Latest news with #StateoftheState
Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Ohio Plans To Spend $600 Million of Funds Residents Haven't Claimed
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The state of Ohio will spend $600 million of funds residents haven't claimed for a sports stadium, per a newly signed budget measure. Governor Mike DeWine signed the state budget on Monday night. Among other measures, the budget approved a $600 million grant to move the Cleveland Browns to a new Brook Park stadium, with the money to come from the state's pot of unclaimed funds. Why It Matters Unclaimed funds is money that has remained in inactive checking and savings accounts. It could be uncashed checks, paychecks, deposits, bonds and more that residents have lost or forgotten. There is roughly $5 billion in unclaimed funds in Ohio and business and banks report them to the Ohio Department of Commerce's Division of Unclaimed Funds, triggering the state to try to return them to their owners. There were 43,000 claims for unclaimed funds in Ohio in 2023, resulting in more than $139 million being returned to residents. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine gives the State of the State address in the House chambers at the Ohio Statehouse on March 12, 2025, in Columbus. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine gives the State of the State address in the House chambers at the Ohio Statehouse on March 12, 2025, in Columbus. Samantha Madar/The Columbus Dispatch via AP, Pool What To Know The budget gives Ohio control of $1.7 billion in unclaimed funds, including abandoned paychecks and security deposits that have remained in inactive accounts for more than 10 years. As well as the $600 million to be used for the Browns, $400 million will be used for other stadium projects. What the remaining $700 million will be used for has not been specified. How To Claim Your Unclaimed Funds Ohio residents can check the website to see if they have any unclaimed funds and to submit a claim. They can also use an Ohio Department of Commerce portal. There also are ads in local newspapers providing information about how to claim unclaimed funds. Claims can take up to 120 days before they are reviewed. What People Are Saying David Niven, American politics professor at the University of Cincinnati, told Newsweek: "Republicans in the Ohio Legislature wanted to hand the Browns more than half a billion dollars for a new stadium, but did not want to be accused of giving away tax money. They came up with the gimmick of raiding unclaimed funds. This is budgetary sleight of hand. Ultimately this money needs to be paid back and the net effect for taxpayers is the same as spending from any other taxpayer source. "Ohio courts are tremendously deferential to the Legislature. A county common pleas court could potentially object, but the state Supreme Court [6 Republicans, one Democrat] will ultimately rubber-stamp any decision the Legislature makes. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, in a June letter: "The statutory taking of public funds without clear public benefit is poor policy. "I remain concerned that many Ohioans—some still unaware they are entitled to their monies—will lose out due to this change." Ohio Governor Mike DeWine told reporters: "To me, the biggest objectives were no taxpayers' dollars used for this, in the sense of nothing coming out of general fund—nothing competing against education, and it couldn't just be about the Browns, it had to be universal." What Happens Next Two former Ohio Democratic lawmakers—former Attorney General Marc Dann and former state Representative Jeff Crossman—have indicated they will file a class-action lawsuit against the measure.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Lawmakers advance bill to allow digital driver's licenses in New Jersey
Supporters say digital driver's licenses are better than physical IDs, which can be lost, stolen, broken or damaged, outdated, and easily replicated for counterfeiting. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) Digital driver's licenses are one step closer to being filed in New Jerseyans' virtual wallets under a bill the Legislature advanced Monday with overwhelming approval. The proposal is one Gov. Phil Murphy unveiled during his final State of the State address in January. At the time, he called it 'common sense' and said it would 'make life easier for people we serve.' But the bill — which now sits on the governor's desk awaiting his signature — wouldn't take effect for more than three years. It's also likely the state would have to apply for a waiver for mobile versions under Real ID requirements, which began in May. The state Motor Vehicle Commission would be able to charge a 'reasonable' fee for issuing mobile driver's licenses or non-driver identification cards. Thirteen states already offer mobile driver's licenses, including Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Ohio, and neighboring states like New York and Delaware. Some states' mobile licenses can be used at certain airports and federal agencies, according to the Transportation Security Administration. The bill also states that if someone hands off their phone to show their ID, that doesn't constitute consent to search their phone or access information that isn't on their identification card. It also requires the commission to equip the digital IDs with certain features to ensure 'security and integrity' of the documentation to protect people's personal information. The American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators called mobile driver's licenses the 'future of licensing and proof of identity.' They're a significant improvement over physical IDs, which can be lost, stolen, broken or damaged, outdated, and easily replicated for counterfeiting, the organization said. A spokesman for the Motor Vehicle Commission did not respond to a request for comment. The bill passed the Assembly with a vote of 75-3, with two abstentions. In the Senate, it passed 31-6. The no votes were all Republicans. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Toronto Star
a day ago
- Politics
- Toronto Star
Wisconsin budget deal cuts taxes and boosts university funding
FILE - Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers gives the annual State of the State address, Jan. 22, 2025, at the state Capitol in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Morry Gash, File) MG flag wire: true flag sponsored: false article_type: : sWebsitePrimaryPublication : publications/toronto_star bHasMigratedAvatar : false :
Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore's outreach to young men draws praise
BALTIMORE - Young men drifted away from the Democratic Party in the 2024 election, but some party leaders see Maryland Gov. Wes Moore as a model for how to bring them back. Moore, 46, an Army veteran and first-term governor, has asked his administration to find ways to better support young men and boys - groups he says are falling behind in education, economic mobility and mental health. "For him, it's not a show," said Young Democrats of America President Quentin Wathum-Ocama. He's "articulating a vision that shows young men … here's an opportunity for you to be a strong man, to be somebody who cares about their family, but also cares about community." Moore said Democrats need to stop treating young men as a voting bloc to recapture, and start treating them as people who need help. He cites his administration's focus on reducing incarceration and economic insecurity as part of that focus. "Once you're losing people in elections, that's not because you just started losing them," Moore said in an interview with The Baltimore Sun. "It's because you lost them a long time ago." Nationally, Democrats have begun exploring similar outreach. California Gov. Gavin Newsom launched a podcast, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox created a task force focused on the well-being of boys and men, and New York Democrats appear to have nominated 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor, who ran a heavily social-media-based campaign. Multiple political analysts and Democratic leaders told The Sun that Moore's approach comes across as authentic, with policy ideas to back him up. But Republicans in Maryland question whether Moore's rhetoric has translated into measurable results. Democrats losing ground with young men Support for Democrats among young men fell sharply in 2024. Just 42% of men aged 18 to 29 voted Democratic, down from 56% in 2020, according to a Tufts University CIRCLE analysis. Political researcher John Della Volpe, who co-founded the "Speaking with American Men Project," says many young men see Democrats as weak and out of touch. He attributes Donald Trump's gains among this group more to personality than policy. Young men largely feel betrayed by institutions, Della Volpe said. That feeling started during the pandemic and has been coupled with economic anxiety. "It is deeply frustrating that so many young men still feel the same thing to this day," Moore said. A new model? In his February State of the State address, Moore highlighted rising incarceration and suicide rates among young men, along with declining college enrollment and workforce participation. He asked state agencies to propose targeted solutions - such as promoting entrepreneurship, homeownership and job reintegration after prison. These efforts build on earlier initiatives like mentorship programs, funding for county summer programs, a paid service year for high school graduates and mass pardons for low-level cannabis offenses. "It's not an election strategy for us," Moore said. "It's something we believe in." Sen. Cory McCray, a Baltimore Democrat, praised Moore's job training efforts as a way to give young men "exposure and access" to role models and tools for success. But Republicans remain skeptical. "A lot of things … with this administration, sounded real good," said Senate Minority Whip Justin Ready. But he said he hasn't seen "a lot of action" or concrete results. Ready said many of the policies Moore touts don't specifically target young men. Senate Minority Leader Steve Hershey added that Moore's "priorities seem to shift with political headlines," and said Marylanders deserve consistent, comprehensive leadership. Moore also faced pushback from Democrats who have not been universally supportive of some of the governor's recent actions, including policies they say could impact young men in the state. The governor recently vetoed a bill that would have created a commission to study reparations