WORLD NEWS & EVENTS

Condemning Attacks on Aid Efforts, General Assembly Adopts Package of Texts, One Urging States to Better Protect Humanitarian Workers, Respect International Law

UN PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 12/ 11/ 17

The General Assembly today adopted seven draft resolutions, among them texts on credentials, the culture of peace and on strengthening the coordination of humanitarian and disaster relief assistance.

Condemning in the strongest possible terms the alarming increase in threats to and deliberate targeting of aid workers, the Assembly adopted without a vote the draft resolution “Safety and security of humanitarian personnel and protection of United Nations personnel” (document A/72/L.22).  By its terms, the Assembly urged States to make every effort to ensure the full implementation of the rules of international law that protect aid workers.
Also by the text’s terms, the Assembly called upon all Governments and parties in complex humanitarian emergencies in countries in which humanitarian personnel were operating to cooperate fully with the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies and organizations and to allow those personnel to perform efficiently their task of assisting the affected civilian population, including refugees and internally displaced persons.  It also called upon all States to consider becoming parties to relevant international instruments.
Prior to taking action on “L.22” as a whole, the Assembly, by a recorded vote of 95 in favour to 12 against, with 17 abstentions, decided to retain two paragraphs referencing the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.  Several speakers, including the representative of the Netherlands, speaking on behalf of the European Union, said that language related to the Court was worthy of inclusion.

Meanwhile, Sudan’s representative, whose delegation had requested the vote, warned against politicizing humanitarian efforts.  Stressing that the International Criminal Court was not a United Nations organ, he reiterated that it was instead “at best a threat to the peace and stability” in his country.
Also under the humanitarian assistance umbrella, the Assembly adopted, without a vote, three draft resolutions on:  international cooperation on humanitarian assistance in the field of natural disasters, from relief to development; strengthening of the coordination of emergency humanitarian assistance of the United Nations; and assistance to the Palestinian people, which had been introduced on 8 December
Sharing the perspective of those providing aid, a representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), highlighted two worrying gaps in the United Nations indivisible new policy on prevention, development and peace.  The first was protection, as the policy focus rested on development and peace with recognition that protection was essential to both.  If people were being attacked, forcibly displaced, looted, impoverished, besieged, unlawfully detained or were too afraid to go to hospitals and schools, they would not attain development or peace.  The second gap was neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian action.  States must respect that essential practice — rooted in the Geneva Conventions — so that vulnerable people, both under or beyond the State’s control, could be protected and assisted impartially on the basis of need.
Raising another concern, a representative of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said risks driven by climate change would be unevenly weighted against poorer people living in areas of low development.  As such, she encouraged all stakeholders to ensure real progress by recognizing the added value of local actors in addressing and reducing disaster risks and impacts of climate change.
Turning to its agenda item on the culture of peace, the Assembly adopted the draft resolution “Promotion of interreligious and intercultural dialogue, understanding and cooperation for peace” (document A/72/L.29), reaffirming that interreligious and intercultural dialogue constituted important dimensions of the dialogue among civilizations.  It also condemned any advocacy of religious hatred that constituted incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence and underlined the importance of moderation as a value within societies for countering violent extremism and for further contributing to the promotion of interreligious dialogue, tolerance and cooperation. ( read more from link source)

Security Council Adopts Procedural Vote Allowing It to Hear Briefings on Humanitarian Situation in Democratic People’s Republic of Korea---UN PRESS RELEASE dated 12/ 11/ 17

Wrong Forum for Humanitarian Issues, Stress Opponents, as United States, Other Supporters Say No Separation between Peace, Human Rights
Amid the security challenges arising from the ballistic missile and nuclear testing activities of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, it was critical to address the dire human rights and humanitarian situation in that country as well, senior United Nations officials told the Security Council today.

“The international community has a collective responsibility to protect the population of the DPRK if the State does not protect its own citizens,” Miroslav Jenča, Assistant Secretary‑General for Political Affairs, said in his briefing.  It must also consider the wider implications of the reported grave human rights violations for the wider region’s stability.

Speaking after a procedural vote on whether or not the Council would hear the briefings, he called for a sustained focus on the humanitarian situation — including better monitoring, effective use of sanctions exemptions for humanitarian assistance and stepped up humanitarian aid — while security issues were addressed.  “Let us use all the tools at our disposal — the Human Rights Council, the General Assembly, the Security Council and other international entities — to take action to build a better future for the people of the DPRK,” he said.

Also briefing the Council was Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, who said escapees had reported widespread violations of human rights — including torture and deprivation of freedom of information and expression — in almost every aspect of people’s lives.  They were combined with increased surveillance and abject conditions endured by detainees in labour camps.  Military tensions in recent months had led to more severe controls over freedom of movement as well as civil and political rights, he said.

Repatriated escapees — often repatriated from China as economic migrants, although many were actually trafficking victims — were routinely subjected to multiple forms of torture, he said.  The people also endured severe violations of their economic, social and cultural rights, in addition to chronic food insecurity, due in part to the diversion of resources to military objectives.  The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) would act on the recommendations of the Human Rights Council’s Group of Independent Experts, he said, noting that the latter proposed monitoring the country more comprehensively in anticipation of the creation of an accountability mechanism.

Speaking earlier, the representatives of China, Russian Federation and Bolivia objected to the meeting, emphasizing that human rights did not fall within the Security Council’s remit — maintenance of international peace and security.  China’s delegate emphasized that human rights issues should not be politicized, describing the situation in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as complex, sensitive and grave.  The concerned parties should consider the proposed “suspension‑for‑suspension” initiative and work towards restarting negotiations.

The Russian Federation’s representative warned against diluting the Council’s work with issues unrelated to its core mandate, and against politicization and double standards, all of which could erode its credibility.  The priority must be the peaceful settlement of the dispute, he said, stressing that today’s meeting must not be used as a pretext for greater foreign intervention on the Korean Peninsula. (read more from source link)

United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament, Development in Latin America, Caribbean to Host Inaugural Women and Security Symposium---UN Press release issued 12/ 11/ 17

NEW YORK, 11 December (Office for Disarmament Affairs) — The United Nations Regional Centre for Peace, Disarmament and Development in Latin America and the Caribbean is organizing the first “Symposium on Women and Security” from 12 to 13 December in Lima.
Expected to bring together more than 40 women from the region who have dedicated their work to advancing the global peace and security agenda, the Symposium aims to present future strategies of the United Nations system to promote women and security in the region; to deliberate on how 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can contribute to improving the lives of women in the region; and to explore different approaches to strengthening arms control to that end.  Throughout the event, ample time will be dedicated to identifying and sharing new ideas on empowering women working in the fields of peace and security.
The Symposium is made possible thanks to generous financial support from the Governments of Canada and Sweden.
The Symposium will also serve as a platform to launch “Forces of Change III:  Latin American and Caribbean Women Share Experiences on Disarmament, Security and SDG Implementation”, a publication of the United Nations Regional Centre, and the third edition of an innovative initiative highlighting the role of women as agents of change in the field of disarmament, arms control, and non‑proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in Latin America and the Caribbean.  Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, notes in her foreword:  " it is clear that the region is at the forefront of progress toward the full and equal engagement of women in peace and security discussions and decision-making”.   (read more from link source)



NEWS FROM THE UN NEWS CENTER

New Year could bring more misery to children in DR Congo’s restive Kasai region, warns UNICEF
12 December 2017 – New Year could bring more misery to children in DR Congo’s restive Kasai region, warns UNICEF In the coming year, severe acute malnutrition could claim the lives of more than 400,000 children under the age of five in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s volatile Kasai region, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned Tuesday.

On International Day, UN agency urges greater investment for sustainable agriculture in mountains
11 December 2017 – On International Mountain Day, the United Nations food security agency has called for greater focus on sustainable agriculture in highland regions around the globe to better respond to climate change impacts and migration challenges.

Make digital world safer for children, increase online access to benefit most disadvantaged – UNICEF
11 December 2017 – Governments and the private sector have not kept up with the game-changing pace of digital technologies, exposing children to new risks and harms – both on and offline – and leaving millions of the most disadvantaged behind, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said Monday in a new report.

Security tensions may have deepened rights violations in DPRK, Security Council told
11 December 2017 – People’s rights are reportedly violated in “almost every aspect” of their lives in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United Nations human rights chief warned Monday, stressing that security tensions on the Korean Peninsula should not negate concerns about the situation of ordinary people there.

