Public Policy & NGOs
Here's a look at documents from public policy and non-governmental organizations
Featured Stories
Western Watersheds Project: Federal Court Sends Decision Authorizing Domestic Sheep Grazing In Bighorn Sheep Habitat Back to the Forest Service to Complete a New Analysis
HAILEY, Idaho, April 11 -- The Western Watersheds Project posted the following news release on April 9, 2026:
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Federal Court Sends Decision Authorizing Domestic Sheep Grazing In Bighorn Sheep Habitat Back to the Forest Service to Complete a New Analysis
The U.S. Forest Service ignored crucial data in its creation of the Wishbone Allotment on the Rio Grande National Forest, and must reassess risk of disease transmission to sensitive wild sheep
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DENVER -- On Friday, a Colorado federal judge reinforced a major conservation victory for bighorn sheep conservation on the Rio Grande National
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HAILEY, Idaho, April 11 -- The Western Watersheds Project posted the following news release on April 9, 2026:
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Federal Court Sends Decision Authorizing Domestic Sheep Grazing In Bighorn Sheep Habitat Back to the Forest Service to Complete a New Analysis
The U.S. Forest Service ignored crucial data in its creation of the Wishbone Allotment on the Rio Grande National Forest, and must reassess risk of disease transmission to sensitive wild sheep
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DENVER -- On Friday, a Colorado federal judge reinforced a major conservation victory for bighorn sheep conservation on the Rio Grande NationalForest. The court granted a motion to remand the decision to create the Wishbone Allotment back to the U.S. Forest Service, requiring thorough assessment before domestic sheep grazing can be authorized on the allotment.
Last spring, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals found that the Forest Service unlawfully disregarded scientific evidence and arbitrarily altered the results of its disease 'Risk of Contact' modeling when it approved domestic sheep grazing on the Rio Grande National Forest near Creede, Colorado in 2018. The 10th Circuit sent the case back to the Colorado District Court to determine the appropriate remedy. The Forest Service had approved the creation of the Wishbone domestic sheep allotment in close proximity to bighorn sheep core habitats despite concluding in 2013 and 2015 that contact with domestic sheep posed a high level of disease risk to the area's bighorn sheep populations. The remand ensures that domestic sheep will remain off of the allotment unless the Forest Service can prove it's safe for bighorns, which is unlikely.
"Bighorn sheep on public land should be safe from the risk of lethal disease from domestic sheep, and federal agencies can't ignore the reality on the ground," said Delaney Rudy, Colorado Director for the Western Watersheds Project. "The court's remand affirms the Forest Service's responsibility to ensure commercial livestock grazing doesn't imperil native wildlife."
This contact is dangerous because of two deadly pathogens, Mannheimia haemolycta and Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, that domestic sheep carry and transmit to bighorn sheep. Once a wild sheep is infected through contact with a domestic sheep, they carry that pathogen back to their herd and even to other herds, which can lead to catastrophic, all-age die-offs. There are currently at least seven bighorn herds in Colorado that are experiencing population collapse due to illnesses from domestic sheep.
"Bighorn sheep are core to Colorado's identity and living symbols of rugged, wild landscapes," said Laurie Rule, senior attorney at Advocates for the West, who represented conservation organizations in the lawsuit. "We're glad the court agreed that sending back the Forest Service decision authorizing domestic sheep grazing on the Wishbone Allotment is the correct remedy for the multiple legal violations found by the 10th Circuit. It's also the right thing to do so that we don't lose decades of progress to conserve a Western icon."
The Forest Service itself has recognized disease as "the greatest concern for bighorn sheep population persistence [in] the Rio Grande National Forest." Bighorn sheep on the Rio Grande National Forest are designated as a species of conservation concern, a designation that requires all agency actions to be analyzed for their potential impact to bighorn sheep and to maintain bighorn sheep population viability.
"This order from the court reinforces what should have been clear all along: our public lands must be managed based on science and for the benefit of wildlife, not bent to accommodate private interests," said Chris Krupp, public lands attorney with WildEarth Guardians. "Bighorn sheep pay the price when agencies ignore the risks of contact with domestic sheep, and this ruling makes clear that sacrificing wildlife for profit is not an acceptable tradeoff."
