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Agudath Israel of America Applauds Governor Kathy Hochul for Announcing That New York State Will Op In to the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit
NEW YORK, Oct. 11 [Category: Religion] -- Agudath Israel of America, an arm and voice of American Orthodox Jewry, posted the following news:
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Agudath Israel of America Applauds Governor Kathy Hochul for Announcing That New York State Will Op In to the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit
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Agudath Israel of America applauds Governor Kathy Hochul for announcing on Friday afternoon that, after reviewing the new regulations, New York State will opt in to the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit.
This decision will, in the governor's words, "bring millions of additional dollars to New York students and
... Show Full Article
NEW YORK, Oct. 11 [Category: Religion] -- Agudath Israel of America, an arm and voice of American Orthodox Jewry, posted the following news:
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Agudath Israel of America Applauds Governor Kathy Hochul for Announcing That New York State Will Op In to the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit
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Agudath Israel of America applauds Governor Kathy Hochul for announcing on Friday afternoon that, after reviewing the new regulations, New York State will opt in to the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit.
This decision will, in the governor's words, "bring millions of additional dollars to New York students andfamilies without taking a single dollar from public schools or our state or local budgets."
Governor Hochul's announcement follows her promise to a group of Jewish leaders back in May that New York would participate in the tax credit if it benefited all students, including those attending public schools. Since that meeting, which took place in the office of Agudah chairman Sol Werdiger, Governor Hochul has only reiterated her view that she would not leave money on the table that can help New York students, despite political pressure from opponents.
"Opting in is good for all New Yorkers. We thank Governor Hochul for putting students before politics." said Agudath Israel's chairman of the board, Mr. Sol Werdiger. "We now urge the remaining governors to follow her lead."
"Agudah was at the forefront of the successful advocacy effort that led to the passage of the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit and worked with allies in New York to make it a reality for families in our state." said Rabbi Yeruchim Silber, Agudah's Director of NY Government Relations. "Agudah extends its sincere appreciation to the NYS Catholic Conference, Teach NYS, Invest in Education, and the tens of thousands of parents and supporters who spoke out in support of this game-changing policy.
The Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (FSTC) allows taxpayers to contribute up to $1,700 ($3,400 for a married couple filing jointly) to a scholarship granting organization and receive a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit. Scholarships can be used for tutoring, special needs services, and tuition, among many allowable uses. To learn more, go to agudah.org/FSTC.
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Original text here: https://agudah.org/agudath-israel-of-america-applauds-governor-kathy-hochul-for-announcing-that-new-york-state-will-op-in-to-the-federal-scholarship-tax-credit
Northwell Health: Northern Dutchess Hospital Awarded $224,000 New York State Grant to Plan Rural EMS Interfacility Transportation Program
NEW HYDE PARK, New York, Oct. 10 -- Northwell Health posted the following news release:
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Northern Dutchess Hospital awarded $224,000 New York State grant to plan rural EMS interfacility transportation program
October 8th, 2026
The competitive state grant will fund planning for a new EMS program to help patients in rural communities move between healthcare facilities more efficiently when specialized care is needed
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Northern Dutchess Hospital was recently awarded $224,000 through New York State's Rural Community Health Integration (RCHI) initiative, part of the state's Rural Health Transformation
... Show Full Article
NEW HYDE PARK, New York, Oct. 10 -- Northwell Health posted the following news release:
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Northern Dutchess Hospital awarded $224,000 New York State grant to plan rural EMS interfacility transportation program
October 8th, 2026
The competitive state grant will fund planning for a new EMS program to help patients in rural communities move between healthcare facilities more efficiently when specialized care is needed
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Northern Dutchess Hospital was recently awarded $224,000 through New York State's Rural Community Health Integration (RCHI) initiative, part of the state's Rural Health TransformationProgram.
The funding will support planning and development of a new emergency medical services (EMS) interfacility transportation program to address growing regional transportation needs. The initiative aims to improve access to timely care by helping patients move more efficiently between healthcare facilities when higher levels of treatment or specialized services are needed.
"This funding represents an important investment in the health of our community and will help us explore innovative ways to strengthen access to care throughout our region," says Andy Wilson, MD, president of Northern Dutchess Hospital. "As the need for EMS transportation services continues to grow, this planning effort will help us develop solutions that improve care coordination and ensure patients can access the right level of care when and where they need it."