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NEWS FROM THE US MISSION TO THE UN

Remarks at a Panel Discussion on Human Rights Abuses in North Korea, “North Korea Human Rights: The Terrifying Experiences of Forcibly Repatriated North Korean Women”

https://usun.state.gov/remarks/8211
" We have an interesting lineup of speakers for you today. Former Australian High Court Justice Michael Kirby is here. In 2014, Justice Kirby chaired the Commission of Inquiry on Human Rights in North Korea. The seminal report it produced described a regime so dedicated to murder, torture, deliberate starvation, enslavement, rape and forced abortion that it “does not have any parallel in the contemporary world.”
The report also noted that among the people who suffer most are those who are forcibly repatriated after attempting to escape North Korea. The vast majority of these returnees are women. They are subjected to torture, beatings, detention, and, in some cases, execution. If they are pregnant, they are forced to have abortions. If their babies are born, they are ordered to be killed.
Today we will hear the story of a woman who took on the North Korean security state and survived, Ms. Ji Hyeon-A. Ms. Ji was forcibly repatriated three times and imprisoned before escaping from North Korea for good in 2007. The details of her suffering at the hands of the North Korean state’s security apparatus are difficult to hear, but they are necessary to hear."---Ambassador Nikki Haley

Remarks at a UN Security Council Meeting on Human Rights in North Korea

https://usun.state.gov/remarks/8210
" The regime is using that power to develop an unnecessary arsenal and support enormous conventional military forces that pose a grave risk to international peace and security. Their menacing march towards nuclear weapons begins with the oppression and exploitation of ordinary North Korean people. Through the export of workers abroad to earn hard currency and the use of forced labor at home, the regime uses its people to underwrite its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

The government has developed a strict caste system designed to control and suppress the will of the people. The regime forces the North Korean people to work up to 14 hours a day, six or seven days a week, often with no compensation. Failure to report to an assigned job can result in imprisonment in a forced labor camp for six months to two years. NGOs have revealed video footage of children as young as five forced to carry out heavy labor in dangerous conditions, including work on railroad lines and in mines.

Meanwhile, the Kim regime not only builds nuclear weapons, it builds theme parks and high rises in Pyongyang for the elite and politically obedient, where they live in relative comfort. The remaining 85 percent of North Koreans must obtain permission to enter the city. The country is dotted with military checkpoints to ensure that everyone stays where the government wants him or her to be." ---Ambassador Nikki Haley

Remarks on the Adoption of the Agenda Following a Procedural Vote to Allow a UN Security Council Meeting on Human Rights in North Korea

https://usun.state.gov/remarks/8209
" Thank you, Mr. President. You know, this is an issue that is repeatedly a problem. We continue to think that there’s a separation between peace and security and human rights, and there’s not. If you go back in history, it is shown that any country that does not take care of its people ends up in conflict. We’ve seen that in multiple cases in multiple places.

As much as the Secretary-General and this Council talks about prevention when it comes to conflict, prevention is about how a country treats its people as well. If they start to treat their people carelessly, if they start to abuse their people, they will easily abuse other countries. And that’s what we’re seeing happen in North Korea.

So while I understand the concerns of some Council members, I think it’s extremely important that if we’re going to stay true to our word on prevention, then we stay true to our word that prevention also includes human rights and being able to call out countries when they do abuses like this.

So I suggest that not only should we do this today, but we should be doing this more often with other countries where we see these things coming up; we’ve seen this in Venezuela, we’ve seen it in Syria, these are things that if we truly care about prevention, human rights has to be at the heart of it." Thank you.--- Ambassador Nikki Haley

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United States and Cuba Hold Biannual Migration Talks in Washington, DC----US STATE DEPT. press release issued 12/ 11/ 17

https://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2017/12/276448.htm

The United States and Cuba held the 31st biannual Migration Talks in Washington, DC on Monday, December 11. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs John Creamer and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Ed Ramotowski led the U.S. delegation. The Cuban delegation was led by Josefina Vidal, the Foreign Ministry’s Director General for U.S. Affairs.
The delegations discussed the significant reduction in irregular migration from Cuba to the United States since the implementation of the January 2017 Joint Statement. Apprehensions of Cuban migrants at U.S. ports of entry decreased by 64 percent from fiscal year 2016 to 2017, and maritime interdictions of Cuban migrants decreased by 71 percent. The United States confirmed it met its annual commitment in fiscal year 2017 to facilitate legal migration by issuing a minimum of 20,000 documents under the Migration Accords to Cubans to immigrate to the United States. The U.S. delegation also raised the need for increased Cuban cooperation in the return of Cubans with final orders of removal from the United States.
A strong migration policy is vital to the United States’ national security. The Migration Talks, which began in 1995, provide a forum for the United States and Cuba to review and coordinate efforts to ensure safe, legal, and orderly migration between Cuba and the United States. The talks were last held in April 2017.



NEWS FROM THE US DEFENSE DEPT:

Iraqi, Syrian Democratic Forces Destroy ISIS’ ‘Caliphate’
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2017 — While Iraqi security forces and Syrian Democratic Forces have destroyed the idea of an Islamic State of Iraq and Syria ‘Caliphate,’ much work remains to be done against the terror group, Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Robert Manning said today.

Inherent Resolve Strikes Target ISIS in Syria, Iraq
SOUTHWEST ASIA, Dec. 11, 2017 — U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria over the last three days, conducting 14 strikes consisting of 27 engagements, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.

Small Army Post Supports Counterterrorism Fight in Africa
CONTINGENCY LOCATION GAROUA, Cameroon, Dec. 11, 2017 — At an Army outpost in a sun-scorched area of northern Cameroon, there's a small task force with larger implications than its size may suggest.

Reservists Bundle Christmas Joy for Remote Islanders
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam, Dec. 12, 2017 — Air Force reservists from the 44th Aerial Port Squadron here worked alongside the people of Guam on Dec. 9, filling boxes full of critical supplies as part of Operation Christmas Drop.

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Daily Bible Verse: And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

Matthew 2:4-6 NKJV

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TRUMP SCOLDS CONGRESS ON KATE'S LAW in WEEKLY ADDRESS

President Donald J. Trump's Weekly Address

White House press release 12/ 9/ 17
Transcript:

“Help me, Dad.”
Those were the last words spoken by Kate Steinle as she lay dying on a San Francisco pier – a precious young American woman killed in the prime of her life.
Kate’s death is a tragedy that was entirely preventable. She was shot by an illegal alien and a 7-time convicted felon who had been deported five times – but he was free to harm an innocent American because our leaders refused to protect our border, and because San Francisco is a Sanctuary City. In Sanctuary States and Cities, innocent Americans are at the mercy of criminal aliens because state and local officials defy federal authorities and obstruct the enforcement of our immigration laws.
Last week, in a final injustice, Kate’s killer was acquitted on all of the most serious charges – yet one more reason Americans are so upset by Sanctuary Cities and open border politicians who shield criminal aliens from federal law enforcement and all of the problems involved with the whole concept of a sanctuary city. They’re no good. We mourn for all of the American Families, of all backgrounds, who will have any empty seat at Christmas this year because our immigration laws were not enforced. No American should be separated from their loved ones because of preventable crime committed by those illegally in our country. Our cities should be Sanctuaries for Americans – not for criminal aliens.
Unfortunately, Democrats in Congress not only oppose our efforts to stop illegal immigration and crack down on Sanctuary Cities – now they are demanding amnesty as a condition for funding the government, holding troop funding hostage and putting our national security at risk. We cannot allow it.
Every Senator and Congressman will have to make a choice: do they want to protect American citizens or do they want to protect criminal aliens? Reasonable people can disagree on many things, but there can be no disagreement that the first duty of government is to serve, protect, and defend American Citizens.
People can have different views on the technical details of budget policy or transportation, but no one who serves in elected office should disagree that our highest priority must be the safety and well-being of our nation’s citizens.
Thank you.---President Trump

Reps. Kilmer, Kustoff Pass Bill to Protect Religious Institutions

Press release issued 12/ 11/ 17

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and David Kustoff (R-TN) today applauded House passage of their bill, the Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act of 2017. This strong bipartisan legislation will increase the federal penalties for bomb threats and other credible threats of violence against religious institutions.

Congressman Derek Kilmer (D-WA): “Across our country, too many people have been subjected to hate, violence and threats because of the religion they practice. People who have come to a religious community center to take a class, exercise or support their neighbors have faced bomb threats and violence. With this bill, our government is saying with one voice: ‘Enough is enough.’”

Congressman David Kustoff (R-TN): “The dramatic rise in threats against religious institutions is deeply disturbing and makes it clear that existing federal laws do not suitably deter these acts of hate. We must stand united against acts of hate and protect the rights of all Americans to worship freely and without fear. I am proud that our bipartisan bill today passed in the House. I look forward to the Senate’s consideration, so we can send this important legislation to President Trump’s desk.”

Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA): “Freedom in the exercise of religion is a fundamental right that our founding fathers chose to place as the first recognized right in our Bill of Rights. It is as important to protect these rights today.  Sadly, we have witnessed many threats and acts of violence against religious institutions and centers and we must ensure our laws appropriately punish those seeking to intimidate people of faith. The Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act strengthens prosecutorial tools to deter acts of hate and violence toward religious institutions so that freedom of religion continues to flourish in America. I thank Congressman Kustoff for his hard work on this bipartisan bill and applaud the House for quickly passing it.”

William Daroff, the Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Director of the Washington Office of the Jewish Federations of North America said: “The Jewish Federations of North America applauds Congress for passing the Combating Anti-Semitism Act of 2017 (H.R. 1730). The rise of anti-Semitism is an existential threat to the Jewish community and this trend is not abating. We are grateful to Representatives David Kustoff and Derek Kilmer for their bi-partisan leadership in sponsoring this legislation, which will help to deter the wave of threats targeting Jewish Community Centers and other religious institutions across the country, and to stand united against religious intolerance.” 

In 2017 alone, more than 160 bomb threats and other threats of violence have been made against Jewish Community Centers (JCCs) across America. In addition to the fear and terror inflicted upon these religious institutions after a threat, there are tangible ramifications for the centers. Many places of worship are forced to temporarily close their doors as a result of these threats, and families who rely on the center’s services, such as school and early-childhood education programs, have been forced to choose between their safety and their faith community.

This bipartisan legislation would amend the Church Arson Prevention Act (18 U.S.C. § 247) to ensure that individuals who make bomb threats and other credible threats of violence against community religious centers –based on the religious nature of that center will now carry a penalty of up to 3 years of imprisonment if any violations of the statute results in the damage or destruction to religious property.

The Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act of 2017 has broad, bipartisan support and was originally co-sponsored by U.S. Representatives Ted Poe (R-TX), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Joseph P. Kennedy, III (D-MA). The bill was cosponsored by an additional 40 bipartisan members.

FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS TRANSGENDER MILITARY BAN IN LAMBDA LEGAL CASE, AG FERGUSON CASE

Press release issued 12/ 11/ 17

SEATTLE — A federal judge today granted a preliminary injunction against President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. The ruling came as part of a challenge brought by Attorney General Bob Ferguson, nine individual plaintiffs and three organizations.

“The Court finds that the policy prohibiting openly transgender individuals from serving in the military is likely unconstitutional,” the court wrote.

Further, the court found that the ban irreparably harms Washington’s interest in “maintaining and enforcing its anti-discrimination laws, protecting its residents from discrimination, and ensuring that employment and advancement opportunities are not unlawfully restricted based on transgender status.”
Washington is the first state to win such a measure. Previously, two federal judges, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly and U.S. District Judge Marvin Garbis, issued injunctions in two cases brought by private plaintiffs challenging the transgender military ban.
“Today’s ruling is a major victory for the thousands of transgender service members who serve their country with honor and distinction,” Ferguson said. “Barring transgender service members from serving based on anything other than their ability and conduct is wrong.”
"All of us owe a debt of gratitude for every American who answers the call of service in our armed forces, and we are grateful for today’s decision which affirms everyone who is able and willing can answer that call regardless of color, religion, orientation, birth place or gender,” Gov. Jay Inslee said. "While this president can attempt the practice of division, our nation’s service members and the sacrifices they and their families make demonstrate the power of America standing together as one."
Gov. Inslee’s Chief of Staff David Postman submitted a declaration in support of Ferguson’s motion focused on the Governor’s relationship with the Washington National Guard.




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MILKING THE SYSTEM

DOJ: Tennessee Staffing Company Operator Convicted of Employment Tax Fraud

Press release issued 12/ 8/ 17

A Tennessee temporary staffing company officer was convicted today by a federal jury in Memphis of conspiring to defraud the United States, failing to pay over employment taxes, filing fraudulent employment tax returns, theft of government funds and aggravated identity theft, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee.
According to the evidence presented at trial, from 2005 through 2015, Mark Stinson and his wife, Jayton Stinson, operated a temporary staffing company in Memphis that provided services to businesses in Tennessee and elsewhere. The staffing company’s standard contract with its customers provided that the staffing company was responsible for withholding employment tax from its employees’ wages and paying over the amounts withheld to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The Stinsons failed to pay over $2.8 million in withholdings and other employment taxes due to IRS, failed to timely file employment tax returns and filed false employment tax returns.  In an effort to avoid making payments to the IRS the Stinsons changed the name and structure of the company multiple times after accumulating employment tax liabilities, operating as Jayton Stinson Connex Staffing & Janitorial Service, Connexx Staffing Services LLC, Connexx Staffing Services Inc., and Complete Employment Agency.
The Stinsons also conspired to impede efforts by the IRS to collect on the employment tax liabilities owed by their companies. For example, the Stinsons made false representations to the IRS about their control of the staffing company and their knowledge of their responsibility to truthfully account for and pay over the employment taxes, placed the staffing company in the names of nominees who did not have control over the business operations, and established payment arrangements intended to impede an IRS levy placed on their customer payments. The Stinsons used the withheld funds to pay for personal expenses, including a Mercedes-Benz, a Cadillac Escalade, mortgage payments and private school tuition for their children. Jayton Stinson previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges in connection with this case.
Mark Stinson also filed a fraudulent tax return for a relative that included a false dependent seeking a refund to which the relative was not entitled.  Stinson received a substantial portion of the fraudulent refund. 
U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. scheduled sentencing for March 1, 2018.  Mark Stinson faces a statutory maximum sentence of five years in prison for each count of conspiracy, theft of government funds and failing to pay over employment taxes, three years in prison for each count of filing a false tax return, and a mandatory two years in prison for aggravated identity theft.  He also faces a period of supervised release, restitution and monetary penalties.  Jayton Stinson is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 31, 2018.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg and U.S. Attorney Dunavant commended special agents of IRS Criminal Investigation, who conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Damon Griffin and Trial Attorney Nathan Brooks, who are prosecuting the case.

 IBERIABANK Agrees to Pay Over $11.6 Million to Resolve Alleged False Claims Act Liability for Submitting False Claims for Loan Guarantees---DOJ press release issued 12/ 8/ 17

The Justice Department announced today that IBERIABANK Corporation, IBERIABANK and IBERIABANK Mortgage Company (collectively, IBERIABANK) have agreed to pay the United States $11,692,149 to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by falsely certifying they were complying with Federal requirements in order to obtain insurance on mortgage loans from the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  IBERIABANK Corporation is headquartered in Lafayette, Louisiana, with branches across the Southeast, including Arkansas.

“Mortgage lenders must follow FHA program rules designed to avoid putting federal funds at risk and increasing the chances that borrowers may lose their homes,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division.  “The Department will continue to hold accountable lenders that knowingly violate material program requirements that cause the government to guarantee ineligible loans.”

During the time period covered by the settlement, IBERIABANK participated as a direct endorsement (DE) lender in the FHA insurance program.  A DE lender has the authority to originate, underwrite and endorse mortgages for FHA insurance.  If a DE lender approves a mortgage loan for FHA insurance and the loan later defaults, the holder of the loan may submit an insurance claim to HUD, FHA’s parent agency, for the losses resulting from the defaulted loan.  Under the DE program, the FHA does not review a loan for compliance with FHA requirements before it is endorsed for FHA insurance.  DE lenders are, therefore, required to follow program rules designed to ensure that they are properly underwriting and certifying mortgages for FHA insurance, to maintain a quality control program that can prevent and correct deficiencies in their underwriting practices, and to self-report any deficient loans identified by their quality control program.  FHA rules also prohibit the payment of commissions to lender underwriting staff in order to avoid improper incentives.  DE lenders such as IBERIABANK certify compliance with material FHA requirements.

Owner of Home Health Agency Sentenced in Absentia to 80 Years in Prison for Involvement in $13 Million Medicare Fraud Conspiracy and for Filing Fraudulent Tax Returns---DOJ press release issued 12/ 8/ 17

The owner of a Houston home health agency was sentenced today to 80 years in prison for his role in a $13 million Medicare fraud scheme and for filing false tax returns.

Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Abe Martinez of the Southern District of Texas, Special Agent in Charge Perrye K. Turner of the FBI’s Houston Field Office, Special Agent in Charge C.J. Porter of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General’s (HHS-OIG) Dallas Region and Special Agent in Charge D. Richard Goss of the Houston Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) made the announcement.

Ebong Tilong, 53, of Sugarland, Texas, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Melinda Harmon of the Southern District of Texas.  In November 2016, after the first week of trial, Tilong pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, three counts of healthcare fraud, one count of conspiracy to pay and receive healthcare kickbacks, three counts of payment and receipt of healthcare kickbacks, and one count of conspiracy to launder monetary instruments.  In June 2017, Tilong pleaded guilty to two counts of filing fraudulent tax returns.  Tilong failed to appear for his original sentencing, which was scheduled for Oct. 13, 2017. 