During the era of Western settlement, bighorn sheep were wiped out as pathogens carried by domestic sheep were transmitted to native bighorns. By the early 1900s, bighorns had vanished from several states, with only a few thousand remaining from an estimated historic population of 1.5 to 2 million. Following more than six decades of extensive and costly restoration efforts, bighorn sheep have now been recovered to approximately 10% of their historic range.
Four bighorn herds inhabit national forest lands near the newly-invented Wishbone Allotment: the San Luis Peak, Bellows Creek, Bristol Head and Rock Creek herds. Three other bighorn populations live within easy traveling distance for a bighorn ram: the Weminuche population to the south, the Natural Arch/Carnero population to the east, and the San Juan West population to the west. Overall, approximately 1,100 bighorn sheep that were at risk from domestic sheep grazing on the Wishbone Allotment are now spared from that threat.
In last spring's decision, the 10th Circuit held that the Forest Service's explanation for approving the Wishbone Allotment relied "on no science or data, and in fact contradicts the data in the record about bighorn sheep movement and permittees' compliance with project design features."
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Original text here: https://www.westernwatersheds.org/2026/04/federal-court-sends-decision-authorizing-domestic-sheep-grazing-in-bighorn-sheep-habitat-back-to-the-forest-service-to-complete-a-new-analysis/
[Category: Environment]
Texas Biomed Celebrates Opening of State-of-the-art Health Center for Biomedical Research
SAN ANTONIO, Texas, April 11 -- Texas Biomedical Research Institute issued the following news:
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Texas Biomed celebrates opening of state-of-the-art Health Center for biomedical research
Texas Biomedical Research Institute proudly opened its new, state-of-the-art Health Center, a cornerstone investment delivering on its long-term strategic plan to accelerate next-generation biomedical research aimed at solving some of humanity's greatest health challenges.
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The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by distinguished guests and leaders, including Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, State Rep. Josey
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SAN ANTONIO, Texas, April 11 -- Texas Biomedical Research Institute issued the following news:
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Texas Biomed celebrates opening of state-of-the-art Health Center for biomedical research
Texas Biomedical Research Institute proudly opened its new, state-of-the-art Health Center, a cornerstone investment delivering on its long-term strategic plan to accelerate next-generation biomedical research aimed at solving some of humanity's greatest health challenges.
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The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by distinguished guests and leaders, including Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones, State Rep. JoseyGarcia and Craig Boyan, Chairman of the Texas Biomed Board of Trustees.
The new 18,000 square-foot center is a key element of Texas Biomed's ongoing campus transformation, which includes enhanced cyber and electric grid infrastructure and expanded high-containment research capabilities.
"With this new facility, we are enabling the visionary science that's protecting communities, strengthening our national security and accelerating lifesaving discoveries," said Larry Schlesinger, M.D., Texas Biomed President and CEO.
The center opening took place as Texas Biomed marks its 85-year anniversary. Since its founding in 1941, the Institute has helped advance the first Ebola therapy, the first COVID-19 vaccines, the Hepatitis C cure and the high-frequency ventilator saving premature babies' lives around the world.
Texas Biomed's ongoing campus modernization plan is designed to improve its scientific research capabilities and meet the translational needs of key partners, including the National Institutes of Health, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), the Department of Defense, university researchers and pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry clients.
Mayor Ortiz Jones stressed that Texas Biomed is a vital asset for protecting community and global health.
"The Institute's level of precision, safety and expertise in studying some of the world's most dangerous pathogens has put our city on the map as a world leader in infectious disease research," she said. "I am also especially thankful to Texas Biomed for continuing to inspire our young people to pursue careers in science and technology."
The Institute received almost $13 million in flow-through federal preparedness funding under the American Rescue Plan Act from the City of San Antonio and Bexar County that also allowed for major upgrades in campus infrastructure, safety and security.
The new Health Center houses biomedical labs and pathology and histology services, among other functions. It's also a hub for modern meeting space and collaborative research at the Institute's Southwest National Primate Research Center. Known as SNPRC, it's one of seven such federally designated centers funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Primates are the gold standard research model for humans because they share more than 90% of our DNA. They're critical in making sure that medicines, vaccines and technologies are safe and effective before they're allowed to move into human-based clinical trials.
"The opening of the Health Center represents a major milestone for the Institute," Boyan said. "This reflects a commitment to advancing innovative research while delivering the highest standards of care for animals."
