Michigan’s ‘corporate giveaways’ machine faces shutdown under new bills
Sen. Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, introduced a legislative plan to eliminate the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, an agency intended to create jobs but one that has left a trail of failed job creation plans.
The 53-bill package would rein kill several programs in the state’s corporate welfare system.
Some of the MEDC’s functions would be shifted to a newly created Bureau of Fair Competition and Free Enterprise, which would include an independent compliance officer to help monitor how the state spends taxpayer money on economic development efforts. Click here to read more.
Illinois punishes independents, meaning just 1 got on 2024 ballot
It’s hard running for public office in Illinois, but it is much harder if you’re not running as either a Democrat or Republican: that’s by design.
An analysis of the 2024 elections showed only one independent made it onto the ballot out of 155 races for U.S. House, Illinois Senate or Illinois House.
Running as an independent means collecting a lot more signatures to get on the ballot. It also means limits on campaign cash.
Independent candidates who ran for state or federal office in Illinois’ 2024 election cycle were required to collect between 1,256 and 11,503 more petition signatures on average than Democrats or Republicans to get on the ballot. Click here to read more.
Trump Pardons Dozens of MAGA Allies Accused of Attempting to Overturn 2020 Election
President Donald Trump has pardoned dozens of allies who were accused of attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Pardons apply to former Trump lawyer and New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, former chief of staff Mark Meadows, and Trump ally Sidney Powell.
U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin announced Sunday night that Trump signed a proclamation granting pardons “to all United States citizens for conduct relating to the advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting, activities, participation in, or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of Presidential electors, whether or not recognized by any State or State official, in connection with the 2020 Presidential Election, as well for any conduct relating to their efforts to expose voting fraud and vulnerabilities in the 2020 Presidential Election.” Click here to read more.
California restaurants choke on new allergen menu mandate amid compliance concerns and costs
California’s restaurants are used to choking down the unpalatable. They’ve endured prolonged pandemic shutdowns, skyrocketing food costs and the slow exodus of customers fleeing high prices and higher taxes.
Now, Sacramento has cooked up another ingredient for entrepreneurial misery: a law that will make California the first state in the nation to require restaurants to list major food allergens on their menus.
The new law requires restaurants to indicate on their menu whether each dish contains any of nine major allergens — milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy or sesame. After small businesses protested, the bill was amended so that it only applies to businesses with at least 20 locations. Click here to read more.
Fueling The U.S. Economy Through The EB-5 Investor Immigrant Program
The EB-5 investor immigrant program is fuelling the U.S. economy. Its purpose is straightforward—and its impact is significant. A foreign investor invests $800,000 into a Targeted Employment Area (TEA)—which includes rural communities, high-unemployment areas, or infrastructure projects—or $1,050,000 in other locations. If this investment results in or maintains at least 10 full-time U.S. jobs, the investor (along with their spouse and unmarried children under 21) qualifies for conditional permanent residency, which can change to permanent status after two years.. Click here to read more.
