Politics
Biden Is Touring Collapsed Baltimore Bridge Where Recovery Effort Has Political Overtones
Washington — President Joe Biden is due to see firsthand attempts to remove the huge remnants of Baltimore’s fallen Francis Scott Key Bridge on Friday as cranes, ships, and dive crews strive to reopen one of the country’s main commerce lanes.
Biden will receive briefings from the United States Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers. On March 26, a sizable cargo ship struck and destroyed the bridge while eight laborers, all of whom were immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, or El Salvador, were patching potholes on it. Two guys were saved, but only two of the six people who perished have been found.
Biden Is Touring Collapsed Baltimore Bridge Where Recovery Effort Has Political Overtones
The president intends to meet with the families of the victims.
Officials have developed a temporary, alternate lane for debris-removal vessels. According to the White House, the Army Corps of Engineers hopes to open a limited-access route for barge cargo ships and certain vessels transporting vehicles and farm equipment by the end of this month, with normal capacity restored to Baltimore’s port by May 31.
That is significant because more delays in reopening shipping lanes could send shockwaves across the economy. Baltimore’s port handles up to $200 million daily cargo and is the primary hub for automotive imports and exports.
Covering the price of cleanup and construction of a new bridge may be a more pressing worry.
The Federal Highway Administration has allocated $60 million in “quick release” emergency relief funding to get things underway. The exact cost of the collapse is unknown, but some experts predict it will cost at least $400 million and take 18 months to recover.
Within hours of the collapse, Biden stated, “the federal government will pay for the entire cost of reconstructing that bridge, and I expect Congress to support my effort.” Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Dan Meuser termed the commitment made so soon after the catastrophe “outrageous,” telling Fox News Channel, “The first reaction, in fact the only reaction, tends to be to spend.”
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell was more sympathetic to Biden’s request, comparing the bridge collapse to the help that follows natural disasters and stating that “the federal government will step up and do the lion’s share” of funding. However, obtaining authority in Congress is a challenging task.
The White House stated Friday that it would recommend that Congress authorize the federal government to bear 100% of the expenses of cleaning up and rebuilding the fallen bridge rather than requesting cash through a separate, emergency supplemental request.
In a letter to congressional leaders, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young stated that similar techniques were used for recovery and rebuilding efforts that received bipartisan congressional support in 2007, when a highway bridge in downtown Minneapolis collapsed during evening rush hour, killing 13 people.
“We are asking Congress to join us in demonstrating our commitment to aid in recovery efforts,” Young wrote, though it is unknown how much money the government will require to cover the expenditures.
Biden Is Touring Collapsed Baltimore Bridge Where Recovery Effort Has Political Overtones
However, much has changed in the last 17 years, and advocating for bipartisan support may be more difficult today.
The conservative House Freedom Caucus published a statement on Friday stating, “If it proves necessary to appropriate taxpayer money to get one of America’s busiest ports back online, Congress should ensure it is fully offset and that burdensome regulations” are waived. It referred to future government expenditure cuts and restrictions such as the Endangered Species Act.
The caucus’ letter also urged that approval for bridge rehabilitation money be contingent on the Biden administration agreeing to relax a moratorium on liquified natural gas exports.
The funding problems only heighten the collapse’s political consequences, as Biden will face former President Donald Trump in the November election.
It is the second catastrophic accident in the country’s key northeastern corridor in as many years. Last summer, an overpass on Interstate 95 near Philadelphia caught fire and collapsed after a tanker truck collided with it. Federal and state officials worked rapidly on temporary repairs, and the route reopened earlier than projected.
However, the cleanup and restorations in Baltimore will take much longer and cost much more, making the chances of it being a net electoral gain for Biden — especially in time for Election Day — far less likely.
That has kept the Biden administration from reintroducing a $1 trillion-plus public works program that passed Congress in 2021.
“Let’s not forget, infrastructure law will now deal with infrastructure in a generation,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated this week. She compared this with the Trump administration, which made the issue “into a joke” by repeatedly promising to win infrastructure funds but achieving “absolutely nothing.”
Biden Is Touring Collapsed Baltimore Bridge Where Recovery Effort Has Political Overtones
The bridge collapse has also brought Maryland’s Democratic Gov. Wes Moore, 45, to national attention as a key figure in Biden’s reelection campaign’s drive to mobilize young voters supporting the 81-year-old president.
The president has toured nationwide, demonstrating highway, bridge, and tunnel development projects. In 2022, he appeared at an event in Pittsburgh a few hours after a neighboring bridge collapsed. Promoting the public works package has also allowed the president to tap into his passion for rail travel, which he used to commute to and from Washington on Amtrak when a Delaware senator.
Last week, Biden stated that the Key Bridge was one that “I’ve been over many, many times commuting.”
SOURCE – (AP)
Politics
Trudeau GST Tax Holiday to Cost Taxpayers $6.3 Billion
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a two-month GST break on some purchases and a one-time $250 rebate for all Canadians earning less than $150,000. The proposed GST break would last from December 14 to February 15.
The Liberals said it would cover various things, including children’s clothing and shoes, toys, diapers, restaurant meals, and beer and wine. It also refers to real and artificial Christmas trees, snack foods and beverages, and video game systems.
The move will cost taxpayers almost $4.7 billion, and the GST exemption will cost an additional $1.6 billion, totaling $6.3 Billion.
The federal government is now running a significant deficit. This raises the question of who will have to foot the $6.3 billion bill for today’s one-time payments. The government will have to borrow the money, and future taxpayers must either repay it or service the additional debt perpetually.
Critics argue that the GST credit is a collection of terrible ideas that will do little to lift Canada out of the long-term economic rut in which our economy is stuck.
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre responded Thursday to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s pledge of a “GST Holiday” for Canadians, calling it a “tax trick.”
