time a US president - former or sitting - had been convicted of or charged with a criminal offence. Falsifying business records is punishable by up to four years in prison, but incarceration is not required. Before his Nov. 5 election victory, legal experts told Reuters it was unlikely that Trump would be sentenced to prison due to his lack of a criminal history and advanced age, but that incarceration was not impossible. The US Supreme Court in July ruled in a separate criminal case involving Trump that presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for official actions taken in office, and that evidence of official acts could not be used in prosecuting a president over personal acts. Trump's lawyers have argued that meant the case should be dismissed because prosecutors used statements that Trump made while president and testimony from his White House aides. The filing by Bragg's office on Tuesday said the hush money case involved "purely unofficial conduct."
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SUNRISE, Fla. — After recording his first shutout in nearly 14 months Monday, Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Jonas Johansson was looking forward to a late-night drive back to Tampa with his dad to start the holiday break. He had stopped all 36 shots he faced in a 4-0 win over the reigning Stanley Cup champion Panthers, including nine against a power play that is ranked third in the NHL. Extra rewarding for Johansson was having his father, Per-Johan, at Amerant Bank Arena to watch him play for the first time in about a year. His dad was visiting from their native Sweden and made the 31⁄2-hour drive from Tampa to Sunrise to watch him play. “I’ll drive with him back too, so he doesn’t have to drive alone in the night,” Johansson said. “A little road trip.” Johansson’s father had plenty to be proud of. In a win that was a total team effort, Johansson was the unquestioned top star, shutting out a Panthers squad that created 41 scoring chances, including 17 on the power play. “He was outstanding,” said Lightning forward Brandon Hagel. “They had a tremendous amount of chances. We had blocks when we needed to, but we definitely had saves when we needed them as well. He was incredible (Monday), and super happy for him. And I think that’s a good one to finish off when you have three days off.” With the Lightning needing points after losing to the Panthers Sunday with Andrei Vasilevksiy in net, Johansson proved up to the task. The shutout was his first since Oct. 26, 2023, against the Sharks. He’s won his past three starts, stopping 86 of 89 shots for a sparkling .966 save percentage. Johansson, who made just five starts over the first 10 weeks of the season, is playing his best hockey at an important time. The two games against Florida were the first of six back-to-back sets for the Lightning over the next five weeks. “Personally, it doesn’t change anything for me,” Johansson said of his recent stretch. “I have the same approach if I don’t play, or if I play, I just try to stay sharp, have good practice habits. And then when I play, just, just do my best and see how far it goes.” Johansson, who started the first six weeks of last season while Vasilevskiy recovered from back surgery, struggled out of the gate this season, allowing 17 goals over his first three starts. Coach Jon Cooper said Johansson is beginning to benefit from the success he experienced at the end of last season, when he performed well despite infrequent work. “I think it happened at the end of the year,” Cooper said. “Last year, he settled into his role. Vasy came back, played the lion’s share of the games. But J.J. has got a unique (ability), and it’s a gift to be able to hang in there, not play for 7, 10 days and then come in and give you a good one. And those guys are hard to find, but he’s done a great job for us.” What stands out about Johansson’s current stretch is that he’s gotten better as games progress, even after allowing an early goal. In his Dec. 14 win at Seattle, he allowed a power-play goal to Brandon Montour on the Kraken’s third shot but nothing else, stopping the final 19 shots he faced. His Nov. 29 victory in Nashville was similar. Johansson allowed a goal to Roman Josi on the Predators’ first shot, then stopped 20 of the next 21, holding Nashville to two goals in a 3-2 win. “You kind of get into a rhythm,” said Lightning goaltenders coach Frantz Jean. “The challenge for a backup is really to get through the first period. Your reads are not as sharp. You’re kind of trying to find the connection to the game. Some guys that have a certain experience are able to do this quicker. “JoJo is actually pretty good at it. He’s been pretty good early in games this year, when you look at his overall body of work. But you’d like to think that the more he’s going to play, like, the more he’ll get in the rhythm and the easier it’s going to be for him to come out and be on top of his game.” The Lightning play another back-to-back coming out of the holiday break, so Johansson will start again this weekend against either the Rangers Saturday or the Canadiens on Sunday. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!
