http://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/kilmer-statement-on-president-trumps-decision-to-cancel-federal-pay-raises
TACOMA, Wash.—According to CNN, President Donald Trump announced he is canceling a planned 2.1 percent pay increase for civilian federal workers. Representative Derek Kilmer represents Washington’s 6th Congressional District, where the federal government is the largest employer, made the following statement:
“I disagree with the notion that the main problem with government is the people working in government. That’s wrong — and it disrespects the important work done throughout our country by federal workers.
The President's choice today takes money out of the pockets of tens of thousands of people in our region. It robs the folks at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard working hard so the U.S. Navy can defend us. It rips off the people managing the submarines homeported up the road at Subbase Bangor, the park rangers guiding millions of visitors through Olympic National Park this holiday weekend, the nurses and doctors at the VA medical centers serving the large group of veterans who live in our region, and the Forest Service workers who literally grow local jobs by prepping timber harvests in our federal forests.
I will fight back as hard as I can against this decision which is bad for our economy and terrible for the people who serve our country.”
Earlier this year, Kilmer wrote an op-ed in support of federal workers in The Stand.
According to CNN, the president cited the nation’s fiscal sustainability as his rationale. The move comes a just months after he signed a tax bill that, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, gives the largest benefits to the highest income households and raises the federal debt by $7.2 trillion in this decade and by $20.9 trillion by 2036.
Senate Unanimously Passes Kilmer’s Hate Crimes Bill
Kilmer-drafted legislation in response to Mercer Island bomb threat one step closer to becoming law.Press release issued 9/ 4/ 18
http://kilmer.house.gov/news/press-releases/senate-unanimously-passes-kilmers-hate-crimes-bill-
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, the United States Senate passed The Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act. Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) co-wrote the bill and helped an earlier version of it pass in the House after a string of bomb threats were made nationwide against religious institutions, including one at the Stroum Jewish Community Center in Mercer Island, Washington last year. Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced the bill in the Senate. Kilmer co-introduced the House bill with Rep. David Kustoff (R-TN).
“Americans should be able to practice their faith and gather as a community without the fear of being targeted because of their beliefs,” Kilmer said. “With the Senate’s action today, Congress is one step closer to classifying threats against religious community centers as a federal hate crime.”
The bill amends the Church Arson Prevention Act (18 U.S.C. § 247) to ensure that anyone who threatens violence against a religious community center because of the center’s religious affiliation can be prosecuted for committing a hate crime. It also creates a criminal penalty of a fine or a prison term of up to 5 years—or both—for people found guilty of such threats.
An earlier version of the bill passed in the House in December 2017. The Senate made some minor changes to the bill and then passed it unanimously today. The Senate version of the bill will come back to the House for another vote before heading to the president’s desk.
Kilmer authored the bill with input from community members who observed that while committing an act of violence against a religious community center was classified as a hate crime, the act of calling in a threat against them was not. He wrote about the issue in an op-ed for The Seattle Times and for the Mercer Island Reporter.
Earlier this year The Seattle Times reported “hate fueled threats and violence are up slightly, according to the FBI. In 2016, the most recent data available, shows 6,121 reported incidents, up from 5,850 in 2015. In Washington state there were 387 incidents reported in 2016 and 275 in 2015.”
The Seattle Times also recently reported that that the Anti-Defamation League which tracks anti-Semitic incidents in the US has reported a 57 percent increase in them between the years 2016 and 2017.
🌏WORLD NEWS HEADLINES
(from the UN news center & other sources)
‘Legally binding’ nuclear-test ban essential to prevent ‘catastrophic impact’ says UN chief
On the annual observance of the International Day Against Nuclear Tests, Secretary-General António Guterres has highlighted the “inextricable connection” between testing and eliminating nuclear weapons across the world.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/09/1018541
UN condemns deadly twin bombings in Kabul, killing first-responders, sportsmen, journalists
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned an attack on a Kabul sports centre on Wednesday, which killed at least 22 people, including first-responders, sportsmen, and two journalists who were covering the initial bombing for a local news agency. Around 75 others were wounded.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/09/1018521
Major UN push for peace to end Yemen’s ‘hot war’ begins in Geneva
Efforts are under way to bring a “flickering signal of hope” to war-weary civilians in Yemen with UN-organised consultations between the Government and the Houthi opposition in Geneva set to begin, the UN’s Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, said on Wednesday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/09/1018432
Burundi: ‘They’re hiding the bodies’ after summary executions, say UN investigators
Serious rights violations are continuing in Burundi, including summary executions and hate speech at the highest level of government, UN-appointed investigators said on Wednesday.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/09/1018412
Peace must be built ‘block after block’ UN General Assembly President tells key forum.