The award is particularly significant given the highly competitive nature of the process. More than 90 applications were submitted for funding across the state, and each eligible county received only $500,000 in planning funds. Northern Dutchess Hospital, which serves residents in Dutchess, Columbia and Ulster Counties, received the allocation from Columbia County, underscoring the proposal's strength and the community needs it addresses.
"This achievement reflects the outstanding work of our team and the power of collaboration," said Dr. Wilson. "It's a tremendous accomplishment and a great example of what we can achieve when we identify a need in our community and work together to find innovative solutions."
How the grant will support rural EMS transportation planning
Through the project, Northern Dutchess Hospital will:
* Conduct planning activities and engage community and healthcare partners
* Assess regional transportation needs
* Develop a framework for a sustainable EMS interfacility transportation service
The initiative is expected to improve access to care, reduce transportation barriers and enhance coordination across the healthcare continuum for rural residents.
Potential for multi-year funding
The award represents the first phase of a potential multi-year funding opportunity. If the program meets requirements, Northern Dutchess Hospital may be eligible for four additional years of funding, with significantly increased levels tied to demonstrated community need.
"Transportation is a critical link in the healthcare continuum, particularly in rural communities where patients may need to travel longer distances to access specialized care. This funding will allow us to take a thoughtful, data-driven approach to understanding current gaps and developing a sustainable EMS interfacility transportation model that better serves patients, the clinical team and healthcare partners throughout our region," said Michelle Robertson, president of Northwell Health's Northern Market. "We are grateful for the opportunity to build on the strong collaboration that already exists across our community and create solutions that improve access to care."
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About the Rural Community Health Integration Initiative
Rural Community Health Integration (RCHI) is an initiative of New York State's Rural Health Transformation Program. The program supports regional and community partnerships that are designed to improve coordination across the healthcare continuum, enhance access to services and better address the health and social needs of rural New Yorkers.
New York's Rural Health Transformation Program is supported by the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The federal program is designed to strengthen and modernize rural healthcare, expand access to care, support the rural health workforce and advance sustainable models of care for rural communities.
Northern Dutchess Hospital will begin project planning activities in the coming months and work closely with community stakeholders to evaluate transportation needs and develop a roadmap for implementation.
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This initiative is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $212,058,207.80 in Budget Period 1, with 100% funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CMS/HHS or the U.S. Government.
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Original text here: https://www.northwell.edu/news/the-latest/northern-dutchess-hospital-nys-grant-for-rural-ems-interfacility-transportation-program
[Category: Health Care]
Democracy Forward: Report Showcases the Trump-Vance Administration's Expansive Abuse of Power and Invasion of Privacy Ahead of the 2026 Midterm Elections
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (TNSrpt) -- 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:
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New Report Showcases the Trump-Vance Administration's Expansive Abuse of Power and Invasion of Privacy Ahead of the 2026 Midterm Elections
Democracy Forward Investigation Reveals New Evidence of Federal Agencies Trying to Interfere with Elections, Urges Voters to Resist by Taking Action
October 9, 2026
Washington, D.C. -- Democracy Forward released today In the
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 (TNSrpt) -- 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:
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New Report Showcases the Trump-Vance Administration's Expansive Abuse of Power and Invasion of Privacy Ahead of the 2026 Midterm Elections
Democracy Forward Investigation Reveals New Evidence of Federal Agencies Trying to Interfere with Elections, Urges Voters to Resist by Taking Action
October 9, 2026
Washington, D.C. -- Democracy Forward released today In theRecords: Exposing and Disrupting Federal Attempts to Interfere in the 2026 Midterm Elections, a new report that, using government records, documents how the Trump-Vance administration is abusing the power and resources of the federal government to pursue baseless claims of widespread election fraud and assert greater control over elections -- and makes clear how important it is for people to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming 2026 midterms.
The report is the product of an extensive public records investigation into the Trump-Vance administration's attempts to weaken American democracy and hold onto their corrupt power by compromising our elections, and includes records never before published. It is an essential tool to assist the public in pushing back against this administration's effort to undermine elections.
