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Representative Miller-Meeks Criticized for Lack of Specific Social Security Plan

Representative Miller-Meeks Criticized for Lack of Specific Social Security Plan

Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a Republican from Iowa's 1st District, is facing criticism for not presenting a specific plan to address the projected 2032 financing gap in Social Security. While Miller-Meeks has supported initiatives to prevent waste and fraud, such as opening access to the Social Security database for the Treasury Department to stop payments to deceased individuals, critics argue these measures do not tackle the core actuarial problem. The Social Security Trust Fund is projected to be unable to pay full benefits starting in 2032 without significant changes. Despite various proposals from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers, including a House bill to form a bipartisan committee, Miller-Meeks has not publicly supported any specific plan to resolve the impending financial shortfall. Her focus on controlling federal spending and making Congress 'live within its means' has not been connected to concrete solutions for Social Security's long-term solvency.

Missouri Elementary School Students Collect Postcards from All 50 States for America's 250th Anniversary

Missouri Elementary School Students Collect Postcards from All 50 States for America's 250th Anniversary

Students at New Madrid Elementary School in Missouri are undertaking a project to collect postcards from all 50 U.S. states. This initiative is in commemoration of America's upcoming 250th anniversary. According to school counselor Casey Rost, the project began as a Facebook post and has since gained significant traction, with postcards arriving from various states including Texas, Oregon, California, South Dakota, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Washington D.C., New York, Pennsylvania, and Iowa. The students are not merely collecting the postcards; they are also integrating them into their daily learning by pairing the received mail with historical facts about the nation. For instance, they learned about a misspelling of Pennsylvania on the Constitution after receiving a postcard from that state. This hands-on approach allows students to draw connections and learn about the country's history and geography.

Some Democrats are recalibrating their approach to transgender issues as they seek a path to power

Some Democrats are recalibrating their approach to transgender issues as they seek a path to power

An increasing number of Democratic leaders have begun to push back against their party’s unflinching support for the transgender community this midterm season

J Street Launches $3 Million Campaign Against AIPAC-Backed Republican Candidates

J Street Launches $3 Million Campaign Against AIPAC-Backed Republican Candidates

J Street, a liberal Jewish Middle East advocacy group, has announced a $3 million super PAC investment aimed at defeating several Republican candidates who are backed by AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee). This initiative marks J Street's largest super PAC expenditure in its history and represents a shift in strategy, as the organization typically endorses candidates rather than directly targeting opponents based on AIPAC endorsements. The campaign will focus on ads against Republican Rep. Mike Collins, who is running for the U.S. Senate in Georgia, and incumbent Representatives Max Miller (Ohio), Derrick Van Orden (Wisconsin), Ryan Mackenzie (Pennsylvania), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (Iowa). J Street President Jeremy Ben-Ami stated that these candidates were selected due to their competitive races, ideological distance from J Street's positions, and connections to efforts to deny or overturn the 2020 election results. This move comes amidst increasing scrutiny of AIPAC's influence and spen...

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs Vetoes Bill Banning Local Guaranteed Income Programs

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs Vetoes Bill Banning Local Guaranteed Income Programs

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has vetoed a Republican-led bill that aimed to prohibit local governments from enacting guaranteed income programs. This action places Arizona in contrast with other states where Republican lawmakers have successfully banned or challenged such initiatives. For instance, Iowa recently passed legislation prohibiting local governments from creating or maintaining guaranteed income programs, signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds. Similarly, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Harris County over its guaranteed income program, leading to a freeze by the Texas Supreme Court. In Michigan, House Republicans have demanded an inspection of a taxpayer-funded cash assistance program. Governor Hobbs' veto signals a different approach in Arizona, allowing local jurisdictions the autonomy to explore and implement direct cash payment programs for residents, despite the legal, budgetary, and philosophical concerns raised by GOP lawmakers nationwide.