Under the theme of charting “A Credible Pathway to Sustaining Peace,” Miroslav Lajčák, President of the 72nd General Assembly, convened this year’s one-day High-level Forum for Member States and others on Wednesday, to further promote a global culture of peace.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/09/1018491
PAGE 2
24 Democratic Senators, led by Senators Murray and Durbin, urge President Trump to meet the U.S.’s current refugee resettlement cap and significantly increase number of refugees allowed into the country
Press release issued 8/ 31/ 18
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ID=5FB29C16-190E-4B23-ACD0-BF68116934F3
Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) led 22 of their Democratic Senate colleagues in a letter to President Trump demanding that the Administration honor the United States’ legacy as a nation of immigrants and beacon of hope for families around the globe fleeing violence and persecution by increasing the cap on the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the U.S. and strengthening resources across the federal government to admit more refugees into the country.
Since President Trump took office, the United States has slashed the cap on the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the U.S. by more than half – from 110,000 in fiscal year 2017 to only 45,000 during fiscal year 2018, the lowest since the cap was established in 1980. Additionally, the Trump Administration has worked to slow the resettlement of refugees in the U.S. by limiting federal resources needed to process their admittance, including reducing the number of staff who conduct refugee interviews. Due to these efforts, the Trump Administration is on pace to admit approximately 21,000 refugees to the U.S. this fiscal year, the lowest number of refugees admitted to the U.S. since the refugee resettlement program was founded four decades ago. In their letter, the senators urged President Trump to ensure the U.S. admits refugees during the current fiscal year consistent with the current cap of 45,000, and significantly increase the ceiling on the total number of refugees allowed to resettle in the U.S. for fiscal year 2019.
“We encourage you, as someone who prides himself on his management acumen, to push all relevant federal agencies to expedite refugee processing to meet the 45,000 ceiling by October 1,” wrote the senators in their letter. “Since our nation’s founding, refugees have brought immense value, diversity, and perseverance to the American character. These characteristics have made our country stronger and more resilient…[w]hile we must continue to screen refugee applicants thoroughly, we must also conduct the vetting and interviews in a timelier manner and address the root causes of mass displacement abroad.”
In the letter, the senators also highlighted the importance of refugee resettlement to U.S. national security priorities: “National security experts agree on a bipartisan basis that a robust refugee program is vital for our national security, and we are deeply concerned that your actions to reduce refugee resettlement in the past two fiscal years has damaged our military, diplomatic, and intelligence interests abroad. The United States should not fear the world’s most vulnerable, nor should we scapegoat victims of terror and repression who seek refuge in the United States.”
At news conference, Senator Murray highlights efforts from Republican leaders to sabotage health care and undermine patient protections
Press release issued 9/ 5/ 18
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ID=E00F6FFB-76CE-44FF-9C65-08FA146FA1FE
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), top Democrat on the Senate health committee, highlighted Republicans’ continued efforts to undermine health care for millions of patients and families in Washington state and nationwide. During a news conference at the U.S. Capitol, Senator Murray cited Republicans’ frequent attempts to worsen families’ health care by legislation and sabotage, including by slashing investments that help families find coverage, expanding loopholes that allow insurers to offer junk plans, and refusing to defend pre-existing conditions in court. Senator Murray also pointed to the threat President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh poses to women’s health and protections for patients with pre-existing conditions if confirmed to the nation’s highest court.
🌎More world news headlines
UN PRESS RELEASE: Refugee Agency Will Soon Lose Ability to Carry Out Most Critical tasks, Director of Its New York Office Tells Palestinian Rights Committee
Observer for State of Palestine Urges Member States, Others to Urgently Make Clear Their Support for UNRWA’s Mandate.
https://www.un.org/press/en/2018/gapal1415.doc.htm
Secretary-General Welcomes Consensus on Possible Guiding Principles Relating to Use of Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems
The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:
The Secretary-General welcomes the recommendation by consensus of a set of possible guiding principles on emerging technologies in the area of lethal autonomous weapons systems by the Group of Governmental Experts within the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. He is also encouraged by the recommendation for the High Contracting Parties to continue the work of the Group in 2019. The Secretary-General hopes the High Contracting Parties can build upon this achievement. In this connection, he recalls his commitment, as articulated in his agenda for disarmament, to support the efforts of Member States to elaborate new measures to ensure that human remain at all times in control over the use of force.
https://www.un.org/press/en/2018/sgsm19189.doc.htm
From the US Mission to the UN:
Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on the United Nations Mission for Justice Support in Haiti.
https://usun.state.gov/remarks/8579
" The continued professionalization of the Haitian National Police demonstrates the progress made towards achieving the Mission’s exit strategy benchmarks and will make possible the on-schedule transition of tasks and responsibilities to the Government of Haiti, in coordination with the UN Country Team."
Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on the Situation in Libya
" Any attempt to weaken Libyan authorities and hamper the course of the UN-facilitated political process is totally unacceptable, as we reiterated with our partners from France, Italy, and the United Kingdom yesterday and this past weekend"
https://usun.state.gov/remarks/8580
US STATE DEPT: Secretary Pompeo Attends the U.S.-India "2+2" Ministerial Dialogue
Secretary Pompeo (Sept. 6): "Our two nations are united by shared values of democracy, respect for individual rights, and a shared commitment to freedom. Given those values, India and the United States have a natural starting point for advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific."
https://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2018/09/285728.htm
PAGE 3
In Senate HELP hearing, Senator Murray highlights impacts of President Trump’s trade war on workers in Washington state, across the country.
Press release issued on 9/ 5/ 18
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ID=44995B90-EA5C-47E3-94AE-F4877CB1E08B
(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), top Democrat on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, slammed President Trump’s reckless trade policies at a HELP Committee hearing on the impacts of the Trump Administration’s proposed tariffs on the auto industry. Senator Murray called for common-sense trade policies that level the playing field for American workers by lifting wages, improving working conditions, and increasing workers’ bargaining power.
During the hearing, Senator Murray also highlighted stories she heard from workers, entrepreneurs, and business leaders during her recent travels in Washington state, where she met with agricultural growers and producers in Ritzville and longshoremen at the Port of Vancouver to learn more about how they are navigating President Trump’s escalating trade disputes and the direct and downstream damage of President Trump’s tariffs on Washington state workers, families, and the state’s economy. During her visits, workers and community leaders shared with Senator Murray how President Trump’s reckless trade policies have caused uncertainty in their workplace and industry, leaving many people concerned about their communities and personal economic futures. A critic of the Trump Administration’s scattershot use of tariffs, in June Senator Murray sent a letter to President Trump to lay out what’s at stake for Washington state, and urged his administration to consider the state’s economic priorities as he and his team pursue additional trade enforcement actions.
Cantwell Questions TSA Administrator on Airport Security, Presses for New Technology Solutions.
Press release issued 9/ 5/ 18
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-questions-tsa-administrator-on-airport-security-presses-for-new-technology-solutions
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the wake of the theft of a plane from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport last month, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Commerce Aviation Operations, Safety, & Security Subcommittee, today questioned Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator David P. Pekoske in a Senate Commerce Committee hearing about efforts to update airport security measures.
“I definitely want to recognize the air traffic controllers and the military and the first responders who handled the situation so well,” Senator Cantwell said. “The incident, though, raises questions about our layers of security.”
In his response, Pekoske highlighted steps taken by the TSA to prevent immediate “copycat” incidents and pointed to several ongoing investigations that will provide information to help update long-term security measures.
“As soon as the incident happened – and we do this all the time; if something happens in a particular airport, we telegraph to all of our federal security directors throughout our entire system so they can work with their airline and airport partners in their locations to make sure we don’t have a copycat issue, that we close up or put additional eyes on whatever vulnerability might have existed,” Pekoske responded.
Cantwell also discussed integrating new technologies that could better track planes and other airport assets on the ground and pressed Pekoske to look into implementing these systems as new air traffic control systems are considered.
🗽NATIONAL NEWS HEADLINES:
WHITE HOUSE FACT SHEET: American Workers Are Seeing Their Wages Rise Thanks to President Donald J. Trump’s Pro-Growth Agenda.
Press release issued 9/ 5/ 18
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/american-workers-seeing-wages-rise-thanks-president-donald-j-trumps-pro-growth-agenda/
WAGES ARE RISING: American workers have more money in their bank accounts and their pockets as their wages rise.
WHITE HOUSE FACT SHEET: Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh is an Exceptionally Qualified and Deserving Nominee for the Supreme Court.
