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California Lawmakers Pass Bill to Protect $750 Million Film Tax Credit from New Restrictions

California Lawmakers Pass Bill to Protect $750 Million Film Tax Credit from New Restrictions

California Lawmakers Pass Bill to Protect $750 Million Film Tax Credit from New Restrictions
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Representative Young Kim Advocates for Economic Strengthening and Fraud Prevention in House Committee Hearing

Representative Young Kim Advocates for Economic Strengthening and Fraud Prevention in House Committee Hearing

Representative Young Kim (CA-40) participated in a House Financial Services Committee hearing titled “Strengthening the American Economy,” where she highlighted her legislative efforts to protect consumers from fraud, expand affordable housing investments, and promote financial innovation. During the hearing, Rep. Kim raised concerns about the increasing prevalence of check and wire fraud, citing a recent incident where approximately 150 California residents had their property tax checks stolen by fraudsters. She discussed her proposed STOP Payments Fraud Act, which aims to grant financial institutions more flexibility in identifying suspicious transactions to prevent money from falling into the wrong hands. Additionally, Rep. Kim underscored the impact of her Community Investment and Prosperity Act, now law, which facilitates greater investment by financial institutions in affordable housing and community development initiatives. She also explored how stablecoins and emerging payment technologies could en...
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California Legislature Approves Bill to Aid Local Newsrooms, Awaiting Governor Newsom's Signature

California Legislature Approves Bill to Aid Local Newsrooms, Awaiting Governor Newsom's Signature

California lawmakers have passed Assembly Bill 2222, a measure designed to provide financial support to the state's local news organizations. The bill, which has now been sent to Governor Gavin Newsom for his signature, proposes refundable tax credits for newsrooms based on the number of journalists they employ. Specifically, it offers a 'job retention credit' of $20,000 per journalist for up to five positions, and $15,000 for each additional journalist thereafter. Part-time positions would receive half-credits. Additionally, the bill includes an incentive for expansion, offering an extra $15,000 credit for each new hire. The state Senate passed the bill on Sunday, and the Assembly narrowly approved its amendments on Monday. This legislative action comes as the Legislature is set to adjourn its two-year session. The California Taxpayers Assn. and business interest groups like the California Chamber of Commerce have opposed the bill, citing concerns about increased taxes on employers. Governor Newsom's fina...
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Rep. Julia Brownley Introduces Dental Care for Veterans Act to Expand VA Benefits

Rep. Julia Brownley Introduces Dental Care for Veterans Act to Expand VA Benefits

In January 2025, Representative Julia Brownley (D-California) introduced the Dental Care for Veterans Act. This proposed legislation aims to significantly increase the number of former service members who are eligible to receive dental care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Currently, the bill is in the committee process. The need for expanded dental care for veterans is highlighted by statistics indicating that only a fraction of eligible veterans actually receive dental services through the military. For instance, while approximately 1.8 million veterans are eligible for VA dental benefits, only about 800,000 reportedly receive care. The bill seeks to address this disparity, recognizing that many veterans experience significant oral health issues that can impact their overall well-being and quality of life.
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Schwab's tax expert flags a quiet RMD risk for retirees

Schwab's tax expert flags a quiet RMD risk for retirees

The retirement paycheck the IRS decides for you at 73
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US judge bars EPA effort to send California vehicle emissions rules to Congress

US judge bars EPA effort to send California vehicle emissions rules to Congress

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Sept 2 (Reuters) - A judge in Washington on Wednesday blocked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from sending landmark California vehicle emissions rules for a potential repeal to the Republican-controlled Congress.
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President Trump Proposes 2027 Federal Civilian Pay Freeze, Unions Push Back

President Trump Proposes 2027 Federal Civilian Pay Freeze, Unions Push Back

President Trump has issued a letter proposing a freeze on most federal civilian pay for 2027. This action, taken on August 26, replaces statutory pay increases that would otherwise occur under the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990 with a zero adjustment to base and locality pay. An exception is made for federal law enforcement personnel, who are slated for a 3.8% increase. Active-duty military members are also set to receive raises between 5% and 7%. The President justified the civilian pay freeze by stating it "will maintain fiscal responsibility without harming the government’s ability to recruit and retain well qualified employees," while arguing the law enforcement increase is necessary for recruitment and retention in those roles. Federal employee unions, including the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) and the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), have strongly criticized the proposed freeze, calling it a "slap in the face" and warning it could politicize the workfor...
AP News AP News
Scams in the US are at a record high. Yet most victims get no help and some end up losing even more

Scams in the US are at a record high. Yet most victims get no help and some end up losing even more

Virtually every American has been targeted by scammers in some way, exclusive new polling data shows
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California Department of Industrial Relations Invests $35 Million in Workers' Rights Outreach

California Department of Industrial Relations Invests $35 Million in Workers' Rights Outreach

The California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) has announced a $34.9 million investment to continue and expand the California Workplace Outreach Project (CWOP). This initiative, launched in 2021, partners with community-based organizations (CBOs) to inform at-risk workers about their rights and workplace protections. The funding aims to reach more workers, particularly in under-resourced regions like the Central Coast, San Joaquin Valley, and Imperial County, through direct outreach, community events, multilingual resources, and training. CWOP's 'trusted-messenger' model utilizes individuals deeply connected within communities to overcome barriers such as fear or misinformation that might prevent workers from accessing state resources. Since its inception, CWOP has grown from 61 community organizations to over 100 grantees, reaching more than 2 million workers and employers with information provided in 42 languages, including 11 Indigenous languages. The announcement coincides with Labor Rights We...
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Pro-Paramount Group Utilizes AI to Influence California Attorney General on Antitrust Case

Pro-Paramount Group Utilizes AI to Influence California Attorney General on Antitrust Case

A group named Neighbors for Strong Communities, which supports the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, is employing artificial intelligence to generate letters aimed at pressuring California Attorney General Rob Bonta to drop his antitrust lawsuit against the merger. Tanner Kelly, co-founder of the group, states that while AI assists in crafting these letters, the content originates from real individuals sharing their stories. The group claims to have mobilized 2,000 people and generated 1,000 calls to Bonta's office. They are also planning a press conference to highlight potential job losses if Paramount leaves California, a threat made by CEO David Ellison if a deal isn't reached by October 1st. Kelly denies that the group is an 'astroturf' campaign funded by Paramount, asserting its independence and lack of direct funding from the studio. However, he did not confirm or deny indirect funding. The group's co-founder, Tanner Kelly, is also an ex-registered lobbyist and co-founder of Influent, a vendor that uses...
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Bipartisan Tax Package Prospects Dim Among Former Congressional Aides

Bipartisan Tax Package Prospects Dim Among Former Congressional Aides

Former congressional tax and Treasury staff members have expressed skepticism regarding the likelihood of a bipartisan tax package materializing by the end of the year. According to these former aides, the prospects for such legislation continue to diminish as long as Republican lawmakers prioritize partisan bills. Beth Bell, a principal at PwC’s Washington National Tax Service, noted that while there is a genuine desire among tax-writing committees to engage in bipartisan efforts, she is not optimistic about it actually happening. This sentiment suggests a challenging political environment for reaching consensus on significant tax reforms or adjustments, despite an apparent appetite for collaboration within certain committees. The current political climate, characterized by a focus on partisan legislative agendas, appears to be a significant impediment to cross-party cooperation on tax matters.
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California Lawmakers Exempt Independent Films from New Corporate Tax Credit Cap

California Lawmakers Exempt Independent Films from New Corporate Tax Credit Cap

California Lawmakers Exempt Independent Films from New Corporate Tax Credit Cap