Poilievre stated that the temporary exemption from the Goods and Services Tax on various ordinary commodities “would not make up for the permanent quadrupling carbon tax on heat, housing, food, and fuel.”
Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet stated he is “against any idea of a prime minister who says, ‘I will give you money in order for you to consider voting for me.'”
According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, temporary sales tax holidays will only increase confusion and administrative burden for small business owners.
A temporary sales tax decrease would help boost demand in some industries, including restaurants, Canadians, and companies, which require sustainable tax relief during the slow post-holiday season.
The changes amid an inflation-driven affordability crisis have left many dissatisfied with the Trudeau government. A federal election is scheduled for before next October, although it might happen sooner if the minority government falls before then.
For months, the Conservatives have held a double-digit lead over the Liberals in public opinion polls, with Leader Pierre Poilievre promising to cut taxes and government spending to restore affordability.
High inflation has also pressured the Liberals to avoid proposing policies that would boost spending and raise fuel prices.
According to the Fraser Institute, The Trudeau government got one thing fundamentally right: Lowering the tax burden on Canadians has benefits. Unfortunately, the policy package it has proposed to deliver tax relief is completely wrong.
It lowers the incorrect taxes, moves taxes temporarily rather than lowering them, does little to improve economic incentives, and punishes future taxpayers. With the holiday season approaching, this attempt at a gift for Canadian taxpayers is the economic equivalent of a lump of coal in the stocking.
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Politics
Matt Gaetz Withdraws as Trump’s Pick for Attorney General
Congressman Matt Gaetz has withdrawn as President-elect Donald Trump’s candidate for Attorney General, citing concerns about a federal sex trafficking probe that cast doubt on his ability to be confirmed.
Gaetz resigned after failing to persuade the Senate to endorse his contentious candidacy. Shortly after Gaetz’s unexpected departure, the president-elect issued a statement applauding his former AG nominee’s choice to seek Senate confirmation.
“I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all the great things he will do!” the president-elect wrote on Truth Social.
Gaetz had earlier stated that he was retiring from his current seat in Congress and would not take the oath of office for the upcoming session, which begins in January. Now that he has withdrawn from consideration for AG, his future in Washington is uncertain.
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Concerned About Matt Gaetz’s Campaign, Senate Republicans Call for a House Ethics Investigation.
Politics
Eric Hovde Concedes The United States Senate Race To Tammy Baldwin.
(VOR News) – Eric Hovde, the Republican candidate for the United States Senate, has acknowledged that he was defeated by Tammy Baldwin, the Democratic candidate for the same seat on the ballot.
Baldwin acknowledged Hovde’s defeat and consented to it. Furthermore, he released a statement in which he contends that the election results are not only inaccurate, but also devoid of any factual foundation.
Eric Hovde experienced this two weeks after the election.
Baldwin emerged as the unofficial victor of the Senate campaign in Wisconsin, a race that was closely monitored by a significant number of individuals. Baldwin was awarded the title of victor on November 6th. Baldwin emerged victorious by a razor-thin margin.
According to the data provided by the Associated Press, Baldwin emerged victorious by a margin of 29,116 ballots, which is approximately equivalent to 0.9 percent of the total votes cast. Baldwin emerged victorious by a substantial margin, as indicated by the results.
Hovde issued his public apology subsequent to the conclusion of the canvassing of the results by the majority of county clerks throughout the state. This process will ultimately result in the results being recognized as official. Publication of Eric Hovde’s decision. Not only were the results announced at this time, but they were also proclaimed in an official capacity.
The exact phrase of the announcement, “Thank you for your support,” was included in a post by Eric Hovde on Monday and published on the social networking site X.
The public was notified of this announcement. The announcement was public on Monday. It has drawn a lot of attention. “It is time to begin moving on.”
In contrast, Eric Hovde’s film began with a somewhat less inclusive tone, which persisted throughout. He made this assumption without offering any evidence to back it up, and his claims that there were “many troubling issues” with absentee ballots tabulated late on election night were factually incorrect. His claims were not supported by empirical evidence.
His claims were unsupported by any proof. Not a single piece of evidence could possibly prove that his allegations were correct. He stated in the statement that “numerous supporters” had demanded that he challenge the election results. He acknowledged receiving the request.
Eric Hovde acknowledged receiving these demands.
In particular, Eric Hovde asserts, “However, a request for a recount would serve no purpose if it were not for a detailed review of all the ballots and their legitimacy, which will be difficult to obtain in the courts.”
Subsequently, you would recount the identical ballots, regardless of their authenticity. This is the reason, as elucidated in this article. This is the rationale for the current state of affairs.
Hovde and his campaign refrained from issuing any public statements subsequent to Baldwin’s disclosure that Eric Hovde had emerged victorious in the election, which transpired over a week after Baldwin’s initial announcement.
The previous week, he uploaded a video to social media platforms that expressed his “deeply concerned” sentiments regarding the election results in Milwaukee.
The election was conducted in Milwaukee. While the film was being screened, there was a discussion regarding the results of the election in Milwaukee. As the ballots were still being counted in the largest city in Wisconsin on the evening of the election, he expressed his “shock” at the sequence of events that had transpired.
Eric Hovde was emphasizing the occurrence of specific events.
In addition, he declared that ballots were still being tallied at the time of the election. Eric Hovde made this declaration during the voting period, while ballots were still being tabulated.
Baldwin’s team referenced her victory speech, which she delivered the week prior to the election, in response to a request for comment that was submitted on Monday.
In response to the campaign’s request, this action was implemented.
A representative of Baldwin’s team has verified that “Hovde has not called,” which is consistent with the information that was disclosed on Monday morning. The representative who provided these details has worked in a variety of capacities throughout their career.
SOURCE: WPR
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