EXCEPTIONALLY QUALIFIED: Judge Kavanaugh’s extensive experience and credentials make him one of the most exceptionally qualified Supreme Court nominees in history.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/judge-brett-m-kavanaugh-exceptionally-qualified-deserving-nominee-supreme-court/
DOD: U.S., Pakistani Leaders Agree to Reset Relationship
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan --
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, held talks with Pakistani leaders in Islamabad today to reset the relationship between the two countries.
https://dod.defense.gov/News/Article/Article/1620654/us-pakistani-leaders-agree-to-reset-relationship/
DOJ: Two Individuals Associated With a Mental Health Company Plead Guilty to Health Care Fraud and Tax Evasion
Two individuals associated with a mental health company pleaded guilty to health care fraud related to the submission of false claims to Medicaid and tax evasion, announced Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Richard E. Zuckerman and U.S. Attorney Matthew G.T. Martin for the Middle District of North Carolina.
https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-individuals-associated-mental-health-company-plead-guilty-health-care-fraud-and-tax
DEPT. OF EDUCATION: Prepared Remarks by Secretary DeVos at Meeting of G20 Education Ministers.
MENDOZA, Argentina – I appreciate the opportunity to be with all of you and to meet and learn from so many of my counterparts in education and employment from across the G20.
https://www.ed.gov/news/speeches/prepared-remarks-secretary-devos-meeting-g20-education-ministers
PAGE 4
Cantwell Statement on Labor Day 2018
Press release issued 9/ 3/ 18
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cantwell-statement-on-labor-day-2018
SEATTLE – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) released the following statement in recognition of Labor Day:
“Today, as we do each year on Labor Day, we honor and reflect on the hard-working men and women who have built our country into a land of opportunity, freedom, and prosperity. Throughout our history, the labor movement has served as the backbone of the American economy and as the guardian of the American Dream.
In Washington state, we know the power of labor first-hand. Our state continues to lead the nation in fostering innovation and supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses. We have the best workers in the world, who consistently prevail even when the deck is stacked against them. The working men and women of the United States are the reason why our country’s economic productivity is the envy of the world.
But today, too many middle-class families across our country are struggling to make ends meet. Too many people work long hours for too little pay. Every day in the Senate, I am focused on spurring job creation and economic growth to support working families. That’s why I have co-sponsored legislation to raise the minimum wage and increase access to capital and funding for women-owned businesses. I am continually fighting for investments in job-training programs, apprenticeship programs, and veteran employment programs. That’s why I introduced a bipartisan bill that would create the first ever national incentive for apprentice programs and helped pass laws to provide tax incentives for employers to hire veterans.
As the Senate continues its business this fall, I will continue to fight on the side of working families.”
MORE NATIONAL HEADLINES...
CDC Releases Guideline to Improve Care of Children with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new clinical recommendations for healthcare providers treating children with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), often referred to as concussion. The CDC Guideline on the Diagnosis and Management of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Among Children, published today in JAMA Pediatrics, is based on the most comprehensive review of the science on pediatric mTBI to date—covering 25 years of research.
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/p0904-tbi-guidelines.html
CDC Investigation Update: Salmonella outbreak linked to Honey Smacks
CDC advises consumers and retailers not to eat, serve, or sell any Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal, which is linked to a Salmonella outbreak and continues to make people sick.
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2018/s0904-salmonella-outbreak-honey-smacks.html
HUD ANNOUNCES $800,000 SETTLEMENT WITH NEW JERSEY PROPERTY OWNERS FOR POOR HOUSING CONDITIONS
AND VIOLATIONS OF LEAD-BASED PAINT RULES
Owners of Newark’s Garden Spires Apts. failed to provide safe and health housing for families
https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_18_093
HUD AND CENSUS BUREAU RELEASE NEW AMERICAN HOUSING SURVEY
2017 AHS provides insight on disaster preparedness, housing and neighborhoods
https://www.hud.gov/press/press_releases_media_advisories/HUD_No_18_097
EPA Releases Interactive Sector Snapshots of Industry Environmental and Economic Performance
First Snapshots Showcase Iron and Steel, Chemical Manufacturing, and Utilities and Power Generation Industries
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-releases-interactive-sector-snapshots-industry-environmental-and-economic
PAGE 5
FTC Takes Action against the Operators of Copycat Military Websites
Defendants falsely posed as military recruiters to generate sales leads for post-secondary schools, agency alleges.
Press release issued 9/ 6/ 18
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2018/09/ftc-takes-action-against-operators-copycat-military-websites
The operators of copycat websites army.com and navyenlist.com have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that they targeted people seeking to join the armed forces and tricked them by falsely claiming to be affiliated with the military in order to generate sales leads for post-secondary schools.
The defendants, including the Alabama-based companies Sunkey Publishing, Inc. and Fanmail.com, LLC, have agreed to relinquish army.com, armyenlist.com and other domain names, and to stop the practices that they allegedly used to deceive consumers.