The facility is the flagship feature of a new, 70,000-square-foot care complex enabling scientists at Texas Biomed and SNPRC, and other research investigators nationwide to use animal models to study infectious and related chronic diseases, noted SNPRC Director Corinna Ross, Ph.D.
"Our campus is home to an exceptionally dedicated team of scientists, veterinarians, animal care specialists, pathologists and behavioral scientists who care for our primates," she said. "This new center provides access to the latest technologies helping us answer some of the biggest questions in human health, including infectious diseases, obesity, aging and neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease."
"We are excited to move into a space that not only advances our research capabilities but also reflects our deep commitment to exceptional animal care and the remarkable people who make this work possible every day," said Dr. Ross.
The investments come at a crucial moment as global demand for infectious and chronic disease research continues to grow. Texas Biomed's unique combination of high-containment abilities to study pathogens alongside the SNPRC positions it as a national asset, said State Rep. Josey Garcia, who represents the district.
"Facilities like this are essential to ensuring the United States remains at the forefront of research and biosecurity," she said.
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About Texas Biomedical Research Institute
Texas Biomedical Research Institute is a nonprofit research institute dedicated to protecting the global community from infectious and chronic diseases. Through basic research, preclinical testing and innovative partnerships, we accelerate development of diagnostics, therapies and vaccines for the world's deadliest pathogens, including the first COVID-19 vaccine, the first Ebola treatment and first Hepatitis C therapy. We are passionate about educating the next generation of bioscience leaders and ensuring a healthier future for all.
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Original text here: https://www.txbiomed.org/news-press/news/texas-biomed-celebrates-opening-of-state-of-the-art-health-center-for-biomedical-research/
[Category: Medical]
Democracy Forward: GenBioPro, Manufacturer of Generic Mifepristone, Granted Intervention in Florida Et Al. vs. FDA
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- Democracy Forward, an organization that says it advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy and public education and regulatory engagement, issued the following news release on April 10, 2026:
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GenBioPro, Manufacturer of Generic Mifepristone, Granted Intervention in Florida et al. v. FDA
GenBioPro is challenging extremists' attempt to entirely eliminate nationwide access to mifepristone
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Wichita Falls, TX - The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Wichita Falls Division today granted GenBioPro's motion to intervene to
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- Democracy Forward, an organization that says it advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy and public education and regulatory engagement, issued the following news release on April 10, 2026:
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GenBioPro, Manufacturer of Generic Mifepristone, Granted Intervention in Florida et al. v. FDA
GenBioPro is challenging extremists' attempt to entirely eliminate nationwide access to mifepristone
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Wichita Falls, TX - The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Wichita Falls Division today granted GenBioPro's motion to intervene todefend the company's generic mifepristone product, which has been proven safe and effective by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for more than 25 years.
"GenBioPro was founded on the belief that all people deserve access to reproductive care. We are pleased to see the court has granted our intervention in this case so we can defend our product and this essential right," said GenBioPro CEO Evan Masingill. "The states of Florida and Texas' case has the potential to revoke the FDA's approval of mifepristone nationwide and disregards more than a quarter century of rigorous scientific review. We will continue to use all legal and regulatory tools to protect Americans' access to medication abortion."
GenBioPro is represented in the suit by Democracy Forward and Arnold & Porter.
"The alarming increase in copy cat lawsuits filed in district courts are attempting to strip Americans' access to medication abortion. The case brought by Texas and Florida takes this assault to the extreme - seeking to eliminate nationwide access to mifepristone," said Lisa Newman, Senior Counsel at Democracy Forward. "Since Roe was overturned, the data clearly shows that Americans overwhelmingly support access to abortion medication and will continue to seek the abortion care they need, no matter how restrictive the landscape. If these lawsuits succeed, they will only serve to put women into harm's way and push an extremist narrative that is completely out of touch with the American populace. We welcome the court's ruling today and will continue to push back against these meritless attacks."
GenBioPro's motion to dismiss this case will continue to be heard.
The states of Florida and Texas' complaint asks the court to entirely eliminate nationwide access to mifepristone by rolling back the FDA's approval of mifepristone in 2000 and every decision FDA has made about mifepristone since, despite its overwhelming safety as demonstrated through decades of real world use, as well as a large body of scientific literature and evidence. Although the complaint was brought by the states of Florida and Texas, if these efforts succeed, all Americans would lose access to mifepristone.