Since the beginning of the administration, Democracy Forward has submitted more than 700 public records requests on election issues to federal, state, and local offices across the country and obtained more than 13,000 pages of records to date. Those records shed new light on actions across the federal government, including efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to investigate individual voters and obtain state voter data; the potential deployment of armed federal agents and criminal prosecutors at polling places; the expansion of the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program for voter-roll checks; the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) efforts to obtain state voter rolls; the influence of election deniers on federal election work; and expanded Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigations into voters and elections.
"The records tell a deeply troubling story: the Trump-Vance administration is harnessing the power of the federal government to pursue baseless election conspiracies and interfere with how our elections are administered," said Skye Perryman, President and CEO of Democracy Forward. "They are part of a broader effort that is clearly intended to intimidate voters, undermine public trust, and interfere with our elections, but Americans have the power to stop this malfeasance and corruption. Democracy Forward will continue to expose these efforts and continue to call on all eligible voters to check their registrations and to make a plan to vote early, by mail, or in person."
Key findings from the report include:
* ICE is expanding "voter fraud" investigations and seeking voter data across the country. Records obtained by Democracy Forward reveal ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) efforts to access voter information across multiple states, probe civic engagement nonprofits, and potentially investigate the 2020 election. The Trump-Vance administration has opened the door to armed federal agents at polling places, and sent criminal prosecutors to observe elections. After months of contradictory statements, administration officials confirmed a policy purporting to allow armed federal officers to conduct certain immigration and law-enforcement operations at polling locations despite acknowledging federal law that prohibits it.
* The administration transformed SAVE into a tool for mass voter-roll checks despite serious accuracy concerns. The records show additional evidence of the overhauled SAVE system's deficiencies, which state officials raised to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) as these flaws impacted eligible voters.
* DOJ's campaign for state voter rolls has intensified. New records show that even compliant states have been frustrated and left in the dark by DOJ's effort, all while DOJ shares voter data with federal law enforcement behind closed doors.
* Election deniers are influencing federal election policy from inside and outside the Trump-Vance administration. The records detailed in the report shed new light on how individuals who have promoted false claims about prior elections have participated in federal election-related work and influenced policies affecting election administration.
* The FBI has broadened its election-related investigations. The report documents expanded FBI inquiries involving individual voters, voter-registration information, and voting machines, even as longstanding claims that fraud altered the outcome of the 2020 election remain unsupported.
Importantly, the report also documents the essential efforts to ensure free and fair elections by state officials, election administrators, advocates, and the courts. As the midterms approach, Democracy Forward will continue its public records investigations and litigation to obtain records the administration has withheld and to expose efforts that threaten voting rights and the independence of state and local election administration.
The report also includes actions and resources for people to vote and to encourage voting in their communities.
"Voters deserve elections that are free from intimidation, political interference, and unnecessary barriers to participation. The findings detailed in this report raise serious concerns about actions that could undermine public confidence in our elections and the ability of eligible voters to participate freely," said Celina Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of the nonpartisan League of Women Voters, which has advocated for voting rights since its founding in 1920 and was not involved in producing this report. "The League of Women Voters believes that democracy works best when election administration remains fair, transparent, and accessible, and when voters can cast their ballots knowing their rights will be protected and their voices will be heard. We will continue to advocate for policies and practices that safeguard the freedom to vote and strengthen trust in our democratic institutions."
The report notes that Democracy Forward currently has public-records litigation involving the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), DOJ, the Election Assistance Commission, the FBI, ICE, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Social Security Administration, and USCIS.
Concurrent with the release of the report, Democracy Forward also filed a new Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against ICE and the DHS. In the case, the watchdog group calls for the court to force ICE and DHS to respond to numerous unfulfilled FOIA requests looking into ICE's involvement in unlawful investigations seeking to shore up the government's ongoing false assertions about the preponderance of voter fraud. The case is Democracy Forward Foundation v. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
In conjunction with this report, Democracy Forward also released an update to its trusted People's Guide to Voting Rights and the corresponding Election Toolkit, designed specifically to help people take action, make a voting plan, and access resources for every situation.