EPA and Army Corps Seek Public Comment on Revised WOTUS Definition Affecting Farm Water Features

EPA and Army Corps Seek Public Comment on Revised WOTUS Definition Affecting Farm Water Features

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers have released a supplemental proposal seeking public comments on alternatives for defining 'Waters of the United States' (WOTUS) under the Clean Water Act. This action follows the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision in *Sackett v. EPA*, which significantly narrowed federal jurisdiction over wetlands. According to Roger McEowen of the Washburn School of Law, the Supreme Court rejected the broader 'significant nexus' approach, requiring adjacent wetlands to have a continuous surface connection to a qualifying water body. This ruling created a clearer boundary for federal jurisdiction, particularly relevant for agricultural lands that often feature depressions, drainage features, and wetlands that are intermittently wet. The current proposal aims to further define the standards established by the Supreme Court, focusing on perennial waters, relatively permanent waters, and the continuous surface connection requirement. It also includes p...

Iowa Lawmakers Ban Guaranteed Income Programs, Drawing Criticism from Local Officials

Iowa Lawmakers Ban Guaranteed Income Programs, Drawing Criticism from Local Officials

Iowa Republicans have passed legislation, signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds on May 1, 2024, prohibiting local governments from establishing or maintaining guaranteed income programs. This ban has drawn strong criticism from local officials, including Johnson County Supervisor Mandi Remington, who had advocated for a guaranteed income initiative in her community. Remington argues that the state is engaging in 'ideological wars' and hindering local control, preventing research and evaluation of evidence-based poverty alleviation policies. The ban comes as many guaranteed income pilot programs across the U.S., often initiated with federal pandemic relief funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), face an impending funding cliff, with ARPA funds needing to be spent by December 31, 2026. Proponents of the ban contend that such programs undermine the American work ethic, subsidize low wages, and foster government dependency.

Get your $500 Obamacare refund: who’s eligible

Get your $500 Obamacare refund: who’s eligible

The White House says the Biden administration overcharged Affordable Care Act Exchange plan enrollees.

7-Eleven rival quietly killing a familiar convenience-store brand

The nearly 3,000-store chain has also purchased two more regional brands that are likely to go away.

Representative Adam Gray Introduces Bill to Extend El Salvador's Temporary Protected Status Amidst Uncertainty

Representative Adam Gray Introduces Bill to Extend El Salvador's Temporary Protected Status Amidst Uncertainty

Representative Adam Gray, a Democrat from Merced, California, has introduced the El Salvador TPS Act of 2026, which aims to direct DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to designate El Salvador for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for an additional 18 months beyond September 9, 2026. This legislative effort comes as more than 170,000 Salvadorans in the U.S. face continued uncertainty regarding their legal status, despite the Trump administration appearing to maintain protections for now. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that a decision on Salvadoran TPS would be made 'at the appropriate time,' leaving beneficiaries in limbo. Mendota Mayor Víctor Martínez, whose city hosts a large Salvadoran community, expressed concern over this lack of certainty, highlighting the impact on families who have resided in the U.S. for over two decades. The TPS program, initially granted to Salvadorans in 1990, has been renewed by successive administrations, but President Trump sought to terminate it in 2018, with ...

Fear and Delusion in Dallas: Inside Trump’s Midterm Convention Flop

Fear and Delusion in Dallas: Inside Trump’s Midterm Convention Flop

Republicans spent two days celebrating the president in Texas. It's unlikely to have helped the party's chances in November

Representative Barragán Questions Digital Equity Grant Rollout Amidst Legal Challenges

Representative Barragán Questions Digital Equity Grant Rollout Amidst Legal Challenges

Representative Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) has expressed significant frustration regarding the lack of clarity on the rollout of state grants under the Digital Equity Act. This concern arises after a federal judge delivered a mixed ruling on the program, which aims to expand internet skills and access across the U.S. The judge partially sided with digital equity advocates by preventing President Trump from unilaterally canceling the multibillion-dollar grant program. However, the ruling also deemed it unconstitutional for the government to use race or ethnicity as a basis for awarding funds under the program. This decision has left states and organizations in limbo, particularly concerning how the grants will be administered without racial classifications. Barragán's questioning during a House committee hearing highlighted the need for clear answers and a path forward for communities awaiting these crucial funds. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), which oversees the prog...