Latest news with #Feds
Scoop
4 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Rural Voters Fed Up With Rates Rip-Off
Councils have a mountain to climb to win back the trust of rural ratepayers, Federated Farmers says - and that starts with cutting wasteful spending and sharing the burden more fairly. "At the same time, councils deserve an overhaul of their funding tools and other changes to central government policy," Feds local government spokesperson Sandra Faulkner says. "Council rates hikes have climbed well above inflation for several decades, but the pressure on ratepayers has only worsened. "When elections happen this October, voters should back candidates who commit to capping general rate increases at inflation - unless there's a genuinely extraordinary reason not to," Faulkner says. She says rural ratepayers are fed up with footing the bill for urban-centric services they don't use and aren't connected to. "It's time to scrap unfair rating differentials and shift towards targeted uniform charges and annual general charges to reduce reliance on property value-based rates." Federated Farmers is also calling for legislation changes that would require binding referenda on any council commercial projects that cost more than $500 per rateable property. "We're not talking about sewage treatment plants, bridges or other such essential infrastructure," Faulkner says. "We're meaning commercial ventures like stadiums, conference centres and marinas that are beyond core council purposes and can destroy balance sheets. "It's not to say these projects can't happen, but ratepayers should get to make the final call." Councils could also save money by sticking to their lane and leaving climate policy to central government, Faulkner says. "Councils should stop duplicating effort - and wasting ratepayer dollars - by setting climate policies. "To do something positive for the environment, councils that haven't already should bring in a rates remission policy for land under QEII covenants, Significant Natural Areas and Outstanding Natural Landscapes. "Given that public conservation values are protected by these mechanisms, farmers deserve rates relief," Faulkner says. Federated Farmers supports RMA and local planning reform that reduces delays, costs and uncertainty, and utilises tools like farm plans rather than consents. Significant Natural Area and environmental rules must be science-based and farmer-friendly. Faulkner says central government also has a major role in the drive for council efficiency and fairness. Federated Farmers believes road users, rather than property owners, should be paying for local roads and bridges - as is the case for State Highways. "We're calling for 90% of local roading maintenance and renewal costs to come from fuel excise tax and road user charges, rather than rates. Currently, the average is only 53%. "Property value rates are a particularly poor mechanism to fund roads for the same reason as general taxation: it doesn't tie those who use roads with those who pay for roads. "This system also lacks logic. In areas with a lot of tourism or freight, for example, locals are left paying for roading networks that serve a wider regional or national purpose." The 10% cost share left with ratepayers would lock in a district say on local road priorities. Other steps from central government are also needed to relieve cost pressures on council, Faulkner says. "Crown land should be rateable, the 30% cap on council uniform annual general charges should be scrapped, and the Beehive should stop unfunded mandates - piling extra responsibilities onto councils with no corresponding funding." Faulkner says with council elections looming, now's a great chance to ask some tough questions of councillors seeking re-election - and those challenging them for seats - on how they'll lessen the rural rates burden.
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Democrats are slow, clumsy and playing catch up leaving behind 'succession of bin fires' across the US political landscape
The political landscape in the US is a concurrency and succession of bin fires with all the moralising and performative distress you'd expect from the land of the free. The LA riots has shown the world, yet again, the stupidity of certain cohorts who think they will make endearing political points by looting and burning their own neighbourhoods. As if swiping Apple Airpods and Nike kicks will somehow prevent illegal immigrants being deported. It's like BLM all over again just without the lucrative GoFundMe pages and the corporate sycophancy. And yet again, local Democrat law enforcement have been clumsy when it comes to their core business of law enforcement. They are much better equipped at throwing their toys out of the cot when the Feds turn up to do their homework for them. My personal favourite moment from the riots is the photo of a protester with an ankle monitor bracelet, face mask, holding a T-shirt saying 'F*** ICE'. It tells you all you need to know about the intellectual rigour guiding this latest round of anti-establishment vitriol. What is similarly egregious is how progressives and their friends in the media, who should know better, are making all manner of excuses for the behaviour – or in the case of the Democrat Mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson - encouraging residents to 'resist'. Zero responsibility. Zero moral clarity. Zero care for those wearing the consequences of both the riots and the social costs associated with careless levels of illegal immigration. You will all recall Democrat Los Angeles Mayor, Karen Bass, of LA wildfires