A short while ago, the Senate passed its version of a sweeping, once in a generation tax reform bill.
This is a great step closer to achieving major tax reform for the first time in decades.
Senate Republicans demonstrated they have an ability to govern and deliver on long-standing campaign promises. This bill will provide relief to small business, help Americans keep more of their hard-earned dollars, and spur additional economic growth.
Conservatives achieved some huge victories in this tax proposal:
These were only accomplished because conservatives like you.
But this is not the end -- Heritage Action will continue to work with lawmakers to make sure President Trump can sign a bill into law that spurs economic growth, increases wages for American workers, and creates jobs.
Now, the House and Senate must pass the same exact text. But thanks to your pressure, we are firmly on track to enact this sweeping tax reform plan by Christmas.
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Sen. Lee Statement on Passage of Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
WASHINGTON – Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Saturday after the United States Senate passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
“Utah families are the big winners tonight thanks to the doubling of the child tax credit to $2,000,” Sen. Lee said. “I wish we could have done more for working families by making that credit refundable, but we did lay the groundwork for future pro-family tax reform and I am confident we will get there someday.”
========An online version of this release can be found here.
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HARDROCK MINING ASSOCIATION APPLAUDS
EPA in CERCLA RULE MAKING
EPA Final Rule Recognizes the Success of Existing Federal & State Programs
Today, the American Exploration & Mining Association (AEMA) responded to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final CERLCA 108(b) rule for hardrock mining.
Today’s final decision no additional financial assurance is required was preceded by years of analysis and public input, including a Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) Panel where AEMA served as a Small Entity Representative (SER).
“AEMA is pleased that EPA, under Administrator Pruitt, undertook a legitimate, science and fact based analysis. EPA has finally recognized that the robust financial assurance system in place works.” said Laura Skaer, AEMA Executive Director. “No mine approved by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the United States Forest Service (USFS) since 1990 has been placed on the Superfund list. This undeniable fact, along with robust financial assurance requirements, stringent regulatory requirements and the industry’s commitment to the highest environmental standards is what made today’s decision the right one.”
The BLM, USFS and individual states currently hold more than $5 billion dollars in financial assurance, covering the vast majority of what EPA originally proposed to cover in the duplicative rule. The Western Governors Association and Interstate Mining Compact Commission both issued strong objections to the rule.
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California Court Rejects Attempt to Throw Out Judicial Watch Taxpayer Lawsuit Against San Francisco’s Illegal Immigrant Sanctuary Policies
Lawsuit Challenges San Francisco Sheriff’s Restrictions on Deputies’ Communication with ICE About Inmate’s Immigration Status and Release Dates
San Francisco Sanctuary Policy Protected Illegal Alien Jose Ines Garcia Zarate
Found Not Guilty of Killing Kate Steinle
(Washington, DC) – Judicial Watch today announced that the Superior Court of California, San Francisco County overruled San Francisco Sheriff Vicky Hennessy’s move to end a Judicial Watch taxpayer lawsuit challenging the Sheriff’s sanctuary policy. The lawsuit challenges restrictions on the ability of sheriff’s deputies to communicate freely with Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) about inmates’ citizenship, immigration status, and release dates (Cynthia Cerletti v. Vicki Hennessy, Sheriff (No. CGC-16-556164)).
The November 21, 2017 ruling came in a December 2016 lawsuit brought by Judicial Watch on behalf of California taxpayer Cynthia Cerletti. The lawsuit alleges Sheriff Hennessy’s restrictions on communications with ICE conflict with federal immigration law and are therefore invalid.
San Francisco’s sanctuary policy received national attention on July 1, 2015, when Kathryn Steinle was gunned down at one the city’s most popular tourist spots, allegedly by Jose Ines Garcia Zarate (formerly known as Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez), an illegal alien who had been released from the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department despite a request from ICE that he be detained for possible deportation. On Thursday, November 30, a San Francisco jury acquitted Zarate of murder.
