Press release issued 12.3.20
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement in response to reports that the Trump administration will seek to sell oil drilling rights in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in an auction on January 6, before President-elect Biden is sworn into office:
“Six decades after President Eisenhower enacted permanent protections for the irreplaceable Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, President Trump is announcing he will sell the rights to drill and destroy this fragile million year-old ecosystem. This lame-duck Interior Department attack on our environment ignores the fact that major oil companies are not interested in spending billions for the chance at extracting expensive Arctic oil a decade from now. Every major U.S. bank has vowed to not finance Arctic Refuge development. And the incoming administration has promised to permanently protect the Arctic Refuge for future generations. Hopefully the courts will overturn this reckless lease sale based on the Interior Department’s purposeful suppression of science and procedural shortcuts.”
AG FERGUSON INTENDS TO FILE LAWSUIT AGAINST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO PREVENT IMMINENT SALE OF NATIONAL ARCHIVES BUILDING IN SEATTLE.
Press release issued 12. 4. 20
SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that his office recently uncovered a dramatic change in the timeline for the proposed sale of the National Archives building in Seattle buried in a 74-page meeting minutes document from October. In it, the Public Buildings Reform Board (PBRB) disclosed that it would move to immediately sell the National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) building in Seattle, along with a “portfolio” of other federal properties, in early 2021. It had planned on selling the properties individually over the next year.
PBRB officials claimed COVID-19’s effects on the commercial real estate market justified the expedited, bundled sale.
An assistant attorney general recently discovered the plan listed simply as an “update” on the PBRB website. No officials from PBRB, the General Services Administration (GSA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) or the U.S. Department of Justice notified the Attorney General’s Office about the October decision.
Ferguson intends to file a lawsuit against the Trump Administration to stop it from proceeding with an expedited sale of the National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) building in Seattle.
“The federal government is well aware of the intense public interest in the National Archives building,” Ferguson said. “Despite that, they chose to bury a dramatic change in the timeline for the sale. This is consistent with the utter lack of transparency demonstrated by the federal government since the start of this process. This is not how government should work.”
In light of the expedited sale schedule, Ferguson will also ask the court handling his Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits against these agencies to expedite Washington’s motion for summary judgment, currently set for consideration in April 2021. The federal government has asked the court for permission to delay its response to Washington’s lawsuit until March — by which time it will have sold the building, according to the newly uncovered plans.
To date, the office has received only one heavily redacted document from OMB — which noted “red flag objections” to the sale of some of the facilities, including the Seattle Archives facility, but did not provide the attachment listing these objections — and 440 pages of documents from GSA. Neither NARA nor PBRB have produced any documents.
Ferguson will assert in the lawsuit that federal agencies have violated the Federal Assets Sale and Transfer Act and the Administrative Procedure Act when they added the Seattle National Archives building to other properties for sale. Among other defects, GSA and OMB failed to establish the standards and criteria required by federal law to review PBRB’s recommended property sales. The failure to develop these standards and criteria led to the National Archives building in Seattle being improperly included in the set of what PBRB terms “underutilized” federal properties for sale.
Decision to sell the Seattle National Archives building
Last year, the PBRB identified a dozen federal properties around the U.S. as “High Value Assets” and recommended their sale in a manner that will “obtain the highest and best value for the taxpayer” and accomplish the goal of “facilitating and expediting the sale or disposal of unneeded Federal civilian real properties.” Among those properties — many of which involved abandoned or unused warehouses or buildings — was the National Archives building in Seattle, a building housing critical historical documents of the Pacific Northwest, including extensive tribal records. No local, state or tribal officials were consulted in its initial selection.
In January, OMB approved a recommendation from the PBRB to sell the building on Sand Point Way in Seattle. The board’s recommendation included removing the contents of the Seattle archives and relocating them to facilities in Kansas City, Mo., and Riverside, Calif.
The Seattle archives contain many records essential to memorializing Washington’s history, including tens of thousands of records related to the Chinese Exclusion Act, records of the internment of Japanese Americans, and tribal and treaty records of federally recognized tribes throughout the Northwest. Researchers, historians, genealogists and students routinely use these records.
Washington’s tribal leaders, historians and members have noted the federal government has excluded them from most discussions on selling the building and moving documents — many of which are the only tribal treaties or maps in existence — more than a thousand miles away. Notably, tribal officials were never consulted regarding the proposed sale notwithstanding Executive Order 13175’s requirement for tribal consultation.
The FOIA lawsuits against four federal agencies
Ferguson’s FOIA lawsuits seek public records related to the sale decision requested more than nine months ago under FOIA related to the decision. Since filing the lawsuits, the Attorney General’s Office received only one requested document from OMB related to the sale, which was redacted and did not include what appeared to be key attachments and an initial production from GSA.
Under FOIA, agencies generally have 20 business days to respond after receiving a document request. Ferguson’s office has already won multiple FOIA lawsuits against the federal government on issues unrelated to the National Archives. PBRB responded in July — nearly six months after Ferguson’s original request — demanding that taxpayers pay more than $65,000 to redact the records Ferguson requested. The documents involve property decisions, and are not related to national security or any other sensitive governmental information.
Assistant Attorneys General Nathan Bays and Lauryn Fraas are handling the cases for Washington.
Lawsuits against the Trump Administration
Ferguson has filed 83 lawsuits against the Trump Administration. Forty-four of these cases are awaiting a judicial ruling. Ferguson has 37 legal victories against the Trump Administration. Twenty-two of these cases are finished and cannot be appealed. There have been two adverse decisions on the merits, both currently on appeal.
More state news headlines:
Initial unemployment insurance claims for week of November 22 - 28, 2020.