infamy. Short on water, firefighters and fire trucks, Mayor Bass was hobnobbing in Ghana when the fires first broke out. She was too late and too slow to that disaster and insofar as the LA riots are concerned, all I can say is that at least she is consistent. Ms Bass has been criticised by a former LAPD detective for being too slow and too tolerant of the riots and is 'now trying to play catch up'. Sound familiar? Has she learned anything? No – same underperformance and same blame shifting. Progressive leadership at its finest. But it's not just politics at the local level. Karine Jean-Pierre, the former Biden Press Secretary, wasted no time releasing a book about her time in the 'broken' Biden White House. Apparently, she's leaving the Democrats and registering as an independent. I appreciate that when you're dumped out of government it's imperative to put 'your truth' on the record and pray someone will give you a job. Her predecessor, Jen Psaki is now a host at MSNBC and is rolling out the Democrat talking points with her usual shameless alacrity. Sadly, for Jean-Pierre, the fact that she has sought to distance herself from the Democrats means the Democratic PR machine has sought to torch whatever skerrick of her credibility that remains. And it really is a skerrick at best – imagine being sent out - over and over - to defend Biden's mental acuity and then expecting people from outside your political coterie to take you seriously. Which is what she did during her tenure as the press secretary. And that's not the end of it. Long gone are the days when she was lauded as the first black woman, and the first LGBTQI+ press secretary. She has now turned against the Democrats which has left her diversity credit points evaporated along with her position. But there is more. Israel's action against Iran was always going to spark bad takes from Democrats. And they didn't disappoint. Democrat Senator Jack Reed, criticised Israel's 'alarming' decision to launch airstrikes, calling it a 'reckless escalation that risks regional violence'. Another Democrat, Senator Chris Murphy said the strikes were 'clearly intended to scuttle' diplomacy with Iran. Diplomacy with Iran? Like sending them pallets of cash to not to develop nuclear weapons and then watching them take the cash and proceed, as planned, to develop nuclear weapons? That Democrat inspired 'diplomacy' done under the Biden administration in 2023 achieved precisely nothing in aiding peace efforts in the Middle East, and if any, set the process back decades. And lastly, the reaction by some Democrats to the 250th anniversary celebration of the US Army borders on unhinged. I appreciate that not everyone is into military processions, but it is important to celebrate milestones, particularly when you're a military superpower and so many US citizens have served their country in uniform. The anniversary military parade included soldiers marching in historic uniforms, making it as much a nod to the past as a commemoration of more recent service. Californian governor, Gavin Newsom, described it as 'a vulgar demonstration of just how weak [Trump] is' and 'the kind of thing you see with Kim Jong Un, Putin'. He appears to have missed the memo on Trooping the Colour - the parade which occurred on the very same day to mark King Charles' birthday. No dictatorship in the UK, just a military parade to mark an occasion in yet another Western parliamentary democracy. Other Democrats including Senator Tammy Duckworth, Senator Dick Durbin and Representative. Yassamin Ansari criticised the $45 million ($69 million AUD) cost of the parade. And yes, $45 million is a lot of money but it is pretty much a rounding error when you consider the annual defence budget. In fact, that much money gets you about half of a base model F-35 fighter jet. But, you know, the Democrats would never waste money on something purely symbolic. While Trump is in office, expect the huffing and puffing from Democrats to continue. They will disregard the fundamentals and focus their efforts on pet and petty grievance. And remember, the debt ceiling will need to be raised before August to avert default. So, strap yourselves in, and expect some seriously hypocritical handwringing from those not in a position to criticise. Caroline Di Russo is a lawyer with 15 years of experience specialising in commercial litigation and corporate insolvency and since February 2023 has been the Liberal Party President in Western Australia
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Juror Tossed Out Of Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial For Perceived 'Lying'; Judge Admonishes Defense For Claiming Racial Bias
Jurors in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex-trafficking trial are hearing a plethora of seemingly incriminating texts on abuse, 'freak-offs,' drugs and the defendant's 'Kryptonite' from the Bad Boy Records founder's ex-top aide Kristina Khorram. However, it is a slightly different panel from the previous several weeks of the New York City trial. In a widely expected move and over the opposition of the defense, Judge Arun Subramanian this morning confirmed his decision of June 13 to dismiss Juror No. 6 from the high-profile trial. Immediately replaced by one of the alternates, the exit of the juror in question will not delay the proceedings at all. More from Deadline Kanye West's Very Short Visit To Sean "Diddy" Combs' Trial Proves More Photo-Op Than Support For Pal Judge Rejects Sean "Diddy" Combs' Latest Motion For Mistrial In Sex-Trafficking Case - Update Sean 'Diddy' Combs Sex-Trafficking Trial Updates: Cassie Ventura's