“Those who are considering a military career deserve to have confidence that the recruitment site is legitimate and their personal information will not be misused,” said FTC Chairman Joe Simons. “The FTC will take action against any party in the lead generation ecosystem – from sellers to purchasers – that fails to comply with the law.”
According to the FTC’s complaint, which was filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) on behalf of the Commission, the defendants have used copycat military recruitment websites since at least 2010. Some of the websites, such as army.com and armyenlist.com, appeared to be official recruiting websites affiliated with the U.S. military.
The websites prompted consumers to submit their information to learn more about joining the armed forces, according to the FTC. The complaint alleges that the defendants promised to use the information consumers submitted to the site only for military recruitment purposes and not to share it with anyone else.
Instead, the FTC charged that the defendants sold the information as marketing leads to post-secondary schools for $15 to $40 per lead.
In addition, people who submitted their information allegedly received follow-up phone calls from telemarketers who continued the misrepresentations by posing as members of the military, touting specific schools, and giving consumers the false impression that the U.S. military actually endorsed those schools.
This action is part of the FTC’s effort to combat government imposter schemes, the most frequent type of fraud complaint from military consumers in the FTC's Consumer Sentinel database. It also builds on the agency’s work in the area of lead generation, including its examination of various players involved.
The FTC charged the defendants with violating the FTC Act and the FTC’s Telemarketing Sales Rule (TSR). The agency also alleged that they violated the Do Not Call provisions of the TSR by placing hundreds of thousands of illegal telemarketing calls to phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry and by failing to pay required fees.
The two proposed orders settling the FTC’s charges require the defendants to turn over to the FTC websites used to deceive consumers, including army.com and armyenlist.com. Turnover of these websites partially satisfies the civil penalty judgments of $11.1 million against Sunkey and $1 million against Fanmail. The judgments are otherwise suspended due to defendants’ inability to pay; however, if the defendants are later found to have misrepresented their financial condition to the FTC, the full amount of the penalty would become due.
The proposed orders also ban the defendants from misrepresenting a military affiliation, the endorsement of particular schools by the military, or the extent to which they share consumers’ personal information. They require the defendants to disclose that their sites are not official recruiting websites of the U.S. military, to solicit consumers’ acknowledgement of that fact, and to get permission to disclose consumer information collected in connection with lead generation for any purpose. The defendants also must notify the companies that bought consumer data from the defendants of the FTC’s allegations and instruct the companies to stop using the information.
💸In other business & finance related news:
STATEMENT FROM U.S. SECRETARY OF LABOR ACOSTA ON LABOR DAY.
“Optimism is the hallmark of Labor Day 2018. This optimism is not just perception, it is grounded on results delivered. The prospects for Americans looking for work and those seeking to return to the labor force have never been better. For the first time since the Department of Labor began tracking these statistics, job openings exceed the number of job seekers.
“3.9 million new jobs have been created since November 2016, a result of President Trump’s focus on creating jobs, more jobs, and even more jobs. Since President Trump’s election, manufacturers have added 412,000 manufacturing jobs; after years of job losses, the mining and logging industry has 89,000 more jobs; and the construction industry has created 431,000 new construction jobs."
https://www.dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osec/osec20180903
US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: Thank You, American Workers
For many Americans, Labor Day means a day off work, barbeques with family and friends, college football, and – sadly – the unofficial end of summer. While each of those are a part of Labor Day, it’s also worth taking a moment to remember why the holiday was established to begin with. It is meant to be a celebration of the contributions that American workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our nation. Those contributions are worth saluting today and every day throughout the year – and business leaders are proud to do exactly that in a number of ways.
https://www.uschamber.com/series/above-the-fold/thank-you-american-workers
USDA BLOG: NASS Economic Data Help Farmers and Those Who Support and Serve Them.
Working on my family’s farm in Montana as a teenager, one of the earliest lessons I learned from my father was the importance of understanding the farm finances. His lessons about maximizing profits instead of working to maximize yields have helped drive my understanding of farm economics. You could even say that my interest in these economics has influenced my career path within USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) where I work on the Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS).
https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2018/08/30/nass-economic-data-help-farmers-and-those-who-support-and-serve-them
Avoid penalty for underpayment of taxes; IRS says check withholding, make estimated payments.