The case is Florida et al. v. FDA and the legal team at Democracy Forward includes Carrie Flaxman and Lisa Newman. The order granted GenBioPro's motion to intervene in the case is here (https://democracyforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/51-Order-Granting-Intervention.pdf) and the motion to dismiss is here (https://democracyforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/55-GBP-MTD.pdf).
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Democracy Forward Foundation is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.
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Original text here: https://democracyforward.org/news/press-releases/genbiopro-manufacturer-of-generic-mifepristone-granted-intervention-in-florida-et-al-v-fda/
[Category: Political]
Democracy Forward Sues Justice Department for Withholding Records on Election Subversion Activities
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- Democracy Forward, an organization that says it advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy and public education and regulatory engagement, issued the following news release on April 10, 2026:
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Democracy Forward Sues Justice Department for Withholding Records on Election Subversion Activities
Lawsuit Seeks Transparency on Reported Coordination with Election Deniers and Efforts to Access Sensitive Voter Data Ahead of 2026 Elections
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Democracy Forward filed a lawsuit today against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to compel the release
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WASHINGTON, April 11 -- Democracy Forward, an organization that says it advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy and public education and regulatory engagement, issued the following news release on April 10, 2026:
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Democracy Forward Sues Justice Department for Withholding Records on Election Subversion Activities
Lawsuit Seeks Transparency on Reported Coordination with Election Deniers and Efforts to Access Sensitive Voter Data Ahead of 2026 Elections
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Democracy Forward filed a lawsuit today against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to compel the releaseof records related to the Civil Rights Division's (CRT) recent activities concerning election administration, including reported efforts to obtain state voter data and communications with individuals and groups associated with election denial.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, challenges DOJ's failure to comply with multiple Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seeking records about CRT's communications with political actors, outside organizations, and other federal agencies regarding voting and elections. Despite acknowledging some requests, DOJ has failed to produce records or make timely determinations as required by law.
The requested records include communications between senior CRT officials and individuals linked to efforts to undermine confidence in U.S. elections, as well as agreements regarding the sharing of voter registration data with other agencies, including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Democracy Forward also sought records of communications between CRT officials and external organizations that have promoted false claims about election integrity.
"People in America deserve to know what the U.S. Department of Justice is doing where our elections are concerned," said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. "The Trump-Vance administration's continued stonewalling of information about its actions that could impact the integrity of our elections undermines trust, accountability, and our democracy itself. We will continue to go to court to ensure the public gets the answers it is entitled to under the law."
Democracy Forward submitted FOIA requests in November 2025 and February 2026 seeking urgent information about CRT's activities ahead of the 2026 federal elections. The lawsuit asks the court to order DOJ to conduct a thorough search for responsive records, produce all non-exempt materials, and stop unlawfully withholding information from the public.
The case is Democracy Forward Foundation v. U.S. Department of Justice, and the team at Democracy Forward includes Anisha Hindocha, Daniel McGrath, and Robin Thurston.
Read the complaint here (https://democracyforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/126cv01206-DEMOCRACY-FORWARD-FOUNDATION-vUSDEPARTMENT-OF-JUSTICE-Complaint.pdf).
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Democracy Forward is a national legal organization that advances democracy and social progress through litigation, policy, public education, and regulatory engagement. For more information, please visit www.democracyforward.org.
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Original text here: https://democracyforward.org/news/press-releases/democracy-forward-sues-justice-department-for-withholding-records-on-election-subversion-activities/
[Category: Political]
CAIR-MI Condemns Racist Vandalism Targeting Biracial Couple's Home in Michigan
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR-MI Condemns Racist Vandalism Targeting Biracial Couple's Home in Michigan
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) today condemned the racist vandalism of a biracial couple's home in Brown City.
The FBI is investigating a suspected hate crime after a bi-racial family's home was broken into and vandalized with racial slurs spray painted on the walls. Video from the family shows holes in the walls, black paint spilled on the floor and vulgar and racist
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release:
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CAIR-MI Condemns Racist Vandalism Targeting Biracial Couple's Home in Michigan
The Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI) today condemned the racist vandalism of a biracial couple's home in Brown City.