According to the evidence presented at trial and Tilong’s admissions in connection with his guilty plea, from February 2006 through June 2015, Tilong and others conspired to defraud Medicare by submitting over $10 million in false and fraudulent claims for home health services to Medicare through Fiango Home Healthcare Inc. (Fiango), owned by Tilong and his wife, Marie Neba, 53, also of Sugarland, Texas.  The trial evidence showed that using the money that Medicare paid for such fraudulent claims, Tilong paid illegal kickbacks to patient recruiters for referring Medicare beneficiaries to Fiango for home health services.  Tilong also paid illegal kickbacks to Medicare beneficiaries for allowing Fiango to bill Medicare using beneficiaries’ Medicare information for home health services that were not medically necessary or not provided, the evidence showed.  Tilong falsified medical records and directed others to falsify medical records to make it appear as though the Medicare beneficiaries qualified for and received home health services.  Tilong also attempted to destroy evidence, blackmail a witness, and suborn perjury from witnesses, including a co-defendant while in the federal courthouse, the evidence showed.

According to the evidence presented at trial and his admissions to the tax offenses, from February 2006 to June 2015, Tilong received more than $13 million from Medicare for home health services that were not medically necessary or not provided to Medicare beneficiaries.

In connection with his guilty plea to the tax offenses, Tilong admitted that to maximize his gains from the Medicare fraud scheme, he created a shell company called Quality Therapy Services (QTS) to limit the amount of tax that he paid to the IRS on the proceeds that he and his co-conspirators stole from Medicare.  According to his plea agreement, in 2013 and 2014, Tilong wrote almost a million dollars in checks from Fiango to QTS, purportedly for physical-therapy services that QTS provided to Fiango’s Medicare patients.  The evidence showed that QTS did not provide those services.  According to his plea agreement, in 2013 and 2014, Tilong’s fraudulent tax scheme caused the IRS a tax loss of approximately $344,452.

Utah Business Owner Sentenced to Four Years in Prison for Illegally Dealing Firearms and Filing Fraudulent Tax Returns---DOJ press release issued 12/ 7/ 17

A Salt Lake City, Utah, man was sentenced to 4 years in prison today for dealing in firearms without a license and filing fraudulent tax returns, announced Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Stuart M. Goldberg, of the Justice Department’s Tax Division and U.S. Attorney John W. Huber for the District of Utah.
According to documents and evidence presented to the court, Adam Michael Webber reached an agreement with the United States in 2007 that barred him from applying for a federal firearms license or engaging in the business of dealing firearms.  Between 2007 and 2008, Webber was the sole owner of HK Parts, an Internet gun parts business. In 2008, Webber added firearms to his product line and primarily sold them on the Internet at hkparts.net.  He also sold firearms and firearm parts out of the basement of his residence.  Webber never held a federal firearms license and, from 2009 through May 2012, illegally sold firearms under the auspices of a company owned by another Utah resident.  Webber also sold firearms to undercover Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents on two separate occasions, including selling one firearm for cash in a parking lot.  In May 2012, approximately $180,000 in cash, a 70 pound silver bar, silver coins, and firearms were found at Webber’s residence during the execution of a search warrant.

From 2007 through 2010, Webber earned more than $10 million in gross receipts from the sale of illegal firearms and his firearm parts business.  For those years, he reported only a total of $183,397 in gross receipts, underreporting his earnings on his 2007, 2008 and 2009 individual income tax returns and underreporting gross receipts on his 2009 and 2010 corporate tax returns.  In 2010, Webber paid $670,000 in cash for a new home in Salt Lake County.
In addition to the term of prison imposed, U.S. District Court Judge Dee Benson ordered Webber to serve three years of supervised release.  Webber paid $1,817,887.05 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service prior to sentencing, and he was ordered to pay a $100,000 fine.  Webber was convicted by a jury of the tax offenses in September 2016 and later pleaded guilty to the firearms count. He agreed to forfeit more than 300 seized firearms.
Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General Goldberg and U.S. Attorney Huber commended special agents of ATF, IRS Criminal Investigation and Homeland Security, who conducted the investigation, and AUSAs Cy H. Castle and J. Drew Yeates and Paralegal Heather Nielson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Trial Attorney Kathleen M. Barry of the Tax Division, who prosecuted the case.

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HUD ANNOUNCES NEW FHA LOAN LIMITS FOR 2018

Loan limits to increase in more than 3,000 counties
Press release issued 12/ 7/ 17

WASHINGTON - The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today announced the agency's new schedule of loan limits for 2018, with most areas in the country to experience an increase in loan limits in the coming year. These loan limits are effective for FHA case numbers assigned on or after January 1, 2018.

FHA is required by the National Housing Act, as amended by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA), to set Single Family forward loan limits at 115 percent of median house prices, subject to a floor and a ceiling on the limits. FHA calculates forward mortgage limits by Metropolitan Statistical Area and county.
In high-cost areas of the country, FHA's loan limit ceiling will increase to $679,650 from $636,150. FHA will also increase its floor to $294,515 from $275,665. Additionally, the National Mortgage Limit for FHA-insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs), or reverse mortgages, will increase to $679,650 from $636,150. FHA's current regulations implementing the National Housing Act's HECM limits do not allow loan limits for reverse mortgages to vary by MSA or county; instead, the single limit applies to all mortgages regardless of where the property is located.
Due to robust increases in median housing prices and required changes to FHA's floor and ceiling limits, which are tied to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)'s increase in the conventional mortgage loan limit for 2018, the maximum loan limits for FHA forward mortgages will rise in 3,011 counties. In 223 counties, FHA's loan limits will remain unchanged. By statute, the median home price for an MSA is based on the county within the MSA having the highest median price. It has been HUD's long-standing practice to utilize the highest median price point for any year since the enactment of HERA.
The National Housing Act, as amended by HERA, requires FHA to establish its floor and ceiling loan limits based on the loan limit set by FHFA for conventional mortgages owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Today, FHA's minimum national loan limit, or floor, is set at 65 percent of the national conforming loan limit of $453,100. This floor applies to those areas where 115 percent of the median home price is less than the floor limit. Any areas where the loan limit exceeds this ‘floor' is considered a high-cost area, and HERA requires FHA to set its maximum loan limit ‘ceiling' for high-cost areas at 150 percent of the national conforming limit.

Prior to the passage of HERA, the National Housing Act (NHA) provided that the FHA mortgage limit for any given area be set at 95 percent of the median one-family house price in that area, as determined by HUD. However, the NHA further stated the FHA mortgage limit in any given area cannot exceed 87 percent of the Freddie Mac loan limit (305(a)(2) of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Act (12 U.S.C. 1454(a)(2)), nor be less than 48 percent of that limit. Since the enactment of HERA and The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, which temporarily raised FHA limits even further, FHA's loan limits have been more closely tied to, and at times in excess of, those for GSE-eligible loans.

HUD SECRETARY BEN CARSON LAUNCHES ENVISION CENTER INITIATIVE

Press release issued 12/ 7/ 17

Today, Dr. Ben Carson, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced the launch of EnVision Centers, a new initiative designed to help HUD-assisted households achieve self-sufficiency.

Located on or near public housing developments, EnVision Centers will be centralized hubs that serve as an incubator for the four key pillars of self- sufficiency; character and leadership, educational advancement, economic empowerment, and health and wellness. Through results-driven partnerships with federal agencies, state and local governments, non-profits, faith-based organizations, corporations, public housing authorities, and housing finance agencies, EnVision Centers will leverage public-private resources for maximum community impact.

“While funding for HUD has increased over the last twenty years, the number of households served has remained the same. We need to think differently about how we can empower Americans to climb the ladder of success,” Secretary Carson said. “EnVision Centers are designed to help people take the first few steps towards self-sufficiency. Every household we are able to help graduate from HUD-assistance allows HUD to help one more family in need.”

As a part of the initiative, HUD will launch ten pilot EnVision Centers across the country. HUD is also launching a mobile app to help HUD-assisted households find local resources through the EnVision Center network, and issuing a notice in the Federal Register to get input from the public.

“We have made connecting hard-working Michiganders with high-demand, high-wage careers in the professional trades a priority and I appreciate that my federal partners are doing the same with EnVision Centers,” Michigan Governor Rick Snyder said. “By helping people get the training necessary to succeed in these fields, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is helping individuals earn a great future for themselves and their families while addressing a growing talent gap in the job market.”