WASHINGTON ― With nearly 10 million U.S. taxpayers facing a penalty for underpayment of estimated tax last year, the Internal Revenue Service urges taxpayers to plan ahead, understand their options and avoid the penalty when they file in early 2019.
https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/avoid-penalty-for-underpayment-of-taxes-irs-says-check-withholding-make-estimated-payments
THE FED: Agencies extend comment period for proposed rule simplifying and tailoring the "Volcker rule"
Five federal financial regulatory agencies on Tuesday extended until October 17, 2018, the comment period for a proposed rule to simplify and tailor compliance requirements for the "Volcker rule." The Volcker rule generally restricts banking entities from engaging in proprietary trading and from owning or controlling hedge funds or private equity funds.
https://www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/pressreleases/bcreg20180904a.htm
PAGE 6
For opioid overdoses, treatment is the best prevention
On Overdose Awareness Day, Washington state continues to integrate community-wide efforts to save lives
From the Governor's medium page posted 8/ 31/ 18
https://medium.com/wagovernor/for-opioid-overdoses-treatment-is-the-best-prevention-9ad6c1ef9ca6
Washington state, along with the rest of the nation, is experiencing increased extreme challenges with opioids in every community. In response, state agencies and partners are coordinating opioid response efforts, raising awareness of overdoses and reducing the stigma of drug-related deaths.
“Opioids have created a public health crisis throughout the nation, and different states are responding in different ways. We’re not only committed to prevention efforts, but our focus has also been on treatment, which we know can be the best prevention,” Gov. Jay Inslee said.
“Overdose Awareness Day is an important way to highlight the work of our state agencies and partners who have been working together to help providers, patients, community organizations and families prevent and treat opioid abuse. Our state’s innovative ‘hub and spoke’ model will make treatment more accessible to the people who need it, at the right time, and the right places, which saves lives.”
In response to the growing opioid epidemic, Inslee issued an executive order in the fall of 2016, that brought together state agencies, local public health organizations, law enforcement, tribal governments, and other partners to act on opioids as part of a strategic state wide effort.
Notably, overdoses from prescription opioids have declined, in part due to increased coordination and treatment efforts. However, similar to other states, Washington is now experiencing a high increase of use of a synthetic and most often counterfeit drug called Fentanyl. It often looks like a real pill or comes laced with other drugs. It is a leading cause of overdose and death in many areas because it’s very potent compared to even heroin or prescription drugs. Fentanyl overdoses have spiked sharply over the past two years.
To tackle all overdoses and opioid misuse, the state Opioid Response Workgroup was formed. Made up of representatives from state health and safety agencies, academia, and local communities recently updated the Washington State Opioid Response Plan to align with changes in the opioid crisis, emerging scientific evidence, new policies implemented by the legislature, and new activities supported by state and federal funding.
The state plan includes increased support for a “hub-and-spoke” model of opioid treatment. This treatment model creates local partnerships between prescribers of medications such as Suboxone, Methadone and Naltrexone — known as medication-assisted treatment (MAT) — and treatment agencies, jails, syringe exchanges, mental health organizations, Department of Corrections and hospital emergency departments.
Washington state’s opioid response has four main goals:
1. Prevent opioid misuse and abuse
2. Identify and treat opioid use disorder
3. Reduce morbidity and mortality from opioid use disorder
4. Use data and information to detect opioid misuse/abuse, monitor morbidity and mortality, and evaluate interventions
The plan also recognizes the need to reach more communities with opioid misuse and abuse prevention information, and to provide recovery support services for people with opioid use disorders, including pregnant and parenting women.
Other current activities include — changing the opioid prescribing rules — a process directed by the Washington State Legislature for implementation by the end of 2018. It focuses on improving opioid prescribing practice and prescription monitoring. It requires the boards and commissions whose professions prescribe opioids — nursing, medicine, osteopathic medicine, dentistry, and podiatry — to adopt rules for prescribing opioid drugs.
There are many opioid-related initiatives and activities happening at the local, state, or national level which are not included in the state plan. For more information on local activities, a good place to start is the county public health department.
Information on International Overdose Awareness Day can be found at https://www.overdoseday.com/.