The FBI is investigating a suspected hate crime after a bi-racial family's home was broken into and vandalized with racial slurs spray painted on the walls. Video from the family shows holes in the walls, black paint spilled on the floor and vulgar and racistlanguage sprayed throughout the house. Words we can print include "go away" and "leave." The family is moving to Ohio. One of the daughters returned to the home on McMorran Street to pick up more items and found destruction and hate inside.
SEE: Vandals leave slurs, damage in bi-racial couple's Brown City home | Crime | abc12.com (https://www.abc12.com/news/crime/vandals-leave-slurs-damage-in-bi-racial-couples-brown-city-home/article_92961c15-2d60-4eb1-a33f-57e22334484e.html)
"We condemn this despicable attack on a family's home and thank law enforcement authorities for investigating," said CAIR-MI Executive Director Dawud Walid. "No family deserves to be terrorized in their own home and those who would commit such an act must be brought to justice."
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-mi-condemns-racist-vandalism-targeting-biracial-couples-home-in-michigan/
[Category: Sociological]
CAIR Calls for Resignation of Wisconsin Alderman Over Violent Anti-Muslim, Anti-Immigrant Comments
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on April 10, 2026:
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CAIR Calls for Resignation of Wisconsin Alderman Over Violent Anti-Muslim, Anti-Immigrant Comments
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for the resignation of a Brookfield, Wisconsin, alderman following reports he allegedly posted violent anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant comments online.
Those posts by Alderman Kris Seals reportedly included referencing shooting Muslims with "Bacon
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations posted the following news release on April 10, 2026:
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CAIR Calls for Resignation of Wisconsin Alderman Over Violent Anti-Muslim, Anti-Immigrant Comments
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called for the resignation of a Brookfield, Wisconsin, alderman following reports he allegedly posted violent anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant comments online.
Those posts by Alderman Kris Seals reportedly included referencing shooting Muslims with "Baconrapped [sic] bullets." Another post reportedly stated: "It's time to wipe out the immigrants from Britain and all of the EU." There was also reportedly a post on his page about hanging former President Barack Obama.
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw said:
"Public officials take an oath to serve all constituents, not to demonize them. Seals' violent and dehumanizing remarks targeting Muslims and immigrants are not just offensive, they are dangerous. This rhetoric fuels hate, legitimizes discrimination, and puts real people at risk. It is fundamentally incompatible with the responsibilities of public office.
"Seals is clearly unfit to serve and must resign immediately. There is no justification for an elected official who engages in this kind of hate to remain in office. If Seals refuses to step down, local leaders must act to remove him. Silence or inaction in the face of this rhetoric is complicity. The public deserves leadership that respects their dignity, not officials who incite fear and division."
Washington, D.C., based CAIR added that such comments contribute to a broader climate of intolerance that can lead to increased discrimination and bias incidents targeting marginalized communities.
Yesterday, CAIR's Greater Los Angeles Area office (CAIR-LA) condemned a recent hate incident targeting the Islamic Society of Simi Valley, as well as reports of other mosques in Claremont and La Mirada being targeted. CAIR-LA also urged local Muslim community leaders to heighten safety awareness as Islamophobia continues to rise nationwide.
According to CAIR's most recent civil rights report, complaints of anti-Muslim bias and discrimination have continued to rise nationwide, reflecting an ongoing pattern of Islamophobia impacting communities across the country.
SEE: 2026 Civil Rights Report: The Right to be Different (https://action.cair.com/a/the-right-to-be-different)
Anyone who experiences or witnesses a hate incident to report it to local authorities and civil rights organizations. GO TO: https://www.cair.com/report/
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Original text here: https://www.cair.com/press_releases/cair-calls-for-resignation-of-wisconsin-alderman-over-violent-anti-muslim-anti-immigrant-comments/
[Category: Sociological]
Americans for Tax Reform: After SC Enacts Path to 1.99 Percent Flat Tax, NC Lawmakers Deliberate Over Income Tax Phase Down to 2.49 Percent
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following statement on April 9, 2026:
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After SC Enacts Path to 1.99 Percent Flat Tax, NC Lawmakers Deliberate Over Income Tax Phase Down to 2.49 Percent
As governors and legislative leaders around the country make progress toward income tax elimination, a debate is raging in North Carolina, the state that kicked off a nationwide push toward lower and flatter state income tax rates, over whether the state's march to a 2.49% income tax rate, which would be the nation's lowest single rate, should be paused or delayed. If North Carolina
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, April 11 -- Americans for Tax Reform posted the following statement on April 9, 2026:
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After SC Enacts Path to 1.99 Percent Flat Tax, NC Lawmakers Deliberate Over Income Tax Phase Down to 2.49 Percent
As governors and legislative leaders around the country make progress toward income tax elimination, a debate is raging in North Carolina, the state that kicked off a nationwide push toward lower and flatter state income tax rates, over whether the state's march to a 2.49% income tax rate, which would be the nation's lowest single rate, should be paused or delayed. If North Carolinalawmakers decide to alter their existing revenue trigger schedule for income tax relief, Americans for Tax Reform is urging lawmakers to at least maintain the ultimate goal of getting the income tax rate below 2.5%.