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REPORT: https://democracyforward.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/In-the-Records_Exposing-and-Disrupting-Federal-Attempts-to-Interfere-in-the-2026-Midterm-Elections.pdf
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Original text here: https://democracyforward.org/news/press-releases/new-report-showcases-the-trump-vance-administrations-expansive-abuse-of-power-and-invasion-of-privacy-ahead-of-the-2026-midterm-elections/
[Category: Political]
Democracy Forward: Lawsuit Challenges Administration's Unlawful Militarization of Public Lands Along Southern Border
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- 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:
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New Lawsuit Challenges Administration's Unlawful Militarization of Public Lands Along Southern Border
Administration Turned More Than 100,000 Acres of New Mexico Public Land Into a Military Zone, Cutting Communities Off From Land Used for Recreation, Humanitarian Work, and Essential Services
October 8, 2026
Albuquerque, N.M. -- New Mexico Wildlife Federation, Battalion
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- 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:
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New Lawsuit Challenges Administration's Unlawful Militarization of Public Lands Along Southern Border
Administration Turned More Than 100,000 Acres of New Mexico Public Land Into a Military Zone, Cutting Communities Off From Land Used for Recreation, Humanitarian Work, and Essential Services
October 8, 2026
Albuquerque, N.M. -- New Mexico Wildlife Federation, BattalionSearch and Rescue, and Southern Border Communities Coalition filed a lawsuit today challenging the administration's unlawful transformation of more than 100,000 acres of public land along the New Mexico-Mexico border into a military installation, allowing U.S. military personnel to engage in civilian immigration enforcement. Plaintiffs are represented by Democracy Forward and Peifer, Hanson, Mullins & Baker.
The lawsuit challenges actions by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), and U.S. Army that transferred jurisdiction over the public land to the military and designated it a "national defense area." According to the complaint, the administration has used that designation to restrict public access and give military personnel expanded authority to detain people on land that, until last year, was open to the public for recreational and civic uses.
So-called "national defense areas" are not authorized by statute. DoD has historically designated such areas as temporary, limited zones in response to discrete emergencies, such as military aircraft crashes. The lawsuit alleges that the administration lacks authorization to use that concept to convert vast stretches of public land into a military installation to circumvent longstanding restrictions on military participation in civilian law enforcement. The complaint further alleges that DOI unlawfully used emergency authority to bypass the ordinary process for withdrawing public lands to conduct immigration enforcement, even though that emergency authority is only permitted to preserve environmental and other natural-resource values.
The consequences are already being felt by people and organizations across the region. New Mexico Wildlife Federation members have lost access to lands they have long used to hunt, hike, and birdwatch, as well as to monitor public-land management. Battalion Search and Rescue, an all-volunteer humanitarian organization, has been prevented from searching areas where migrants have died or gone missing, jeopardizing efforts to locate human remains, identify the deceased, and give families answers. Southern Border Communities Coalition members have had their work and daily lives disrupted and are prevented from, among other things, engaging in community organizing activities and participating in religious traditions.
The boundaries of the military zone are also unclear on the ground. According to the complaint, people have unknowingly entered the national defense area because of inadequate signage and a lack of publicly accessible information about its boundaries. The U.S. Department of Justice has nevertheless charged approximately 1,800 people with crimes related to entering the area, even as courts have repeatedly raised questions about the government's ability to establish where the military zone actually begins and ends.
"This lawsuit is an extension of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation's traditional work to preserve public access to public lands," said Jesse Deubel, executive director of the NMWF. "Since our organization's founding more than a century ago, we have worked to ensure that all New Mexicans, regardless of personal wealth or background, have equal access to hunt, fish, and recreate on public lands in our state. We and our partner organizations aim to see the administration held to a higher standard, and we mean to establish that it must not only protect our borders, but also respect our laws, our environment and our traditions of using public lands."
"In just three years, a handful of dedicated volunteers, searching roughly once a month across southern Arizona and New Mexico, have located more than 100 death sites. Imagine how many more people could be found if we had the access, resources, and support to search systematically. Instead, we're being locked out," said James R. Holeman, founder of Battalion Search and Rescue. "For more than 30 years, U.S. border enforcement policies have deliberately pushed vulnerable people into remote and 'hostile terrain.' The government knew the deadly consequences. Vast stretches of our borderlands are already virtually inaccessible to humanitarian searchers, including military installations, wildlife refuges, national parks, and tribal lands. Now the government is closing off even more territory. We don't find weapons or drugs. We find Bibles, prayer cards, love notes, and the belongings of people simply trying to survive. There is no meaningful, systematic government effort to search for the missing and the dead. They don't search, and now they're preventing us from searching."