For help with addiction, contact the Washington Recovery Helpline at 1–866–789–1511 or visit https://www.warecoveryhelpline.org/
In other state related news:
SAMSUNG TO PAY $29M FOR PRICE-FIXING SCHEME AFFECTING MILLIONS OF WASHINGTONIANS
SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that Samsung, a multinational electronics company, will pay $29 million as part of the Attorney General’s price-fixing lawsuit against seven manufacturers of cathode ray tubes, or CRTs, a technology once ubiquitous in television screens and computer monitors.
https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/samsung-pay-29m-price-fixing-scheme-affecting-millions-washingtonians
Ecology responds to Millennium appeal of PCHB decision
OLYMPIA – What Millennium did today was to appeal the Aug. 15 Pollution Control Hearings Board’s decision upholding the Washington Department of Ecology’s denial of a water quality certification for the proposed coal terminal in Longview.
https://ecology.wa.gov/About-us/Get-to-know-us/News/2018/Sept-6-Ecology-s-response-to-Millennium-appeal-of
Suicide rates in Washington continue rising
Health officials promote individual and community action during September’s Suicide Prevention Month
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Newsroom/2018NewsReleases/18124SuicidePreventionNR
Supreme Court to Hold Community Visit, Hear Cases at Whitman College September 10-11
The Washington Supreme Court’s nine justices will travel to Walla Walla to hold a community visit at Whitman College next month. During the visit, the justices will speak to several of the college’s classes, hold a panel discussion and hear arguments in two real cases that are open to the public.
http://www.courts.wa.gov/newsinfo/?fa=newsinfo.internetdetail&newsid=16064
Washington State Library scores high marks from visiting federal official.
OLYMPIA — Last week, the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) made an official visit to the Washington State Library to review and assist with State Library programs funded with IMLS grants.
https://www.sos.wa.gov/office/news-releases.aspx#/news/1313
LOCAL & REGIONAL MEETING AGENDA HIGHLIGHTS.
CLALLAM COUNTY MEETINGS:
Clallam County Commission work session for 9/ 10/ 18
http://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=1123
Agenda item highlights:
Discussion and direction on next steps to comment on proposed changes by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
Resolution adopting the County-wide planning policy under RCW 36.70A.210 in coordination with the Cities of Sequim, Port Angeles and Forks
Department of Natural Resources - 1 p.m.
(report)
CIALIAM COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SPECIAL MEETING
Pursuant to RCW 42.30.080, the Chair of the Board of Commissioners has called a meeting of the County Commission to be held at 7:30 a.m., on Monday, September 1O, 2018 in the Commissioners Meeting Room, 223 East 4th Streeç Port Angeles, Room 160. The meeting is beíng convened to discuss the stormwater permitting.
http://clallam.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=clallam_65fd70145bb2d487f2a97145c474a5ea.pdf&view=1
Clallam County Commission regular meeting for 9/ 11/ 18
http://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=392
Agenda highlights:
Notice that the following Supplemental Appropriations will be adopted by Resolution on September 25:
Sheriff’s 24/7 Sobriety Fund – Budget change to receipt and expend remaining reimbursement funding from Washington Traffic Safety Commission/US Department of Transportation in support of the 24/7 Sobriety Program currently deployed in the jail. This amount was originally intended to be spent in 2017/$9,230
Sheriff – Jail – Reimbursement from Sobriety Fund for Corrections Deputy overtime, travel, equipment for the time period of November 2017 through July 2018 while operating the Sobriety Program in the Jail/$44,370
Superior Court – Parents for Parents Coordinator extra help, non-benefited part-time position/$25,000
Department of Community Development – Long Range Planning – Expenditure of funds in Department of Ecology Grant G1400671 work will be completed in 2018/$635,000
Notice that the following Budget Reduction will be adopted by Resolution on September 25:
Department of Community Development – Long Range Planning – Expenditure of funds in Department of Ecology grant G1600011 will be delayed until 2019/($1,000,000)
Resolution calling for a hearing to be held September 25 at 10:30 a.m. for the following Debatable Emergencies:
Human Resources – Risk Management – Additional Funding is needed for the increased cost of medical benefits resulting from the new union contracts/$2,813
Human Resources – Workers Compensation Claims – Additional Funding is needed for the increased cost of medical benefits resulting from the new union contracts/$263
Human Resources – Additional Funding is needed for the increased cost of medical benefits resulting from the new union contracts/$2,175
Parks and Facilities – Additional Funding is needed for the increased cost of medical benefits resulting from the new union contracts/$12,000
Parks and Facilities - Fair – Additional Funding is needed for the increased cost of medical benefits resulting from the new union contracts/$1,500
Parks and Facilities – Additional Funding is needed for the cost of medical benefits for William Swetlow, who has recently joined the union/$4,850
Parks and Facilities – Additional Funding is needed for the cost of medical benefits for Angie Bronson, who has recently joined the union/$2,000
Indigent Defense – Agreement with the Public Defender contract, an updated review of caseloads has been completed. It has been determined that additional funding is required/$12,000
Presentation of Preliminary 2019 Clallam County Budget
CLALLAM COUNTY PUD
A special meeting of the Board of Commissioners will commence at 8:30 AM at the District’s Main Office in the Lake Crescent Boardroom located at 104 Hooker Road in Carlsborg.