All initial unemployment claims decreased during the week of November 22 - 28
OLYMPIA – During the week of November 22-28, there were 22,334 initial regular unemployment claims (down 26.2 percent from the prior week) and 459,681 total claims for all unemployment benefit categories (down 1.1 percent from the prior week) filed by Washingtonians, according to the Employment Security Department (ESD).
https://esd.wa.gov/newsroom/initial-unemployment-insurance-claims-for-week-of-november-22-28-2020
December razor clam digs cancelled due to marine toxins.
OLYMPIA--Washington's ocean beaches will remain closed to razor clam harvest through December 31 after test results on ocean beaches indicate levels of domoic acid that exceed the threshold set by state public health officials for safe consumption.
https://wdfw.wa.gov/news/december-razor-clam-digs-cancelled-due-marine-toxins
Washington state adopting CDC’s new quarantine guidelines.
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health is adopting the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines to reduce quarantine for people who have been exposed to COVID-19. Although both the Washington State Department of Health and CDC currently recommend a quarantine period of 14 days, there are circumstances that allow for a shortened quarantine.
COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan update from the Washington State Department of Health
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) continues to make progress with our COVID-19 vaccine distribution planning efforts.
_________________In Other headlines_____________
WORLD NEWS HEADLINES:
UN working at ‘full speed’ to prepare for humanitarian mission to Ethiopia’s Tigray.
The UN’s humanitarian coordination office, said on Friday that it was doing its utmost to secure aid access to Ethiopia’s Tigray region, after a deal was struck to reach displaced civilians, following weeks of fighting between federal and regional forces.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1079262
COVID-19: Right decisions now will secure a life of dignity for all.
Critical decisions made now to address the COVID-19 pandemic will lead to a life of dignity for all people, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said on Friday, addressing the second and final day of the General Assembly’s special session devoted to the crisis.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1079292
UN pledges humanitarian support as Armenia and Azerbaijan negotiate ‘lasting, peaceful settlement’ over Nagorno-Karabakh
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the continuing ceasefire in and around Nagorno-Karabakh on Friday, underlining that the Organization stands ready to provide humanitarian support to meet the needs of all civilians impacted by conflict.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1079302
Vanuatu graduates from list of least developed countries
The Pacific island nation of Vanuatu has graduated from the official list of Least Developed Countries (LDC), becoming the sixth country to achieve the milestone since the development categorization was created in 1971.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2020/12/1079252
NATIONAL HEADLINES:
Remarks by Vice President Pence in a Roundtable Discussion on Vaccine Distribution | Atlanta, GA--WH
Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division Adam Hickey Delivers Remarks at the ACI 2nd National Forum on FARA
FHA ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE FAMILY LOAN LIMITS FOR 2021
WASHINGTON - The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today announced the agency's new schedule of loan limits for calendar year 2021 for its Single Family Title II forward and Home Equity Conversion (reverse) Mortgage insurance programs. Loan limits for most of the country will increase in the coming year resulting from robust house price appreciation, which is factored into the statutorily mandated calculations FHA uses as part of its methodology for determining the limits each year. The new loan limits are effective for FHA case numbers assigned on or after January 1, 2021.
https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_20_201
HHS Announces False Claims Act Working Group to Enhance Efforts to Combat Fraud and Focus Resources on Bad Actors---HHS
BUSINESS & FINANCE HEADLINES:
Federal Reserve Board announces results from second round of bank stress tests will be released Friday, December 18, at 4:30 p.m. EST
https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/bcreg20201204a.htm
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR’S OSHA ANNOUNCES $3,403,139 IN CORONAVIRUS VIOLATIONS
WASHINGTON, DC – Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic through Nov. 26, 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued citations arising from 255 inspections for violations relating to coronavirus, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $3,403,139.
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20201204
STATEMENT BY U.S. SECRETARY OF LABOR EUGENE SCALIA ON THE NOVEMBER JOBS REPORT
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia issued the following statement regarding the November 2020 Employment Situation Report:
“The economy continued to add jobs in November, with a 344,000 increase in private sector payrolls and labor demand continuing to grow in most sectors. However, jobs were lost in retail and food and beverage establishments in November, and a number of workers pulled away from the labor force amid rising coronavirus cases. We know from State-by-State data released two weeks ago that the employment situation varies significantly by State: in October, half the States were at 6% unemployment or lower, but two of the largest states—California and New York—were substantially above 9% that month. At 6.7%, the unemployment rate is lower than it was for the first five years of the last Administration following the Great Recession.”
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osec/osec20201204
MORE CONTINUING COVERAGE OF THE ELECTION FRAUD CASE:
Georgia Governor Calls For 'Signature Audit' After Ballot-Counting Video Presented at Hearing..PJ MEDIA
Trump Campaign Files Lawsuit in Georgia to Overturn Result--NEWS MAX
https://www.newsmax.com/politics/trump-lawsuit-georgia-overturned/2020/12/04/id/1000086/
GA surveillance footage gives Trump legal team rare traction in fraud quest
The video, taken from inside the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, purports to show ballot counters removing four concealed boxes of ballots from under a table after election supervisors supposedly had left the facility for the night.--Washington Examiner
Trump Pushes Through Media's Attempt To Pit Him Against Barr, Refuses To Back Down from Election Fight--Western Journal
https://www.westernjournal.com/trump-pushes-medias-attempt-pit-barr-refuses-back-election-fight/
TODAY'S VIDEO
12/3: Georgia Election Hearing
LIVE: Trump Legal Team Presents Case to Georgia Senate Committe--Alpha News
https://www.facebook.com/AlphaNewsMN/videos/1171399163279422
John 8:12 (New King James Version)
Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
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