HOMELESSNESS DECLINES IN MOST COMMUNITIES OF THE U.S. WITH INCREASES REPORTED IN HIGH-COST AREAS

HUD press release issued 12/ 6/ 17

WASHINGTON - Homelessness crept up in the U.S., especially among individuals with long-term disabling conditions according to the latest national estimate by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). HUD’s 2017 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress found that 553,742 persons experienced homelessness on a single night in 2017, an increase of .7 percent since last year. Homelessness among families with children declined 5.4 percent nationwide since 2016, local communities report the number of persons experiencing long-term chronic homelessness and Veterans increased.

There is a great deal of variation in the data in different parts of the country, however, and many places continue to see reductions in homelessness. Thirty (30) states and the District of Columbia reported decreases in homelessness between 2016 and 2017. Challenges in some major metropolitan areas, however, have had a major impact on the national trend lines.

For example, the City and County of Los Angeles reported a nearly 26 percent increase in overall homelessness since 2016, primarily among those persons found in unsheltered locations. Meanwhile, New York City reported a 4.1 increase, principally among families in emergency shelters and transitional housing. Excluding these two areas, the estimated number of Veterans experiencing homeless in other parts of the nation decreased 3.1 percent since 2016.

“In many high-cost areas of our country, especially along the West Coast, the severe shortage of affordable housing is manifesting itself on our streets,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson. “With rents rising faster than incomes, we need to bring everybody to the table to produce more affordable housing and ease the pressure that is forcing too many of our neighbors into our shelters and onto our streets. This is not a federal problem-it’s everybody’s problem.”

“The fact that so many parts of the country are continuing to reduce homelessness gives us confidence that our strategies-and the dedicated efforts of communities to embrace best practices-have been working,” said Matthew Doherty, executive director of the U.S. Interagency Council of Homelessness. “At the same time, we know that some communities are facing challenges that require us to redouble our efforts across all levels of government and the public and private sectors, and we are committed to doing that work.”

“Our joint community-based homelessness efforts are working in most communities across the country. Despite a slight increase in overall Veteran homelessness, I am pleased that the majority of communities in the U.S. experienced declines over the past year,” said U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin. “VA remains committed to helping Veterans find stable housing. We will continue to identify innovative local solutions, especially in areas where higher rents have contributed to an increase in homelessness among Veterans.”

HUD’s national estimate is based upon data reported by approximately 3,000 cities and counties across the nation. Every year on a single night in January, planning agencies called ‘Continuums of Care” and tens of thousands of volunteers seek to identify the number of individuals and families living in emergency shelters, transitional housing programs and in unsheltered settings. These one-night ‘snapshot’ counts, as well as full-year counts and data from other sources (U.S. Housing Survey, Department of Education), are crucial in understanding the scope of homelessness and measuring progress toward reducing it.


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Secretary Nielsen Announces the Establishment of the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office---Home land Security release dated 12/ 7/ 12

WASHINGTON –Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen today announced the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office.  The CWMD Office will elevate and streamline DHS efforts to prevent terrorists and other national security threat actors from using harmful agents, such as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear material and devices to harm Americans and U.S. interests.

The office consolidates key DHS functions and will lead the Department’s efforts to counter WMD threats. It will also allow for greater policy coordination and strategic planning, as well as provide greater visibility for this critically important mission.

“The United States faces rising danger from terrorist groups and rogue nation states who could use chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents to harm Americans,” said Secretary Nielsen. “That’s why DHS is moving towards a more integrated approach, bringing together intelligence, operations, interagency engagement, and international action.  As terrorism evolves, we must stay ahead of the enemy and the establishment of this office is an important part of our efforts to do so.”

The United States faces a rising danger from threat actors who could use chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents to harm Americans or U.S. interests.  Intelligence analysis shows terrorist groups are actively pursuing WMD capabilities, are using battlefield environments to test them, and may be working to incorporate these methods into external operations in ways we have not seen previously.  Certain weapons of mass destruction, once viewed as out-of-reach for all but nation states, are now closer to being attained by non-state actors.  A terrorist attack using such a weapon against the United States would have a profound and potentially catastrophic impact on our nation and the world.

HHS announces the winners of the HHS Opioid Code-a-Thon

HHS press release dated 12/ 8/ 17

On December 6 and 7, HHS hosted a first-of-its-kind two-day Code-a-Thon to help turn data into lifesaving solutions to the opioid epidemic.
Fifty teams, comprised of three to five members of computer programmers, public health advocates, and innovators worked for over 24 hours to create data-driven solutions that can have immediate and practical impact on the opioid crisis.
“HHS’ code-a-thon was a major step forward in the efforts to use data to address the opioid crisis,” said Acting HHS Secretary Eric Hargan. “The innovative ideas developed today could turn into tomorrow’s solutions as we work to combat the scourge of opioid addiction sweeping the nation. On behalf of the administration, I commend all of our technology partners and the HHS staff for their hard work on this unprecedented event.”
HHS Chief Technology Officer Bruce Greenstein said, “We put the call out across the tech and entrepreneur communities to join us in Washington, D.C., so that we might multiply our combined skills and resources to combat the opioid epidemic. Over 300 coders answered the call and 50 teams joined us at HHS Headquarters to create a community that will continue to use data and technology to develop new solutions to address the epidemic.”

NASA Hosts Media Teleconference to Announce Latest Kepler Discovery

Press release issued 12/ 8/ 17

NASA will host a media teleconference at 1 p.m. EST Thursday, Dec. 14, to announce the latest discovery made by its planet-hunting Kepler space telescope. The discovery was made by researchers using machine learning from Google. Machine learning is an approach to artificial intelligence, and demonstrates new ways of analyzing Kepler data.

The briefing participants are:

Paul Hertz, Astrophysics Division director at NASA Headquarters in Washington
Christopher Shallue, senior software engineer at Google AI in Mountain View, California
Andrew Vanderburg, astronomer and NASA Sagan Postdoctoral Fellow at The University of Texas, Austin
Jessie Dotson, Kepler project scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley
For dial-in information, media must send their names, affiliations and phone numbers to Felicia Chou at felicia.chou@nasa.gov no later than noon Dec. 14. Questions can be submitted on Twitter during the teleconference using the hashtag #askNASA.
Teleconference audio and visuals will stream live at:

https://www.nasa.gov/live
When Kepler launched in March 2009, scientists didn’t know how common planets were beyond our solar system. Thanks to Kepler’s treasure trove of discoveries, astronomers now believe there may be at least one planet orbiting every star in the sky.
Kepler completed its prime mission in 2012 and went on to collect data for an additional year in an extended mission. In 2014, the spacecraft began a new extended mission called K2, which continues the search for planets outside our solar system, known as exoplanets, while introducing new research opportunities to study young stars, supernovae and other cosmic phenomena.

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Daily Bible Verse:  But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

Galatians 4:4-5 NKJV

 Free bible studies (WBS)

https://www.worldbibleschool.org/

Learn english using the bible as text (WEI)

http://www.worldenglishinstitute.org/

MONDAY'S BUSINESS AND FINANCE REPORT

Ahead of the Start of Negotiations on Republican Tax Plan, Senators Murray and Cantwell Demand Open & Transparent Process

Press release issued 12/ 8/ 17

(Washington, D.C.) –  In a new letter, Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate health committee, and Maria Cantwell (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, today joined Senate Democrats who will serve as conferees on the committee to negotiate the GOP’s tax bill to urge their fellow Republican conferees to conduct the conference in an open and transparent manner. The Senators said transparency has been missing from the legislative process thus far, as neither the House Ways and Means Committee nor the Senate Finance Committee have held any public hearings regarding the bills that were ultimately reported out and debated in their respective chambers. The Senators said a bill that would have such an enormous impact on the American economy deserves to see the light of day. The Senators therefore demanded the conference conduct at least three open public meetings, that all members on the committee be given a full opportunity to offer amendments and to secure roll call votes on all amendments, and that a final conference report, including analyses from tax experts at the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT), be approved and made public.
In addition to Senators Murray and Cantwell, the Democrats who penned this letter include Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Tom Carper (D-DE).
A copy of their letter appears below:
Dear Fellow Conferees,
We write to you regarding our upcoming negotiations and work on H.R. 1, the reconciliation vehicle for the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.  We request that the conference be conducted with a level of transparency and consideration commensurate with the enormous scope and implications of this bill, which has been missing from the legislative process thus far.  Specifically, there should be several public conference meetings held in the open, with meaningful opportunity for public input and with the benefit of a complete analysis by Congress's nonpartisan budget experts.

Foremost, it is critical that this process and all negotiations be done publicly, in full view of the American people.  Neither the Ways and Means Committee nor the Finance Committee held any public hearings regarding the bills that were ultimately reported out and debated in their respective chambers.  Debating these crucial topics out in the open - rather than behind closed doors - would allow the American people the ability to stay informed about changes to the tax code that will have a significant impact on many facets of their lives.  Specifically, we request that the conference conduct at least three open public meetings, and that all members of the conference be given a full opportunity at such meetings to offer amendments and to secure roll call votes on all amendments, as well as on final approval of the conference report.  It would be outrageous if legislation of this magnitude is again put together in secret, without the public's knowledge or input.