"We need to revitalize, not militarize, border communities," said Lilian Serrano, Director of the Southern Border Communities Coalition. "The use of the U.S. military against civilians is unacceptable. Our home is not a military zone. We reject any attempts to normalize military deployment or so-called 'national defense areas' in our communities. Our borderlands are a place of encounter where everyone's dignity and human rights should be respected."
"Public lands do not become military installations simply because the president says so, and the military cannot be handed sweeping new authority to police civilians by drawing a line around land that belonged to the public," said Brian Netter, Legal Director at Democracy Forward. "What the Trump-Vance administration has done in New Mexico is an extraordinary abuse of power with devastating consequences for the people who live, work, worship, recreate, and carry out lifesaving humanitarian work along the border. Our Constitution and laws impose clear limits on the use of the military for civilian law enforcement for a reason. We are proud to represent our clients in seeking to stop this unlawful militarization of their communities and restore these public lands to the people."
"The administration botched their poorly-thought-out and poorly executed misuse of 'National Defense Areas' from the start. They are violating the law in a massive waste of resources that should be dedicated to fighting violent crime and actually making New Mexicans safer," said Mark Baker, from Peifer, Hanson, Mullins & Baker P.A.
The lawsuit alleges that DOI had no authority to use an emergency public-land withdrawal to transfer land to DoD, and that DoD exceeded its authority by creating the New Mexico "national defense area." The lawsuit also challenges the administration's use of funds appropriated through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to operate and maintain the military zone, alleging that the four-year appropriation violates the Constitution's Army Clause, which limits Army appropriations to two-year terms.
The plaintiffs are asking the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico to vacate the DOI and DoD orders that transferred and designated the land as a national defense area, block the administration from continuing to implement the New Mexico military zone, and prohibit the Army from spending additional challenged funds to operate or maintain it.
The case is New Mexico Wildlife Federation v. Department of Interior. The legal team at Democracy Forward includes Gregory Cumming, Lesley Farby, and Brian Netter.
Read the filing here.
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Original text here: https://democracyforward.org/news/press-releases/new-lawsuit-challenges-administrations-unlawful-militarization-of-public-lands-along-southern-border/
[Category: Political]
Common Defense Endorses JB Pritzker for Re-Election as Governor of Illinois
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Common Defense, an organization of veterans and military families, issued the following news:
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Common Defense Endorses JB Pritzker for Re-Election as Governor of Illinoi
October 9, 2026
Washington, D.C. -- Today, Common Defense, a grassroots organization of veterans and military families, announced its endorsement of Governor JB Pritzker for re-election as Governor of Illinois to fight for American families, veterans, and the future of our democracy.
Naveed Shah, U.S. Army veteran and Political Director at Common Defense, released the following statement:
"Common
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Common Defense, an organization of veterans and military families, issued the following news:
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Common Defense Endorses JB Pritzker for Re-Election as Governor of Illinoi
October 9, 2026
Washington, D.C. -- Today, Common Defense, a grassroots organization of veterans and military families, announced its endorsement of Governor JB Pritzker for re-election as Governor of Illinois to fight for American families, veterans, and the future of our democracy.
Naveed Shah, U.S. Army veteran and Political Director at Common Defense, released the following statement:
"CommonDefense is proud to endorse Governor JB Pritzker for re-election as Governor of Illinois. Governor Pritzker understands that honoring military service means making sure veterans and their families have the support and opportunities they've earned long after their service ends. Under his leadership, Illinois has invested in modernized veterans' housing, expanded educational opportunities, and made it easier for service members to put their military experience into civilian careers. These investments reflect a simple principle: when someone raises their hand to serve our country, we have a responsibility to stand with them when they come home. Governor Pritzker takes that responsibility extremely seriously, which is why Common Defense is proud to stand behind him."
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About Common Defense
Common Defense Civic Engagement (501c4) is a grassroots organization of veterans and military families. Founded in 2016, we organize to defend the Constitution, oppose Forever Wars, and fight for a democracy where liberty and justice truly exist for all. For more information, visit commondefense.us.