In its court filing opposing Sheriff Hennessy’s effort to dismiss Ms. Cerletti’s lawsuit, Judicial Watch argued:
Sheriff Hennessy’s refusal to share basic information about the release of deportable criminal aliens in her custody – the date, time, and place of their scheduled release – plainly frustrates Congress’ clear purpose in enacting section 1226(c). By refusing to share release information, Sheriff Hennessy allows deportable criminal aliens in her custody – aliens Congress plainly intended to be detained upon release from the custody of [law enforcement agencies] such as SFSD – to escape federal immigration officials’ grasp. Her restrictions enable aliens who have committed aggravated felonies or other crimes deemed sufficiently serious by Congress to warrant detaining them and denying them bond or conditional parole to remain at large pending removal. Not only might such persons pose a further danger to the community – which was one of Congress’ main concerns – but federal immigration officials must spend additional time and resources and assume unnecessary risk to themselves, the aliens, and others locating and apprehending them.
In rejecting the attempt to end the lawsuit, presiding Superior Court Judge Harold Kahn wrote there is “sufficient support at this stage of the case for Ms. Cerletti’s allegation that the Sheriff’s policy prohibiting or restricting release information about suspected priority aliens stands as an obstacle to the accomplishment of Congress’ asserted purpose of enabling federal immigration officials to gain access to inmates who may have violated federal immigration laws.” The lawsuit may now proceed to discovery.
“As Kate Steinle’s death tragically demonstrates, San Francisco’s sanctuary policy is dangerous and illegal,” stated Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton. “We hope our taxpayer lawsuit can end San Francisco’s unlawful sanctuary policy before more lives are needlessly lost.”
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The Utah Women & Leadership Project (UWLP) has a number of women and leadership announcements this month:
First, the third Utah Women’s Leadership Speaker & Dialogue Series event for this academic year is scheduled for January 30, 2018 (6:30-8:30pm) at Utah Valley University. It is an “Impact Evening for Utah Girls & Women: Mindfulness, Negative Interactions, & Leadership.” The keynote will be given by Justice Christine Durham (former Chief Justice, Utah Supreme Court), and then attendees will choose from one of three workshops:
The event is designed for women (12 years and older), and influencers (including men) are welcome to join us too! RSVP Online Now. More details are on the Utah Women & Leadership Project homepage. We plan to live stream/Facebook live the sessions.
Second, we have a new Impact Recommendation report (in partnership with YWCA Utah) that focuses on the overall goal of developing strategies to strengthen women’s impact in Utah. This latest report is titled “Unpaid Care Work.” We thank the experts/researchers who gathered together to discuss this issue. Also, if you haven’t been to the Better Days 2020 website for a while, check out the resources that this nonprofit is creating at https://www.betterdays2020.com/projects/.
Third, Real Women Run’s Winter Training is coming up soon. It is a full-day training featuring workshops for everyone: current candidates, future candidates looking for information on where to start, and women who want to get more involved in public service. It will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2018, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at Salt Lake Community College, Miller Campus, in Sandy. The general registration is $35, while the student registration is $15. You can register online here. Also, the League of Women Voters and Utah AAUW is hosting their “Annual Legislative Forum” on January 6, 2018 (9:30-11:30am) at the Girl Scouts of Utah building (see flyer for details). See other partner and collaborator events on our community calendar.
Fourth, if you missed one of our events that you wanted to attend, remember that we have captured most of them on video (partnership with the Utah Education Network). See this page to watch videos from the last few years. If you scroll down to the bottom of this page, you’ll see we are tracking videos on girls and women from many places. Let us know if we have missed one that you think should be there. Also, if you are looking for a women’s association/group in Utah to join, you can see many options here.
Finally, we recently received a research grant from the Central Utah Chapter of SCORE (a national organization supporting small businesses) to collect data on women in business leadership in the state. If you know of an organization looking to be involved in sponsoring any of our UWLP events or research activities, please contact Robbyn Scribner at rscribner@uvu.edu. We couldn’t accomplish the important work we do here without the generous financial support of our amazing donors and partners.