We also believe that before the conference report is finalized, conferees and the public should have a complete analysis of the proposed language from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT).  Such an analysis should include a standard score, so we understand the costs of its provisions and their impact on the budget deficit.  It also should evaluate the legislation's macroeconomic effects, so we know whether there is any truth to claims that the legislation "pays for itself."  Additionally, since the Congressional Budget Office already estimated that this legislation would result in tens of millions of patients losing health care coverage and substantial premium increases, the conference should also wait for an analysis of its impact on the health care system.  Finally, the analysis should include a complete description of the bill's distributional effects, including an analysis that illustrates what percentage of taxpayers will see a tax increase or tax decrease and the magnitude of the change.   It is essential that members have a full and non-partisan understanding of the legislation being presented, before any member is compelled to vote on a conference report.

Last week, the Senate passed a bill rife with hand-written edits in the margins in the middle of the night.  Predictably, this rush to passage produced mistakes amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars that conferees will now have to fix and may have led to new loopholes ripe for exploitation.  Americans cannot risk their financial futures and our economy to such haphazard and slapdash legislating.

We know that many of us disagree about the merits of policies that would lead to tax increases on the middle class, tax breaks for large corporations and the very wealthy, and the despoiling of a pristine wilderness refuge.  But we should all agree that changes of this scale should be done the right way, with a full opportunity for open, public dialogue, and complete information from non-partisan analysts about the bill's effects.

Cantwell, DelBene to FCC Chairman: “Abandon Your Ill-Conceived & Rash Plan to Dismantle the Strong and Robust Net Neutrality Rules”

Press release issued 12/ 9/ 17

Seattle, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) sent a letter to Federal Communications Commissioner Ajit Pai urging him to do his job and drop his misguided attempt at repealing net neutrality rules.
“Undoing the existing strong net neutrality rules will harm our economy and is the exact opposite of the FCC’s mission to protect the public interest and promote access to networks,” said Sen. Cantwell and Rep. DelBene. “The FCC’s proper stewardship of our communications networks is more important than ever for continued job growth stemming from the booming internet economy.”
Sen. Cantwell and Rep. DelBene are particularly concerned about how Washington’s economy will be affected if Pai follows through on his goals to shackle the free and open internet. A quarter of a million jobs and 13% of the state’s economy are dependent on a robust, vibrant Internet economy.
Over 400,000 Washingtonians, recognizing the importance of net neutrality to Washington state’s economy, have filed comments with the FCC concerning the plan.
“Weakening the internet economy will be particularly harmful to the economy of Washington state. On behalf of all Washingtonians and consumers and innovators that rely on toll free access to a free and open internet, we strongly urge you to make the right decision and stand up for the consumers you committed to protect when you took your oath of office,” the members of Congress continued.
Sen. Cantwell and Rep. DelBene issued their appeal with tech leaders at Seattle’s Galvanize, a Seattle coworking space featuring a mix of entrepreneurs, programmers, data scientists, and others who thrive on the free and open internet.
Net neutrality protections make sure we have an open and free internet and prohibit cable companies and service providers from slowing down or blocking content, applications or websites.

The full letter to Chairman Pai is below.

Dear Chairman Pai:
We write to urge you to abandon your ill-conceived and rash plan to dismantle the strong and robust net neutrality rules that have fueled the growth of our $1 trillion internet economy. The internet economy is now over 7% of US GDP and employs almost 7 million people.
Moreover, the internet economy has grown faster than any other sector in the U.S., having boosted employment while many other industries in the U.S. were shedding jobs in the last economic downturn. It is undisputed that our strong, robust open internet drove this tremendous economic growth.
The mission of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is to promote the use and deployment of communications in the public interest, and the job of the FCC Chairman is to make sure that mission is being carried out. Undoing the existing strong net neutrality rules will harm our economy and is the exact opposite of the FCC’s mission to protect the public interest and promote access to networks.
Weakening the internet economy will be particularly harmful to the economy of Washington state. The internet economy is responsible for 13% of Washington state’s economic output. A quarter of a million jobs in Washington state depend on the continued good health and vibrancy of our internet economy.
The “App Economy,” which consists of everybody who makes money and has a job thanks to mobile apps powered by an open internet, is another example of the power of the internet economy made possible by the existing net neutrality rules. Today, 1.7 million Americans have jobs because of the App Economy.  Nearly 92,000 of those jobs are in Washington state.
The FCC’s proper stewardship of our communications networks is more important than ever for continued job growth stemming from the booming internet economy. 
On behalf of all Washingtonians and the consumers and innovators who rely on toll free access to a free and open internet, we strongly urge you to make the right decision and stand up for the consumers you committed to protect when you took your oath of office.



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CFPB Drama Underscores Need for Greater Accountability

Blog posting from the US Chamber of Commerce---THOMAS J. DONOHUE
President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

A legal battle broke out over control of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) late last month. Upon resigning, former Director Richard Cordray attempted to install his own successor, while President Trump named Mick Mulvaney acting director to oversee the agency until a permanent director is nominated and confirmed by the Senate. Confusion, chaos, and legal challenges ensued.

The D.C. District Court weighed in and was right to confirm the legitimacy of Director Mulvaney, though the litigation is ongoing. The Federal Vacancies Reform Act clearly states that the president has the power to install an interim director who has been Senate confirmed for another position. Even the CFPB’s own general counsel—who was hired by former Director Cordray—indicated she “advised  all bureau personnel to act consistently with the understanding that Director Mulvaney is the Acting Director of the CFPB.”

Although we were pleased with the initial legal outcome, this is not how good government is supposed to work. The drama has been a paralyzing distraction, preventing the bureau from focusing on what really matters: consumer protection and economic growth. And it could have been prevented if the agency, created under Dodd-Frank, had been structured to maximize accountability, transparency, and certainty. But it wasn’t.

The Chamber has long argued that the CFPB’s structure does not allow for appropriate checks and balances. The succession battle makes it clear that this agency should be led by a bipartisan commission—not a single, all-powerful director who isn’t subject to congressional oversight or funding authority—consistent with other banking and consumer protection agencies.

Businesses need transparency and consistency from government to thrive, create jobs, and build innovative new products and services. Until now, the CFPB has failed to provide it. For the past six years, the financial marketplace has been starved for clear rules of the road. Instead of delineating clear standards, the bureau has played in the gray area of regulating through enforcement.

With new leadership set to take the reins of the CFPB, an important opportunity exists to strengthen the agency. It should embrace transparent, narrowly tailored rules based on robust economic analysis. It should promote consumer choice of financial products and services. And it should coordinate with other regulators to streamline processes and minimize burdens.

In the meantime, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce looks forward to working with acting Director Mulvaney to move beyond the chaos and help bring certainty, transparency, and accountability to the CFPB and its work.

The Alternative Minimum Tax Bombshell, Part 2: The Critics Strike Back

Earlier this week, the U.S. Chamber wrote about the last minute, unpleasant surprise the Senate inserted into its tax reform bill – the return of the alternative minimum tax (AMT). We noted the harm it imposes as well as the threat to America’s tax competitiveness its reappearance brings.

In effect, for many companies the AMT would become the primary tax system while the “regular” income tax would become the backstop system. No policy justification exists for reintroducing the AMT, which has been on most analysts “bad policy” list for many years. The Senate brought the AMT back from the dead for one simple reason – they were short of money. Oddly enough, much the same reason the individual AMT in its current form was adopted in the 1986 tax reform act.

Quite a few people agreed with our criticisms of retaining the AMT. The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, The Hill, The Washington Post, the Washington Examiner, the Financial Times, Business Insider, and The Washington Times all took notice, as did the rest of the business community in loud and in no uncertain terms. Like us, they had quite a lot to say about the adverse impacts of this stealth tax.----US Chamber of Commerce blog post dated 12/ 8/ 17 (read more)

Small Business Tax Reform is Imperative to Economic Growth

When I founded my small business, Cuisine Unlimited Catering & Special Events, in Salt Lake City, Utah, I wasn’t thinking about economic growth and tax rates. I just wanted to serve my local customers and the community.
Fast forward 37 years, and my passion for the business prompted my involvement in our local chamber of commerce and then my work with the U.S. Chamber. Now, as chair of its Small Business Council, I am paying close attention to the tax reform advancing through Congress on behalf of the millions of businesses represented by the U.S. Chamber. ---From the US Chamber of Commerce read full article here


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Department of Commerce Named Third Best Place to Work in Government – Work Force Focused on Promoting Economic Agenda

Press release issued 12/ 7/ 17

The U.S. Department of Commerce was named the third best place to work in the federal government among large agencies in a survey released by the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit, non-partisan organization.