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Original text here: https://commondefense.us/news/common-defense-endorses-jb-pritzker-for-re-election-as-governor-of-illinois/
[Category: National Defense]
B'nai B'rith Blasts Nobel Choice of Navi Pillay
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- B'nai B'rith International issued the following statement:
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October 9, 2026
B'nai B'rith President Robert Spitzer and CEO Evan R. Bernstein have issued the following statement:
B'nai B'rith International is appalled and dismayed by the selection of Navi Pillay for the Nobel Peace Prize. This choice is not only unwarranted but offensive and damaging. It cheapens the world's leading prize for peacemaking and further reinforces a sense of isolation by Jews facing a surge in global antisemitism.
Pillay, a former United Nations high commissioner for human rights, epitomized
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WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- B'nai B'rith International issued the following statement:
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October 9, 2026
B'nai B'rith President Robert Spitzer and CEO Evan R. Bernstein have issued the following statement:
B'nai B'rith International is appalled and dismayed by the selection of Navi Pillay for the Nobel Peace Prize. This choice is not only unwarranted but offensive and damaging. It cheapens the world's leading prize for peacemaking and further reinforces a sense of isolation by Jews facing a surge in global antisemitism.
Pillay, a former United Nations high commissioner for human rights, epitomizedsystemic, singular U.N. bias against and mistreatment of Israel.
She had an open record of longstanding animus to the Jewish state--maligning it with the "apartheid" label and endorsing punitive economic measures against it.
As chair of the U.N.'s current, open-ended "commission of inquiry" on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, she shamelessly defended the outright antisemitism of colleagues and mimicked the outrageous lie of Israeli "genocide" in Gaza. She was a defender of the U.N.'s notorious 2001 racism conference in her native Durban, South Africa, and of especially radical U.N. special rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who has repeatedly earned denunciation by major democracies for her bigotry against Israel and the Jewish community.
Bernstein noted, "With its senseless and shameful choice, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has done more harm to the peace prize than any similar step in recent history. This choice is an abomination."
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Original text here: https://www.bnaibrith.org/blasts-nobel-choice-of-navi-pillay/
[Category: Religion]
Americans for Tax Reform Issues Commentary: El-Sayed's Vow to "Uncap the Payroll Tax" Would Impose a 57% Tax Rate on Michigan Small and Midsized Businesses and the Self-Employed
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Americans for Tax Reform issued the following commentary:
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El-Sayed's Vow to "Uncap the Payroll Tax" Would Impose a 57% Tax Rate on Michigan Small and Midsized Businesses and the Self-Employed
John Kartch
10/08/2026
On Thursday night Democrat senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed vowed to drastically raise the payroll tax on Michiganders by removing the payroll tax cap. "We should eliminate the cap," he said during the debate against Mike Rogers.
The result is a top combined federal-state tax rate of 57.45% on Michiganders. This would hit contractors, Main Street businesses
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10 -- Americans for Tax Reform issued the following commentary:
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El-Sayed's Vow to "Uncap the Payroll Tax" Would Impose a 57% Tax Rate on Michigan Small and Midsized Businesses and the Self-Employed
John Kartch
10/08/2026
On Thursday night Democrat senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed vowed to drastically raise the payroll tax on Michiganders by removing the payroll tax cap. "We should eliminate the cap," he said during the debate against Mike Rogers.
The result is a top combined federal-state tax rate of 57.45% on Michiganders. This would hit contractors, Main Street businessesand the self-employed especially hard.
The math is as follows:
37 percent top federal income tax rate
12.4 percent El-Sayed payroll tax applied to income above $184,500.
2.9 percent Medicare payroll tax
0.9 percent additional Medicare payroll tax
4.25 percent top state marginal income tax rate
= 57.45% top combined federal-state tax on Michigan households and businesses.
Small business groups such as the National Federation of Independent Business has weight in against the payroll tax hike.
In testimony to congress, NFIB said:
"85% of small businesses are organized as pass-through entities for federal tax purposes and report their business earnings and expenses on their individual tax returns."
"As a result, business income earned through pass-through entities such as S-Corps, sole proprietorships, and partnerships would be subject to these additional Social Security taxes."
"At a time when small businesses continue to struggle with inflation, labor shortages, rising borrowing costs, and general economic uncertainty, Congress should not impose another significant tax increase on entrepreneurship and job creation."
"Small business owners are also confronting inflationary pressures, workforce shortages, rising borrowing costs, and economic uncertainty. Additional federal payroll taxes would compound these existing challenges."