Testimony, $10M Hotel Settlement, Drugs, Violence, & The Feds The much-accused 55-year-old Combs was arrested in September 2024 in a New York hotel lobby by a phalanx of police and federal officials on federal charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and more. On trial in the lower Manhattan courtroom and facing testimony for his ex-longtime girlfriend Cassie Ventura, other former lovers and women alleging abuse, rape and assault, male escorts, past employees, Grammy winning rapper Kid Cudie, and law enforcement officials, Diddy is facing life behind bars if found guilty by the still-eight men and four women jury. The now ex-juror in question, a 41-year-old Black man who works in an administrative role at a state correctional facility, had started to give an alternating tale of where he actually lived, if it was in NYC or in New Jersey with a fiancée. 'The changing answers and inconsistency give the court worry about deception and lying,' the judge said last week, promising to ponder his decision over the weekend. Over the weekend, the defense wrote to Judge Subramanian unsuccessfully once again requesting a mistrial and claiming, as they have on a number of occasions before, the U.S. Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York has a racial bias. The government's motion must be evaluated in light of the entire history of this investigation and prosecution, and not in isolation,' said defense attorney Alexandra A.E. Shapiro in the heavily redacted correspondence of June 15 (read entire letter here). 'Unfortunately, when considered against that background it is impossible to believe that this motion is merely a good-faith attempt to raise a valid question about the juror's integrity rather than an effort to take advantage of an opportunity to strike yet another black male from the jury. Praising the court's 'well-reasoned conclusion' of June 13 on Juror No. 6's fate, U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton replied for his prosecution team early this morning. 'The Government respectfully writes in response to the defense's letter filed earlier this Evening' Clayton wrote, apparently getting his evenings slightly mistaken. 'Despite the Court's clear ruling on the necessity of removing Juror (redacted) the defense again attempts to cast the Government's motion to remove the juror as racially motivated. As the Court recognized on Friday after the defense first lobbed this baseless accusation, nothing could be further from the truth. Instead, as the Court laid out in detail after a careful review of the record, inconsistent statements made by Juror (redacted) during voir dire and in later colloquies relating to basic biographical information indicated a lack of candor.' (Read the government's response here). Almost first thing Monday, before the jury was brought in, Judge Subramanian told the prosecution and the defense that he was still removing Juror No. 6. The usually mild mannered judge also directly addressed the issue of racial bias. 'The defense asked the Court to base its decision on race,' he told the courtroom, with a pretty placid Combs sitting nearby. 'That would be inappropriate. So, Juror 6 is excused and is replaced by the first alternate.' Promising to deal with an issue involving another juror later Monday, Judge Subramanian added of Juror No. 6: 'As to the defense's allegation of prosecutorial misconduct here, that is inviting the Court to make a decision based on race – and cannot be granted.' With that, the revamped jury was brought in and testimony continued in the prosecution's new Juror No. 6 is a 57-year-old manufacturing architect who lives in Westchester County with his family. He is White. Emphasizing so-called 'summary witnesses' at this point, the feds are expected to end their presentation later this week. The defense has estimated its case could take up to four weeks, with no ironclad decision yet if Combs will testify. At the start of the trial, the judge told the jurors and alternates that the trial would be over by the July 4 holiday. For anyone who has a calendar, that penciled in deadline is looking pretty unlikely at this juncture. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More
San Francisco Chronicle
4 days ago
- Politics
- San Francisco Chronicle
Letters: Feds' immigration raids and detentions have one disturbing similarity
Regarding 'Feds detain two Palestinian visitors at SFO who arrived for humanitarian mission' (Bay Area, June 12): The visit by two Palestinians was intended to foster understanding by sharing their lived experiences in the occupied West Bank with Bay Area faith communities. Instead, they were detained and turned back, an injustice that raises troubling questions about the principles of openness and dialogue. Immigration attorney Phillip Weintraub, who sponsored the visit, confirmed their paperwork was in order. The actions by federal immigration agencies highlight an alarming trend: detentions of those deemed 'the other,' whether they are undocumented workers, who feed and clean up after us, or Palestinians here to bear witness about the unspeakable cruelty of the Israeli occupation. These predatory detentions must stop. Jim Marks, San Francisco What about the owners? Some owners probably like to hire undocumented immigrants so they can be worked harder with no breaks and not be paid a fair wage, and the workers have no recourse. Punish the farmers and ranchers. Mary Piowaty, Susanville, Lassen County Ask about guns June is Gun Violence Awareness Month, although hardly a day goes by when we are not confronted with reports of gun violence. No one is