This ranking, which represents a 1.3 percentage point increase in index score from 2016 to 2017, makes clear that the Agency's work force is focused on promoting job creation and economic growth by ensuring fair and secure trade, providing the data necessary to support commerce, and fostering innovation by setting standards and conducting foundational research and development.

“This year the Department achieved its highest score since this survey began in 2003,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “Every employee here is dedicating themselves to not only public service, but also to promoting the United States economic agenda for the American worker.”

The Best Places to Work rankings are based on responses from nearly 700,000 federal workers, as well as data from the Office of Personnel Management’s annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey, which was administered May through June 2017 to permanent executive branch employees. Additional employee survey data from 10 agencies, including the intelligence community, are included in the results. This is the 12th edition of the Best Places to Work rankings, which began in 2003.

US DEPT. OF LABOR: STATEMENT BY U.S. SECRETARY OF LABOR ACOSTA ON NOVEMBER JOBS REPORT

Press release issued 12/ 8/ 17
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta issued the following statement on the November 2017 Employment Situation report:

“November’s jobs report shows steady growth fueled by optimism about the pro-growth, pro-jobs policies being advanced by President Trump’s Administration. Last month, the American economy added 228,000 jobs. Since January, the economy has added 1.7 million jobs.

“The unemployment rate remains at a 17-year low of 4.1%. The unemployment rate in manufacturing dropped to 2.6%, the lowest ever recorded. The unemployment rate among Hispanics dropped to 4.7%, the lowest ever recorded. The unemployment rate for individuals with less than a high school diploma dropped to 5.2%, also the lowest ever recorded. While the unemployment rate remains low, wage growth at 2.5% is below expectations. Stronger wage growth will put more dollars in the pockets of working Americans.
“For two consecutive quarters, GDP growth topped 3%. Consumer confidence is at a 17-year high1. Since Election Day, November 2016, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has moved from 18,000-plus to over 24,000, an increase of more than 30%. This economic growth has increased the value of Americans’ 401(k) and retirement accounts.
“Job creation, wage growth, and retirement savings drive prosperity and financial security. Strong growth in all is necessary.”

THE FED: Federal Reserve Board announces final plans for the production of three new reference rates based on overnight repurchase agreement (repo) transactions secured by Treasury securities

Press release issued 12/ 8/ 17
The Federal Reserve Board on Friday announced final plans for the production of three new reference rates based on overnight repurchase agreement (repo) transactions secured by Treasury securities. The three reference rates will be produced by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY), in cooperation with the U.S. Office of Financial Research.

The Federal Reserve Board had previously sought public comment on the proposed production of these rates. In response to comments received, the FRBNY has adjusted its expected daily publication time and now plans to publish the rates no later than 8 a.m. ET. As previously indicated by the FRBNY, publication of the rates is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2018. The attached Federal Register Notice also clarifies details related to the governance and calculation of the rates.

As in the original proposal, each rate will be calculated as a volume-weighted median of transacted rates. The most comprehensive of the rates, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR), will be a broad measure of overnight Treasury financing transactions and was selected by the Alternative Reference Rates Committee as its recommended alternative to U.S. dollar LIBOR. SOFR will include triparty repo data from Bank of New York Mellon (BNYM) and cleared bilateral and GCF Repo data from the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC).

Another rate, the Triparty General Collateral Rate (TGCR) will be based solely on triparty repo data from BNYM. The final rate, the Broad General Collateral Rate (BGCR) will be based on the triparty repo data from BNYM and GCF Repo data from DTCC.

The three interest rates will be constructed to reflect the cost of short-term secured borrowing in highly liquid and robust markets. Because these rates are based on transactions secured by Treasury securities, they are essentially risk-free rates, providing a valuable benchmark for market participants to use in financial transactions.

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IRS: IRS Statement - Secure Access

Press release issued 12/ 8/ 17

IRS Statement
The Internal Revenue Service today announced that taxpayers may resume creating new accounts for Get Transcript Online and certain other online tools that are protected by Secure Access authentication. Taxpayers also may use their IRS2Go app to access their accounts by using a new “Security” feature. This “Security” feature will allow the app to generate a unique security code without being connected to the internet. Taxpayers must perform a one-time registration process for the app while connected to the Web.

Use of Secure Access to create new accounts was suspended recently as the IRS transitioned to a new identity-proofing vendor, Experian. Existing users were not affected. The transition has been completed and all Secure Access protected tools will be available to new users starting Dec. 10.

Secure Access helps protect online tools in two ways: it has a more rigorous identity-proofing process which helps ensure the users are who they say they are, and it requires returning users to use a two-factor access process by entering their credentials (username and password) plus a security code sent as a text message to their mobile phone or a security code generated by the new IRS2Go app feature. This two-factor authentication process meets required federal standards for protecting information.

e-Services
The IRS also will extend Secure Access protections to e-Services, which is a suite of online tools for tax professionals, including electronic filing, transcript delivery systems and taxpayer identification number matching. Because these are all sensitive tools and because tax professionals increasingly are targeted by cybercriminals, Secure Access will strengthen protections for e-Services and for taxpayer data.

This means all e-Services users who do not currently have a Secure Access account must re-register using the more rigorous Secure Access process starting Dec. 10. e-Services users may learn more at Important Update about Your e-Services Account.

Tax professionals also will have the option of using the IRS2Go “Security” feature, which will help those who lack internet access.

Treasury Releases Analysis of Revenue Estimates Associated with Administration Economic Policies

Press release issued 12/ 11/ 17
Washington – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today released a summary analysis from the Office of Tax Policy (OTP) of the expected tax receipts associated with the Administration’s economic growth initiatives.  Among the key findings is that $1.8 trillion of additional revenue would be generated over 10 years based upon expected growth.

“We are pleased to release an analysis demonstrating the revenue impact of the Administration’s economic agenda.  The Administration has been focused on tax reform and broader economic policies to stimulate growth, which will generate significant long-term revenue for the government,” said U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin.

The work done by OTP has been critical to Treasury’s contributions to The Unified Framework released in September 2017.  We appreciate that OTP has been also providing important technical assistance to the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee as tax reform has proceeded.

FTC Obtains Court Order Banning Debt Collectors from Debt Collection Business

Press release issued 12/ 6/ 17

Three defendants who allegedly posed as lawyers and falsely threatened to sue people or have them arrested for failing to pay on debts they did not owe are banned from the debt collection business under a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission.

The settlement resolves an FTC complaint filed in July 2017, alleging that the defendants told consumers they were attorneys or calling from a law firm and that a lawsuit or criminal action had been filed or soon would be filed against them. The FTC also alleged that, to coerce some people into paying the phantom debts, the defendants threatened them with prison time or claimed police would come to their house to arrest them. The court halted the operation and froze its assets pending litigation.

Under the settlement order, Hardco Holding Group LLC, S&H Financial Group Inc. and Daryl M. Hall (all doing business as Alliance Law Group) are banned from participating in debt collection activities, buying or selling consumer or commercial debt, and trading in consumer information related to a debt. They are also prohibited from making misrepresentations about any product or service, profiting from consumers’ personal information obtained from any debt collection activities, and failing to dispose of consumers’ information properly.

The order imposes a $702,059 judgment that will be partially suspended upon the surrender of certain assets. The full judgment will become due immediately if the defendants are found to have misrepresented their financial condition. Litigation continues against the remaining defendant, Dequan M. Sicard.

The Commission vote approving the proposed stipulated order was 2-0. The U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Orlando Division entered the order on December 5, 2017.

NOTE: Stipulated final orders have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court judge.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357). Like the FTC on Facebook (link is external), follow us on Twitter (link is external), read our blogs and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.




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WASH. COMMERCE: Gov. Inslee to kick off year-long Washington Maritime BLUE effort

Press release issued 12/ 8/ 17
The Blue Economy is taking off around the world: Norway’s ships are humming to electric engines, Germany’s ports are paving the future of efficiency and automation, and Port of Los Angeles/Long beach is constructing the world’s first zero emission terminal.

Washington state will be next. Our state will be home to the nation’s most sustainable maritime industry by 2050.

On December 12, Governor Jay Inslee will kick off a year-long Washington Maritime BLUE effort to develop a strategy and potential pilot projects that could range from electrification of the Washington State Ferries, to emission reduction initiatives at port facilities, to development of an inclusive, diverse workforce. Leading this effort will be a 20-member Governor’s Maritime Innovation Advisory Council –composed of business, government, ports, research, labor, Tribal and environmental leaders.