This is the latest in a long list of tax increases El-Sayed has endorsed:
Death Tax Hike. Tens of thousands of Michiganders will get stuck paying El-Sayed's Death Tax, which will hit families with a steep tax when their parents die. El-Sayed wants to impose this tax on households inheriting a home, land, a farm, lake house, stocks or a small business totaling $1 million or more, at a top rate of 37%. This would destroy many small businesses and family farms and leave Michiganders reeling in the aftermath of losing their Mom or Dad.
El-Sayed's plan is radical. It would drastically widen the IRS Death Tax maw. Under current federal law, the Death Tax is applied only to individuals inheriting more than $15 million in total assets, at a tax rate of 18% - 40%. El-Sayed wants to start hitting people with Death Tax at just $1 million.
The plan makes it more difficult for family-owned businesses and farms to remain in the family. For example, many heirs inherit business, farmland, or other illiquid assets instead of cash. Large tax liabilities could force families to sell their land, business, or other assets to pay the tax bills.
This is especially staggering for a state in which family businesses account for a quarter of all businesses in the state and ninety five percent of farms remain family owned. Higher taxes on inheritance discourage investment and saving and punish families for seeking to pass their life's work to the next generation.
ANOTHER Death Tax by Elimination of Stepped-Up Basis When Parents Die. As if the El-Sayed's Death Tax hike wasn't bad enough, he wants to pile on a SECOND Death Tax by eliminating stepped-up basis when parents die.
Yes, El-Sayed wants to impose a second Death Tax -- separate from and in addition to his first Death Tax -- by taking away stepped-up basis. This tax would automatically "deem" inherited assets as "sold" for the purpose of generating a forced capital gains realization at death. This El-Sayed tax would bury households and small businesses with invasive audits and expensive and burdensome IRS paperwork. 78% of small business owners say this tax will be crippling.
Capital Gains Tax Hike
El-Sayed also wants to raise capital gains taxes. In his own words, El-Sayed states:
"I support taxing capital gains over $1 million at the same rate as ordinary income."
The year you sell your house or small business, El-Sayed considers you "rich."
Say you've built up a small business for 30 years and move to sell the building and the land, that one year you could have $1 million in "income." El-Sayed will have the IRS stick you with a 37% capital gains tax instead of the current 20%.
Taxing capital gains as ordinary income significantly increases the tax burden on investment, discourages business expansion, and capital formation in the long term. The El-Sayed tax hike plan also reduces incentives to deploy capital into new businesses and enterprises.
Further, capital gains taxes are levied on nominal gains rather than inflation-adjusted (real) growth, meaning investors can owe extra taxes on phantom gains that have pushed their value over $1 million.
Top Income Tax Rate Hike that would Hit Michigan's Main Street Employers
Many Michigan small and mid-sized businesses file their taxes on the owner's individual tax form.
El-Sayed said: "I support raising the marginal tax rate on earnings over $1 million." Key employers on Main Street often meet or exceed this threshold and would be subject to a job-killing tax hike.
This tax increase would hit key Michigan employers, the small to mid-sized businesses that provide jobs in every town in the state.
Recently ninety groups representing American builders, machinists, manufacturers, farmers, retailers, and contractors sent a letter to congress to oppose any effort to increase the top tax rate:
"Pass-throughs comprise over 95 percent of all businesses and employ 62 percent of the nation's workforce. Most pass-through business income is taxed at the top rates, so raising these rates would harm Main Street businesses engaged in just about every aspect of the economy. They are responsible for employing millions of Americans, driving investment, and supporting local economies nationwide."
El-Sayed's tax hike would be devastating to Michigan workers.
Federal Property Tax
El-Sayed also wants to impose a federal property tax on everything you own. He calls it a "billionaires tax" but as the history of taxation shows us, once a tax is in place on "the rich" it is gradually ratcheted down until it hits everyone.
This El-Sayed tax hike would hurt America's competitiveness vs. China and other nations. Wealth taxes are so destructive that even most European countries that imposed the tax eventually repealed it.
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Original text here: https://atr.org/el-sayeds-vow-to-uncap-the-payroll-tax-would-impose-a-57-tax-rate-on-michigan-small-and-midsized-businesses-and-the-self-employed/
[Category: Political]