North Carolina's flat income tax rate fell from 4.25% to 3.99% on the first day of 2026 and is on track to fall again to 3.49% on January 1, 2027. However, analysis recently commissioned by the Carolina Leadership Coalition (CLC), a non-profit affiliated with the North Carolina House Republican Caucus, makes the case that North Carolina lawmakers should adjust existing revenue triggers so that higher revenue collections are required in order for further rate reduction to be triggered. House Republicans' push for such a change and Senate Republicans' preference for scrapping the triggers altogether so that further income tax relief is a certainty, has been the crux of North Carolina's ongoing budget standoff.
Though Senate Republicans are portrayed as defenders of existing revenue triggers, it's worth remembering that the only reason the triggers were implemented in the first place was to get the House on board with further income tax relief. The Senate's preference was always to take the rate down further without the contingency of revenue triggers.
"The eventual target, a 2.49% flat-rate individual income tax, would further enhance North Carolina's tax competitiveness, resulting in what would currently be the lowest top or single-rate individual income tax rate in the country," wrote Jared Walczak, president of Walczak Policy Consulting and the author of the CLC-commissioned analysis. "Given North Carolina's success to date, there is reason to believe that target is in reach."
Though Walczak likes the direction of the income tax rate reduction enacted in North Carolina, he argues that the triggers established in 2023 "are a poor way to get there." In particular, Walczak is critical of the way in which the existing revenue triggers would result in further income tax rate reduction even if revenue were to grow more slowly than population growth and inflation.
Lawmakers will seek to reach a budget agreement when the General Assembly reconvenes in Raleigh later this month. Americans for Tax Reform will be urging North Carolina lawmakers to work to reach an agreement that ensures that, even if income tax rate reduction is slowed, it is not blocked and that the 2.49% target rate will still ultimately be achieved.
"North Carolina is poised to continue leading the nation in pro-growth tax reform as it continues phasing down its flat income tax rate," said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. "Oddly, some politicians and interest groups want to stop North Carolina's progress and allow other states to jump ahead in the competition for new business, investment capital, and talent."
Recent actions across the border in South Carolina, along with similar developments in other state capitals, should erase any doubt about the need for continued income tax rate reduction in North Carolina. South Carolina lawmakers enacted legislation last month that will move the Palmetto State to a flat 1.99% income tax in five years. What's more, that reform also includes revenue triggers to completely phase out South Carolina's income tax over time.
"North Carolina should reject all lobbyist efforts to concede the future to the nearby states of South Carolina, Florida, Tennessee, and Georgia," Norquist added. "Revenue triggers to ensure that the income tax continues on a reasonable and consistent path downward should be protected from spending interests."
In addition to ensuring that any adjustments to existing revenue triggers do not prevent North Carolina from eventually getting its income tax rate below 2.5%, Americans for Tax Reform also encourages lawmakers to consider cutting the state's constitutional income tax cap to at least 4.0%. Doing so would raise the bar to hike North Carolina's income tax in the future, helping to enshrine the tax relief and code improvements that lawmakers have worked hard for more than a decade to establish.
In 2018, more than 57% of North Carolina voters approved a constitutional amendment to reduce North Carolina's income tax cap from 10% to 7%, where it stands today. The large margin of support for the last cut in the income tax cap, which isn't providing much protection since it's more than three percentage points above the existing income tax rate, suggests that putting another income tax cap reduction on the 2026 ballot wouldn't just be great policy, it would be smart politics.
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Original text here: https://atr.org/after-sc-enacts-path-to-1-99-percent-flat-tax-nc-lawmakers-deliberate-over-income-tax-phase-down-to-2-49-percent/
[Category: Political]