immune. Indeed, gunfire is now the leading cause of death for children and teens. While we often feel helpless in the face of this reality, there is something everyone can do to protect children from accidental shootings: Before sending your child to play at a friend's house, ask if there is a gun in the house and how it is stored. If there are unlocked guns, find a different place for a play date. While gun ownership may be a sensitive topic, children's safety comes first. This is no different than asking about pets, allergies or supervision. A good reminder for this is Asking Saves Kids Day on June 21, the first day of summer, when school is out and children may spend more time at friends' homes. Ruth Borenstein, San Francisco Shades of Hitler President Donald Trump's speech at Fort Bragg Army base, using hand-picked troops as pawns to cheer his lies, is nothing more than a recreation of Adolph Hitler's rallies. It took Hitler only 53 days to take control of the German government. Trump is taking just a bit longer. Make no mistake: It's the same agenda. Trump is using the military to further his march toward taking complete power over what used to be our shining beacon of democracy, freedom and hope for the world. Jude Vasconcellos, Inverness Replace S.F. fountain Regarding 'S.F.'s controversial fountain deemed 'hazardous' and will be fenced off indefinitely' (San Francisco, June 9): It is commendable to recognize Armand Vaillancourt for his art and contribution to San Francisco. Yet through the lens of today, his fountain is not attractive and does not resonate with meaning or purpose. Just as the great museums change what they exhibit, it is time to say goodbye to this relic. The city should create a contest for a fresh installation that embodies contemporary San Francisco and inspires the next generation of visitors to the Embarcadero. David Morris, San Francisco City destroys art Regarding 'S.F.'s controversial fountain deemed 'hazardous' and will be fenced off indefinitely' (San Francisco, June 9): I was about 12 years old the first time I wandered through Vaillancourt Fountain, and it was as if, in a rainstorm, the water came down around me. It was wonderful and I have loved that fountain ever since. So it is sad that San Francisco has made little effort to keep this unique sculpture in good repair. This is a city that, as in the case of the beautiful Spanish-style building that used to house the De Young museum, seems to know only how to tear artistic things down.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Mexican Senate president says LA is essentially Mexico: I'd ‘pay for the wall' if it ceded US southwest
Mexico would pay for the U.S. border wall if the border were redrawn to match the 1830s, when much of the American Southwest belonged to Mexico, the country's Senate president quipped this week. Gerardo Fernández Noroña spoke in Spanish in Mexico about the U.S. federal immigration raids in Los Angeles, which have sparked violent riots and protests featuring demonstrators waving Mexican flags on U.S. soil. Critics, including senior Trump advisor Stephen Miller, have branded scenes of people waving the Mexican flag as evidence Los Angeles is "occupied territory." In that regard, Noroña recounted telling President Donald Trump privately in New York in 2017 that Mexico would build and pay for the border wall he wants — under one condition. Maxine Waters Torched By Feds For 'Taunting' Guardsmen And 'Spewing Lies' About Riots, Trying To Enter Jail "We'll do it according to the map of Mexico from 1830," Noroña said, producing a cartogram. "This is what the United States was in 1830, and this was part of Mexico. Read On The Fox News App "I was at Trump Tower when President-elect Donald Trump said ... I said, 'Yes, we'll build the wall. Yes we'll pay for it, but we'll do it according to the map of Mexico from 1830." The cession of that amount of territory would account for at least 48% of the U.S. electoral vote, a standardized measure of population density. 'I Call It A Rebellion': Maxine Waters' History Of Enflaming Crowds From Rodney King To Today The member of the left-wing Morena Party lamented that Mexico was "stripped" of about one-third of its territory via the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War. The U.S. won that war but also suffered steep losses, including former Tennessee Rep. Davy Crockett's last stand at the Alamo. The treaty established rights for people who lived in what was Mexican territory that was about to be governed only a few months later in 1849 by President Zachary Taylor, a decorated commander of that war. "We settled there before the nation now known as the United States," Noroña said, claiming the treaty was "not respected." He claimed disaffected residents of Laredo, Texas, established Nuevo Laredo on the Mexican side of the Rio Grande because they did not want to be Americans. "With this geography, how can they talk about liberating Los Angeles — and California — the U.S. government; liberate from whom?" he said. "[For] Mexican men and women, [that has] always been their homeland." The top official then claimed Angelenos do not need to know how to speak English because of the historic prevalence of Spanish there. "This is part of the U.S., yes, and the U.S. government has the right to implement whatever immigration measures it deems appropriate. But they have no right to violate the dignity of migrants ... no right to subject them to suffering, persecution and harassment."Original article source: Mexican Senate president says LA is essentially Mexico: I'd 'pay for the wall' if it ceded US southwest