Inslee awards $6.4 million to 11 communities to create apprenticeship and career connections for 29,000 youth

Press release from the ESD dated 12/ 8/ 17

Grants support the governor’s Career Connect Washington initiative

Job shadowing, internships and apprenticeships are just a few of the career connections that will become available to 29,000 students thanks to $6.4 million in new Career Connect Washington grant funding.

The awardees expect to create 29,000 new career connected learning experiences in 11 communities from now through September 2019. These include STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning experiences, job shadows at local employers, career planning, and over 4,800 new internships, pre-apprenticeships, and registered apprenticeships.

“A four-year degree isn’t the only path to a fulfilling career,” Gov. Jay Inslee said. “Business leaders have told us they are looking for talent in everything from information technology to health care. And that’s what this initiative is all about: connecting students to great employers and high-quality job training.”

The initiative expands registered apprenticeship programs and puts a new focus on youth registered apprenticeships. The awardees expect to move over 1,400 young people, plus more than 400 adults, into new apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships in fields such as advanced manufacturing, health care, agricultural irrigation systems, building trades, IT and maritime manufacturing.

“This is the most critical commitment to apprenticeships for young people and adults the state has made in almost a decade, and we hope to see more in the future,” said Lynn Strickland, Executive Director of the Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC).

Local workforce development councils and STEM networks led local application teams, which brought businesses together with schools, apprenticeships, community and technical colleges, and local youth organizations to connect youth with local employers.

The grants support the Career Connect Washington initiative Inslee launched May 31 at the Governor’s Summit on Career Connected Learning, which attracted more than 1,200 participants from 27 sites around the state. The initiative’s goal is to connect 100,000 students during the next five years with employer internships, registered apprenticeships, and other career connected learning to prepare them for high-demand jobs.

“It’s all about jobs, and Career Connect Washington means thousands of young people getting good jobs, living rewarding lives, and not going through the difficulties of unemployment,” said Tim Probst, Director of Workforce Initiatives for the Washington State Employment Security Department.

Inslee’s Career Connect Washington Task Force includes representation from employers, labor, and the public sector. It is co-chaired by Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, and Perry England, chair of the Workforce Board and a vice president at MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions. Several task force members were part of Inslee’s recent apprenticeship study mission to Switzerland.

“Washington is committed to expanding career connected learning and youth registered apprenticeships. These opportunities change lives for young people and make our economy grow,” England said. “The Career Connect Washington proposals showed a commitment to these goals and a level of local partnership that is unprecedented in this state.”

This $6.4 million in federal funds is the second investment in Career Connect Washington, following a $1 million investment by JP Morgan Chase in May.

Representatives from business, labor, apprenticeship programs, the Office of the Governor, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Employment Security Department, Washington STEM, the Department of Labor and Industries, the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, and the state Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board developed the grant criteria and made recommendations on funding to the governor.

The Office of the Governor awarded the grants as follows:

$1.3 million to Career Connect Seattle-King County

Career Connect Seattle-King County focuses on providing relevant experiences across the continuum of career awareness, exploration, preparation and training for all youth, with an emphasis on underrepresented populations. The proposal partners with Highline and Seattle Public Schools, along with Open Doors sites, while engaging business and expanding apprenticeship pathways for youth and adults across the aerospace, culinary, allied health and construction sectors.



Career Connect Northwest will deliver sequenced career learning experiences and expanded apprenticeship opportunities to nearly 900 young adults, including mentorship opportunities, informational interviews, job shadows and structured work based activity. The project will expand existing career connected learning programs such as the Washington Apprenticeship Vocation Training Tour. The project will expand five existing apprenticeships while creating two new apprenticeship programs, resulting in 45 new apprenticeship opportunities annually.



$854,547 to Career Connect North Central (Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan counties)

Career Connect North Central addresses the challenges of a large rural region by creating career connect teams in the region’s three labor market subareas of health care, manufacturing and computer science. Using lessons learned from the Wenatchee Learns Connect initiative, which has garnered statewide acclaim, the Workforce Development Council, Apple STEM Network, business champions, local employers, partner agencies, school districts and post-secondary institutions will create high-quality career connected learning experiences for youth and new apprenticeship opportunities.





Career Connect Tacoma-Pierce County will collaborate with WorkForce Central, Bates and Clover Park Technical Colleges, sheet metal and carpenters labor organizations, AJAC, Associated General Contractors Educational Foundation, the Construction Center of Excellence, ResCare Workforce Services, and the Tacoma STEAM Network (science, technology, engineering, art and math). The group will provide youth and young adults with a multitude of experiences that include career connected learning opportunities, sector training in growth occupations, and apprenticeships. The project focuses on creating new registered apprenticeship programs as well as expanding youth and young adult enrollment into existing apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs.


$831,984 to Career Connect South Central (Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania and Yakima counties)

Career Connect South Central partners with STEM champions from local business and industry, education, government, apprenticeship-sponsoring organizations, and community organizations to provide equitable access to high-quality career connected learning experiences to rural and underserved youth. Through internships, expanded and newly developed apprenticeship programs, job shadows, career exploration events, networking opportunities and the development of interest-driven career plans, participating youth will seamlessly enter high-demand STEM jobs in Washington.


$740,000 to Career Connect Southwest (Clark, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties)

This grant will activate the region’s rich expertise in career connected learning by continuing work done through YouthWorks to dramatically increase internships and work-based learning opportunities for youth. These strong partnerships will continue to build long-lasting registered apprenticeships in the high-growth and in-demand field of health care through partnerships with Peace Health, Rebound Orthopedics, Kaiser Permanente and Great Rivers Behavioral Health. Career Connect Southwest will expand the AJAC registered apprenticeship program in rural Cowlitz County through partnerships with Lower Columbia College and Millennium Bulk Terminals.


$263,303 to Career Connect Eastern Washington (Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens and Walla Walla counties)

Career Connect Eastern Washington will provide students in Ferry, Pend Oreille and Stevens counties with 90-hour internships in natural resources, including in forestry and water and soil conservation. Students matched with a mentor will develop and conduct FieldSTEM investigations, present their career plan and project to various community groups, and then lead additional youth FieldSTEM investigations. This regional will work with employers to convert forest products internships into registered apprenticeships – youth or adult – and will work with additional partners to convert existing apprenticeships into youth registered apprenticeships.



$150,000 each to Career Connect Olympic Peninsula (Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap counties), Career Connect Pacific Mountain (Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Thurston counties), Career Connect Snohomish County, and Career Connect Spokane County

These regional teams will continue to refine their local design with a strong focus on identifying employers willing to expand or launch registered apprenticeships for youth and adults, internships and pre-application slots.

Career Connect Olympic Peninsula media contacts: Elizabeth Court, Director, Olympic Consortium, 360-337-4767 or Kareen Borders, West Sound STEM Network Director, borders@skschools.org, 360-874-7059
Career Connect Pacific Mountain media contacts: Julie Baxter, Strategic Initiatives Navigator, Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council (WDC), 360-570-4273 or Wes Pruitt, Capital STEAM Network Director, wespruittis@gmail.com, 360-584-2428
Career Connect Snohomish media contacts: Erin Monroe, Chief Executive Officer, Workforce Snohomish, 425-921-3423 or Kandace Barnes, Snohomish STEM Network Director, kandaceb@snohomishSTEM.org, 206-755-7417
Career Connect Spokane media contacts: Mark Mattke, Chief Executive Officer, Spokane Area WDC, 509-533-8470 or Meg Lindsay, Spokane STEM Network Director, mlindsay@greaterspokane.org, 509-321-3611

New Unemployment Tax Rates Released

Press release issued 12/ 7/ 17

81 percent of employers will have the same tax rate or lower

OLYMPIA – The Employment Security Department has issued 2018 tax rate notices to employers and updated our website with all the new information.

Tax rates in all 40 rate classes remained the same as in 2017, ranging from 0.10 to 5.7 percent (not counting delinquency taxes). About 81 percent of employers will move into a lower rate class or stay the same in 2018.

Highlights

25 percent of Washington employers will have a lower tax rate in 2018, 56 percent will remain the same, and 19 percent will move to a higher rate class.
The average tax rate will decrease from an estimated 1.21 percent in 2017 to an estimated 1.10 percent in 2018. The average total tax paid per employee will decline by $15 to $215 per year.
About 41 percent of all taxable employers are in rate class 1, taxed at 0.10 percent. Ninety percent of employers in rate class 1 have five or fewer employees.
The experience rated portion of the 2018 unemployment tax (paid by rate classes 2 and higher) will be based on benefit payouts from July 2013 through June 2017.
Unemployment tax collections are estimated to decrease from $1.06 billion in 2017 to about $952 million in 2018.
Employers will pay unemployment taxes on the first $47,300 of each employee’s earnings in 2018. For an employee earning $47,300 or more, the total tax for the year will range from $61 (employers in rate class 1) to $2,706 (rate class 40).



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