for descendants of enslaved people. Moore said he wanted policies that deliver results - not "another study." Is it working? Moore has positioned himself as a results-oriented leader, often distancing himself from what he calls "needless debate," which has helped people see him as a doer and addresses a common desire among younger people to change the status quo, Washington College associate professor Flavio Hickel said. In a speech in South Carolina this year, Moore called on his party to stop being the party of "no and slow." About 53% of 18- to 34-year-olds and 53% of men in Maryland approve of the job he's doing, according to a March Gonzales Poll, the most recent one available. Moore's life story - which he describes as growing up in an over-policed neighborhood, serving in the military, leading an anti-poverty organization and becoming Maryland's first Black governor - has also become part of his messaging pitch to young men. "We hold him up as an icon of what can be done, showing these young men that there is a place in our coalition for them," said Ilyse Hogue, co-founder of the American Men Project. A party leader in a traditional early primary state agrees. "He worked very hard for everything that he got," said New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Raymond Buckley. "I think that connects with a lot of young folks that are going through some pretty anxious times." 2028 and beyond Although Moore told The Sun he is not running for president in 2028, he's held meetings with former Biden and Obama campaign advisers in South Carolina - a key primary state - and his name has appeared in early polls of potential Democratic contenders. Nationally, Democrats are testing new approaches to reach young men online. The party recently launched a podcast and has eased its social media tone. But Wathum-Ocama, the Young Democrats of America president, said Democrats need more than a "magic bullet." He described a party that needs authenticity. Ruben Amaya, president of the Young Democrats of Maryland and the third vice chair of the state party, said including young people in party messaging is critical. At age 21, Moore nominated him for state party leadership. Amaya, who's now 24, took the nomination as a symbol that Moore values young voices. "Our jobs are not to be pundits," Moore said about fellow politicians. "Your job is to actually care about the work, your job is to actually care about the people that you're hoping to serve." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gilchrist joins Democratic lieutenant governors denouncing use of National Guard and Marines in LA
Lt. Garlin Gilchrist at the State of the State speech, Jan. 24, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, a candidate to try and become Michigan's next governor, has joined with 20 other Democratic lieutenant governors in condemning President Donald Trump's move to deploy the California National Guard and United States Marines against protestors speaking out against immigration raids in Los Angeles. As of Wednesday, 4,100 California National Guardsmen and 700 U.S. Marines were present in the greater Los Angeles area, ABC reports, with orders to defend federal buildings and law enforcement. About 500 of the National Guard troops deployed to the city have been trained to accompany agents on immigration raids, the Associated Press reports. Since Saturday, the Los Angeles Police Department has made nearly 400 arrests and detentions, with the vast majority stemming from protestors refusing to disperse at law enforcement's request. Two men have been charged with possessing molotov cocktails while the Los Angeles district attorney announced charges against more than a dozen people Wednesday for crimes including assaulting peace officers, grand theft and vandalism. In a statement, members of the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association said they were 'deeply disturbed by the chaos unfolding in Los Angeles caused by President Trump's reckless abuse of power.' They accused the President of using communities as a political battleground for retribution and to project force and fear. 'Deploying federal troops and threatening military action in our neighborhoods is not only unconstitutional, it's profoundly dangerous,' they said. With California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis opposing the president's decision to deploy the National Guard and U.S. Marines within the city, the Association offered its solidarity with their fellow Democratic executives. 'The streets of Los Angeles – or any of our communities – should not be a stage for Trump's political posturing. We stand united against this manufactured crisis, and we will defend the rights to peaceful protest and organize, without federal interference or intimidation,' they said. On Sunday, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and 21 other Democratic Governors issued a statement condemning the president's action as an overreach of his authority. Newsom filed a suit on Monday, arguing the federal government had overstepped, bypassing his approval as the commander-in-chief of the California National Guard in a situation where federal intervention was not needed. A hearing is set for Thursday afternoon. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