KHLOE Kardashian has been slammed by fans for sharing a cardboard cut-out of her cheating ex Tristan Thompson. The reality star, who shares children True, six, and Tatum, three, with the NBA player, confused her followers with a festive Snapchat post about the sportsman. In a bizarre twist to her family 's Elf on the Shelf game, Khloe's elves were seen inside glass jars placed in front of Tristan's grinning face. Beside them was a note that read: "Help us! We're hiding in here because your daddy farted!!" Baffled followers discussed the post on Reddit , with one asking: "Will she ever quit orbiting around Tristan??" Taking a swipe at the wider Kardashian family, another said: "These women act like there's a shortage of men." READ MORE ON KHLOE A third said: "She'd have to die before letting that man go." It's unknown what Boston Celtics player Tristan - who also has Prince, eight, with ex Jordan Craig and Theo, three, with model Maralee Nichols - thinks of the prank. The father-of-four, who split with Khloe for a second time in the summer of 2021 amid cheating allegations, came under fire last week after he didn't include Theo in a family picture. True, Tatum and Prince could be seen smiling together in one picture while another saw them all playing together. Most read in Entertainment A third snap saw Tristan smiling with eldest son Prince on his lap. The pictures drew criticism from some who accused him of leaving Theo out of important bonding time with his siblings, while others defended Tristan and suggested Theo might not be allowed to be shown on social media . However, court documents from a legal battle between Tristan with Theo's mom alleged that he told her he had no interest in spending time with their son. Theo was born after Tristan had an affair with Maralee while the athlete was supposedly in an exclusive relationship with Khloe . According to legal documents from August 2022, the NBA star offered to pay Maralee $75,000 in hush money instead of paying monthly child support. The Los Angeles Lakers player allegedly told Theo's mother that she would be "better off" with the $75,000 because she wouldn't get much in child support. When the exes eventually settled their paternity case, Tristan was ordered to pay about $9.5K a month in child support. Tristan has also settled debts with his baby mama Jordan before taking out a $1 million loan on his Los Angeles home. He reportedly owed $224,000 in back child support payments in 2023 for his son, Prince . But it now appears he has made things right with his former partner for the sake of their child. A filing obtained by The U.S. Sun from the Los Angeles Recorder's Office lists Tristan as a judgment debtor and Jordan as a judgment creditor. The 'release' document states that "all matured installments" on the judgment have been satisfied as of August 1, 20124. It states the judgment was initially ordered in 2019 and lists Thompson's address as his new mansion in Hidden Hills . Read More on The US Sun Court documents for the former couple's child support battle appear to have been sealed. The pair shared a tumultuous relationship before officially calling it quits in 2021. (Getty) Khloe and Tristan were first linked in 2016 after attending a party in Miami together. In 2018, they welcomed their first child, True. Tristan was then caught cheating on Khloe multiple times during her pregnancy. They split after it was revealed that he kissed Kylie Jenner's best friend Jordyn Woods at a party. The pair reconciled in 2020 and ended things in 2021. Six months after they ended, it came to light that Tristan fathered a child with Maralee Nichols while he and Khloe were together. Just months later in July 2022, Khloe revealed that the pair were expecting their second child, son Tatum, via surrogate. The pair are currently co-parenting and claim there is no romantic connection between them. 7 Tristan shared a snap with his son Prince Credit: Instagram/realtristan13Johnson, Trump to Talk Strategy for Fast-Tracking GOP Agenda
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Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and WembyOWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Asked if there was any special meaning to playing on Christmas for a second straight season, Lamar Jackson paused for several seconds before answering. That said it all. “I mean, it is,” he finally replied, trying to be diplomatic. “That means we're good, but at the same time, I do want to celebrate at home sometimes with my family now. I don't want to be playing on Christmas all the time — not all the time.” That sentiment seemed common among the Baltimore Ravens players this week as they prepared for their second consecutive Christmas road game. Jackson and his teammates will face the Houston Texans on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, the Kansas City Chiefs play at Pittsburgh. Games on Christmas aren't new to the NFL. The Miami Dolphins famously beat the Chiefs in a playoff game on Dec. 25, 1971 — a double-overtime classic that still holds the record for the NFL's longest game. In 2020, New Orleans running back Alvin Kamara tied an NFL record with six touchdowns in a game when the Saints beat Minnesota on Christmas. Lately, however, the league has been much more aggressive about scheduling games on Christmas. There were three last year on a Monday, and this week there are two. The four teams in action this Wednesday all played this past Saturday, giving them a little more time to prepare. But each is still wrapping up a stretch of three games in 11 games. And for Baltimore and Kansas City — the teams spending the holiday on the road — this means a bit of a scramble to find time to celebrate with loved ones. “Santa hasn’t come yet, but as far as my family, we traded gifts (over the weekend),” Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “(His wife) Brittany’s a champ because I’m not there to help build the toys my family got, and the kids have opened up every single one of them.” The Chiefs are playing on Christmas for a second year in a row, although they were at home last season. Baltimore tackle Ronnie Stanley said there is an offensive line Christmas party planned for Friday at center Tyler Linderbaum's house. Jackson’s plan is to celebrate on Thursday. “I already celebrated Christmas with my family this past week," Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said. "It’s more about the thought of calling people Christmas morning and just going out there and being able to go out in front of my whole family and do what I love. That’s how I’ll celebrate.” The Ravens also have celebrated a bit as a group already. “We actually had a team dinner last night here, which was really neat. And our chefs were incredible (with) what they put out there, so that was fun,” coach John Harbaugh said Monday. "And we are going to have the ability for family members from the Houston area to come over for the team snack after we do a walkthrough (Tuesday) night.” Don't expect Christmas games to go away any time soon. Netflix agreed to a three-year contract in May to carry Christmas Day games. Playing on the holiday certainly gives teams a chance to be in the spotlight, although the Chiefs and Ravens already get plenty of that. The Ravens-Texans game features a halftime performance by Beyoncé. “Wasn't there a time when somebody was out peeking outside the locker room door during the Super Bowl or something like that? Was there some story on that?” Harbaugh said. “He got in trouble for it? There will be big trouble. I like Beyoncé, though. I can't say I'm a huge Beyoncé fan, but I think I like her.” (Harbaugh was referring to Bengals kicker Evan McPherson during the Super Bowl in 2022 when he watched Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar perform at halftime in Los Angeles.) Jackson, seemingly unaware of Harbaugh's attempt to lay down the law about the halftime show, arrived at the microphone immediately after the coach. “I'm going to go out there and watch,” the star quarterback said. “First time seeing Beyoncé perform, and it's at our game — that's dope. I'm going to go out and watch. Sorry Harbaugh, sorry fellas.” AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
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