The purpose of the meeting is to interview candidates for the Commissioner District 2 vacancy, pursuant to RCW 42.30.ll0(l)(h). The Commission may enter into an executive session to evaluate the qualifications
of candidates for appointment to elective office, pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(h). If and executive session is held, action may or may not be taken in open session. The executive session portion of the meeting is not open to the public.
https://www.clallampud.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/9-11-18AM-Special-Meeting-Notice.pdf
CLALLAM COUNTY PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT #1
COMMISSIONER’S SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE
FOR SEPTEMBER 11, 2018 (PM)
SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE
A special meeting of the Board of Commissioners will commence at 12:20 PM at the District’s Main Office in the Lake Crescent Boardroom located at 104 Hooker Road in Carlsborg.
The purpose of the meeting is to interview candidates for the Commissioner District 2 vacancy, pursuant to RCW 42.30.ll0(l)(h). The Commission may enter into an executive session to evaluate the qualifications of candidates for appointment to elective office, pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(h). If and executive session is held, action may or may not be taken in open session. The executive session portion of the meeting is not open to the public.
https://www.clallampud.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/9-11-18PM-Special-Meeting-Notice.pdf
PORT OF PORT ANGELES COMMISSION MEETING FOR 9/ 11/ 18
https://portofpa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09112018-322
Agenda Highlights: Port Resolution #18-1179 - CERB Grant Application
The Port is in the process of applying for funding under the State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) Planning Grant Program. This potential funding will be used to assist in development of an economic feasibility study for thermally modified wood products manufacturing in Clallam County.
Marina Advisory Committee (MAC) Membership Standards.
Marina Facilities User in Good Standing
a. Any MAC member who is a moorage tenant or marina facilities user of the Port Angeles
Boat Haven or John Wayne Marina shall be in good standing with the Port. In determining whether a MAC member is in good standing with the Port, the Port Commission may consider
the following factors, among such others as the Commission may deem relevant:
• history of compliance with the Port of Port Angeles Marinas Rules and Regulations and, as applicable, the Port of Port Angeles Boat Yard Best Management Practices and rules
• good payment history
• fairly representing other marina and boat yard users without personal bias or financial interest
• professional interactions with staff, other tenants and marina facilities users, and the public
• demonstrate commitment to the public interest and maintaining respect for the role of government and the public process
CITY OF SEQUIM COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA FOR 9/ 10/ 18
http://www.sequimwa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1936
Agenda item highlight: Construction Easements for West Fir Street Rehabilitation Project.
CITY OF FORKS AGENDA FOR 9/ 10/ 18
http://forkswashington.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/agenda91018.pdf
Agenda Highlight: Bicycle rides northwest request of use Tillcum Park
🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍🌍🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎🌏🌏🌏🌏🌏🌏🌏🌎🌎🌎🌎🌍
🕂He's in your corner
WEEKLY BIBLE VERSE: Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.---Psalm 143:10 NIV
Weekly Bible Study
What does it mean to love God?
Jesus once said that loving God was the greatest command of all (Matt. 22:37,38). No doubt most people, who believe in God, will affirm that they love Him. Do you love God?---Gospel Way
https://www.gospelway.com/topics/christian_life/loving_god.php
Free bible studies (WBS)
https://www.worldbibleschool.org/
Learn english using the bible as text (WEI)
http://www.worldenglishinstitute.org/
(Join us in worship every Sunday starting at 10:30AM Church of Christ)
http://www.pacofc.org/index.php
👲Riddle Genie
From, Squigly's Featured Games
http://www.squiglysplayhouse.com/BrainTeasers/CleverBrainTeasers.php#top
last week's question: You are coming back from a vacation. You want to go to village A. People from Village A always tell the truth, never lie. People from Village B always lie and never tell the truth. So, you come across two paths one leads to village A and the other leads to village B. You don't know which is which. A person comes from behind you. You don't know whether he is from village A or B. What can you ask him to choose the right path to village A?
Last week's answer: "Can you point to the path which leads to the village you are from?" (If he is the truth teller and is from village A, he’ll point to village A. If he’s the liar from village B, he’ll lie and point to village A.)
New Question: A murderer is condemned to death. He has to choose among three rooms. The first is full of raging fires, the second is full of assassins with loaded guns, and the third is full of lions that haven't eaten in 3 years. Which room is safest for him?
Answer next week:
