Securing Your Legacy: How Fideicomiso Beneficiary Rights Work for American Heirs

Your parents cherished their beachfront home in Cabo, a place filled with sun-drenched memories and the sound of the waves. Now, it’s yours to inherit. But as you look at the paperwork, you see the property is held in something called a fideicomiso. What does that mean? How do you navigate a foreign legal system to ensure this precious part of their legacy is secured without a cascade of legal headaches?

For many American heirs, inheriting property in Mexico can feel daunting. The legal system operates differently, the language can be a barrier, and the fear of a complex, costly, and time-consuming process is very real. This uncertainty can cast a shadow over what should be a straightforward inheritance.

This guide is designed to lift that shadow. We will demystify the fideicomiso, explain exactly how beneficiary rights work, and provide a clear, step-by-step roadmap for American heirs. At naswpressonline.org, we specialize in providing clear, expert-driven information to help Americans navigate complex international financial and legal topics. We believe that securing your family’s legacy, no matter where it is, should be straightforward and accessible.

What is a Fideicomiso? (And Why It’s Your Key to Mexican Property)

Before diving into the inheritance process, it’s essential to understand the structure you’re working with. The fideicomiso is not a complication; it’s the established, secure legal solution that makes foreign ownership of prime Mexican real estate possible.

The “Restricted Zone” Explained

The foundation of the fideicomiso system lies in the Mexican Constitution. Article 27 establishes a “Restricted Zone” where direct ownership of land by foreigners is prohibited. This zone is a significant portion of the country’s most desirable real estate.

Restricted Zone: A territory defined as any land within 100 kilometers (about 62 miles) of Mexico’s international borders and within 50 kilometers (about 31 miles) of its coastlines.

To foster foreign investment while upholding this constitutional principle, the Mexican government created the fideicomiso in 1973. This legal instrument allows a designated Mexican bank to hold the official title to a property while granting all rights of ownership—to use, enjoy, sell, lease, and improve the property—to a foreign beneficiary. For a deeper dive into how this trust works, our guide on the fideicomiso demystified offers a comprehensive overview.

The 3 Key Players in Your Fideicomiso

Every fideicomiso involves three distinct parties, and understanding their roles is key to navigating the process.

Fideicomitente (The Settlor)

This is the individual who establishes the trust. In most cases, this is the original foreign buyer of the property.

Fiduciario (The Trustee)

This must be a licensed Mexican financial institution (a bank). The bank holds the legal title to the property in name only, acting as a trustee. They have no rights to the property itself and must act on the instructions of the beneficiary.

Fideicomisario (The Beneficiary): This is the person who holds the rights to the property. They are the true “owner” in every practical sense. This role is further divided into the primary beneficiary (the owner during their lifetime) and the substitute beneficiary (the heir).

Fideicomiso vs. a U.S. Trust: The Critical Differences

Many Americans mistakenly assume a fideicomiso works just like a U.S.-based living trust. This assumption is the source of significant confusion and potential legal problems. The two structures are fundamentally different, especially concerning inheritance.

The most critical distinction is this: A U.S. will or living trust has absolutely no legal standing over a property held in a fideicomiso. The inheritance is dictated only by the beneficiary clause written directly into the fideicomiso deed.

How Fideicomiso Beneficiary Rights Work for American Heirs

The beauty of a properly structured fideicomiso is its efficiency in estate succession. It’s designed to be an out-of-court process, transferring property rights directly to the designated heir.

Primary vs. Substitute Beneficiaries: The Heart of Your Legacy

The beneficiary clause is the engine of your inheritance plan. It must be clear, current, and precise.

Primary Beneficiary (Fideicomisario en Primer Lugar)

This is the owner or owners of the property during their lifetime. They hold all the rights to use, control, and profit from the property.

Substitute Beneficiary (Fideicomisario Sustituto)

This is the person or persons designated to inherit the beneficiary rights automatically upon the death of the primary beneficiary. This is the heir.

Naming a substitute beneficiary is not just a suggestion; it is the fundamental step that ensures the property passes to your intended heir without involving a lengthy and expensive court process.

The Step-by-Step Process for American Heirs to Claim Property

If you are the named substitute beneficiary, the path to securing your inheritance is a clear administrative procedure. While it requires professional guidance, it avoids the uncertainty of probate.

• Step 1: Official Notification and Documentation. The first step is to formally notify the trustee bank (Fiduciario) of the primary beneficiary’s death. You will need to provide two key documents:

  

  • An original, apostilled death certificate. An apostille is a form of international certification recognized by countries that are part of the Hague Convention, including the U.S. and Mexico. It authenticates the document for use in a foreign country.
  • Your official government-issued identification (e.g., a U.S. passport).

• Step 2: Engaging a Notario Público. In Mexico, a Notario Público is a highly qualified, government-appointed lawyer who holds a position of significant public trust. They are legally required to oversee and formalize real estate transactions, including inheritance transfers. Your Notario will draft the necessary documents, verify all legal requirements are met, and ensure the transfer is properly recorded in the public registry.

• Step 3: Paying Applicable Fees and Taxes. While Mexico does not currently have a federal inheritance tax, the transfer is not without cost. As the heir, you will be responsible for paying:

  • Trustee Bank Fees: The bank charges a fee for processing the transfer of rights.
  • Notario Público Fees: These are the legal fees for the notary’s services.
  • Property Acquisition Tax (ISAI): This is a state-level tax calculated on the value of the property. The rate varies by state but is typically between 2% and 5%.

• Step 4: Signing the New Deed. Once all documents are prepared and taxes are paid, the Notario will schedule a signing. You will sign the new deed, which officially transfers the beneficiary rights of the fideicomiso into your name. At this point, the legacy is secured, and you become the new primary beneficiary.

Securing Your Legacy: Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

The fideicomiso system is robust, but its simplicity depends on proper setup and maintenance. Here are the most common mistakes that can complicate the inheritance process for American heirs.

Mistake #1: Assuming Your U.S. Will is Enough

• The Problem: Many American property owners believe that naming an heir for their Mexican home in their U.S. will is sufficient.
• The Reality: As stated before, Mexican property held in a fideicomiso is governed by Mexican law. A U.S. will is irrelevant for this specific asset. If the fideicomiso does not name a substitute beneficiary, the property will be forced into a Mexican probate process, defeating the purpose of the trust structure.
• The Solution: Ignore your U.S. will for this purpose. The only document that matters is the fideicomiso deed. Ensure it names your chosen heir.

Mistake #2: Outdated or Vague Beneficiary Information

• The Problem: Life changes. A fideicomiso created 20 years ago might name an ex-spouse, a beneficiary who has since passed away, or use unclear language like “my children” without naming them individually. This ambiguity can lead to disputes and legal challenges.
• The Solution: Review your fideicomiso documents every 3-5 years, and always after a major life event like a marriage, divorce, birth, or death in the family. Amending the beneficiary clause is a simple administrative process that your Mexican lawyer can handle.

Mistake #3: Not Planning for a Contingency

• The Problem: You’ve named your spouse as your substitute beneficiary. But what happens if you are both involved in a common accident, or if your spouse passes away before you and you forget to update the fideicomiso?
• The Solution: Name contingent (or secondary) substitute beneficiaries. This creates a clear line of succession. For example, you could name your spouse as the first substitute beneficiary and your children as the contingent beneficiaries who would inherit if your spouse is unable to. This simple step provides an essential safety net and prevents the property from falling into an intestate succession process.

The Bigger Picture: Your Fideicomiso and International Estate Planning

Owning property in Mexico means your financial life has an international component. Integrating this asset into your overall estate plan is a mark of sophisticated financial management.

Integrating Mexican Assets into Your Overall Financial Plan

While the fideicomiso operates under Mexican law for transfer purposes, the value of the property is still part of your overall net worth. For high-net-worth individuals, this can have U.S. estate tax implications. It is crucial to consult with a U.S.-based tax professional or estate planning attorney who has experience with foreign assets to understand how your Mexican property fits into your complete financial picture.

Why Expert Guidance is Non-Negotiable

Navigating cross-border law, language barriers, and bureaucratic processes is not a DIY project. The potential for costly errors is high. Working with a qualified Mexican attorney and a reputable Notario Público is essential for both the initial setup of a fideicomiso and for the subsequent inheritance process. Their expertise is an investment that saves your heirs immeasurable time, money, and stress down the road.

naswpressonline.org’s Commitment to Cross-Border Clarity

At naswpressonline.org, our goal is to empower you with the knowledge to make informed decisions. Navigating international property and estate law is a prime example of where clear, reliable information is crucial for protecting your family and your assets. We are committed to breaking down these complex topics into understandable, actionable guidance.

A Legacy Secured is Peace of Mind

The fideicomiso is a powerful, secure, and effective vehicle for owning property in Mexico. Far from being a hurdle, its structure is specifically designed to make inheritance a straightforward and predictable process for American heirs. It allows a treasured family asset to pass to the next generation without the delays and costs of court intervention.

The key, however, is proactivity. The entire system hinges on the property owner taking the simple step of clearly designating their heirs within the trust document itself. A simple review of your beneficiary designations today can save your loved ones immense stress and expense tomorrow.

If you own property in Mexico, make it a priority to pull out your fideicomiso documents and verify your beneficiaries are current and correct. If you are an heir who has recently inherited a property, your first step should be to gather the necessary documents and seek qualified legal advice in Mexico to begin the smooth and efficient transfer process. Your legacy deserves nothing less.

Your Career Blueprint: How to Evaluate the Training and Support Offered by a Real Estate Franchise

More than 80% of new real estate agents fail within their first five years. According to industry analysis of data from the National Association of REALTORS®, the number could be as high as 87%. The number one reason isn’t a lack of ambition—it’s a lack of effective training and support.

Choosing a real estate franchise is one of the most critical decisions you will make for your career. In a sea of glossy brochures and compelling sales pitches, the promises can sound amazing. But how do you separate marketing hype from genuine, career-building value? How do you find a brokerage that will truly invest in your growth, not just collect a desk fee?

This guide provides an expert framework to cut through the noise. We will give you the exact questions to ask and the key areas to investigate so you can confidently evaluate the training and support offered by any real estate franchise. By the end, you’ll be equipped to choose a partner that doesn’t just give you a logo, but gives you a launchpad for lasting success.

Key Takeaways

• Training is Your Business Plan: A real estate license teaches you the law; a great franchise teaches you how to build a profitable business through structured onboarding, ongoing education, and practical skill development.
• Support is Your Safety Net: The human element—accessible brokers, structured mentorship, and a collaborative culture—is just as critical as formal training. This is the system that helps you navigate complex deals and avoid costly mistakes.
• Look Beyond the Brand: A famous logo is meaningless without a robust local office dedicated to agent success. Your primary focus should be on the specific resources, people, and systems available to you day-to-day.
• Due Diligence is Non-Negotiable: You must interview multiple franchises, speak directly with their current agents (both new and tenured), and scrutinize the fine print to understand the true cost and value of their programs.

Why a Franchise’s Foundation is Built on Training and Support, Not Just a Logo

Many agents, especially those new to the industry, make the mistake of choosing a brokerage based on brand recognition or commission splits alone. While these factors have their place, they are secondary to the foundational systems that will actually help you generate income.

The License vs. The Business

Think of it this way: passing your real estate exam and getting your license is like getting a law degree. It proves you understand the rules and regulations. However, it doesn’t teach you how to win a case, attract clients, or run a profitable law firm. A great franchise fills that gap. It provides the business-building curriculum that school leaves out, teaching you the practical skills of lead generation, client conversion, negotiation, and marketing that are the lifeblood of a successful real estate career.

Direct Impact on Your Bottom Line

The quality of a franchise’s training and support system is directly correlated with your success. A robust program leads to tangible results:

• Faster First Commission: Structured onboarding gets you transacting sooner.
• Higher Annual Income: Ongoing skill development helps you close more deals at higher price points.
• Better Client Retention: Learning superior service and negotiation skills leads to happy clients and more referrals.
• Long-Term Career Viability: A strong support system helps you navigate market shifts and avoid burnout.

Beyond the Brand Name

A globally recognized brand can open doors, but it can’t close a deal for you. The real value of a franchise lies in its local execution. Is the local office equipped with top-tier trainers? Is the managing broker invested in your personal growth? Does the office provide tangible, day-to-day guidance? A famous brand is useless if the local infrastructure to help you leverage it is weak or nonexistent.

The Core Components: What to Look for in a Franchise Training Program

Effective training isn’t a single event; it’s a comprehensive system. When evaluating a franchise, break down their training program into these three critical components.

The “Bootcamp”: Evaluating Initial Onboarding and Foundational Training

The first 30-90 days at a brokerage will set the tone for your entire career. This “bootcamp” phase is where you build the habits and foundational skills for success. A weak start can be incredibly difficult to recover from.

What to look for:

• A structured curriculum: You should be handed a clear, step-by-step plan for your first several weeks, not just a binder of information and a key to the office.
• Practical, hands-on workshops: Look for active learning opportunities like role-playing buyer consultations, practicing scripts for handling objections, and writing mock contracts under supervision.
• A heavy focus on lead generation: The program must have a significant component dedicated to teaching you how to find clients. This includes prospecting, running effective open houses, leveraging your sphere of influence, and foundational digital marketing.

Key Questions to Ask:

• “Can you walk me through your onboarding program for new agents, week by week?”
• “Is the initial training taught by corporate trainers, or by successful, local top-producing agents who are active in this market?”
• “What is the format of the training: in-person, virtual, or a hybrid model? How much of it is live vs. pre-recorded?”

The “Marathon”: Evaluating Ongoing Education and Skill Development

The real estate market is constantly evolving. A great franchise provides the ongoing education needed to keep you sharp, competitive, and profitable long after your initial training is complete.

What to look for:

• A consistent training calendar: The brokerage should offer a regular schedule of workshops and classes (weekly or monthly) that are easily accessible.
• Specialized training tracks: As you grow, your needs will change. Does the franchise offer advanced training in areas like luxury properties, commercial real estate, investment properties, social media marketing, or video creation?
• An on-demand digital library: Access to a library of recorded training sessions, webinars, and resources is invaluable for learning at your own pace.

Key Questions to Ask:

• “What does your monthly training calendar look like for experienced agents, not just new ones?”
• “Are ongoing education classes and workshops included in my fees, or do they cost extra?”
• “How does your training help agents adapt to changing market conditions, like a shift from a seller’s to a buyer’s market?”

The “Tech Stack”: Evaluating Technology and Systems Training

Franchises often promote their proprietary technology as a key selling point. But a powerful CRM or transaction management platform is useless if you don’t know how to use it effectively.

What to look for:

• Hands-on CRM training: They should teach you not just the buttons to click, but the strategies for using their Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software to nurture leads and generate repeat business.
• Comprehensive tool workshops: Look for training on their entire suite of tools, including transaction management platforms, e-signature software, and marketing automation systems.
• A dedicated tech support team: When technology fails—and it will—you need a reliable and easily accessible tech support team to help you solve problems quickly.

Key Questions to Ask:

• “How do you train agents to effectively integrate your provided CRM and marketing tools into their daily workflow?”
• “Is there a tech support hotline, help desk, or dedicated person I can contact if I run into issues on a weekend or evening?”

More Than a Help Desk: How to Truly Evaluate a Franchise’s Support System

Training provides the knowledge, but support provides the guidance and confidence to apply it. This human element is often the most overlooked—and most critical—part of a franchise’s value proposition.

The “Guide”: Evaluating Mentorship and Coaching Programs

A good mentor can shave years off your learning curve. They provide a personal guide for navigating the complexities of your first few transactions and building your business.

What to look for:

• A formal, structured program: Avoid brokerages with a vague “we’ll pair you with someone” approach. A strong program has clear expectations, goals, and a defined duration for both the mentor and mentee.
• Vetted, experienced mentors: Mentors should be chosen based on their experience, success, and willingness to teach—not just whoever is available.
• One-on-one coaching: Look for opportunities for direct coaching with a broker, manager, or dedicated productivity coach who can help you with business planning and accountability.

Key Questions to Ask:

• “How are new agents assigned a mentor? Do I have a say in who I work with?”
• “What is the commission split or fee structure for the mentorship program? How long does it last?”
• “Beyond the initial mentorship, is one-on-one business coaching available, and what is the cost?”

The “Safety Net”: Evaluating Broker and Management Accessibility

When you have a time-sensitive legal, ethical, or transactional question, you need an answer immediately. The accessibility and expertise of your managing broker are your ultimate safety net.

What to look for:

• A clear “open-door” policy: The broker or manager should be highly accessible and encourage agents to come to them with questions.
• A non-competing broker (ideal): The best brokers are dedicated full-time to supporting their agents. A broker who is also actively competing with you for listings and clients has a fundamental conflict of interest.
• A reputation for responsiveness: Ask other agents in the office how quickly the broker responds to urgent calls or texts.

Key Questions to Ask:

• “If I have an urgent contract question on a Saturday afternoon, what is the protocol for getting immediate help?”
• “Does the managing broker also actively list and sell real estate in competition with the agents in the office?”
• “Can you give me an example of a time you helped an agent navigate a particularly difficult transaction?”

The “Community”: Evaluating Office Culture and Peer Support

You will spend a significant amount of time with the people in your office. The culture—whether it’s collaborative or cut-throat—will have a major impact on your happiness and success.

What to look for:

• A collaborative atmosphere: Look for an environment where agents willingly share advice, help each other with problems, and celebrate one another’s successes.
• Regular team meetings and masterminds: These events provide opportunities to learn from your peers, share best practices, and build a sense of community.
• Agents who genuinely seem happy: A positive, energetic office is a sign of good leadership and a healthy culture.

How to Evaluate:

• Ask to sit in on a weekly sales meeting or team huddle.
• Request to speak privately with 2-3 agents who have joined the brokerage in the last year.
• Spend some time working out of the office for a day to observe the daily interactions.

Your Due Diligence Checklist: An Action Plan for Making the Right Choice

Now it’s time to put this knowledge into action. Use this checklist to conduct a thorough and professional evaluation.

• Interview Multiple Franchises: Never settle on the first option. Schedule interviews with at least three different local franchise offices to compare their offerings. This process is a core part of how you choose a real estate franchise: a smart broker’s guide.
• Talk to the Agents: This is the most crucial step. Ask the broker if you can speak to a brand-new agent and an agent who has been there for 5+ years. Ask them about their real-world experience with the training, the accessibility of the broker, and the overall culture.
• Review the Paperwork: Get a copy of the independent contractor agreement and all fee schedules. Look for any hidden costs related to training, technology, or mandatory coaching programs.
• Trust Your Gut: After your interviews and research, how do you feel? Does the culture seem like a good fit for your personality? Do you believe the leadership is genuinely invested in helping you succeed, or are you just another number?

Your Blueprint for Success: Choose a Partner, Not Just a Brand

The logo on your business card is far less important than the quality of the training you receive and the strength of the support system holding you up. A franchise isn’t just a brand; it’s a business partner. Your success is their success, and their investment in you should be evident in every aspect of their training and support infrastructure.

By using this framework, you are no longer just a candidate hoping to be chosen. You are a savvy business professional conducting a thorough evaluation to find a partner that aligns with your goals and provides the blueprint for a long and prosperous career.

What’s the #1 thing you look for in a real estate franchise? Share your thoughts in the comments below

How to Evaluate the Training and Support Offered by a Real Estate Franchise: A Complete Guide

You’re ready to launch or elevate your real estate career, but the sheer number of franchise options is overwhelming. The glossy brochures and slick websites all promise “world-class training” and “unparalleled support,” but how do you separate marketing hype from the reality of day-to-day business? It’s a critical question. Choosing the right franchise is one of the most significant decisions you’ll make, and the quality of its training and support infrastructure can be the single biggest factor in your success or failure.

This guide moves beyond the sales pitch. We will provide you with a high-value, expert framework to systematically evaluate the training and support offered by any real estate franchise. Our goal is to empower you to look past the promises and analyze the systems, enabling you to make a confident and informed decision that aligns with your career ambitions.

Key Takeaways

• Training vs. Support: Understand the crucial difference between proactive training (skill-building) and reactive support (problem-solving). A great franchise excels at both.
• Evaluate the Full Curriculum: Look beyond the initial onboarding. Assess the franchise’s commitment to ongoing, advanced, and technology-focused training that helps you grow throughout your career.
• Accessibility is Non-Negotiable: The best resources are useless if you can’t access them. Scrutinize the availability of brokers, tech helpdesks, and marketing assistance when you need them most.
• Investigate Beyond the Brochure: The most accurate information comes from speaking directly with current and former agents. Ask pointed questions about their real-world experiences with the franchise’s systems.
• Read the Fine Print: The Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), specifically Item 11, is a legally binding document that outlines the franchisor’s exact obligations for training and support.

Why You Must Critically Evaluate Franchise Training and Support

Joining a franchise isn’t just about licensing a brand name; it’s about buying into a proven business system. The training and support programs are the very pillars of that system. Without a solid foundation, you’re essentially paying for a logo and little else.

For New Agents: The gap between passing your licensing exam and confidently closing your first deal is vast. Good training is the bridge. It accelerates your learning curve, helps you avoid costly rookie mistakes, and builds the confidence needed to convert leads into clients. According to the National Association of REALTORS® 2023 Member Profile, 24% of members have less than two years of experience. For this group, a structured training program is not a luxury—it’s a lifeline.

For Experienced Agents: Growth requires evolution. The strategies that worked five years ago may be obsolete today. The right franchise helps you avoid stagnation by providing advanced training on emerging technologies, sophisticated marketing strategies, team-building, and scaling your business into a true enterprise. It’s about moving from being a successful agent to becoming a successful business owner.

The Financial Stakes: You are investing significant time and money through franchise fees, desk fees, and royalty splits. A critical evaluation ensures you’re getting a tangible return on that investment through effective, accessible support that directly contributes to your bottom line.

The Two Pillars of a Great Franchise: Understanding Training vs. Support

Many agents use the terms “training” and “support” interchangeably, but they serve distinct and equally vital roles. A franchise might be strong in one area and weak in the other. Understanding the difference is the first step in a proper evaluation.

What is “Training”?

Training is the proactive, structured education designed to build your skills and deepen your knowledge base. It’s the formal learning component of the franchise system. Think of it as the franchise teaching you how to fish.

Examples of Training:

• A comprehensive onboarding program for new agents.
• An extensive online library of on-demand video courses.
• Live virtual classes on contract law or negotiation tactics.
• Weekly sales script practice and role-playing sessions.
• In-depth tutorials on the company’s CRM and technology stack.
• National conventions and regional masterminds.
• Formal coaching and mentorship programs.

What is “Support”?

Support is the reactive, on-demand assistance you receive to solve immediate problems and remove obstacles that stand in your way. It’s the safety net that allows you to operate with confidence. Think of it as the franchise giving you a fish when you’re hungry and can’t catch one.

Examples of Support:

• Direct access to a responsive, non-competing broker for urgent contract questions.
• A dedicated tech helpdesk to troubleshoot software issues.
• A marketing department that can assist with creating custom flyers or social media graphics.
• A legal hotline for compliance and liability questions.
• Peer-to-peer mentorship from experienced agents in your office.

A Step-by-Step Framework to Evaluate Real Estate Franchise Training

Use the following criteria as a scorecard to systematically assess the training programs of any franchise you are considering.

1. The Onboarding and Foundational Program (First 90 Days)

The initial training period is critical for setting the tone for your entire career with the franchise.

• Key Questions: Is there a structured “fast start” or “boot camp” program? Does it cover the essentials: local contracts, compliance, practical lead generation, and hands-on use of the core technology (CRM, transaction management software, etc.)? Is it a one-week “data dump,” or is it a paced, actionable program spread over 30, 60, or 90 days?

2. Ongoing and Advanced Skill Development

Your learning shouldn’t stop after onboarding. The market is constantly changing, and your skills must evolve with it.

• Key Questions: What training is offered after the first 90 days? Are there defined learning paths for specialization, such as luxury properties, commercial real estate, or property management? How does the franchise educate its agents on market shifts, new regulations, and emerging technology trends?

3. Technology and Systems Training

A franchise can offer the most advanced tech stack in the industry, but it’s worthless if agents don’t know how to use it effectively.

• Key Questions: How thoroughly do they teach you to use their proprietary software? Is the training a one-time webinar, or is it an ongoing resource with a library of tutorials and live support? Do they focus not just on the “how-to” but also on the “why,” teaching you how to leverage technology to generate leads, improve efficiency, and deliver a better client experience?

4. Delivery Methods and Accessibility

People learn in different ways. A one-size-fits-all approach to training is often a sign of an outdated system.

• Key Questions: Does the training format fit your learning style? Do they offer a mix of in-person workshops, on-demand video courses, live virtual classes, and written guides? Is there a coaching component available, either one-on-one or in a group setting? Can you access training materials 24/7 from your phone or computer?

The Ultimate Checklist for Assessing Real Estate Franchise Support

Use this checklist when you are interviewing franchise representatives and current agents to gauge the true level of support you can expect.

1. Broker and Leadership Accessibility

When a complex issue arises mid-transaction, this is the most important support you can have.

• Is there a dedicated, non-competing broker or manager available to answer urgent legal and contractual questions?
• What is their typical response time (minutes, hours, or days)?
• Is there a formal mentorship program that pairs new agents with seasoned veterans for guidance?

2. Day-to-Day Operational Support

This is the support that keeps your business running smoothly and prevents small issues from becoming major roadblocks.

• Is there a tech support helpdesk for when your CRM, website, or email has issues? What are their hours of operation?
• Does the franchise provide marketing support, such as a library of pre-made templates, design assistance, or social media content?
• Is administrative or transaction coordination support available (even as an add-on service)?

3. Community and Peer Support

The collective knowledge of your peers can be one of the most valuable resources.

• Does the franchise actively foster a collaborative, non-competitive culture?
• Are there local office meetings, company-wide mastermind groups, or online forums where you can ask questions and share best practices with other agents?

How to Get the Real Answers: Your Investigation Toolkit

The franchise’s marketing materials will always paint a rosy picture. Your job is to verify their claims. Here’s how to conduct your due diligence.

Read the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD)

This is a legal document that franchisors are required by the Federal Trade Commission to provide to prospective franchisees. It contains 23 sections (called “Items”) detailing the business relationship.

• What to Look For: Pay close attention to Item 11. According to the FTC, this section must detail the franchisor’s training and assistance obligations. It will specify the topics covered, the hours of training, the location, and the costs. This is not a marketing promise; it’s a legally binding commitment.

Interview Current Agents (The Most Important Step)

This is where you get the unvarnished truth. Don’t just talk to the top producer the recruiter recommends. Seek out a variety of agents.

• Strategy: Talk to a top producer, a brand-new agent (in their first 6 months), and an agent who has been with the company for 1-2 years. This will give you a well-rounded view of the experience at different career stages.
• Powerful Questions to Ask:
  • “Can you describe the onboarding training you received in your first 90 days?”
  • “Tell me about a time you were stuck on a complex deal. What kind of support did you get from the broker, and how quickly did you get it?”
  • “What is one piece of training the franchise offers that has directly made you money?”
  • “What is the one area where you wish the support or training was better?”

Interview Former Agents

Agents who have left the franchise can offer a unique and valuable perspective.

• Strategy: You can often find former agents on LinkedIn. Reach out politely and professionally, explaining you are considering the franchise and would value their perspective on why they chose to leave. Their answers can reveal systemic issues with the support structure that current agents might be hesitant to share.

Analyze the “Hidden” Costs

Not all training and support are included in your standard fees. A lack of transparency here is a major red flag.

• What to Look For: Is all training included in your franchise fees? Are there extra costs for national conventions, optional coaching programs, or advanced certifications? Understanding the full financial picture is a key part of choosing a real estate franchise and avoiding costly mistakes.

Your Franchise is Your Business Partner—Choose Wisely

Choosing a real estate franchise is far more than a branding decision. You are selecting a business partner that will play a pivotal role in your professional development and financial success. By moving beyond the sales pitch and using this expert framework, you can conduct a thorough, professional evaluation.

Focus on the core pillars: the depth and relevance of the training curriculum, the accessibility and responsiveness of the support system, and the real-world experiences of the agents already in the system. The right real estate franchise won’t just give you a logo for your business card; it will provide the tools, knowledge, and safety net you need to thrive. Do your due diligence, ask the tough questions, and choose the partner that will truly invest in your growth and help you build the career you envision.

A Designer’s Perspective: Can Premium Staging Justify a Higher Price and Reduce Market Time?

The Million-Dollar Question: Is Premium Home Staging a Smart Investment or an Unnecessary Expense?

Introduction

You’ve made the decision to sell your home. You’ve cleaned, decluttered, and prepared for the journey ahead. But as you look at the competitive market, a critical question emerges: How do you make your property not just seen, but desired? How do you convince potential buyers to see its full value, pay top dollar for it, and do so quickly?

Everyone knows the classic advice: declutter the counters, paint the walls a neutral color, and maybe bake some cookies before an open house. But then there’s another level: premium staging. This isn’t just about making a space look tidy; it’s a significant financial investment in professional design, high-end furniture, and curated decor. The central question we’ll explore is: Does it actually work?

As a designer, I’m here to offer a perspective that goes beyond the basic tips. This isn’t just about placing furniture; it’s about the psychology of a buyer, the strategy of marketing, and the financial return on creating an irresistible first impression. We will break down the data and the design principles to determine if premium staging can truly justify a higher price and significantly reduce your home’s market time.

Key Takeaways

• Premium Staging Sells a Lifestyle: Unlike standard staging which focuses on decluttering, premium staging uses high-end furniture and curated design to create an aspirational narrative, helping buyers emotionally connect with the home.
• First Impressions are Digital: In today’s market, the first showing happens online. Premium staging produces stunning, professional photos that capture attention, generate more interest, and lead to more in-person tours.
• It’s a Proven Financial Strategy: Data from industry leaders like the National Association of Realtors shows that staged homes consistently sell for more money and spend less time on the market than their unstaged counterparts.
• Design Solves Problems: A professional designer uses staging to overcome a property’s flaws, such as awkward layouts or small rooms, making the space feel more functional and valuable to potential buyers.

Defining the Difference: What “Premium Staging” Really Means

Beyond the Basics: Moving from “Clean” to “Curated”

To understand the value, we first need to clarify the terminology. Standard home staging has become a common practice, and for good reason. It’s about neutralization—removing personal photos, decluttering surfaces, and arranging existing or rental furniture to show off the home’s square footage and flow. The goal is to create a blank canvas so buyers can imagine their own lives there.

Premium staging, however, is the art of selling a lifestyle. It elevates the property from a blank canvas to a masterpiece. This sophisticated approach involves a detailed design plan executed with high-end, aspirational furniture, original or curated artwork, luxury textiles like velvet and linen, and layered, ambient lighting. It’s not about erasing personality; it’s about inserting a personality that the target buyer aspires to have. It creates an emotional connection, making a buyer feel that purchasing the home is the first step toward achieving the life they’ve always wanted.

Standard vs. Premium: A Side-by-Side Comparison

The distinction becomes clear when you compare the focus, tools, and goals of each approach.

The Psychology of a Buyer: A Designer’s Insight into First Impressions

Selling an Emotion, Not Just a Property

From a designer’s perspective, the most critical element of a sale is emotion. You aren’t just selling square footage, three bedrooms, and a two-car garage; you’re selling the feeling of coming home to a peaceful sanctuary after a long day. You’re selling the pride of hosting a dinner party in a stunning dining room or the joy of a lazy Sunday morning in a sun-drenched master suite.

Premium staging is the tool we use to craft that story. By selecting specific textures, colors, and objects, we build a narrative of comfort, success, and happiness. When a potential buyer walks in, they don’t just see a house; they see a better version of their own life. This powerful emotional response is what allows them to mentally “move in” during the very first viewing, transforming them from a casual browser into a serious buyer.

Overcoming Flaws and Highlighting Features

Almost every home has a quirk—an oddly shaped room, a long and narrow hallway, or a corner that doesn’t get much natural light. An empty room magnifies these flaws. Buyers, who are often not design-savvy, will see them as problems that need to be “fixed,” which translates to time, money, and hassle in their minds.

A professional designer uses premium staging to solve these problems preemptively.

• Awkward Layout? We use furniture groupings and area rugs to create defined, functional zones that give the layout purpose.
• Small Room? We use appropriately scaled furniture, mirrors, and a light color palette to create an illusion of space, making the room feel larger and more usable.
• Dark Corner? We introduce a stylish floor lamp, a reflective surface, or a vibrant piece of art to draw the eye and bring light and life to the space.

By strategically addressing these issues, we remove a buyer’s unasked questions and subconscious doubts, allowing them to focus on the home’s best features.

Winning the “Online Beauty Contest”

Before a buyer ever steps foot inside your home, they will view it online. This is the first, and most important, showing. Your property is competing against hundreds of others in a fast-paced “online beauty contest” where users scroll quickly and make snap judgments based on the first few photos.

This is where premium staging delivers its most immediate return. The combination of high-end furniture, professional design, and expert lighting results in stunning, scroll-stopping photographs. These images don’t look like typical real estate listings; they look like they belong in an interior design magazine. This perceived luxury and professionalism immediately elevate your property above the competition, leading to significantly more clicks, saves, and, most importantly, requests for in-person tours.

The Financial Equation: How Premium Staging Can Justify a Higher Price

The Data on Staging’s ROI

While the emotional appeal is powerful, the numbers provide the logical foundation for the investment. Industry data consistently shows that professionally staged homes outperform their unstaged counterparts. According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2023 Profile of Home Staging, 29% of seller’s agents reported that staging a home increased the dollar value offered by buyers by 1-5%, and 21% reported an increase of 6-10%.

When you consider a home priced at $500,000, a 5% increase is an additional $25,000. For a higher-end property, the return becomes even more substantial. This data confirms that staging isn’t an expense; it’s a value-add investment with a measurable return.

Case Study: The Power of a Designer’s Touch

Let’s imagine a hypothetical but common scenario:

• Before: A beautiful, well-maintained home is listed for $750,000. It’s vacant, so the living room is just an empty box of beige walls and hardwood floors. During showings, buyers seem hesitant. They comment that the room feels “cold” and they “can’t figure out where the couch would go.” The home sits on the market for 30 days with no compelling offers.
• After: The seller invests $7,500 in premium staging. A designer brings in a luxurious sectional sofa, a large-scale abstract art piece, a textured wool rug to anchor the space, and sophisticated lighting. The room is instantly transformed. It now feels warm, inviting, and unequivocally high-end. The online photos are stunning and generate a flood of new interest.
• The Result: The home receives multiple offers within a week. The winning bid comes in at $800,000—a full $50,000 over the original list price. The staging investment didn’t just pay for itself; it generated a net return of over $40,000 and sold the home in a fraction of the time. This is the tangible power of elevating a property’s perceived value.

Influencing Appraisals and Buyer Confidence

A beautifully presented home doesn’t just impress buyers; it can also positively influence appraisers. An appraiser’s job is to determine a property’s objective value, but their perception of its condition and quality is a key factor. A premium-staged home communicates that the property has been meticulously cared for and is of high quality. This can help ensure the appraisal comes in at or above the high offer price, preventing last-minute financing issues that can derail a sale.

Beating the Clock: Using Design to Reduce Market Time

Creating Urgency Through Desirability

In any market, a home that stands out sells faster. Premium staging presents a property as a “finished product”—a turnkey home that buyers can envision themselves in immediately. This high level of desirability creates a powerful sense of urgency.

When buyers see a home that looks perfect, they understand that others will see it too. This fear of missing out (FOMO) is a strong motivator, encouraging them to make a competitive offer quickly before someone else does. Instead of waiting to “see what happens,” they act decisively to secure the property they’ve fallen in love with.

Removing the “Project” Factor

Many buyers lack the vision to see past an empty room or dated decor. They are easily intimidated by the thought of a “project,” often overestimating the time and cost required to make a house feel like a home. An unstaged or poorly presented property can feel overwhelming, causing them to move on to the next listing.

Premium staging removes this guesswork and hesitation. It provides a turnkey solution, showing buyers exactly how amazing their life could be in that space. By presenting a finished vision, you make the decision to purchase easier and faster. This is a key strategy to reduce the number of days your home spends on the market, as it eliminates the mental barrier that prevents so many buyers from making an offer.

The Verdict: Is Premium Staging the Right Move for Your Home?

When It’s a “Must-Do”

While premium staging offers benefits for many properties, there are specific situations where it becomes a non-negotiable part of a successful sales strategy:

• Luxury Properties: In the high-end market, buyers have high expectations. Premium staging is often considered the standard, and failing to do so can make a property seem subpar compared to the competition.
• Highly Competitive Markets: When your home is one of dozens of similar listings, you need a powerful differentiator. Premium staging can be the single factor that makes your property the most memorable and desirable choice.
• Vacant or Awkwardly Laid-Out Homes: These properties are the most difficult for buyers to visualize. Staging is essential to demonstrate the home’s true potential, define its spaces, and make it feel like a home rather than an empty shell.

A Designer’s Final Perspective

So, can premium staging justify a higher price and reduce market time? From a designer’s perspective, the answer is an unequivocal yes. But it’s crucial to shift your mindset. Premium staging is not a decorating expense; it is a strategic marketing investment. It is the most effective tool for shaping a buyer’s perception, creating an emotional connection, and maximizing the perceived value of your property. By transforming a physical space into an aspirational lifestyle, a well-executed staging strategy can absolutely help you secure a higher price in significantly less time.

Call to Action

If you’re considering selling, don’t leave money on the table or risk languishing on the market. Consult with a professional home stager or an interior designer in your area. They can provide a tailored evaluation of your property and market, helping you make the most informed and profitable decision for your sale.

A Psychologist’s Insight: The Human Trust Signals AI Looks for When Recommending a Professional

It’s 11 PM. The blue light from your screen illuminates a face etched with worry. You’re scrolling through an endless grid of professional headshots—therapists, financial advisors, pediatricians—each one a potential solution to a deeply personal problem. The sheer volume is overwhelming. Then, a platform powered by artificial intelligence promises a shortcut: “We’ve found your perfect match.” A wave of skepticism washes over you. How can a string of code possibly understand the intricate, human calculus of trust required for such a critical decision? Can an algorithm truly know who you’ll connect with?

As a psychologist, I can tell you the answer is a fascinating mix of “no” and “yes.” AI doesn’t feel trust, empathy, or connection. It cannot replicate the gut instinct that tells you when you’re in safe hands. However, it is becoming incredibly sophisticated at recognizing the digital footprints of the very human trust signals we have relied on for centuries to make these judgments. It’s learning to see the patterns we create.

This article will pull back the curtain on this process. We will explore the three core pillars of human trust that I see in my practice every day—the same pillars that AI algorithms are now being taught to look for when they recommend a professional. Understanding how this works will not only demystify the process but also empower you to use these powerful tools wisely, blending their analytical strength with your own irreplaceable human intuition.

Key Takeaways

• AI as a Trust Detective: Artificial intelligence doesn’t guess; it analyzes digital data for patterns that correlate with the core psychological components of trust: competence, benevolence, and integrity.
• The Three Pillars of Trust: A successful professional relationship is built on the belief that a person is skilled (Competence), has your best interests at heart (Benevolence), and is reliable and ethical (Integrity).
• Digital Signals Mirror Reality: AI quantifies these pillars by looking at verifiable credentials (competence), the language in reviews (benevolence), and the consistency of a professional’s online presence (integrity).
• The Human Element is Irreplaceable: AI can create an excellent data-driven shortlist, but it cannot predict personal chemistry or “fit.” The final decision must always be yours, guided by direct interaction.

The Psychology of Trust: What We’re All Looking For in a Professional

Before we can understand how an algorithm operates, we must first understand the human brain it’s trying to emulate. For generations, the process of finding a trusted professional was an intimate, analog affair.

From Word-of-Mouth to Algorithm-of-Mouth

You’d ask a friend, a family member, or a colleague: “Do you know a good doctor?” Their recommendation came pre-loaded with a powerful endorsement. You trusted your friend, so by extension, you could extend a provisional layer of trust to the person they recommended.

Today’s AI-driven platforms are essentially trying to replicate this “word-of-mouth” process at a massive scale. Instead of asking one trusted friend, the algorithm asks thousands of digital “friends” in the form of past clients, colleagues, and certifying bodies. It sifts through their collective experiences to find the signals that a human would. This is why understanding the underlying psychology is so critical—it’s the blueprint for the entire system.

A Psychologist’s Framework: The Three Pillars of Trust

In psychology, particularly in organizational and clinical settings, we often break trust down into three fundamental components. This framework, based on decades of research, explains what we are subconsciously assessing in any professional relationship:

• Competence: This is the most straightforward pillar. It answers the question, “Does this person have the skills, knowledge, and ability to help me solve my problem?” It’s the foundation of their authority.
• Benevolence: This is the pillar of care. It addresses a deeper, more emotional need: “Does this person genuinely have my best interests at heart? Do they care about my well-being beyond our transaction?”
• Integrity: This pillar is about character and reliability. It asks, “Is this person honest, ethical, and consistent? Will they do what they say they will do?”

Every time you evaluate a professional, your brain is running a rapid, often unconscious, analysis of these three factors. And now, so is the AI.

Decoding the Algorithm: The Human Trust Signals AI Looks For

Here is where we translate psychological theory into the data points an algorithm can actually process. AI sifts through a professional’s digital ecosystem, looking for evidence of these three pillars.

Signal 1: Competence – The Digital Diplomas on the Wall

This is the easiest signal for an AI to identify and weigh because it is based on concrete, verifiable data. Think of this as the digital equivalent of walking into a doctor’s office and seeing their degrees and certifications hanging on the wall. It establishes a baseline of expertise and immediately reduces the user’s perceived risk.

What the AI Looks For:

• Verifiable Credentials: It scans for licenses, board certifications, and degrees from accredited institutions. Algorithms can cross-reference this information with state licensing boards and professional organizations.
• Experience and Specialization: It parses profiles for keywords related to years of experience (“15+ years,” “practicing since 2005”) and specific areas of expertise (“cognitive behavioral therapy,” “pediatric cardiology,” “retirement planning”).
• Institutional Affiliations: Connections to reputable hospitals, universities, or well-known firms are weighted heavily as signals of vetted competence.
• Thought Leadership: The algorithm may also look for signals of expertise like published articles, presentations at industry conferences, or mentions in reputable media outlets.

The Psychologist’s Insight: From a psychological standpoint, competence is the ticket to entry. Without it, the other pillars are irrelevant. AI is exceptionally good at this initial screening, saving you the manual labor of verifying that a professional is qualified on paper.

Signal 2: Benevolence – Quantifying the “Human Touch”

This is where the task becomes far more complex and, frankly, more interesting. How does a machine measure something as human as “care”? It does so by analyzing the language and behavior surrounding a professional’s interactions. A staggering 94% of patients now use online reviews to evaluate physicians, and AI uses this rich dataset to hunt for signals of warmth and empathy.

What the AI Looks For:

• Sentiment Analysis of Reviews: Advanced algorithms don’t just count stars; they read the text. They are trained to identify and weigh keywords and phrases that signal a positive, caring experience. Words like “listened,” “empathetic,” “took the time,” “caring,” and “understanding” are powerful positive signals. Conversely, words like “rushed,” “dismissive,” “arrogant,” or “uninterested” are major red flags.
• Responsiveness Metrics: Many platforms track how quickly a professional responds to initial inquiries. A prompt response is a data point that suggests the professional is attentive and client-focused—a proxy for benevolence.
• Accessible Language: The AI can analyze the professional’s own content—their website bio, their profile summary—for tone. Is the language full of impenetrable jargon, or is it clear, welcoming, and focused on the client’s problems and feelings? The latter is a strong signal of a client-centered approach.

The Psychologist’s Insight: In therapy, the single greatest predictor of a positive outcome is the quality of the “therapeutic alliance”—the bond between therapist and client. This research, supported by the American Psychological Association, shows that feeling heard, understood, and cared for is paramount. AI is attempting to find the digital echoes of this alliance by analyzing how past clients describe their experience.

Signal 3: Integrity & Social Proof – Building a Consistent Digital Reputation

Trust is not built in a single moment; it’s forged through consistency over time. Integrity is the promise of predictability and reliability. An AI evaluates this by looking for a consistent and positively reinforced digital reputation.

What the AI Looks For:

• Cross-Platform Consistency: The algorithm checks for consistency in a professional’s name, credentials, and experience across multiple platforms like their personal website, LinkedIn, professional directories, and health platforms. Discrepancies can be a negative signal.
• Volume and Recency of Reviews: A single 5-star review from three years ago is not a strong signal. A steady stream of recent, positive reviews suggests ongoing, reliable service and a commitment to quality. This pattern demonstrates predictability.
• Professional Endorsements: The system notes connections, recommendations, and endorsements from other respected professionals in the same field. This is the digital version of a colleague vouching for someone’s character and work ethic.

The Psychologist’s Insight: This pillar relies heavily on the principle of social proof. When many people, over a sustained period, publicly attest to a professional’s reliability, it creates a powerful consensus that is difficult to fake. Professionals are increasingly aware that their digital reputation is a key asset. Understanding the basics of how AI results are ranked can provide you, the consumer, with a clearer picture of why certain highly-rated profiles are surfaced more frequently.

The Human Blind Spot: What an Algorithm Can’t Recommend

For all its analytical power, the AI has significant limitations. It can analyze the past, but it cannot perfectly predict the future of a uniquely human relationship.

The Unseen Data: Personal Chemistry and “Fit”

The most critical factor in any professional relationship—that feeling of being truly “seen,” the easy rapport, the shared sense of humor, the intangible “vibe”—is something an algorithm cannot measure. It can bring you to the door of a highly competent, benevolent, and reliable professional, but it cannot tell you how you will feel in the room with them. This is the data that only you can collect.

A Psychologist’s Warning: The Risk of Algorithmic Bias

It’s crucial to recognize that these systems are not infallible. Algorithmic bias is a real concern. An AI might favor professionals who are simply better at online marketing, have more reviews because they work in a high-volume urban practice, or serve a more tech-savvy clientele. This can inadvertently penalize equally or even more skilled professionals who are less focused on building a digital footprint. This is why the algorithm’s recommendation should never be the end of your search, but rather the beginning.

Your Action Plan: Using AI to Find the Right Professional for You

So, how do you harness the power of AI without abdicating your own judgment? You become an active partner in the process.

Step 1: Use AI for the Shortlist, Not the Final Decision

Treat the AI’s recommendations as what they are: a high-quality, pre-vetted list of candidates who, based on the data, meet the foundational criteria for trust. The algorithm has done the heavy lifting of initial research and credential-checking for you.

Step 2: Become a “Human Algorithm” – Look for the Signals Yourself

Now, review that shortlist with the three pillars of trust in mind. Read the bios and website copy. Does the language resonate with you? Scan the reviews yourself. Don’t just look at the star rating; look for the themes. Do people consistently say this person is a great listener? That they explain complex things clearly? You are now adding your own nuanced interpretation to the raw data.

Step 3: Always Trust the In-Person Data

This is the most important step. Schedule a consultation call or an initial meeting with your top two or three candidates. This is where you collect the data the AI can’t. Pay attention to how you feel during the conversation.

• Do you feel heard and respected?
• Do they answer your questions clearly and patiently?
• Does their communication style match your own?

Trust your gut. That feeling is your own highly evolved, deeply personal signal processor. It is the final and most important piece of the puzzle.

Merging AI Insight with Human Wisdom

The AI recommendation is not a mysterious black box delivering a verdict from on high. It is a powerful tool that is learning to speak a language we all understand—the language of trust. It methodically searches for the digital evidence of competence, benevolence, and integrity, offering you a starting point grounded in the collective experience of others.

By understanding the psychology behind what the algorithm is looking for, you shift from being a passive recipient of a recommendation to an informed, empowered collaborator. You can appreciate the data it provides while recognizing its inherent limitations.

The future of finding the right professional isn’t a battle between technology and human intuition. It’s a partnership. It’s about blending the vast analytical power of the algorithm with the irreplaceable wisdom of your own human heart to make the best possible choice for your health, your finances, and your well-being.

A Psychologist’s Insight: The Human Trust Signals AI Looks for When Recommending a Professional

You need to find a new therapist, a reliable financial advisor, or a skilled doctor. Your first move, like billions of others, is to turn to a search engine or a specialized platform. Within seconds, an algorithm presents you with a neatly ranked, “top-rated” list. But a question immediately surfaces, a nagging feeling of dissonance: How can a machine possibly understand something as deeply human as trust?

We are increasingly reliant on artificial intelligence for recommendations that carry significant weight in our lives, yet a natural skepticism remains. Can an algorithm truly vet a professional for nuanced qualities like character, empathy, and reliability? It feels like asking a calculator to appreciate a painting.

This article provides a psychologist’s insight into this very question. As a professional who deals with the mechanics of human connection, I’m here to deconstruct the core components of trust and reveal how sophisticated AI is learning to identify the digital footprints of these signals. It’s a process of translating our intuitive “gut feelings” into data it can understand, and by grasping this translation, you can become a more empowered user of these powerful tools.

Key Takeaways

• The Three Pillars of Trust: Human trust in a professional is not a single emotion but a complex assessment built on three psychological pillars: Competence (Are they skilled?), Benevolence (Do they care about me?), and Integrity (Are they honest?).
• AI as a Pattern-Recognizer: AI doesn’t “feel” trust. Instead, it scans vast amounts of digital data for patterns that act as reliable proxies for the three pillars of trust.
• Digital Signals Translate Human Cues: AI analyzes data points like credential verification, the emotional language in reviews (sentiment analysis), and the consistency of a professional’s online information to build a “trust score.”
• Human Insight is Irreplaceable: While AI is a powerful shortlisting tool, it cannot measure intangible factors like personal rapport, non-verbal communication, or the “click” you feel with a professional. The final decision must always be yours.

The Psychology of Trust: What Humans Look for in a Professional

Before we can understand the AI, we must first understand ourselves. Trust isn’t a vague, mystical feeling; it’s a complex psychological assessment our brains are constantly running to ensure our safety and well-being. From a psychological perspective, this assessment is primarily built on three foundational pillars. When we meet a professional, we are subconsciously asking questions related to each one.

Pillar 1: Competence (The “Are you good at your job?”) Signal

Psychological Insight: This is the most straightforward pillar. It’s the belief in a professional’s skills, knowledge, and ability to deliver effective results. Competence answers our fundamental need for security and a successful outcome. We want to know that the person we are entrusting with our health, finances, or legal matters has the requisite expertise to handle the task effectively.

Human Cues We Look For: In a physical office, we scan for diplomas on the wall, professional certifications, and books in their area of expertise. We listen for confident, clear communication and ask about their years of experience or success stories from others.

Pillar 2: Benevolence (The “Do you have my best interests at heart?”) Signal

Psychological Insight: This pillar moves from the head to the heart. Benevolence is the belief that a professional genuinely cares about our well-being beyond any transactional obligation. It speaks to our deep-seated need for safety, connection, and the assurance that we are not just another number. This is often the factor that separates a merely adequate professional from a truly great one.

Human Cues We Look For: We gauge benevolence through active listening, empathetic responses, and genuine warmth. Does the professional make eye contact? Do they remember details from a previous conversation? Do they take the time to answer our questions patiently? These actions signal that they see us as a person, not just a problem to be solved.

Pillar 3: Integrity (The “Are you honest and reliable?”) Signal

Psychological Insight: Integrity is the belief that a professional operates on a strong, consistent ethical framework. It fulfills our need for predictability and fairness. We need to know that the person we are working with will do what they say they will do, be transparent about their processes, and act in an ethical manner. A breach of integrity can shatter trust instantly and irrevocably.

Human Cues We Look For: We assess integrity by observing consistency between a professional’s words and their actions. Are they transparent about fees and processes? Do they show up on time for appointments? Do they maintain professional boundaries? This dependability forms the bedrock of a long-term professional relationship.

Translating Feeling into Data: The Human Trust Signals an AI Looks For

An AI doesn’t “feel” trust, but it is a master pattern-recognizer. It is programmed to scan the digital world for data points that serve as proxies for the three pillars we just discussed. Here’s the psychologist’s insight into what an algorithm is actually analyzing when it makes a recommendation.

How AI Scans for Competence

An AI begins its assessment by searching for digital proof of a professional’s expertise. It’s looking for hard data that validates their claims of skill and knowledge.

• Credential Verification: Sophisticated systems can cross-reference degrees, licenses, and certifications listed on a professional’s website or directory profile with official databases from universities and licensing boards. A match is a strong positive signal.
• Experience Metrics: The AI calculates years in the field based on graduation dates and work history listed on platforms like LinkedIn. It also identifies specializations by looking for keywords and phrases mentioned repeatedly in publications, professional bios, and service descriptions.
• Keyword Analysis in Reviews: This is where it gets more nuanced. The algorithm doesn’t just count stars; it reads the text. It specifically looks for words and phrases that signal competence, such as “expert,” “knowledgeable,” “effective,” “solved my problem,” “masterful,” and “skilled” in client testimonials. A high frequency of these terms boosts the professional’s perceived competence.

How AI Scans for Benevolence

This is arguably the most complex pillar for an AI to assess, as it involves emotion. However, it uses language and behavior as powerful proxies for genuine care.

• Sentiment Analysis: This is a key technology where the AI analyzes the language and tone of reviews. It’s programmed to identify words that signal a positive emotional experience, such as “listened,” “caring,” “compassionate,” “understanding,” “patient,” and “supportive.” It can also flag reviews with negative sentiment, such as “dismissive,” “rushed,” or “cold.” According to a BrightLocal survey, 84% of people trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation, making this analysis incredibly important.
• Website Language: The algorithm assesses the professional’s own words. It can distinguish between patient-centric language (“we help you achieve your goals,” “your well-being is our priority”) and business-centric language (“we are an industry leader,” “our proprietary services”). The former is a stronger signal of benevolence.
• Responsiveness Metrics: In the digital world, time is a proxy for attention. Many platforms measure how quickly a professional or their office responds to initial inquiries. A fast response time is a quantifiable signal of attentiveness and care, directly feeding into the benevolence score.

How AI Scans for Integrity

For an AI, integrity is synonymous with consistency and transparency. It looks for a clean, coherent, and open digital footprint.

• Information Consistency: A foundational check is for a consistent Name, Address, and Phone Number (known as “NAP”) across all major platforms—the professional’s website, Google Business Profile, social media, and professional directories. Discrepancies are a negative signal, suggesting sloppiness or, in worse cases, a lack of legitimacy.
• Transparency Markers: The AI scans websites for easily accessible pages or sections detailing pricing, business policies, and privacy statements. A professional who makes this information clear and easy to find is digitally signaling honesty and transparency. Hiding this information behind multiple clicks or omitting it entirely is a digital red flag.
• Review Patterns: The algorithm analyzes the frequency and timing of reviews. A sudden flood of five-star reviews can be a sign of manipulation. A steady, consistent stream of recent, authentic-looking reviews signals an active, reliable, and ongoing practice that consistently earns client trust.

To make this clearer, here is a breakdown of how our human intuition maps to the AI’s data analysis:

The Human Insight AI Still Misses

It is critical to acknowledge that an algorithm’s analysis is not foolproof. It provides a highly educated guess based on available data, not a guarantee of a positive human experience. Your own intuition and direct experience remain the most valuable tools in your search.

AI cannot (at least, not yet) measure the crucial human elements that truly seal the deal on trust:

• Rapport and Chemistry: This is the intangible “click” you feel during a conversation—the sense that you are on the same wavelength and can communicate easily.
• Non-Verbal Communication: A reassuring tone of voice, empathetic body language during a video call, or a calming presence are powerful trust signals that an algorithm cannot process.
• Shared Lived Experience: The deep connection and implicit understanding that can come from a shared cultural, personal, or professional background is a profound element of trust that data alone cannot capture.

My recommendation as a psychologist is this: Use AI as a powerful research assistant. Let it do the heavy lifting of creating a shortlist of professionals who appear competent, caring, and reliable based on their digital footprint. But the final decision must always involve your own human insight.

How to Use This Insight: A Guide for Seekers and Professionals

Understanding this framework empowers you, whether you’re looking for a professional or you are one yourself.

For Anyone Seeking a Professional

1. Read Like the AI: Don’t just look at the star rating. Scan the text of reviews specifically for the keywords related to competence (“knowledgeable”), benevolence (“caring”), and integrity (“honest,” “reliable”).
2. Be the Final Verifier: Use the AI’s recommendation as a starting point, not a final answer. Click through to the professional’s website and LinkedIn profile yourself. Does the story hold up? Is their information consistent?
3. Schedule a Consultation: The ultimate trust signal is your own experience. A brief introductory call or meeting is the final, and most important, data point. Trust your gut.

For Professionals Building Trust Online

1. Conduct a “Trust Audit” of Your Digital Presence: Ensure your credentials, address, and contact information are clear and absolutely consistent everywhere they appear online. Infuse your website copy with client-centric language. Make your policies and fees transparent and easy to find. Understanding these factors is key to ranking in AI results; the ultimate guide for local search is ensuring your digital presence is a transparent reflection of your practice.
2. Encourage Specific Reviews: When asking satisfied clients for a review, gently guide them to be specific. Ask them to mention what they found helpful. A review that says, “Dr. Smith is a knowledgeable and caring listener who was always transparent about the process” is a goldmine of trust signals for both humans and algorithms.
3. Demonstrate Responsiveness: Prioritize responding to online inquiries as quickly as possible. This is a visible and measurable signal of care that both potential clients and the algorithms that serve them will notice.

The Future of Trust: A Human-AI Partnership

The AI recommending your next professional isn’t a cold, unfeeling machine making an arbitrary choice. In its own way, it’s a reflection of us—a complex system attempting to quantify the very human signals of competence, benevolence, and integrity that we have valued for centuries. It is holding up a data-driven mirror to a professional’s reputation.

By understanding the psychology behind the algorithm, we are empowered. We can move past our initial skepticism and use this technology as a smarter, more insightful tool. When we combine the AI’s ability to analyze millions of data points with our own irreplaceable human intuition, we create a powerful partnership. This partnership doesn’t diminish our judgment; it enhances it, helping us make one of the most important decisions of all: who to trust.

The AI Revolution in Real Estate: Unpacking Its Profound Effects and Future Trajectory

Introduction: Beyond the Hype – Understanding AI’s Real Impact

The world is hurtling into an era defined by artificial intelligence, a technological wave so powerful it’s reshaping industries from healthcare to finance. No sector, however traditional, remains untouched by its transformative potential. The real estate industry, long reliant on human intuition, extensive networks, and paper trails, is now experiencing a seismic shift as AI moves beyond theoretical discussions into practical, impactful applications.

At its core, AI in business refers to systems designed to simulate human intelligence, performing tasks such as learning, problem-solving, and decision-making. For real estate, this translates into unprecedented capabilities, from predicting market trends with startling accuracy to automating mundane tasks that once consumed countless hours. This blog post will delve into the multifaceted effects of AI on the real estate industry, exploring its current applications, peering into its future potential, and candidly addressing the challenges and ethical considerations that accompany this revolutionary change.

Redefining the Core: How AI is Reshaping Real Estate Operations

AI isn’t just a peripheral tool; it’s fundamentally altering how real estate businesses operate, driving efficiency, insight, and personalization.

Enhanced Data Analytics and Market Prediction

One of AI’s most significant contributions is its unparalleled ability to process and interpret vast, complex datasets. In real estate, this means AI can analyze market trends, demographic shifts, economic indicators, interest rate fluctuations, and even social media sentiment to provide superior insights. Predictive modeling, powered by machine learning algorithms, can forecast property values, rental yields, and identify lucrative investment opportunities with a precision previously unattainable. This capability significantly impacts the real estate industry by allowing investors, developers, and agents to identify emerging neighborhoods, predict optimal times for buying or selling, and make data-driven decisions that minimize risk and maximize returns.

Streamlined Property Management and Operations

For property managers, AI offers a new frontier of operational efficiency. Automated maintenance scheduling, for instance, can predict equipment failures before they occur, reducing costly emergency repairs. AI-powered chatbots can handle routine tenant communications, answering common queries 24/7, freeing up human staff for more complex issues. Furthermore, smart building management systems, integrated with AI, can optimize energy consumption, adjust HVAC systems based on occupancy patterns, and monitor security, leading to substantial reductions in operational costs and a greener footprint. The result is improved tenant satisfaction and higher retention rates, both critical metrics for the real estate industry.

Personalized Client Experiences and Smart Matching

The days of one-size-fits-all property searches are rapidly fading. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are now providing instant, round-the-clock support, guiding prospective buyers or renters through initial inquiries. More impressively, AI can match clients with properties based on deep preference analysis, going far beyond simple filters like price and location. By analyzing past searches, browsing behavior, and even natural language descriptions of desired lifestyles, AI can present highly relevant options, significantly shortening the search process. This capability also extends to creating highly targeted marketing campaigns, ensuring that specific properties reach the most receptive demographics within the real estate industry. How AI is Revolutionizing Real Estate Marketing

Tangible Transformations: Specific Effects of AI Across Real Estate Verticals

The impact of AI permeates every facet of the real estate ecosystem, driving tangible transformations.

Investment Analysis and Risk Assessment

For investors, AI algorithms are a game-changer. They can evaluate a multitude of risk factors—market volatility, credit scores, property history, local economic health—with unprecedented accuracy. This allows for the identification of undervalued assets and the prediction of market downturns or upturns, enabling more agile investment strategies. Automated due diligence processes, powered by AI, can sift through vast amounts of legal, financial, and property data, accelerating decision-making and ensuring more informed investments.

Property Valuation and Appraisal

Automated Valuation Models (AVMs) leveraging machine learning are providing real-time, accurate property appraisals. Unlike traditional methods, AI-driven AVMs can consider a wider range of dynamic factors, including local amenities, future development plans, school district ratings, and even noise levels, offering a more holistic and precise valuation. This not only increases transparency but also significantly boosts efficiency in the appraisal process, benefiting buyers, sellers, and lenders alike within the real estate industry.

Marketing, Sales, and Lead Generation

The marketing and sales landscape is being revolutionized by AI. From AI-driven virtual tours and augmented reality (AR) property staging that allows potential buyers to visualize spaces with different furniture and decor, to hyper-personalized ad targeting, AI ensures properties are showcased effectively. Algorithms can predict lead conversion likelihood, optimizing sales funnels and helping agents prioritize their efforts. Automated outreach and follow-up sequences free up agents from repetitive tasks, allowing them to focus on high-value interactions and relationship building.

Design, Construction, and Urban Planning

Even the earliest stages of real estate development are benefiting. Generative design, an AI technique, can create optimal building layouts and suggest the most efficient use of materials based on specific parameters, reducing waste and costs. In construction, predictive maintenance can anticipate equipment failures or supply chain disruptions, preventing costly delays. Furthermore, AI is assisting in smart city planning, optimizing traffic flow, managing public services, and developing resilient infrastructure to create more livable and sustainable urban environments.

Navigating the New Frontier: Challenges and Ethical Considerations

While the benefits are clear, the integration of AI also presents significant challenges and ethical dilemmas that the real estate industry must proactively address.

Data Privacy and Security Concerns

The immense amount of personal and financial data processed by AI systems—from tenant histories to investment portfolios—raises significant privacy issues. Protecting this sensitive information from breaches, misuse, and unauthorized access is paramount. The real estate industry must navigate complex and evolving data protection regulations like GDPR and CCPA, ensuring robust cybersecurity measures and transparent data handling practices.

The Evolving Role of Human Professionals

AI’s ability to automate repetitive and analytical tasks means the roles of agents, brokers, and property managers are evolving. While AI handles data crunching and initial screenings, human professionals will increasingly focus on strategic advice, complex negotiations, and building strong client relationships – aspects where emotional intelligence and nuanced understanding remain irreplaceable. This shift necessitates a significant investment in upskilling and reskilling the workforce to adapt to AI tools and leverage them effectively. Maintaining the “human touch” in high-stakes transactions will be crucial.

Ensuring Equitable Access and Avoiding Bias

A critical ethical challenge is the potential for AI algorithms to perpetuate or even amplify existing biases embedded in historical data. For example, if an AI system is trained on past lending practices that exhibited racial or socioeconomic biases, it could inadvertently replicate those biases in future decisions, leading to unfair housing practices. The real estate industry must champion the development of transparent and explainable AI, rigorously auditing algorithms for bias and ensuring that AI promotes, rather than hinders, equitable access to housing and investment opportunities for all segments of society. Ethical AI: Ensuring Fair Housing in the Digital Age

The Future Trajectory: What’s Next for AI in the Real Estate Industry?

The current applications of AI are just the beginning. The future promises even more profound transformations.

Hyper-Personalization and Predictive Living

Imagine a home that anticipates your needs. In the future, AI will move beyond simple smart home features to truly intelligent environments that learn and adapt to occupants’ preferences, optimizing everything from lighting and temperature to grocery orders and entertainment. AI will anticipate individual needs for living spaces, amenities, and community features, leading to hyper-personalized property recommendations. The rise of “AI concierges” for property owners and tenants will offer seamless, proactive management of every aspect of home life.

Autonomous Transactions and Smart Contracts

The integration of blockchain technology with AI holds the promise of fully automated, secure, and transparent property transactions. Smart contracts, self-executing agreements stored on a blockchain, could manage property sales, leases, and even rental payments without the need for intermediaries, significantly reducing costs and delays. AI could potentially manage entire property portfolios autonomously, making investment decisions, handling maintenance, and optimizing returns based on real-time market data. Blockchain’s Role in Future Real Estate Transactions

Sustainable Development and Smart Cities

AI will play a pivotal role in creating a more sustainable future for real estate. It will optimize resource allocation for green building initiatives, enhance energy efficiency in existing structures, and design urban environments that respond dynamically to environmental changes and citizen needs. From optimizing waste management to predicting natural disaster impacts, AI will be instrumental in developing resilient infrastructure and fostering truly smart, sustainable cities.

Conclusion: Embracing the AI-Powered Future of Real Estate

The effects of AI on the real estate industry are undeniably profound and far-reaching. From revolutionizing data analytics and client experiences to streamlining operations and transforming investment strategies, AI is not merely an enhancement but a fundamental shift in how the industry functions. While challenges related to data privacy, workforce adaptation, and ethical bias demand careful navigation, the opportunities for innovation, efficiency, and growth are immense.

For stakeholders in the real estate industry, the path forward is clear: embrace, adapt, and strategically integrate AI. Those who proactively leverage these powerful tools will not only achieve sustained growth and competitive advantage but will also shape a more intelligent, efficient, and equitable future for real estate. The journey ahead is exciting, challenging, and filled with unprecedented potential.

Quillen Construction Group, LLC, a renowned leader in residential remodeling and general construction, is pleased to announce the establishment of a new division focused on commercial construction services. This significant expansion reflects the company’s commitment to meeting the evolving needs of the Greater New Orleans business community. The new division will specialize in commercial build-outs and remodels, providing expert construction services across key areas such as Uptown, Downtown, Lakeview, Metairie, Kenner, Mandeville, and Covington.

Expanding Our Expertise

For years, Quillen Construction Group, LLC has been synonymous with quality craftsmanship in residential projects, particularly in kitchen and bathroom remodels. The decision to extend our expertise into the commercial sector marks a natural progression for the company. Our team, known for their attention to detail and dedication to client satisfaction, will now bring the same level of excellence to commercial construction projects.

Our New Commercial Division

The newly launched commercial division is equipped to handle a diverse range of projects, from comprehensive build-outs for new business spaces to detailed remodels of existing commercial properties. By focusing on tailored construction solutions, Quillen Construction Group, LLC aims to support local businesses in creating functional and aesthetically pleasing environments that enhance their operations and reflect the unique character of New Orleans.

Supporting Local Business Growth

Quillen Construction Group, LLC is committed to contributing to the growth and development of the Greater New Orleans business community. With our new division, businesses of all sizes can expect the same high standards of service that have defined our residential work. Whether it’s a small boutique or a large corporate office, our team is ready to meet the specific needs of each project, ensuring that every space is optimized for success.

“This new division represents a pivotal moment for our company,” said Anthony Quillen, CEO of Quillen Construction Group, LLC. “We are excited to bring our expertise to the commercial sector and look forward to partnering with local businesses to create spaces that not only meet their needs but also contribute to the vibrant fabric of our city.”

Looking Forward

As Quillen Construction Group, LLC embarks on this new venture, we remain dedicated to delivering top-quality construction services that exceed client expectations. This expansion is a testament to our ongoing commitment to innovation and excellence in the construction industry. By leveraging our extensive experience and applying the same meticulous approach to commercial projects, we are poised to become a leading provider of commercial construction services in the region.

As global tourism rebounds to pre-pandemic levels, Los Cabos tourism growth stands out as a remarkable success story. The region has not only recovered from the pandemic’s impact but has also experienced a 20% increase in visitors compared to 2019, achieving full recovery by 2021. In 2023, Los Cabos is projected to welcome 4.3 million tourists, showcasing a tourism strategy that prioritizes quality experiences over sheer numbers. This approach sets Los Cabos apart as a model for sustainable and responsible tourism growth.

Balancing Expansion with Sustainability

In an era where over tourism is a growing concern, Los Cabos is taking proactive steps to ensure its growth is sustainable. According to Booking.com’s 2023 Sustainable Travel Report, 76% of travelers now prioritize sustainable practices when planning their trips. This shift in traveler preferences has prompted the region to re-evaluate its tourism strategy, focusing on maintaining the quality of the visitor experience rather than simply increasing tourist numbers. To maintain its impressive Los Cabos tourism growth, the region is implementing strategies to manage tourist flow more effectively. This includes promoting off-peak travel periods and developing attractions that distribute visitor traffic more evenly across the region.

Rodrigo Esponda, the director of the Los Cabos Tourism Board, emphasizes the importance of this approach. “Further growth without a focus on quality could be detrimental to the region,” he states. Los Cabos has cultivated a loyal visitor base, with 75% of last year’s visitors choosing the destination without considering alternatives. This loyalty is a significant advantage, but maintaining it requires a delicate balance between growth and sustainability.

To address the challenges of overtourism, Los Cabos is implementing strategies to manage the flow of tourists more effectively. This includes promoting off-peak travel periods and developing attractions that distribute visitor traffic more evenly across the region. By encouraging tourists to explore less frequented areas, Los Cabos aims to alleviate pressure on its most popular sites while providing a more authentic and enriching experience for visitors.

Gastronomy, Culture, and Unique Experiences: Pillars of Los Cabos’ Appeal

Los Cabos’ tourism appeal is deeply rooted in its rich offerings across gastronomy, arts, and a wide range of experiences. As one of Mexico’s premier farm-to-table destinations, Los Cabos boasts a culinary scene that emphasizes local ingredients and sustainable practices. From fine dining to casual food trucks, the region offers something for every palate, with 13 Michelin recognized restaurants further solidifying its reputation as a top gourmet destination. Key pillars supporting Los Cabos tourism growth include its rich gastronomy and vibrant cultural scene. The local culinary scene is not just about dining; it’s about storytelling.

In addition to its gastronomic offerings, Los Cabos is a cultural hub, with events like the Art Walk in downtown San Jose playing a crucial role in its tourism strategy. Held every Thursday evening from November to June, this event allows visitors to explore galleries and interact with artists from diverse backgrounds and with varying styles, adding a rich, innovative dimension to the local art scene. The Art Walk is more than just an event; it is a celebration of the region’s cultural diversity and creativity, offering tourists an immersive experience that goes beyond traditional sightseeing.

Los Cabos offers a wide array of attractions for nature and adventure enthusiasts, with its amazing beaches in Cabo San Lucas being a highlight. These beaches are home to some of the most biodiverse marine ecosystems in the world, providing unparalleled opportunities for snorkeling, diving, and whale watching. Additionally, Los Cabos is actively promoting eco-friendly and adventure tourism, with activities like hiking, bird watching, and sustainable fishing trips becoming increasingly popular. These experiences not only showcase the region’s natural beauty but also educate visitors on conservation efforts.

Sustainable Growth and Strategic Development

Managing the influx of approximately 4 million tourists annually requires careful and strategic planning. Los Cabos is committed to sustainable growth, with policies in place to control the scale and pace of new developments. Currently, the destination has 18,000 hotel rooms, with plans to add only 700 more by 2024. This cautious approach ensures that new projects are sustainable and geared towards longer-term stays, rather than quick, unsustainable gains. Sustainable development is crucial for the continued Los Cabos tourism growth, with careful planning of new projects.

Los Cabos is also focusing on diversifying its accommodation offerings to cater to a broader range of travelers. Several new developments are on the horizon, including the highly anticipated SoHo House & Beach Club, St. Regis Los Cabos at Quiver, and Park Hyatt Los Cabos. These projects, which have been years in the making, reflect a long-term investment strategy that includes not just hotels but also villas, condos, and branded residences. By offering a variety of accommodation options, Los Cabos can attract different types of travelers, from luxury seekers to eco-conscious visitors, while maintaining its commitment to sustainability.

Moreover, the destination is investing in infrastructure improvements to support its growing tourism industry. This includes upgrading the Los Cabos International Airport, enhancing road connectivity, and expanding public transportation options. These initiatives are designed to improve the overall visitor experience while minimizing the environmental impact of tourism-related activities.

Supporting the Local Community

Tourism is the lifeblood of Los Cabos, driving the local economy and providing employment for a significant portion of the population. The region boasts one of the lowest poverty rates in Mexico, a testament to the formal employment opportunities and training provided to its residents. However, the rapid growth in tourism has also highlighted the need for improved housing and education for the local community, many of whom rely heavily on tourism for their livelihoods.

In response, Los Cabos is focusing on community development initiatives that ensure the benefits of tourism are shared more equitably. This includes investing in affordable housing projects for tourism workers, expanding educational opportunities, and providing training programs that equip locals with the skills needed to thrive in the tourism industry. By prioritizing the well-being of its residents, Los Cabos is creating a more resilient and sustainable tourism model that benefits both visitors and locals alike. 

Esponda highlights the importance of these support systems, which ensure that workers in Los Cabos have access to the necessary training and resources. These efforts are crucial not only for the sustainability of the tourism industry but also for the long-term prosperity of the region. By fostering a well-trained and motivated workforce, Los Cabos is positioning itself as a leader in sustainable tourism development, setting a benchmark for other destinations to follow.

Conclusion

Los Cabos has successfully positioned itself as a leader in sustainable tourism by balancing its impressive growth with a strong commitment to environmental and community well-being. As it continues to attract millions of visitors each year, the region’s strategic focus on enhancing the quality of the tourist experience, preserving cultural and natural resources, and supporting the local community ensures that its tourism industry remains robust and resilient. By focusing on long-term sustainability instead of short-term gains, Los Cabos tourism growth is establishing a new benchmark for responsible tourism that serves as an example for other destinations.

Investing in a Franchise

Investing in a real estate franchise can be a smart choice for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to avoid starting a business from scratch. By purchasing a franchise, you gain access to a proven business model with successful marketing and branding strategies already in place. The parent company has invested time and resources in testing and refining their operations, which benefits you as a franchisee.

Benefits of Choosing a Real Estate Franchise

Starting on your own means learning from your mistakes and finding your own solutions in the real estate market. However, if you’re considering a real estate franchise, there are important factors to consider such as associated costs, franchise requirements, franchise agreements, and finding the right fit for your needs.

In this article, we will explore the criteria for selecting the best real estate franchises and provide an overview of the top options available. We’ll assess their strengths and weaknesses, value propositions, fee structures, support and training programs, and growth opportunities. Some real estate franchises also have minimum net worth requirements.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Real Estate Franchise

Choosing the right real estate franchise is crucial for entrepreneurs looking to start or grow their own business. A reputable franchise can provide a solid foundation through comprehensive training programs, marketing resources, and support systems. It also allows you to present yourself as part of a larger, established brand, attracting more clients and building a reputation in the market.

Real estate franchises offer benefits such as direct leads, brand recognition, access to technology tools, and the opportunity to leverage the parent company’s buying power for discounted resources. When selecting a real estate franchise, entrepreneurs should consider factors like brand reputation, value proposition, support and training provided, fee structure and return on investment, availability of technology and marketing resources, and growth opportunities.

Top Real Estate Franchises and Their Advantages

Determining the “largest” real estate franchise is subjective and depends on how it’s defined. Metrics such as the number of agents, offices, overall revenue, and completed transactions are all important considerations. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, and it’s essential to find a franchise that aligns with your vision for your real estate company.

The top real estate franchises include Keller Williams Realty, RE/MAX, Century 21 Real Estate, Coldwell Banker, and 1 Percent Lists. Each franchise has its own advantages and offerings. Keller Williams Realty is globally recognized with a profit-sharing model, RE/MAX boasts a vast network and commitment to agent success, Century 21 is known for innovation and technology, Coldwell Banker has a rich history and full-service solutions, and 1 Percent Lists offers a unique lower commission model for attracting listings.

Associated Costs and Fees for Real Estate Franchises

• Keller Williams:
  • Initial Investment: $141,000 to $441,500
  • Franchise Fee: Up to $18,000
  • Recurring Royalty Fee: 6%
• RE/MAX:
  • Initial Investment: $44,000 to $236,500
  • Franchise Fee: Up to $35,000
  • Varying Royalty Fees
• Century 21:
  • Initial Investment: $24,700 to $459,250
  • Franchise Fee: Up to $25,000
  • Recurring Royalty Fee: 6%
• Coldwell Banker:
  • Initial Investment: $30,375 to $309,875
  • Franchise Fee: Up to $25,000
  • Royalty Fee: 5%
• 1 Percent Lists:
  • Initial Investment: Lower associated costs compared to other franchises
  • Franchise Fee: Up to $15,000
  • Recurring Fees: Lower compared to other franchises

*Please note that these figures are provided as examples and may vary based on factors such as location, market conditions, and specific franchise agreements.

Choosing the Best Real Estate Franchise for Your Needs

Overall, the choice of the best real estate franchise depends on your specific needs and goals. Researching brand reputation, value proposition, support and training, fees, technology and marketing resources, and growth opportunities will help you make an informed decision. Each franchise has its own advantages, and the goal is to find the one that aligns with your vision for your real estate business.

Consider the following factors when selecting a real estate franchise:

• Brand Reputation: Look for franchises with a strong reputation and recognition in the real estate industry. A well-established brand can provide credibility and attract more clients.
• Value Proposition: Evaluate what unique benefits each franchise offers. Consider their market positioning, target audience, and competitive advantages. Look for a franchise that aligns with your personal values and business goals.
• Support and Training: Assess the level of support and training provided by the franchise. Comprehensive training programs, ongoing guidance, and mentorship can significantly impact your success as a franchisee.
• Fee Structure and Return on Investment: Understand the initial franchise fee, royalty fees, and any other ongoing costs. Compare these fees with the potential returns and profitability of the franchise. Consider the value you’ll receive in terms of marketing support, technology resources, and lead generation.
• Technology and Marketing Resources: In today’s digital age, it’s crucial to have access to advanced technology tools and marketing resources. Evaluate the franchise’s commitment to staying current with industry trends and providing you with the necessary resources to succeed.
• Growth Opportunities: Investigate the franchise’s expansion plans and market presence. Look for franchises that have a strong track record of growth and offer opportunities for you to expand your business in the future.

Conclusion: Making an Informed Decision

Investing in a real estate franchise can be a strategic move for aspiring entrepreneurs who want to leverage the benefits of an established brand and proven business model. By carefully evaluating factors such as brand reputation, value proposition, support and training, fees, technology resources, and growth opportunities, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your goals and sets you up for success.

Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to the best real estate franchise. It ultimately depends on your specific needs and preferences. Conduct thorough research, seek advice from industry professionals, and consider your long-term vision for your real estate business. With the right franchise, you can benefit from a solid foundation, attract more clients, and build a successful reputation in the competitive real estate market.

Original Article found at Top USA Real Estate

Bend, Oregon is located in the middle of nowhere. It’s two and a half hour drive from Eugene, over a mountain pass that can be dangerous even in springtime.

Lynn Connell, the city’s housing director, stated that “people were already coming to this area in large numbers, and then it just explode in the pandemic. More people would come if there was housing available to accommodate them.”

According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, and Stateline analysis of postal change-of-address data, people who moved in the early stages of the pandemic in states across the country were attracted to open spaces in small towns.

Although the moves brought money to small towns, they also increased housing costs and altered the idyllic way of living that attracted people. In the last year, most moving patterns have returned to pre-pandemic levels.

It was easier for affluent workers to work remotely, especially in Bend and other places that aren’t easily commutable. People used to move for new jobs before the pandemic. But, since then, it has become more about comfort and lifestyle factors like good neighborhoods, home ownership, and climate. 

Pete Slag, an assistant finance professor from Vanderbilt University, studied pandemic moves.

According to another study that Haslag co-authored and published by the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business in February, these moves gave remote municipalities a boost in their bond ratings, allowing them to borrow money for infrastructure projects.

Slag stated that it is relatively cheaper for growing cities to undertake new projects. “The evidence suggests that areas with significant inflows during the pandemic should experience relatively greater economic growth.”

According to census estimates, major cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York lost population between 2020-2021. This was mainly due to people moving away.

Where did they go? According to the postal data, they traveled to places less well-known and more suitable for remote work due to their lower population.

From March 2020 to February 2021, the number of new residents in Daphne Alabama tripled to 1,543. This is a city of approximately 27,000 located across the bay from Mobile. Similar influxes occurred in Martinsburg, West Virginia, Kalispell, Montana, Elkhorn, Nebraska, and Lee’s Summit.

It was Bend, Oregon that saw net in-moves increase more than tripled to 1,214 during the first year of this pandemic. The area has lost 1,209 net movers in the last year, as housing prices have skyrocketed. Since then, the moves have stagnated. Connell stated that the city faces tax and labor shortage problems in order to build new homes.

She said, “The problem is that the people who swing the Hammers can’t afford to live here at the Wages construction companies can pay.”

State law also caps tax increases, which means that the city must raise fees when expenses rise. This is another reason why it’s more expensive to build in the city’s volcanic, rocky soil. Prices for homes on sale range from $500,000 up to millions.

“That may seem affordable to people who live in larger cities in California or Washington”. Connell stated that “it is not affordable for people who live in the area”.

However, the influx has been beneficial for city finances, according to Sherri Loda, the city’s chief financial officer.

Tax revenue has grown thanks to new development. Standard & Poor’s bond report for the city noted that it had an “affluent, rapidly growing economy” which attracted young professionals.

Long-term residents are experiencing tension due to newcomers, who face high homebuying costs and increased crowding along scenic desert and mountain trails. Some bumper stickers with “Don’t move here” have been seen to rival the “Be NiceYou’re in Bend!” slogan.

Elle Waterson runs workshops and retreats for writers and sold her Bend house before the pandemic of fall 2019. She thought she would rent it for a few months, then look for a smaller home to downsize. There are no dice in Bend’s pandemic housing marketplace.

Waterson said, “I ended up bidding for countless houses and entering into new construction contracts only to have the builder cancel because the cost of materials made it impossible.” she states, “I was able to finally buy a house in Bend because I saw a sign that said for-sale-by-owner”.

Peripheral cities in Sun Belt states also showed the greatest gains: Buckeye, a suburb of Maricopa County in Arizona, was the one that received the most pandemic moves. This is in contrast to Phoenix, which was more urban and the largest city in the nation in the decade 2010s.

Officials in Phoenix maintain that the city is growing rapidly. Officials from Phoenix claim that the city’s growth is still rapid. They also believe that the moving statistics could be affected by college students not filling out change-of-address forms upon their move-in. Also, ZIP codes may not accurately reflect the city’s boundaries.

Jay Toll, communication manager at the city’s Community and Economic Development Department stated that “I feel comfortable saying Phoenix will show significant growth.”

New York City officials see brighter times ahead.

Rebecca Weintraub, spokesperson for the Department of City Planning said that there is strong evidence that New York City has been growing in population.

According to Stateline analysis, Manhattan moves rose from 36,000 to over 100,000 in the year prior to March 2020 to less than 23,000 in the year following.

The most movers were 622 in the first pandemic year. This was more than 100 miles from Manhattan. The next year, from March 2021 to February 2022, Long Island City, Queens gained 960 residents.

The entire region was affected by moves out of New York, including Connecticut. In fact, suburban Fairfield saw the largest number of movers during the pandemic’s initial year 715, a more than threefold increase.

Terri Ann, a Connecticut-based census specialist, stated that she witnessed the effects in Stamford where in-moves tripled in the first year of the pandemic. Fairfield and Stamford both have easy access by commuter train to New York City.

Lowenthal stated that New Yorkers fleeing the city had overrun the neighborhood near the station. “A local developer was creating luxury rental buildings faster than you can spell Connecticut.”

Waterson stated that people in Bend now require a reservation to hike the famous South Sister volcano. The eastern desert known as Oregon’s Outback is becoming busier and filled with tourists. Waterways are also full of “thongs, Speedos, and inflatable unicorns floating around town.” She said signs from its past as a lumber mill town and livestock auction town are slowly disappearing.

Waterson stated, “Bend is difficult for me to recognize. I’m reacting in the same way as others who pack up and head for smaller towns only to start the same problem.”

It’s essential to know the costs associated with selling your house after you have lived in it for a while. In order to sell your house, you should expect to spend approximately 15% of your home’s sale price. There are ways to reduce that amount. We can help you determine which expenses are essential and which ones are more options for your budget.

What is the Cost of Selling a Home?

When it comes to preparing your house for sale, you’re likely to spend a lot of money. There are many expenses involved in preparing your house for sale. Let’s take a closer look at some of these costs.

Real Estate Agent Commission

The cost of hiring a Realtor or agent to sell your home will be the first expense. This commission is likely to range from 5 – 6% of the sale price. Even if you need to pay Realtor, fees, most real estate professionals recommend that you hire a listing agent to sell your house. It may be tempting to sell your home yourself. However, there are many reasons why you should hire a Realtor.

• Sometimes, a buyer’s representative won’t show houses if there isn’t a selling agent.
• Selling a for sale by owner (FSBO), home may end up costing you more in the long run.
• Agents can negotiate for you and ensure that you receive a fair price.
• When it comes to how to prepare your house for sale, real estate agents can provide valuable guidance.

Our verdict: While selling a home can be done without the assistance of a real estate agent you should still be prepared to manage all negotiations, valuations, and paperwork.

Pre-Inspections

Pre-inspections typically cost between $300 and $500. A pre-inspection can seem like an unnecessary expense but it could be a worthwhile investment. Potential home buyers often back out when they discover unexpected problems in their appraisals or home inspections. Delays in selling can prove costly and frustrating.

Seller concessions are very common. While there are limits to the amount of a home’s appraisal value and purchase price that can be offered in a seller concession, they won’t stop you from spending a lot. With a down payment of more than 25%, the seller can still contribute up to 9% when their mortgage is a conforming loan for a primary residence.

If you are aware of potential issues and have already incorporated them into your home repairs budget or terms, you will be able to negotiate better.

Our verdict: Although not required, it is highly recommended.

Professional Cleaning

A professional deep clean typically costs between $200 and $400. The square footage of your home will determine the cost. You could probably do this yourself. It’s up to you to decide if you are willing and able to put in the effort during a stressful sale.

Our verdict: This is a great investment for overwhelmed and busy home sellers.

Home Repairs and Improvements

There are many home improvements that can increase the value of your house before you sell it. Not all home renovations are equal before selling. Kitchen renovations can be very cost effective and increase your home’s value. Windows, however, is a big money sink. You’ll spend about $4,000 on average and this will likely be a worthwhile investment.

Our verdict: We recommend this expenditure.

Landscaping

The average seller spends $145 on landscaping. It’s up to you to decide if a little bit can make a big difference in your home’s curb appeal, or if it’s better to leave it as is.

Our verdict: Some people should consider this expenditure.

Home Staging

Staging can help you set your home apart from the rest and give buyers that “love at the first sight” feeling.

Because of the logistics involved in moving furniture around, many people find it difficult to stage their homes without professional help. You will need to put in a lot of effort to make your home attractive to a broad range of people. Remember that a quick sale can save you a lot of money.

It costs around $2,000 per month, assuming it is only for one month and including the furniture rental fees. The cost for a stager who will only declutter and arrange is typically around $800. With effort and preparation, it is possible to stage your home for free.

Our verdict: Even for the most accomplished DIYers, this is a worthwhile investment.

Professional Photography

Selling your house requires professional photos. The average cost of professional photography is around $200. This may not be the budget you have in mind, but it is essential that your home looks its best for any photos that are taken.

Our verdict: We highly recommend this expense.

Keep Utilities Running

Nothing is worse than visiting a home without air conditioning during the summer heat. If there is no air conditioning, lighting, or running water it can be difficult for home buyers to envision themselves living there. 

You will need to ensure that your utilities are working even though your home is no longer your primary residence. Energy Star estimates that the average utility bill costs $171. However, this will vary depending on how much you use and how energy-efficient your house is.

Our verdict: Highly recommended.

Home Warranty

A home warranty gives peace of mind to a buyer who is looking to buy a refrigerator or fix their furnace. A one-year buyer’s warranty on their home costs between $350 to $600, depending on where you live and the service provider.

Our verdict: Sellers with older homes should consider this cost.

Capital Gains Tax

The capital gains tax is not applicable in most cases. To be sure, you should check your situation. This tax may be required if you have lived in your property for less than a year, are selling a vacation or rental property, or if the property has increased in value by more than $250,000 ($500,000 if married filing jointly),

Final Costs for the Seller

Closing costs

Buyers don’t have to deal with closing costs. There may be a prorated tax on your property and a transfer tax. The amount of this tax varies depending on where you live, so make sure to check the regulations in your particular area.

You may have to pay for the title search as a seller to ensure your claim to the property is clear. This is a common seller concession. It is usually $200-$400. In order to ensure that the title is clear, it’s common for the seller to cover the buyer’s title insurance.

There may be brokerage fees, escrow fees, or courier fees depending on which lender you are dealing with and the terms of your purchase agreement.

Moving costs

Moving can be a stressful experience for many people. They may decide to pack their belongings and rent a truck, then drive the entire distance. Others hire a moving company to help them focus on other tasks while they sell their home. You’ll pay approximately $2,300 to move within 100 miles of your home, and $4,300 to move further.

It all depends on the services you require. A full-service move will be more expensive than one that you do yourself. It may seem expensive to pay moving expenses but it can help you reduce stress.

Mortgage Balance

You will need to repay the mortgage loan balance if you have a mortgage on your house. In most cases, you can pay off the mortgage balance from the sale of your house. You can also use any extra money to make a downpayment on your new property. If you are unable to sell your house at the price you expected, you may have to borrow from your savings to pay the mortgage payment.

A prepayment penalty may apply to you if your mortgage is paid off early. Ask your mortgage lender if you need to add a fee to your loan balance. Rocket Mortgage(r) doesn’t charge prepayment penalties.

What is the Average Cost to Sell a House?

Let’s look at an example to show how much it would cost for your house to be sold if the house was valued at $250,000 based on the numbers mentioned earlier. This is just an example, and it may not reflect all costs and fees associated with selling a house.

Approximate Calculating Total Costs To Sell A House

This estimate shows that a $250,000 house could cost $31,066 to sell. To reduce selling costs, sellers could choose to forgo certain expenses. It’s a good idea to establish a budget before you start the selling process.

The bottom line: Before you put your home on the market, be aware of the costs

You can easily feel overwhelmed by the costs involved in selling your house. These costs can actually increase the resale price of your property and will help you sell your house faster. Not only will it save you stress, but it also means that your home is more likely to sell quickly. You can save money by selling your properties faster.

It is often wise to sell your home because, unlike homeownership, most of the costs involved in selling it are well-received. You may be unsure of the costs involved in putting your home up for sale. Take a look at our tips to prepare your house to sell.

Churches are a place where groups of people can get together for multiple things, such as funeral services, weddings, and religious ceremonies. However, these large gatherings expose churches to the potential of liability. Insurance for churches may be needed for lawsuits or for employees of the church and it is absolutely essential. In this article, we will discuss the types of insurance coverage that every church should have to maintain the ministry’s financial security.

Event Coverage

Make sure to check your policy and see if there is coverage for special events held in or by the church. If it doesn’t, it is important that you request it to be added. If your church hosts events for holidays or celebrations, you will want this covered in case of an emergency. This coverage is especially important when you hold events inside the church.

Coverage For the Entire Property

Property insurance is required for churches that own the actual church structure and any personal property within the church. It also covers furnishings, landscaping, and valuable or historical items inside the church like pews or the church organ. Property coverage protects you in the event of theft, fire, or other unfortunate events. For rebuilding after an unplanned problem, property insurance is a lifesaver.

The premium for property coverage of your church comes down to a few things: square footage, the year of construction, and any new construction or renovations that have been made. Property coverage can also include coverage for any automobiles you may use at the church, such as vans or buses. It is good to have this insurance when operating a vehicle for the church as it covers any injuries or damages to the vehicle.

General Liability Coverage

General liability insurance is required in the event that members of the church or others sue. There are two types of coverage: injury, such as a fall, and damage to property. The church must be prepared for any situation in which someone could sue, and an unexpected financial situation pops up. 

Additional Liability Coverage Options

Because general liability insurance doesn’t cover every situation, additional liability coverage may be needed. There are several types of liability coverage you should consider, such as sexual misconduct, pastoral counseling in cases of mental illness support, church security, freedom of religion, Employment Practices Liability, youth safety, infection/disease outbreak, and many more. Pastoral Counseling; Church Security; Freedom of Religion; Volunteer Safety; Youth Safety and Infection Disease Outbreak. 

EPL insurance is one of the most important additional coverage options for churches, especially in the event of an accusation. If an employee files a lawsuit, this insurance covers the legal costs and damages. EPL insurance is also available to cover legal charges such as discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination. When you think about liability insurance, it is important to include all employees, trustees and board members. This will protect the church against financial loss resulting from a board decision.

Cyber liability insurance is another type of insurance you might not even know about, especially when it comes to churches. If a church has electronic data or computers, this type of insurance is beneficial. Cyber liability insurance covers the costs, including legal fees and claims,  of recovering from cyber attacks, computer viruses, and data breaches.

Employee Coverage

Insurance for the employees of your church is also very important. The church is a business with employees when you really look at it. Basic coverage is essential for employees, especially health insurance, as it can attract more people to your church. This has especially been important in the last year and a half with the coronavirus impact on churches.

You should also obtain Workers’ Compensation Insurance for your employees so that the church can be protected from any claim by an employee who is injured while working at the church. All mission trips that employees go on should also be covered. 

Coverage For Mission Trips

Mission insurance can provide coverage in the case of emergencies, such as medical care or kidnapping, while on mission trips. If your mission goes out of the country, you may need separate coverage, but there is worldwide liability coverage that will help you in those cases. 

Do not forget that employees who travel will require medical coverage, especially if there is an unforeseen emergency. As we have already mentioned, kidnap and ransom insurance is essential. You will need insurance to cover losses if you travel in high-crime areas.

Conclusion

Church insurance is essential to protect your place for worship, regardless of whether you have one church or many properties with many employees. You do not want to be caught unprepared at any time as a church owner! Unexpected events such as an employee injury, fire or theft, or even something that happens on a mission trip, are all possible. Call a local insurance agent today to discuss church insurance and what it covers!!

Find Houses in Greenville SC at a Price That Will Fit Your Budget

If you enjoy the thrill of shopping and a little adventure in your life, living in Greenville, SC may be just the ticket. There are a number of interesting things about Greenville SC that make it an interesting place to live. Not only is it diverse but it is also home to some America’s most historical sites.

Greenville SC Real Estate

If you are considering moving to Greenville SC but are not sure how much houses in Greenville cost, you may be interested to know how much houses in Greenville cost in your area. Here are some things you should know about how houses in Greenville SC are priced.

The typical home value of homes in Greenville is $232,000. This value is seasonally adjusted and only includes the middle price tier of homes. Greenville home values have gone up over ten percent in the past 12 months.

• The median list price of a home in Greenville is $192,000
• The average price per square foot of homes for sale in Greenville is $122 per square foot
• The median square footage of a home in Greenville is 1,574

How Are Greenville Homes Purchased?

In Greenville, SC, many homes are sold through a private sale called a cash offer. This means that a private party has agreed to buy the home for less than the market value of the home. Since many first time home buyers are more enticed by a cash offer, the number of homes in Greenville SC that are sold through a cash offer are far higher than the average number of homes sold during the real estate boom.

Buying a Home in Greenville SC

Before you buy houses in Greenville SC, you should learn about the different types of cash offers. A cash offer is one in which the seller agrees to sell the home at a reduced price. This is done without any type of negotiation between the two parties. Most homes that are put up for a cash offer are priced much lower than they would be if they were listed with a broker or agent. Of course, it is possible to negotiate a better price if the home was listed with an agent.

How Much Does it Cost to Live in Greenville SC?

Cost of Living in Greenville vs Charleston SC

A salary of $50,000 in Greenville, South Carolina should increase to $63,746 in Charleston, South Carolina (assumptions include Homeowner, no Child Care, and Taxes are not considered

You should also take a look at how much it costs to live in Greenville. In Greenville, SC, housing prices are considerably cheaper than in other parts of the country. It is cheaper to live in Greenville because there are so many low cost products that are available here. One thing to keep in mind is that the homes in Greenville are not usually much larger than those found in the average metropolitan area. Living in Greenville gives home buyers the opportunity to live much smaller in a relatively close proximity to the schools, markets, and culture of the city.

Some other things that can significantly affect how much you will pay for a house in Greenville SC are the various types of public schools in Greenville. Greenville is home to many schools that are relatively affordable. In addition, many of the homes for sale in Greenville are actually located within the school districts. In some cases, the homes are even located within the school zones. You should do some research before making a final offer on any property in Greenville.

Once you learn how much houses in Greenville SC are worth, you can then determine how much you can afford to spend on a house. By using a local Realtor website such as Wessel Real Estate, you can quickly and easily compare different properties in Greenville. Click here for all of Greenville homes for sale. This will help you determine which houses in Greenville SC are priced in a reasonably reasonable way. If you want to buy houses in Greenville but do not have thousands to spare, consider using a local home buyers cash offer.

The Coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is a pandemic that is currently affecting the world. It is changing and evolving daily. As of right now in the United States professional, collegiate, high school, and all lower level school sports have been suspended. Many schools are closing, park districts are closing and other public entertainment venues are closing. Large events are being canceled or postponed. Churches are canceling services. People are being laid off, furloughed or asked to work from home. There’s word of restaurants starting to close.

People are stocking up on items like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, bleach, and other cleaning supplies. In some places, people are having a hard time finding food. Brick and mortar stores and online stores are running out of everyday essentials. It is already affecting the economy, stock market, and real estate industry.

If you are a real estate agent, homebuyer or home seller, what should you expect in the weeks and months to come?

How It’s Affecting the Real Estate Industry

Real estate has always been a safe long-term investment. Of course, it has its cycles of ups and downs. With the massive fluctuations in the stock market, real estate is looking even more like a strategically safe, long term investment. The Spring 2020 real estate market started out strong in February. We do expect to see a relatively short period of disruption in real estate sales but should quickly recover as housing is critical at this time with many Americans spending even more time in their home.

What is the best time of the year to renovate your home?

We are seeing people starting to get concerned and be a bit more cautious. There are some buyers who were going to write contracts are starting to have second thoughts. They are postponing making offers on homes. Some sellers are postponing listing their homes because of the uncertainly of the market. Some people are fearful of losing their jobs. Real estate agents are hoping this will be a short-lived pause in the spring market. The United States is proactively trying to prevent the virus from spreading. Sellers should get ready to put their homes on the market now, to be ready for buyers to come out of the cracks and start purchasing homes again.  Some listing agents are requesting a 12 month listing agreement expecting longer days on market.

Mortgage Interest Rates

Mortgage interest rates have been at historic lows. Buyers should lock in these low interest rates now. Hopefully, the pandemic will subside as quickly as it came. Buyers who lock in these low mortgage interest rates may be able to be qualified for a more expensive or larger home. People who thought they couldn’t get qualified to purchase a home may be able to now. Investors should take advantage of the interest rates. Borrowing money is cheap right now which will help them increase and improve their real estate investment portfolios.

Homeowners Should Consider Refinancing

Currently, the industry is experiencing a refinancing boom. Many homeowners are taking advantage of the low interest rates to refinance their homes in order to have a lower monthly payment. Or they are refinancing to a 15-year or 20-year mortgage to be able to pay off their homes faster. This will save them money in the long run. Refinancing now can save some homeowners thousands of dollars over the life of their mortgage loans.

The National Association of Realtors® Survey

The National Association of Realtors® sent out a survey last week to its members asking them if and how COVID-19 is affecting their businesses. As of last week, 11 percent of Realtors® reported a reduction in buyer traffic. The survey reported 7 percent of Realtors® are noticing lower seller traffic. As the trade association for real estate agents known as REALTORS, they are offering a guide to Coronavirus for REALTORS.

Open Houses During the Epidemic

For the most part, Open Houses have come to a screeching halt. Some of the more nimble real estate agents are leveraging technology to implement a “virtual open house”.  Truth is, at this point with the Coronavirus, homeowners don’t necessarily want large groups of strangers gathering in their home and touching things. From the buyers site, some people are afraid to go out in public right now – but will do so to find that perfect home.  We are expecting individual showings of properties as opposed to large gatherings.

Real Estate Training and Education

Some real estate associations are canceling continuing education classes and training seminars. Many are moving to online learning only right now. They are trying to reduce group gatherings as much as possible. The National Association of Realtors® has put a halt to all traveling for their employees.  Luckily, some of the more advanced real estate education providers have been offering online classes for a long time.  This provides real estate agents with a safe way to complete their CE and post licensing requirements from their home.  Some of the aggressive real estate education providers have went as far as to offer specials to get your real estate license while quarantined.

Property Showings

Because we handle many real estate websites across the country and run countless reports on showing activity to come up with our tips and tricks in real estate marketing. We can say although we are seeing a slowdown in appointments being made, we are still seeing appointments being set and being shown at a pretty good clip.  This did come after a sharp increase in appointment cancellations.  Once again, some of the more tech savvy agents have been doing “virtual showings” to ease the slowdown.  Many of the best listing agents are setting up hand washing stations, and leveraging that in their MLS remarks (and even pictures) to reduce the pain points of getting their homes shown.

Long Term Contraction

If we do see long term contraction of the real estate market, expect some changes in the marketing strategies of agents and brokers as well as a compression of commissions paid for by the seller.  This will push even more aspects of real estate online as well as see a rise in discount real estate brokers and flat fee real estate models.

Cash for Down Payments

It is true that much of the country is shut down and many workers are loosing their hours at work, some without Paid Time Off (PTO). That is not the case for everyone.  With tax refunds flowing coupled with the strong probability of millions of Americans receiving direct checks there is a certain subset of the American population coupled with the extremely low mortgage rates.

Hopefully, the COVID-19 pandemic will be over soon and the real estate industry will return to a successful spring and summer market. Prevention is key. It’s important to stay positive and look forward to the industry making up for lost time quickly.

A Fresh Coat Of Paint

Summer is the perfect time to paint your home. You can move heavy furniture outside to open up space inside your home. You can also open up all of the windows to let in fresh air while your paint. A fresh coat of paint in your home can significantly increase the value of your home for only a small investment up front. A fresh coat of paint can make your home look fresher, cleaner, and can even make it appear bigger. Using neutral colors throughout your home can make your home appeal to a larger number of people and make your home sell faster.

Curb Appeal

Your curb appeal is the first thing that potential home buyers will see when they pull up to your home. Taking care of your lawn is critical if you plan to list your home but you should also consider power washing your home, driveway, or sidewalk to increase the curb appeal of your home. These chores cannot be done in the colder months so you should use the warm weather to do these things now, even if you are not ready to sell yet.

Building A Deck

Indoor and outdoor living is something that all homebuyers want in a new home. This summer may be the perfect time to build a deck or a patio area in your backyard. A deck or patio may not add square footage to your home, but all of the most influential Realtors know that a deck or a patio area can significantly increase the value of a home and can set it apart from other homes on the market. If you have some money set aside and are looking for the perfect way to increase your investment a deck or patio may be the perfect solution.

Kitchen Renovation

A kitchen renovation is one of the best ways to increase the value of your home. Realtors will tell you that kitchen and bath renovations typically get the best return on investment. While it can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars to renovate a kitchen or a bath you are sure to make back your money and then some. Summer provides the perfect time to do a kitchen or bath renovation because you can store materials outside, can open windows to freshen up the air, and can do most of your cutting of materials outside. Whether you plan to lay new tile, new countertops, or new cabinets in your kitchen or bath, summer is the perfect time to do so. A cheap way to increase the value of your home is to paint or restain your old cabinets. Giving them a new coat of paint or a new stain can make them look new and custom. This small investment can drastically change the overall feel of your home and increase the investment of your home.

If you are looking to sell your home in the next year or so you should take advantage of the nice, warm weather and talk to your Realtor about making changes to your home to get the largest profit from your home and to attract people looking to buy a home. Even if you are not going to sell your home this summer you should always be thinking about ways to increase your investment. The warm summer weather provides the optimal time to make renovations to your home.            

The success of the discount real estate brokerage model has a Louisiana brokerage expanding to service all of Louisiana.

A Louisiana Discount Real Estate Broker, 1 Percent Lists is expanding their unique value proposition for selling homes with a discounted real estate commission, across Louisiana.

1 Percent Lists was formed in 2016 with one agent/owner and has grown to five different real estate markets across Louisiana and 17 REALTORS.  Their success and growth can be attributed to their unique value proposition for selling a home for market rate while saving the home seller thousands of dollars in commissions.

The expansion of the real estate brokerage is into the Baton Rouge LA real estate market, Lafayette real estate market and the Southernmost tip of Louisiana affectionately referred to as the Bayou area. This is in addition to the existing markets of Greater New Orleans and the New Orleans Northshore.

The full service, discount real estate brokerage has seen massive growth with 17 million in sales in 2017, 37 million in sales in 2087 and forecast to exceed 80 million for 2019.  With hundreds of homes sold, each offering a standard commission to the Buyers Agent, but only 1 percent to the listing broker, they have saved their clients over two million dollars ($2,000,000) in real estate commissions.

Grant Clayton, The Founder of 1 Percent Lists had this to say:

We set out to disrupt the real estate industry. The standard 6% commission model had not adjusted for modern technology and the internet.  Today, we can be much more efficient selling a home than in the past, so there was no real reason to still charge six percent.  We leverage modern digital marketing techniques and don’t waste time with the outdated processes still in use by many real estate agents today. 

Many real estate agents want to join the brokerage because they feel they provide true value to the home seller, by saving them thousands of dollars in real estate commission.  With the influx of new REALTORS across Louisiana offering discount real estate brokerage services, 1 Percent Lists is expected to see massive growth over the next 24 months.

Technology has been key to making the discount real estate brokerage model a success.  1 Percent lists have recently rolled out a new public facing website, giving homebuyers the ability to search the majority of the homes in Louisiana, while being educated on how real estate commissions work.

About 1 Percent Lists:

1 Percent Lists is a Discount Real Estate Broker in Louisiana.  All real estate agents and brokers are licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission.

Click to learn more about 1 Percent Lists

Main Office:

123 TerraBella Boulevard Suite 2C,

Covington, LA 70433

Office Phone:

(985) 807-0001

Mandeville Office:

145 Fontainbleau Dr

Mandeville, LA 70471

(504)875-6599

CONTACT: Miller & Associates Realty

108 Estes Place

Panama City Beach, FL 32413

www.panamacityhomesonline.com

850-249-6655                      

Miller & Associates Realty

Miller and Associates have went into an agreement with a real estate SEO agency to expand their market share in Panama City Beach and the 30A Strip.

Miller & Associates Realty cover the real estate waterfront in beautiful Panama City Beach Florida and are dedicated to maintaining close working relationships with their clients.  Ranging from residential properties, commercial properties, condos and other recreational properties, and investment properties, these realty professionals are devoted to serving home buyers and home sellers . The team at Miller & Associates Realty are committed to providing their clients with an unparalleled real estate experience, in terms of both service and results.

            “Joanie Miller, founder of Miller & Associates Realty, has over 20 years in the industry. She has enjoyed success in pre-bubble, bubble and post-bubble markets by staying on top of trends, anticipating what’s next, employing the latest technology and acting proactively, not just reactively.”

Miller & Associates Realty is a family owned business that treats it’s clients like family. Whether you’re searching for beach-front condos in Panama City Beach, or foreclosure homes in Panama City, their state-of-the-art search tools can keep you up to date with the latest homes for sale in the area. Every team member at the firm is accessible around the clock and are always open to the suggestions of their clients. With a thorough knowledge of the real estate market in Panama City and in Panama City Beach, your real estate decisions are in the right hands with Miller & Associates.

“The new digital marketing initiatives include content marketing, on-page SEO, Citation Accounts, Local SEO and Acquiring Client Reviews, Social Media and many

other digital marketing techniques to dominate the Panama City Beach real estate market.. In recruiting agents, they have ensured that Miller & Associates Realty is greater than the sum of its parts.”

If you are interested in buying or selling in the Panama city or Panama City Beach area, please contact Miller & Associates office at 850-249-6655.

Even if you just want a little more information on what this family owned business can do for you, go to their website at www.panamacityhomesonline.com and put your trust and your real estate decisions in competent hands.

Trump lauds ‘big win’ after Dems ‘cave’ on shutdown, Schumer criticized

President Trump struck an optimistic tone on Twitter after he signed a bill to reopen the government late Monday night after a 69-hour federal government shutdown that led to Senate Democrats backing off their opposition.

Earlier in the day, Congress agreed on a measure that will fund the government for three weeks. The agreement will keep the government funded until Feb. 8.

“Big win for Republicans as Democrats cave on Shutdown,” Trump tweeted, after he kept a low profile during the weekend. “Now I want a big win for everyone, including Republicans, Democrats and DACA, but especially for our Great Military and Border Security. Should be able to get there. See you at the negotiating table.”

Some items on the top of the agenda are Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and border security. Trump has said he wants a deal in place to legalize the country’s 700,000 Dreamers.

Despite getting Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky., to allow deabte on the immigration issue, Democrats faced immediate backlash within their own ranks for not pushing harder on the immigration law.

“Nor did they get a promise that the Senate will approve their desired change, nor did they get any commitment from House Republicans to do anything at all,” James Freeman wrote in The Wall Street Journal.

Big win for Republicans as Democrats cave on Shutdown. Now I want a big win for everyone, including Republicans, Democrats and DACA, but especially for our Great Military and Border Security. Should be able to get there. See you at the negotiating table!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 23, 2018

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who backed Monday’s agreement during a speech on the chamber’s floor, was criticized for his handling of the negotiations.

Schumer was seen by some centrists in the party as putting too much emphasis on immigration, while those on the left blamed him for agreeing to the deal without a DACA win.

“Now there is a real pathway to get a bill on the floor and through the Senate,” Schumer said of legislation to halt any deportation efforts aimed at the younger immigrants.

Ezra Levin, the co-executive director of the activist group Indivisible, told Politico that Schumer’s job was to “keep his caucus together” and “he didn’t do it.”

Cristina Jimenez, the executive director of United We Dream, said the members of the group are “outraged.” She added that senators who voted Monday in favor of the deal “are not resisting Trump, they are enablers.”

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., told Politico, Schumer is “doing a great job under very difficult circumstances.”

Earlier, Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., told The Journal that Democrats did not have the public’s support druing negotiations and were being blamed for the shutdown. He said he believed Democrats “overgamed” the gridlock.

“I think they gambled and didn’t win. Nobody wins when the government shuts down,” he said.

The Wall Street Journal, in an editorial titled, “Chuck Schumer, Shut Down,” wrote that the New York Democrat exposed his colleauges running for re-election in “Trump states” to “placate his progressive base, and then he caved on the shutdown and ended up with the approval of neither.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Edmund DeMarche is a news editor for FoxNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @EDeMarche.

Source: Trump lauds ‘big win’ after Dems ‘cave’ on shutdown, Schumer criticized

The post Trump lauds 'big win' after Dems 'cave' on shutdown, Schumer criticized appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-lauds-big-win-after-dems-cave-on-shutdown-schumer-criticized/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/hawaii-governor-took-long-to-post-on-twitter-about-missile-alert-because-he-forgot-username-password/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hawaii-governor-took-long-to-post-on-twitter-about-missile-alert-because-he-forgot-username-password https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/hawaii-governor-took-long-to-post-on-twitter-about-missile-alert-because-he-forgot-username-password/#respond Tue, 23 Jan 2018 05:01:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/hawaii-governor-took-long-to-post-on-twitter-about-missile-alert-because-he-forgot-username-password/ Hawaii governor took long to post on Twitter about missile alert because he forgot username, password close Video Hawaii left reeling after missile threat false alarm ‘The Greg Gutfeld Show’ panel shares their reaction. Gov. David Ige says he and his team took so long to post a message to social media […]

The post Hawaii governor took long to post on Twitter about missile alert because he forgot username, password appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Hawaii governor took long to post on Twitter about missile alert because he forgot username, password

close

Video

Hawaii left reeling after missile threat false alarm

‘The Greg Gutfeld Show’ panel shares their reaction.

Gov. David Ige says he and his team took so long to post a message to social media about the recent missile alert being a false alarm because he didn’t know his Twitter username and password.

Ige told reporters Monday he’s since put his username and password into his cellphone. He says he can now use social media without waiting for his staff.

The governor was asked why his Twitter account relayed a Hawaii Emergency Management Agency tweet about the false alarm at 8:24 a.m. on Jan. 13 even though Ige learned about the mistake 15 minutes earlier at 8:09 a.m.

Ige’s communications staff members manage his social media accounts, as is the case with many politicians.

Ige spokeswoman Cindy McMillan said Friday the governor had to track her down to prepare a message for the public before they could post anything.

Source: Hawaii governor took long to post on Twitter about missile alert because he forgot username, password

The post Hawaii governor took long to post on Twitter about missile alert because he forgot username, password appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/hawaii-governor-took-long-to-post-on-twitter-about-missile-alert-because-he-forgot-username-password/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/audio-released-of-rand-paul-911-call-after-neighbors-alleged-assault/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=audio-released-of-rand-paul-911-call-after-neighbors-alleged-assault https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/audio-released-of-rand-paul-911-call-after-neighbors-alleged-assault/#respond Tue, 23 Jan 2018 03:15:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/audio-released-of-rand-paul-911-call-after-neighbors-alleged-assault/ Audio released of Rand Paul 911 call after neighbor’s alleged assault close Video Sen. Rand Paul calls 911 following assault outside his home Raw audio: Kentucky senator calls the police after being attacked by his neighbor. Authorities in Kentucky released audio of Sen. Rand Paul’s 911 call Monday, in which the Republican […]

The post Audio released of Rand Paul 911 call after neighbor's alleged assault appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Audio released of Rand Paul 911 call after neighbor’s alleged assault

close

Video

Sen. Rand Paul calls 911 following assault outside his home

Raw audio: Kentucky senator calls the police after being attacked by his neighbor.

Authorities in Kentucky released audio of Sen. Rand Paul’s 911 call Monday, in which the Republican reported that he “was assaulted by my neighbor” this past November.

Paul, who can be heard breathing heavily on the audio, tells the dispatcher that the incident is “not a life-or-death thing, but I’d like to have a police car come by.” He gives his full name, Randal Paul, when asked by a second dispatcher and tells her that he was attacked “in my yard, while I was mowing the grass.”

The audio was made public on the same day it was revealed that federal prosecutors would seek a 21-month prison sentence for the man accused of attacking Paul outside his Bowling Green, Ky., home Nov. 3.

In comments to police, Rene Boucher indicated the attack on Paul was not politically motivated, according to a court document filed by prosecutors. Instead, it had to do with a dispute over yard maintenance that boiled over.

Boucher said he saw Paul stacking more brush onto an existing pile and had “had enough.” Boucher made a “running tackle” of Paul in the lawmaker’s yard, it said.

The document said Paul “did not see the attack coming until the last second, and was unable to brace for the impact.”

Rene Boucher told authorities he had ‘had enough’ after Paul stacked brush onto an existing pile.

 (AP)

Paul suffered several broken ribs in the attack and later developed pneumonia. Paul has since said he’s recovering well from the attack.

Boucher has been charged with assaulting a member of Congress as part of a federal plea agreement that surfaced last Friday.

While federal prosecutors will recommend a nearly two-year prison sentence, Boucher’s attorney said Monday he will argue that his client should not serve any jail time. Attorney Matt Baker said his client is “a good and a decent person” who made a “big mistake.”

“Everyone needs to remember, first and foremost, that this is a dispute between two neighbors,” Baker told the Associated Press in a phone interview. “It was not and has never been politically motivated. And if this very same incident had occurred between two private persons, neither of whom were a congressman or a senator, we wouldn’t be in federal court.”

Boucher is “very meticulous” about how he maintains his yard, while Paul takes “a much different approach” to the upkeep of his property, Baker said last week.

The federal charge against Boucher carries a punishment of up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The plea deal also raises the prospect that Boucher — a retired anesthesiologist in his late 50s — will pay restitution to Paul.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: Audio released of Rand Paul 911 call after neighbor’s alleged assault

The post Audio released of Rand Paul 911 call after neighbor's alleged assault appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/audio-released-of-rand-paul-911-call-after-neighbors-alleged-assault/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/a-look-back-at-every-government-shutdown-in-us-history/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=a-look-back-at-every-government-shutdown-in-us-history https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/a-look-back-at-every-government-shutdown-in-us-history/#respond Tue, 23 Jan 2018 02:30:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/a-look-back-at-every-government-shutdown-in-us-history/ A look back at every government shutdown in US history A shutdown occurs when Congress and the president fail to sign into law 12 appropriations bills to continue providing funding for government operations.  (Reuters) Lawmakers breathed a sigh of relief Monday as they reached a compromise to end a three-day shutdown to […]

The post A look back at every government shutdown in US history appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

A look back at every government shutdown in US history

A shutdown occurs when Congress and the president fail to sign into law 12 appropriations bills to continue providing funding for government operations.

 (Reuters)

Lawmakers breathed a sigh of relief Monday as they reached a compromise to end a three-day shutdown to keep the government open until Feb. 8.

The government has now shut down a total of 19 times since Congress introduced the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act, which established the federal budget process in 1976. Half of those shutdowns occurred over a weekend.

“I call them ‘fake shutdowns,'” Marc Goldwein, senior policy director of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget – a bipartisan, nonprofit organization that educates the public on fiscal policy issues – told Fox News. “Most shutdowns occur over the course of a weekend. We’re talking days or weeks – not months.”

But there have been a handful of lengthy U.S. government shutdowns. According to data from the Congressional Research Service (CRS), six shutdowns in the past four decades lasted more than 10 days.

However, Goldwein says, only three of those shutdowns are significant.

Two occurred during the Clinton administration in the winter of 1995 to 1996 when former President Bill Clinton and the Republican Congress were at odds and shut the government down for a total of 26 days, Goldwein said.

The third occurred during the Obama administration in 2013. A stalemate between the House and Senate led to a 16-day hiatus.

Here’s a look back at every government shutdown in the history of the U.S.

President Gerald Ford

When: Thursday, Sept. 30 to Monday, Oct. 10, 1976

Duration (full days): 10 days

The first partial shutdown occurred under Gerald Ford’s presidency when Ford vetoed a $56 billion spending bill for the Departments of Labor and Health, Education and Welfare, according to a 1976 report from The New York Times.

This was the year the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act became law, allowing Congress to take an extension, known as a continuing resolution (CR).

President Jimmy Carter

When: Friday, Sept. 30 to Thursday, Oct. 13, 1977

Duration (full days): 12 days

When: Monday, Oct. 31 to Wednesday, Nov. 9, 1977

Duration (full days): 8 days

When: Wednesday, Nov. 30 to Friday, Dec. 9, 1977

Duration (full days): 8 days

There were three shutdowns, referred to as the “abortion shutdowns,” in the late 1970s under the presidency of Jimmy Carter. The Democratic party may have dominated both the House and the Senate, but they couldn’t get Republicans on board when it came to using Medicaid to pay for abortions.

When: Saturday, Sept. 30 to Wednesday, Oct. 18, 1978 

Duration (full days): 17 days

In 1978, Carter vetoed a $37 billion defense authorization bill, which included a $2 billion nuclear-powered Nimitz-class aircraft carrier — equipment he didn’t consider essential to national security, The Washington Post reported. This led to the second largest shutdown in the history of the nation.

When: Sunday, Sept. 30 to Friday, Oct. 12, 1979

Duration (full days): 11 days

Another funding gap took place a year later when the House and Senate disagreed over raising pay by 5.5 percent for members of Congress and senior civil servants, The Washington Post reported. And there was yet again another debate over abortion funding.

President Ronald Reagan

When: Friday, Nov. 20 to Monday, Nov. 23, 1981

Duration (full days): 2 days

President Ronald Reagan vetoed a spending bill because it didn’t make enough cuts. 

When: Thursday, Sept. 30 to Saturday, Oct. 2, 1982

Duration (full days): 1 day

The government shut down for one day when Congress failed to pass the spending bill on time. 

When: Friday, Dec. 17 to Tuesday, Dec., 21, 1982

Duration (full days): 3 days

Both the House and Senate wanted to increase public works spending in order to create more jobs — a move Reagan opposed. The House also opposed MX missile funding, which, The Washington Post noted, was a “major defense priority” of Reagan’s.

When: Thursday, Nov. 10 to Monday, Nov. 14, 1983

Duration (full days): 3 days

Reagan argued over the Democratic-controlled House’s proposed foreign aid and spending cuts and their plea for an increase in funding for education. At the same time, Reagan was pushing for more funding for the MX missile.

Eventually, both parties reached an agreement.

When: Sunday, Sept. 30 to Wednesday, Oct. 3, 1984

Duration (full days): 2 days

In short, Reagan agreed to the House’s proposed crime-fighting package, but he opposed their water projects package.

“Reagan offered to forgo his crime bill in exchange for junking the water package…but a deal wasn’t reached in time to avoid a brief shutdown,” The Washington Post reported.

When: Wednesday, Oct. 3 to Friday, Oct. 5, 1984

Duration (full days): 1 day

Lawmakers reportedly needed another day to discuss the spending bill.

When: Thursday, Oct. 16 to Saturday, Oct. 18, 1986

Duration (full days): 1 day

The Democratic-controlled House was once again in disagreement with Reagan and the Republican-controlled Senate. This time, over a welfare package deal.

When: Friday, Dec. 18 to Sunday, Dec. 20, 1987

Duration (full days): 1 day

Reagan and Democrats couldn’t agree on funding for Nicaraguan “Contra” militants. Democrats also pushed to reinstate the “Fairness Doctrine,” which required licensed broadcasters to give equal air time for people with competing political points of view.

President George H.W. Bush

When: Friday, Oct. 5 to Tuesday, Oct. 9, 1990

Duration (full days): 3 days

Only one shutdown took place during George H.W. Bush’s presidency. It occurred in October 1990 after Bush vetoed a stopgap spending bill, The New York Times reported at the time.

But the timing was right. The shutdown happened over Columbus Day weekend and most federal workers were already off for the holiday.

President Bill Clinton

When: Monday, Nov. 13 to Sunday, Nov. 19, 1995

Duration (full days): 5 days

President Bill Clinton vetoed a continuing resolution in November 1995 over Medicare premium increases.

“The government is partially shutting down because Congress has failed to pass the straightforward legislation necessary to keep the government running without imposing sharp hikes in Medicare premiums and deep cuts in education and the environment,” Clinton said during an address on Nov. 14, 1995.

When: Friday, Dec. 15, 1995, to Saturday, Jan. 6, 1996 

Duration (full days): 21 days

It’s the longest shutdown in U.S. history: 21 days.

The government shut down after Clinton vetoed the spending bill proposed by the Republican-controlled Congress.

After a long three weeks, the president and Congress agreed to a seven year budget plan, which included “modest spending cuts and tax increases,” according to research by the Regional Oral History Office at the University of California, Berkeley.

President Barack Obama

When: Monday, Sept. 30 to Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013

Duration (full days): 16 days

Seventeen years later, the government shut down once again. Lawmakers couldn’t seem to come to an agreement on the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, in 2013.

The House passed several versions of the bill to fund the government. But each time, the Senate sent it back.

“This is an unnecessary blow to America,” Harry Reid, the Senate democratic leader at the time, said of the shutdown.

John Boehner, the House speaker during the shutdown, said Republicans were fighting to keep the government open, but the Senate “continued to reject our offers.”

President Donald Trump

When: Saturday, Jan. 20 to Monday, Jan. 22

Duration (full days): 3 days

When it comes to immigration and spending, President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers and Democrats were divided.

Republicans controlled the Senate but they still needed 60 votes to break a filibuster.

“When you only have 51 votes in the Senate, then you have to have Democrat support in order to keep the government — to fund the government,” OMB Director Mick Mulvaney told reporters during a White House press briefing Friday.

Democrats said from the beginning that they’d reject any deal that didn’t include a legislative fix for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an Obama-era program, which offers protection for immigrants — also known as “Dreamers” — who came into the U.S. illegally as minors.

“I am proud of House and Senate Democrats’ unity in insisting on a budget that supports our military and the domestic investments that keep our nation strong, and that honors our values by protecting the DREAMers,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in a statement as the government shut down.

Trump, on the other hand, said Democrats only had themselves to blame when it came to both shutting down the government and failing to make a deal on DACA.

“Deals can’t get made when there is no trust! Durbin blew DACA and is hurting our Military,” Trump tweeted. “DACA is probably dead because the Democrats don’t really want it, they just want to talk and take desperately needed money away from our Military.”

In the end, Democrats reached a compromise to reopen the government through Feb. 8 — with one condition.

“After several discussions, offers, counter-offers, the Republican leader and I have come to an arrangement,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, said on the Senate floor. “We will vote today to reopen the government to continue negotiating a global agreement, with the commitment that, if an agreement isn’t reached by February 8, the Senate will immediately proceed to consideration of legislation dealing with DACA.”

There was a total of six shutdowns, averaging about two days, during President Ronald Reagan’s two terms.

Source: A look back at every government shutdown in US history

The post A look back at every government shutdown in US history appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/a-look-back-at-every-government-shutdown-in-us-history/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-signs-bill-ending-government-shutdown-after-3-days/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trump-signs-bill-ending-government-shutdown-after-3-days https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-signs-bill-ending-government-shutdown-after-3-days/#respond Tue, 23 Jan 2018 02:15:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-signs-bill-ending-government-shutdown-after-3-days/ Trump signs bill ending government shutdown after 3 days close Video Congress strikes agreement to reopen gov’t: What’s next? The ‘Outnumbered’ panel reacts to the announcement by Democrat leaders. The federal government will be open for business Tuesday after President Trump signed a bill funding the government until Feb. 8.  Trump […]

The post Trump signs bill ending government shutdown after 3 days appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Trump signs bill ending government shutdown after 3 days

close

Video

Congress strikes agreement to reopen gov’t: What’s next?

The ‘Outnumbered’ panel reacts to the announcement by Democrat leaders.

The federal government will be open for business Tuesday after President Trump signed a bill funding the government until Feb. 8. 

Trump signed the measure Monday evening, hours after the House and Senate approved the package by wide margins as Senate Democrats backed off their opposition. 

Democrats agreed to re-open the government after Republicans assured them the Senate would soon consider legislation that would protect illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children. It was a stark contrast from the Senate Democratic position just a few days ago.

“In a few hours, the government will reopen,” Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, said on the Senate floor on Monday.

The Senate then voted 81-18 to break a Democratic filibuster on the stalled government spending bill. Several hours later, the Senate approved the bill by the same margin and the House followed suit, 266-150.

“I am pleased that Democrats in Congress have come to their senses and are now willing to fund our great military, border patrol, first responders and insurance for vulnerable children,” Trump said in a written statement. 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faced heavy pressure to end the filibuster of a government funding measure.

 (AP)

During Monday’s press briefing, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the administration expects the bill to make it to the president’s desk late Monday and the government to open at full capacity on Tuesday morning. 

Sanders pushed back against the notion from Democrats that Trump wasn’t doing enough behind the scenes during the shutdown. She said Trump was busy working the phones with lawmakers and Cabinet officials.

“The president was putting pressure and standing firm on exactly what he was willing to do and what he wasn’t,” Sanders said. “And it very clearly worked.”

Video

Conway: Trump will talk immigration after Dems reopen gov’t

The funding and reopening of the government would allow U.S. military personnel to be paid, end the furlough of nearly 1 million federal workers and resume all federal services and operations.

But congressional lawmakers made it clear Monday that they’re still faced with challenges, like how to fund hurricane disaster relief and craft a comprehensive immigration reform bill on which both parties can agree.

“We still have a lot more work to do,” said Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.

The Capitol Visitor Center is empty, as the government shutdown entered its third day.

After days and weeks of blaming and finger-pointing, a bipartisan group of senators met Sunday and brokered the deal in which rank-and-file members would provide the 60 votes in exchange for Senate leaders’ promise to immediately proceed to immigration reform.

Democrats largely had opposed the stopgap spending bill because it did not include provisions to protect the illegal immigrants from deportation under former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals executive order. Trump last year set a deadline of early March to end the protections, but has indicated he wants to provide permanent protections for the young illegal immigrants — along with border security, particularly funding for his U.S.-Mexico border walll. 

Under the apparent deal to end the filibuster, Schumer said Monday they would negotiate on immigration, and immediately consider such legislation if there’s no agreement by Feb. 8.

Schumer lauded the bipartisan group’s weekend efforts and suggested the group could lead efforts to replace DACA with permanent, legislative protections.

However, he also needled Trump, whom he said on Friday rejected his compromise plan that included money for the border wall.

“Today we enter the third day of the Trump shutdown,” Schumer said before saying they would provide the votes to get to the spending bill. Republicans call it the “Schumer Shutdown.” 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., then thanked Schumer and said: “I think if we’ve learned anything during this process, it’s that a strategy to shut down the government over the issue of illegal immigration is something the American people didn’t understand and would not have understood in the future. So I’m glad we’ve gotten past that.”

With Republicans having just 50 senators available to vote Monday, they needed the support of roughly a dozen Democratic senators to break the filibuster. They got 33.

The 18 senators who didn’t vote to end debate included Republican Sens. Mike Lee, of Utah, and Rand Paul, of Kentucky.

The 15 Democrats in opposition were Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, both of Connecticut; Cory Booker and Bob Menendez, both of New Jersey; Catherine Cortez Masto, of Nevada; Kirsten Gillibrand, of New York; Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii; Patrick Leahy, of Vermont; Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, both of Massachusetts; Jon Tester, of Montana; Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, both of Oregon; and Kamala Harris and Dianne Feinstein, both of California. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent, also voted in opposition.

Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain did not vote because he’s home fighting cancer.

Early Monday, before the votes, the Trump White House and Capitol Hill Republicans cranked up the pressure on Democrats to abandon their immediate demands for immigration measures and vote in support of the temporary spending bill.

“They shut down the government,” White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told “Fox & Friends” on Monday morning. “The pressure is on them.”

Trump tweeted that Democrats shut down the government to appease the “far left base” and are now “powerless” to change course.

“The Democrats are turning down services and security for citizens in favor of services and security for non-citizens. Not good!” he tweeted.

Democrats have shut down our government in the interests of their far left base. They don’t want to do it but are powerless!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2018

The Democrats are turning down services and security for citizens in favor of services and security for non-citizens. Not good!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2018

Fox News’ Chad Pergram contributed to this report.

Alex Pappas is a politics reporter at FoxNews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlexPappas.

Source: Trump signs bill ending government shutdown after 3 days

The post Trump signs bill ending government shutdown after 3 days appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-signs-bill-ending-government-shutdown-after-3-days/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/why-trumps-promise-to-move-us-embassy-to-jerusalem-is-so-controversial/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-trumps-promise-to-move-us-embassy-to-jerusalem-is-so-controversial https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/why-trumps-promise-to-move-us-embassy-to-jerusalem-is-so-controversial/#respond Mon, 22 Jan 2018 18:30:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/why-trumps-promise-to-move-us-embassy-to-jerusalem-is-so-controversial/ Why Trump’s promise to move US Embassy to Jerusalem is so controversial President Trump announced late last year that the U.S. will formally recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel – and it looks like the new U.S. embassy will be ready ahead of schedule. The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem will open […]

The post Why Trump's promise to move US Embassy to Jerusalem is so controversial appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Why Trump’s promise to move US Embassy to Jerusalem is so controversial

President Trump announced late last year that the U.S. will formally recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel – and it looks like the new U.S. embassy will be ready ahead of schedule.

The U.S. embassy in Jerusalem will open by the end of 2019, Vice President Mike Pence said Monday. Previous estimates suggested the embassy’s move from Tel Aviv could take up to four years.

The Trump administration’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital was heralded by many pro-Israel activists but decried by Palestinians and America’s Arab allies.

Read on to find out why the decision is so contentious — and why it wasn’t accomplished before.

Finding the capital

The international community – and until 2017, the U.S. – largely does not recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel as it is claimed by both Palestinians and Israelis. Like other countries, the U.S. has kept its embassy in Tel Aviv, approximately an hour away.

The U.S. moving its embassy would cause “significant harm to the U.S. credibility as a mediator” for peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians, said Dylan Williams, vice president of government affairs for J Street, a left-leaning pro-Israel advocacy organization.

Williams added that the move could “undermine confidence” from Palestinians and Arab countries that the U.S. would remain an impartial negotiator in efforts to create peace in the Middle East. 

“It shouldn’t be moved prior to agreement by the parties to the conflict as part of a comprehensive agreement ending their conflict,” Williams, J Street’s chief lobbyist, told Fox News. 

Williams added that such a move could also turn deadly.

“Even seemingly minor changes of Jerusalem’s status quo — either in fact or in law — have historically had the impact of sparking violence,” Williams said.

Support for Jerusalem

Millions of evangelical eyes were on Trump, waiting to see if he would keep his campaign promise to move the embassy, longtime Pastor John Hagee told Fox News ahead of the president’s official announcement. 

“I can assure you that 60 million evangelicals are watching this promise closely because if President Trump moves the embassy into Jerusalem, he will historically step into immortality,” Hagee said. “He will be remembered for thousands of years for his act of courage to treat Israel like we already treat other nations.” 

“If he does not, he will be remembered as just another president who made a promise he failed to keep which would generate massive disappointment in that strong evangelical base that went to vote for him against Hillary Clinton,” he added. 

“Trump will be remembered for thousands of years for his act of courage to treat Israel like we already treat other nations.”

– Pastor John Hagee

Hagee is the founder and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church, a megachurch in San Antonio, Texas. He founded the nonprofit Christians United for Israel in 2006, as well.

Pence became the first ever sitting American vice president to address the Israeli Knesset on Jan. 22 – and he reiterated the administration’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

“I am here to convey one simple message. America stands with Israel. We stand with Israel because your cause is our cause, your values are our values, and your fight is our fight,” Pence said. “We stand with Israel because we believe in right over wrong, good over evil, and liberty over tyranny.”

A March 2016 Gallup poll found that the majority of Americans didn’t express an opinion when asked if the U.S. embassy should move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. But of those who did have an opinion, Americans were split with 24 percent supporting a move and 20 percent disagreeing with relocation.

Congressional authority

Trump isn’t the only president to declare his intentions to move the U.S. embassy; both former Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush also pledged to move the embassy — only to abandon the idea once in the White House.

Congress approved in 1995 the funding and relocation of the embassy to Jerusalem by 1999. But the law included a stipulation, allowing for presidents to sign continuous waivers to stall the relocation. Every president since has used the waiver in an effort to avoid conflict with the peace negotiations.

Fox News’ John Roberts, Leland Vittert and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kaitlyn Schallhorn is a Reporter for Fox News. Follow her on Twitter @K_Schallhorn.

Source: Why Trump’s promise to move US Embassy to Jerusalem is so controversial

The post Why Trump's promise to move US Embassy to Jerusalem is so controversial appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/why-trumps-promise-to-move-us-embassy-to-jerusalem-is-so-controversial/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/republicans-hope-to-release-jaw-dropping-memo-on-surveillance-abuses/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=republicans-hope-to-release-jaw-dropping-memo-on-surveillance-abuses https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/republicans-hope-to-release-jaw-dropping-memo-on-surveillance-abuses/#respond Mon, 22 Jan 2018 18:04:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/republicans-hope-to-release-jaw-dropping-memo-on-surveillance-abuses/ Republicans hope to release ‘jaw-dropping’ memo on surveillance abuses close Video Progress being made in effort to release FISA memo? Rep. Dave Joyce calls the reported government surveillance abuses ‘disturbing.’ House Republicans are hopeful that a four-page memo allegedly containing “jaw-dropping” revelations about U.S. government surveillance abuses will soon be made public. […]

The post Republicans hope to release 'jaw-dropping' memo on surveillance abuses appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Republicans hope to release ‘jaw-dropping’ memo on surveillance abuses

close

Video

Progress being made in effort to release FISA memo?

Rep. Dave Joyce calls the reported government surveillance abuses ‘disturbing.’

House Republicans are hopeful that a four-page memo allegedly containing “jaw-dropping” revelations about U.S. government surveillance abuses will soon be made public.

Rep. Dave Joyce, a Republican from Ohio, told Fox News on Monday that the intelligence committee plans to work on releasing the document but warned that once Americans see it, they’ll “be surprised how bad it is.”

The process of releasing the memo could take up to 19 congressional working days which puts its release around mid-March. The document’s release would first need approval from House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., who can decide to bring the committee back together for a vote. If the majority of the committee votes to release the memo, it would then be up to President Trump.

If he says yes, the memo can be released.

Joyce said he’s personally read the memo twice and “it was deeply disturbing as anyone who’s been in law enforcement and any American will find out once they have the opportunity to review it.”

House Intelligence Committee Devin Nunes, R-Calif., could move to release a key memo on alleged surveillance abuses.

 (AP)

Joyce and a handful of other conservatives have been pushing for the memo to be made public. They have suggested that it contains damning evidence the Obama administration used FISA (Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act) warrants to spy on the Trump campaign as well as his transition team ahead of the president’s swearing-in. 

GOP LAWMAKERS DEMAND RELEASE OF FISA MEMO

A FISA warrant allows U.S. spy agencies to collect information on foreigners outside the country and was reauthorized by Congress earlier this month.

‘It was deeply disturbing.’

– Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Ohio, on viewing the surveillance memo

Obama officials have strongly denied the claims.  

Democratic lawmakers argue the Republican uproar over the memo is a last-ditch attempt by conservatives to discredit the Russia investigation and cast doubt on the people who are running it.

California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff has called the memo “a profoundly misleading set of talking points drafted by Republican staff attacking the FBI and its handling of the investigation.”

He said it’s riddled with factual inaccuracies and said it gives a “distorted view of the FBI.”

But Joyce has hinted that the memo was so scandalous that “termination would be the least of these people’s worries” and suggested that some of the people involved might even be “prosecuted.”

The report was spearheaded by Nunes.

Over the weekend, Nunes met with Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., to discuss the possibility of releasing some of the info from the classified document.

Calls from Republicans to release the memo have been intensifying in recent days.

Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, who has called the memo “jaw-dropping,” is demanding “full transparency.”.”

“The House must immediately make public the memo prepared by the Intelligence Committee regarding the FBI and the Department of Justice,” Gaetz said.

North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows described the memo as “shocking” and “troubling.”

“Part of me wishes that I didn’t read it because I don’t want to believe that those kinds of things could be happening in this country that I call home and love so much,” he added.

Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania stated bluntly, “You think about, ‘is this happening in America or is this the KGB?’ That’s how alarming it is.”

Source: Republicans hope to release ‘jaw-dropping’ memo on surveillance abuses

The post Republicans hope to release 'jaw-dropping' memo on surveillance abuses appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/republicans-hope-to-release-jaw-dropping-memo-on-surveillance-abuses/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/senate-breaks-dem-filibuster-clearing-way-to-end-government-shutdown/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=senate-breaks-dem-filibuster-clearing-way-to-end-government-shutdown https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/senate-breaks-dem-filibuster-clearing-way-to-end-government-shutdown/#respond Mon, 22 Jan 2018 17:45:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/senate-breaks-dem-filibuster-clearing-way-to-end-government-shutdown/ Senate breaks Dem filibuster, clearing way to end government shutdown close Video Congress strikes agreement to reopen gov’t: What’s next? The ‘Outnumbered’ panel reacts to the announcement by Democrat leaders. The Senate on Monday voted 81-18 to break a Democratic filibuster on a government spending bill, clearing the way for Congress to […]

The post Senate breaks Dem filibuster, clearing way to end government shutdown appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Senate breaks Dem filibuster, clearing way to end government shutdown

close

Video

Congress strikes agreement to reopen gov’t: What’s next?

The ‘Outnumbered’ panel reacts to the announcement by Democrat leaders.

The Senate on Monday voted 81-18 to break a Democratic filibuster on a government spending bill, clearing the way for Congress to approve the stopgap measure and end the three-day government shutdown. 

Democrats effectively backed off their opposition, after being given assurances from majority Republicans.  

Before the vote, Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer made clear that Senate Democrats would supply the GOP-controlled Senate with the votes needed, but only in exchange for “fair” and immediate efforts to consider legislation that would protect illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children.

“We will vote today to reopen the government,” Schumer, a New York Democrat, said on the Senate floor. “In a few hours, the government will reopen.”

The 100-member, Republican-controlled chamber will now need only a simple majority to pass the temporary spending bill that would keep the government open until Feb. 8. The House would then have to approve the bill, sending it to President Trump’s desk. 

The funding and reopening of the goverment would allow U.S. military personnel to be paid, end the furlough of nearly 1 million federal workers and resume all federal services and operations.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faced heavy pressure to end the filibuster of a government funding measure.

 (AP)

After days and weeks of blaming and finger-pointing, a bipartisan group of senators met Sunday and brokered a deal in which rank-and-file members would provide the 60 votes in exchange for Senate leaders’ promise to immediately proceed to immigration reform.

Democrats largely opposed the stopgap spending bill because it did not include provisions to protect the illegal immigrants from deportation under former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals executive order.

President Trump last year set a deadline of early March to end the protections. The president has indicated that he wants to provide permanent protections for the young illegal immigrants but has insisted that border security, particularly funding for his U.S.-Mexico border wall, be included in any such deal. 

Video

Conway: Trump will talk immigration after Dems reopen gov’t

Under the apparent deal to end the filibuster, Schumer said Monday they would negotiate on immigration, and immediately consider such legislation if there’s no agreement by Feb. 8.

Schumer lauded the bipartisan group’s weekend efforts and suggested the group could lead efforts to replace DACA with permanent, legislative protections.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., then thanked Schumer and said: “I think if we’ve learned anything during this process, it’s that a strategy to shut down the government over the issue of illegal immigration is something the American people didn’t understand and would not have understood in the future. So I’m glad we’ve gotten past that.”

The Capitol Visitor Center is empty, as the government shutdown entered its third day.

With Republicans having just 50 senators available to vote Monday, they needed the support of roughly a dozen Democratic senators to break the filibuster. They got 33. 

Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain did not vote because he’s home fighting cancer.

McConnell on Sunday night indicated a deal was in the works to break the filibuster, in exchange for immediately addressing Democrats’ desire for immigration reform.

“When the Democrat filibuster of the government funding bill ends, the serious, bipartisan negotiations that have been going on for months now to resolve our unfinished business — military spending; disaster relief; health care; immigration and border security — will continue,” he said Sunday in announcing the Monday vote.

“It would be my intention to resolve these issues as quickly as possible … Importantly, when I proceed to the immigration debate, it will have an amendment process that is fair to all sides. But the first step in any of this is re-opening the government and preventing any further delay.”

Early Monday, before the vote, the Trump White House and Capitol Hill Republicans cranked up the pressure on Democrats to abandon their immediate demands for immigration measures and vote in support of the temporary spending bill.

“They shut down the government,” White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told “Fox & Friends” on Monday morning. “The pressure is on them.”

President Trump tweeted that Democrats shut down the government to appease the “far left base” and are now “powerless” to change course.

Democrats have shut down our government in the interests of their far left base. They don’t want to do it but are powerless!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2018

“The Democrats are turning down services and security for citizens in favor of services and security for non-citizens. Not good!” he tweeted.

The Democrats are turning down services and security for citizens in favor of services and security for non-citizens. Not good!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2018

The vote Monday was the GOP-controlled Senate’s second attempt to break the filibuster, after failing to get the required 60 votes Friday. The Friday night vote was 50-49.

Fox News’ Chad Pergram contributed to this report.

Source: Senate breaks Dem filibuster, clearing way to end government shutdown

The post Senate breaks Dem filibuster, clearing way to end government shutdown appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/senate-breaks-dem-filibuster-clearing-way-to-end-government-shutdown/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/pence-dismisses-baseless-allegation-that-trump-had-affair-with-porn-star/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pence-dismisses-baseless-allegation-that-trump-had-affair-with-porn-star https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/pence-dismisses-baseless-allegation-that-trump-had-affair-with-porn-star/#respond Mon, 22 Jan 2018 17:32:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/pence-dismisses-baseless-allegation-that-trump-had-affair-with-porn-star/ Pence dismisses ‘baseless’ allegation that Trump had affair with porn star Stormy Daniels visiting a local restaurant in downtown New Orleans in 2009. Vice President Mike Pence is dismissing the allegation that President Trump had a past sexual affair with the porn star.  (AP Photo/Bill Haber, File) Vice President Mike Pence is […]

The post Pence dismisses 'baseless' allegation that Trump had affair with porn star appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Pence dismisses ‘baseless’ allegation that Trump had affair with porn star

Stormy Daniels visiting a local restaurant in downtown New Orleans in 2009. Vice President Mike Pence is dismissing the allegation that President Trump had a past sexual affair with the porn star.

 (AP Photo/Bill Haber, File)

Vice President Mike Pence is dismissing the allegation that President Trump had a past sexual affair with a porn star named Stormy Daniels by calling it “baseless.”

Speaking to The Associated Press during a visit to Jerusalem on Monday, the vice president said he is “not going to comment on the latest baseless allegations against the president.”

Pence is on a four-day tour of the Middle East.

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump’s personal lawyer brokered a payment to the pornographic actress in October 2016 to prohibit her from publicly discussing the alleged affair before the presidential election.

Daniels’ real name is Stephanie Clifford. Trump’s attorney, Michael Cohen, has denied there was any relationship.

“These rumors have circulated time and again since 2011,” Cohen said in a statement to Fox News. “President Trump once again vehemently denies any such occurrence as has Ms. Daniels.”

TRUMP REP, FORMER PORN STAR DENY ‘HUSH MONEY’ CLAIMS

In a letter, obtained and reviewed by Fox News, Clifford also denied all allegations.

“I recently became aware that certain news outlets are alleging that I had a sexual and/or romantic affair with Donald Trump many, many, many years ago. I am stating with complete clarity that this is absolutely false,” Clifford said in a letter signed by “Stormy Daniels.” “My involvement with Donald Trump was limited to a few public appearances and nothing more.”

Clifford wrote in the letter that when she met Trump, he was “gracious, professional and a complete gentleman to me and EVERYONE in my presence.”

“Rumors that I have received hush money from Donald Trump are completely false,” the letter read. “If indeed I did have a relationship with Donald Trump, trust me, you wouldn’t be reading about it in the news, you would be reading about it in my book.  But the fact of the matter is, these stories are not true.”

Clifford, however, is cashing in on the controversy, appearing at a South Carolina strip club over the weekend. A poster advertising the appearance showed a photo of Trump and the adult entertainer and said “he saw her live, you can too.”

Fox News’ Alex Pappas, Brooke Singman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: Pence dismisses ‘baseless’ allegation that Trump had affair with porn star

The post Pence dismisses 'baseless' allegation that Trump had affair with porn star appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/pence-dismisses-baseless-allegation-that-trump-had-affair-with-porn-star/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/who-are-the-most-influential-mortgage-and-real-estate-professionals-on-twitter/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=who-are-the-most-influential-mortgage-and-real-estate-professionals-on-twitter https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/who-are-the-most-influential-mortgage-and-real-estate-professionals-on-twitter/#respond Mon, 22 Jan 2018 17:00:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/who-are-the-most-influential-mortgage-and-real-estate-professionals-on-twitter/ Who are the most influential mortgage and real estate professionals on Twitter? Late last night, HousingWire’s Twitter account asked the following question: Who are the most influential mortgage and real estate professionals on Twitter? Here is how the Internet responded. Be advised: The answers may surprise you as much as they surprised us. […]

The post Who are the most influential mortgage and real estate professionals on Twitter? appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Who are the most influential mortgage and real estate professionals on Twitter?

Late last night, HousingWire’s Twitter account asked the following question: Who are the most influential mortgage and real estate professionals on Twitter? Here is how the Internet responded.

Be advised: The answers may surprise you as much as they surprised us.

High on the list are Ten-X Vice President Rick Sharga, the Calculated Risk blog and Mortgage Laurie (Urban Institute mortgage finance analyst Laurie Goodman.

Who are the most influential mortgage and real estate professionals on Twitter? Reply with your suggestions. Self nominations are great, as long as someone else “Likes”!

— HousingWire (@HousingWire) January 22, 2018

The people on this list have fundamentally changed the way I think about strategy, marketing, and adaptability wrt to mortgage and real estate. Deep thinkers, big-time doers.

— Dan Green (@dangreenoh) January 22, 2018

Everyone should follow @EllieMaeInc for the latest on mortgage technology and data!

— Erica Jewett (@EricaBeth77) January 22, 2018

@MortgageLaurie and @MyHomeMatters with the @urbaninstitute are at the top of my list! #Housing

— Todd Hill-Jones (@Yohi52) January 22, 2018

Realtors in DC need to know what will impact mortgage lending in the region. @cornerstone1st is a must read on your Twitter feed.

— Daniel Goldstein (@DJGRealEstateDC) January 22, 2018

Following this chain! Some great reading recommendations

— Origin Investments (@OriginInvests) January 22, 2018

Source: Who are the most influential mortgage and real estate professionals on Twitter?

The post Who are the most influential mortgage and real estate professionals on Twitter? appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/who-are-the-most-influential-mortgage-and-real-estate-professionals-on-twitter/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/government-shutdown-whats-open-whats-closed-and-what-it-means-for-you/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=government-shutdown-whats-open-whats-closed-and-what-it-means-for-you https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/government-shutdown-whats-open-whats-closed-and-what-it-means-for-you/#respond Mon, 22 Jan 2018 14:47:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/government-shutdown-whats-open-whats-closed-and-what-it-means-for-you/ Government shutdown: What’s open, what’s closed and what it means for you close Video How does this gov’t shutdown compare the one in 2013? Political analyst Ron Meyer provides insight on ‘Fox & Friends First.’ The workweek kicked off Monday with the federal government still in shutdown mode. Critical government functions […]

The post Government shutdown: What's open, what's closed and what it means for you appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Government shutdown: What’s open, what’s closed and what it means for you

close

Video

How does this gov’t shutdown compare the one in 2013?

Political analyst Ron Meyer provides insight on ‘Fox & Friends First.’

The workweek kicked off Monday with the federal government still in shutdown mode.

Critical government functions continued, but other agencies and employees were on furlough by Monday as lawmakers continue to fight over any spending package to re-open the government.

As the federal government remains shuttered, here’s a look at what’s open and closed. 

What is open and working?

Military

The U.S. military will continue its operations overseas – although members will not receive pay until Congress approves funding.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said a shutdown will still have far-reaching effects on the Defense Department.

Weapons and equipment maintenance will shut down, military intelligence operations would stop and training for most of the reserve force would be put on hold, he said. And any National Guard forces heading out to do weekend training duty around the country would be told to go home.  

Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-N.J., co-sponsored legislation that would ensure service members receive a paycheck during the shutdown instead of lawmakers.

Airlines

Air travel will remain open during the shutdown as air-traffic controllers are considered essential workers, according to USA Today.

Nearly 53,000 of 58,000 TSA workers will continue to be paid during the shutdown, USA Today reported. And the more than 25,000 air-traffic control employees with the Federal Aviation Administration will also receive their paychecks.

Statue of Liberty

The State of Liberty and Ellis Island were originally closed to visitors over the weekend, but it re-opened Monday with funding from New York’s tourism budget, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.

“New York will always stand up for the core values that make our nation truly great,” Cuomo said in a statement. “New York State will not allow the vitriol of Washington to close the Statue of Liberty.”

Today the Statue of Liberty is open in New York.  
 
To my fellow Democrats in Washington: Don’t cave – no wall, no way. pic.twitter.com/XJFerZCKEc

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) January 22, 2018

The Democratic governor said it costs $65,000 per day to keep Ellis Island and the State of Liberty National Monument open.

Federal Courts

The federal judiciary will remain open at least until Feb. 9, the U.S. Courts said on its website. It will use court fee balances as well as additional funds that are “not dependent on a new appropriation” to stay open.

“Most proceedings and deadlines will occur as scheduled,” it said.

“If the shutdown were to continue past three weeks, and exhaust the Judiciary’s resources, the Judiciary would then operate under the terms of the Anti-Deficiency Act, which allows work to continue during a lapse in appropriations if it is necessary to support the exercise of Article III judicial powers. Under this scenario, each court and federal defender’s office would determine the staffing resources necessary to support such work.” 

Some national parks

Some national parks are open – and some are closed.

The USS Constitution, the world’s oldest commissioned warship, was to remain open to tourists during the shutdown at the Charleston Navy Yard in Boston.

The Smithsonian museums and National Zoo also opened on Monday.

Our museums, research centers & the National Zoo are OPEN today.

We will update our status beyond today as soon as we know. #governmentshutdown

— Smithsonian (@smithsonian) January 22, 2018

But Big Cypress National Preserve, Everglades National Park and other federally managed natural areas in Florida were partially closed.

U.S. Post Office

You’ve got mail! The U.S. Postal Service will remain open during the shutdown because it is “an independent entity that is funded through the sale of our products [and] services, [and] not by tax dollars,” it said in a tweet.

Social Security

The Social Security Administration will remain open through the shutdown because of its 2018 contingency plan. 

What is closed or impacted?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

As the nation still grapples with the flu epidemic, nearly 2/3 of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff is furloughed, WAGA-TV reported.

Although the CDC’s contingency plan allows it to “continue minimal support to protect the health and well-being of U.S. citizens here and abroad,” the shutdown will result in “significantly reduced capacity to respond to outbreak investigations, processing laboratory samples and maintaining the agency’s 24/7 emergency operations center,” according to WAGA. 

Air Force athletics

The Air Force Academy canceled all athletic events as the government remains shuttered.

“Due to the government shutdown, all Air Force Academy home and away intercollegiate athletic events have been canceled until further notice. In the event a solution is reached, the Academy will work to reschedule as many missed events as possible,” the Academy said in a statement.

Due to the government shutdown, all Air Force Academy home and away intercollegiate athletic events have been cancelled until further notice. In the event a solution is reached, the Academy will work to reschedule as many missed events as possible. We regret any inconvenience.

— USAFA (Official) (@AF_Academy) January 20, 2018

Some national historic sites

Martin Luther King Jr.’s childhood home, historic Ebenezer Baptist Church and the visitor center at MLK National Historic Site in Atlanta were closed.

The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall are closed as well.

Library of Congress

The Library of Congress is closed and shut the book on all public events during the government shutdown, it said in a statement. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kaitlyn Schallhorn is a Reporter for Fox News. Follow her on Twitter @K_Schallhorn.

Source: Government shutdown: What’s open, what’s closed and what it means for you

The post Government shutdown: What's open, what's closed and what it means for you appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/government-shutdown-whats-open-whats-closed-and-what-it-means-for-you/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trumps-relationship-with-top-dems-deteriorating-amid-shutdown-standoff/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trumps-relationship-with-top-dems-deteriorating-amid-shutdown-standoff https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trumps-relationship-with-top-dems-deteriorating-amid-shutdown-standoff/#respond Mon, 22 Jan 2018 05:56:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trumps-relationship-with-top-dems-deteriorating-amid-shutdown-standoff/ Trump’s relationship with top Dems ‘deteriorating’ amid shutdown standoff close Video Senate sets Monday Noon vote to end govt. shutdown Chad Pergram has the details. The relationship between President Donald Trump and top Democrats may be “deteriorating” as the two parties inched closer but ultimately fell short on an agreement that would […]

The post Trump's relationship with top Dems 'deteriorating' amid shutdown standoff appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Trump’s relationship with top Dems ‘deteriorating’ amid shutdown standoff

close

Video

Senate sets Monday Noon vote to end govt. shutdown

Chad Pergram has the details.

The relationship between President Donald Trump and top Democrats may be “deteriorating” as the two parties inched closer but ultimately fell short on an agreement that would have reopened the federal government before Monday.

The revelation comes as the federal government shutdown stretches into its third day. There is an expected procedural vote in the Senate on Monday at noon that would fund the government until Feb. 8, The Wall Street Journal reported. But it is unclear if there’s enough support and it would not reopen the government.

Marc Short, the White House director of legislative affairs, told Fox News Sunday that the relationship between Trump, Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., is “probably deteriorating” since the shutdown began on Saturday at 12:01 a.m.

During the Friday meeting with Trump, Schumer reportedly agreed to only one-year appropriation for the border wall. The White House dismissed such offer, instead demanding a multi-year package for the administration’s signature issue.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Schumer said on Sunday that negotiations were underway and the exact details of a proposal taking shape are unclear.  

“We have yet to reach an agreement on a path forward,” Schumer said late Sunday, hoping for a firmer commitment from the Republicans to protect roughly 700,000 younger immigrants brought illegally to the U.S. as children.

The GOP is becoming increasingly confident that Democrats will ultimately blink and vote to end the shutdown amid to mounting criticism and blame for the standoff. The White House and Republican leadership insisted they will not enter negotiations on immigration until the government is funded.

Some Democrats reportedly expressed worries of the political costs due to the showdown in the wake of the midterm elections this year.

Republican Sens. Jeff Flake and Lindsey Graham – who opposed the bill on Friday – are thought to be supportive of the vote, Short said. Five Democrats from states won by Trump also broke ranks in a vote on Friday.

The vote on an actual bill re-opening the government would come late Monday or as late as Tuesday evening, depending on the success of the early Monday vote.

Trump urged the Senate on Sunday to deploy the so-called “nuclear option” – changing Senate rules to end the filibuster that requires the bills to reach a 60 vote threshold rather than a simple majority.

McConnell dismissed the suggestion, noting that the rule will be welcomed once the Republicans become the minority in the Senate.

As the government shutdown stretches into the work week, some effects of the political standoff could be felt by the general population.

But White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said Sunday that the Americans will not see a “dramatic difference” because, unlike the Obama administration in 2013, the current administration is not trying to “weaponize” the situation.

“The effects won’t actually be as visible as they were as in 2013,” Mulvaney told “Fox News Sunday.” “Keep in mind that in 2013, the only way I can describe it, was the Obama administration chose to weaponize the shutdown. They wanted it to be showy. They went out of their way to hurt more people and to be more visible.”

Fox News’ Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Lukas Mikelionis is a reporter for FoxNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @LukasMikelionis.

Source: Trump’s relationship with top Dems ‘deteriorating’ amid shutdown standoff

The post Trump's relationship with top Dems 'deteriorating' amid shutdown standoff appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trumps-relationship-with-top-dems-deteriorating-amid-shutdown-standoff/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/california-democrats-want-some-businesses-to-fork-over-half-tax-cut-savings-to-state/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=california-democrats-want-some-businesses-to-fork-over-half-tax-cut-savings-to-state https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/california-democrats-want-some-businesses-to-fork-over-half-tax-cut-savings-to-state/#respond Mon, 22 Jan 2018 05:11:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/california-democrats-want-some-businesses-to-fork-over-half-tax-cut-savings-to-state/ California Democrats want some businesses to fork over half tax-cut savings to state Two Democrats have targeted money that some businesses in the state are expected to save under the Trump administration’s tax plan.  (California State Assembly) Calling the Trump administration’s tax reform plan a “middle-class tax increase,” two California lawmakers introduced […]

The post California Democrats want some businesses to fork over half tax-cut savings to state appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

California Democrats want some businesses to fork over half tax-cut savings to state

Two Democrats have targeted money that some businesses in the state are expected to save under the Trump administration’s tax plan.

 (California State Assembly)

Calling the Trump administration’s tax reform plan a “middle-class tax increase,” two California lawmakers introduced a bill that would force large companies to fork over half of their expected savings to the state.

Assemblymen Kevin McCarthy and Phil Ting, both Democrats, introduced Assembly Constitutional Amendment 22, which calls for a 10 percent surcharge on companies with a net earnings over $1 million. The plan could potentially raise billions for the state’s social services programs.

“It is unconscionable to force working families to pay the price for tax breaks and loopholes benefiting corporations and wealthy individuals,” Ting said in a statement, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. “This bill will help blunt the impact of the federal tax plan on everyday Californians by protecting funding for education, affordable health care and other core priorities.”

The paper reported that the two lawmakers face an up-hill battle because Democrats in the state have lost their supermajority in the Legislature.

The Trump administration’s tax bill cut the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. The administration contends that the lessened tax burden will stimulate the economy and help the U.S. stay competitive on a global scale.

In contrast to the tumultuous governance model championed by Washington these days, I am grateful to hail from a state that has prioritized fiscal responsibility and progressive investments. #CABudgethttps://t.co/vK8Is24E3g

— Phil Ting (@PhilTing) January 10, 2018

About 2 million workers have received a bonus after the bill’s passage.

Congressional Democrats said the bill was rushed through and benefits the top 1 percent of earners.  House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has diminished the corporate bonuses as mere “crumbs.”

An editorial last week in The Sacramento Bee called the McCarthy-Ting proposal “dumb.”

“California’s tax system should be updated to match a 21st century economy,” the editorial read.  “The high sales tax rate, which hits low-income people hardest, ought to be lowered, and certain services used by wealthier people and corporations ought to be subject to taxes. Proposition 13, the property tax cutting measure approved by voters 40 years ago, could be revisited.”

The editorial pointed out that the state will maintain a $13.5 billion reserve this year, but, “Bills that blindly seek to soak big business and the rich at a time of budget surplus solve nothing.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Edmund DeMarche is a news editor for FoxNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @EDeMarche.

Source: California Democrats want some businesses to fork over half tax-cut savings to state

The post California Democrats want some businesses to fork over half tax-cut savings to state appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/california-democrats-want-some-businesses-to-fork-over-half-tax-cut-savings-to-state/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/monday-morning-cup-of-coffee-what-a-government-shutdown-means-for-housing/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=monday-morning-cup-of-coffee-what-a-government-shutdown-means-for-housing https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/monday-morning-cup-of-coffee-what-a-government-shutdown-means-for-housing/#respond Mon, 22 Jan 2018 05:01:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/monday-morning-cup-of-coffee-what-a-government-shutdown-means-for-housing/ Monday Morning Cup of Coffee: What a government shutdown means for housing Monday Morning Cup of Coffee takes a look at news coming across HousingWire’s weekend desk, with more coverage to come on larger issues. Well, in case you didn’t hear it over the weekend (and if you didn’t, good for you for being […]

The post Monday Morning Cup of Coffee: What a government shutdown means for housing appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Monday Morning Cup of Coffee: What a government shutdown means for housing

Monday Morning Cup of Coffee takes a look at news coming across HousingWire’s weekend desk, with more coverage to come on larger issues.

Well, in case you didn’t hear it over the weekend (and if you didn’t, good for you for being able to fully unplug), the government shut down at 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Saturday after Republicans and Democrats were unable to come to an agreement to keep the government funded and functioning.

Both parties seem to think the shutdown is other ones’ fault, as each party’s members spent all weekend slinging blame at the other party and traded competing hashtags over which politician to name the shutdown after.

For the Republicans, it’s the #SchumerShutdown. And for the Democrats, it’s the #TrumpShutdown.

Personally, I don’t really care how we got here. Each side has their version of the truth, and neither holds much weight. Just a bunch of political posturing, which is about the only thing a lot of these elected officials are good for anymore.

If you want a good read on how we got here, check out HousingWire’s coverage from last week or this from USA Today.

I have no particular interest in assigning blame, nor do I really care which party is “at fault.” Trading pithy hashtags over what to call the shutdown is childish and a sign of how hopelessly broken this whole process is.

They broke the government (although, many would argue it’s been broken for a long time before this), and now it’s up to them to fix it…or at least to get it running again.

At this point, it’s unknown how long this shutdown will last. It could be one more day, it could be two more weeks. No one really knows.

The rest of us just have to deal with the consequences.

So, here’s the bottom line for those of us who care about the housing business: The shutdown will have an impact on the housing economy, given the prevalence of the federal government in all areas of the housing finance system.

The only question is how much impact will this shutdown have.

The last government shutdown was in October 2013, and that caused delays in about 17% of closings.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will continue operating as normal throughout the duration of the shutdown, as those companies are government-sponsored enterprises and do not depend on the federal budgetary process for their money.

That’s not the case for the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Housing Administration, where operations will be somewhat affected.

According to HUD’s latest shutdown contingency plan, made available at HUD.gov over the weekend, nearly all of HUD’s employees will be furloughed during the shutdown.

The report shows that as of Aug. 1, 2017, HUD had 7,797 employees. Of those, only 289 are allowed to work while the government is shutdown. That means that approximately 96% of HUD’s workforce will be at home for as long as this shutdown continues.

In the Office of Housing, there are normally 2,506 employees. During the shutdown, there will be 86. In the Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, there are normally 484 employees. During the shutdown, there will be 2.

And over at Ginnie Mae, there are normally 143 employees, but during the shutdown, there will be 14.

Despite the skeleton crew, HUD will not shut down the mortgage pipeline.

According to the HUD contingency plan, the Office of Single Family Housing will endorse new loans, but will not endorse Home Equity Conversion Mortgages and Title I loans, under “current multiyear appropriation authority in order to support the health and stability of the U.S. mortgage market.”

But that doesn’t mean that there may not be delays in HUD’s operations, considering its considerably smaller current workforce.

Ginnie Mae will also continue to operate.

The agency released a statement Sunday stating as much.

“During a lapse in government funding, Ginnie Mae will reduce staffing to essential personnel levels. Importantly, Ginnie Mae will continue to remit timely payment of principal and interest to investors. There will also be no disruption of essential functions like the granting of commitment authority and support for continued issuance of Ginnie Mae-guaranteed Mortgage Backed Securities and REMICs,” Ginnie Mae said in a notice sent out on Sunday.

“Through its standard continuity of operations protocol, Ginnie Mae will notify issuers and other stakeholders to provide specific operational instructions and contact information for the Ginnie Mae personnel that will manage ongoing business matters that arise during this period of lapsed funding,” Ginnie Mae continued.

Here’s a short Q&A from Ginnie Mae about the shutdown:

Q: Will Ginnie Mae continue to operate during a shutdown?

A: Yes, Ginnie Mae will continue to operate if the government shuts down. Ginnie Mae’s role in the secondary mortgage market is essential to the market’s stability and liquidity and to maintaining overall economic security and has several employees and functions deemed as such. Therefore, Ginnie Mae employees will continue essential business operations under an emergency exception. Ginnie Mae will have limited staff available to manage business operations and answer questions. 

Q: Will issuers be able to get commitment authority during a shutdown?

A: Yes, Ginnie Mae will continue to approve commitment authority.

Q: Can issuers continue to issue securities during a shutdown?

A: Yes, Ginnie Mae will continue to process pools and guarantee securities.

Q: Will investors still receive monthly principal and interest payments?

A:  Yes, issuers will continue to make pass-through payments to investors during a shutdown, and all operations to ensure the timely payment of principal and interest continue.

Q: If there is a need for Ginnie Mae to pay out on its guaranty during a shutdown due to a shutdown, can Ginnie Mae do so?

A: Yes, Ginnie MBS carry the full faith and credit of the United States government. Even if there is a temporary government shutdown Ginnie Mae, must honor its guaranty.

And for a full read on what else happens at HUD, click here.

The Department of Veterans Affairs will also continue to guaranty loans throughout the shutdown, as seen in the VA’s contingency plan.

As noted here by the National Association of Realtors, there will be an impact on housing via the shutdown of the Internal Revenue Service.

From NAR:

The IRS is closed and has suspended the processing of all forms, including requests for tax return transcripts (Form 4506-T). While FHA and VA do not require these transcripts, they are required by many lenders for many kinds of loans, including FHA and VA, so delays can be expected if the shutdown is protracted. We have received indications that many loan originators are adopting revised policies during the shutdown, such as allowing for processing and closings with income verification to follow, as long as the borrower has signed a Form 4506-T requesting IRS tax transcripts. On loans requiring a Form 4506-T Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are expected to adopt relaxed provisions allowing closings but subject to tax transcript verification before the GSE’s purchase the loans.

Operations at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will not be affected by the shutdown because the agency’s funding comes from the Federal Reserve, not through the Congressional appropriations process.

But late last week, CFPB Acting Director Mick Mulvaney made headlines by asking for no money from the Fed to fund the CFPB. Mulvaney said that the CFPB will run in the second quarter of 2018 on money from the bureau’s reserves.

From the Los Angeles Times:

“This letter is to inform you that for the Second Quarter of Fiscal Year 2018, the Bureau is requesting $0,” he wrote Wednesday to Janet L. Yellen, chairwoman of the Federal Reserve, which provides the watchdog agency’s funding.

Mulvaney said that the bureau had enough money on hand to cover its anticipated $145 million in expenses for the quarter, which began Jan. 1, and that he plans to slash the bureau’s reserve fund.

The move is the latest in a string of moves Mulvaney’s made in the last few months to change the way the CFPB operates.

Earlier this month, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., accused Mulvaney of actively working to “halt and weaken critical agency functions” at the CFPB by freezing the collection of personal data.

And just last week, Mulvaney signaled that he will reconsider the entire way the bureau operates by issuing a “call for evidence to ensure the bureau is fulfilling its proper and appropriate functions to best protect consumers.”

Mulvaney also serves as the director of the Office of Management and Budget, which means that he’s the one who’s in charge of actually shutting the government down when the money runs out, a fact that he apparently thinks is “cool.”

From CNN:

White House budget director Mick Mulvaney described it as “kind of cool” that he’s technically in charge of shutting down the government during an interview Friday.

“Obviously, I’m heavily involved in this, Sean, is that the Office of Management and Budget is charged with, you know, sort of implementing running a shutdown,” Mulvaney said on conservative commentator Sean Hannity’s radio show before the shutdown went into effect.

He added, “In fact, I found out for the first time last night that the person who technically shuts the government down is me, which is kind of cool.”

The latest word on the shutdown is that it will run through midday Monday, at least. Hopefully, the folks on Capitol Hill and over on Pennsylvania Avenue can find some common ground and figure out a way to get the government back up and running soon.

“Some common ground.” That’s a funny joke I just told.

Source: Monday Morning Cup of Coffee: What a government shutdown means for housing

The post Monday Morning Cup of Coffee: What a government shutdown means for housing appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/monday-morning-cup-of-coffee-what-a-government-shutdown-means-for-housing/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/banks-close-record-amount-of-branches-in-2017/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=banks-close-record-amount-of-branches-in-2017 https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/banks-close-record-amount-of-branches-in-2017/#respond Mon, 22 Jan 2018 03:47:56 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/banks-close-record-amount-of-branches-in-2017/ Banks Close Record Amount of Branches in 2017 Somewhat lost in the wave of store closure announcements last year was news that another major user of retail space abandoned a record amount of square footage. U.S. banks accelerated their pace of branch consolidation last year, closing a net 2,069 locations, an 18% increase […]

The post Banks Close Record Amount of Branches in 2017 appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Banks Close Record Amount of Branches in 2017

Somewhat lost in the wave of store closure announcements last year was news that another major user of retail space abandoned a record amount of square footage. U.S. banks accelerated their pace of branch consolidation last year, closing a net 2,069 locations, an 18% increase over the net number closed in 2016.

The net number of closed branches amounts to about 10.46 million square feet of retail space closed based on the average size of existing U.S. bank branches. And that amount does not include reduced square footage from branch relocations.

That pace of closures could speed up even more in 2018 as a number of bank holding companies reported plans to deploy a significant portion of expected savings from tax reform legislation enacted last month into increased spending on technology, expected to support increasing reliance on digital and mobile technology by bank customers to conduct more of their banking activity.

Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE:WFC) is the poster child of the movement. It closed a net of 194 branches last year – the highest among all U.S. banks — and it expects to close 250 branches or more in 2018, plus as many as 500 in each 2019 and 2020.

“Based on our current assumptions regarding consumer channel behavior and our own technology advances as well as other factors, we can see our total branch network declining to approximately 5,000 by the end of 2020,” said John Shrewsberry, CFO of Wells Fargo.

As of Sept. 30, 2017, Wells Fargo operated 6,082 U.S. branches.

The bank is also reducing properties and other businesses including standalone mortgage locations and is transitioning operational activities in its auto business from 57 regional banking centers into three larger regional sites.

Citizens Financial Group (NYSE:CFG) represents another approach banks are taking in shedding excess space: reducing the overall square footage of each branch.

“There’s a little bit of pruning of the number of locations, but the greater element of that program is trying to take 4,200-square-foot branches and turn them into 2,500- or 2,200-square-foot branches,” said Bruce Van Saun, chairman and CEO of Citizens Financial. “I’d say, by 2021, I think we’ll have gone through 50% of the branches as the target.”

Citizens operates more than 1,100 branches. The rent savings from the effort will be reinvested in digital technologies, Van Saun added.

Meanwhile, 85% of banks plan to make digital transformation programs a business priority for 2018, according to the EY Global Banking Outlook 2018.

“In order for banks to weather the performance challenges that lie ahead, they must prepare for a future led by innovation and technology,” said Jan Bellens, EY Global Banking & Capital Markets Deputy Sector Leader. “The pace of innovation continues to accelerate, and banks must have a strategy in place to ensure their implementation of new technology is effective.”

According to EY, 59% of banks surveyed anticipate that their technology investment budgets will rise by more than 10% in 2018.

BB&T Corp. (NYSE: BBT) announced last week it will set aside up to $50 million to invest in or acquire emerging digital technology companies to help lower its operating costs.

“A significant investment in fintech [financial technology] puts BB&T on an aggressive pace to more quickly navigate our digital road map and further foster a culture of innovation throughout the company,” said W. Bennett Bradley, chief digital officer of BB&T. “Things are changing rapidly and we, like many financial institutions, have to move faster to meet and exceed our clients’ expectations.”

BB&T operates over 2,100 financial centers in 15 states and Washington, DC.

Banks closing the most branch locations (net) in 2017

• Wells Fargo Bank, 194 (net closures)
• JPMorgan Chase Bank, 137
• The Huntington National Bank, 134
• First-Citizens Bank & Trust Co., 127
• Bank of America, 119
• SunTrust Bank, 119
• KeyBank, 112
• PNC Bank, 109
• Branch Banking and Trust Co. (BB&T), 92
• Capital One, 73

Source: Banks Close Record Amount of Branches in 2017

The post Banks Close Record Amount of Branches in 2017 appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/banks-close-record-amount-of-branches-in-2017/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/shutdown-enters-third-day-as-mcconnell-calls-for-bipartisan-compromise-step-back-from-the-brink/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=shutdown-enters-third-day-as-mcconnell-calls-for-bipartisan-compromise-step-back-from-the-brink https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/shutdown-enters-third-day-as-mcconnell-calls-for-bipartisan-compromise-step-back-from-the-brink/#respond Mon, 22 Jan 2018 03:45:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/shutdown-enters-third-day-as-mcconnell-calls-for-bipartisan-compromise-step-back-from-the-brink/ Shutdown enters third day as McConnell calls for bipartisan compromise: ‘Step back from the brink’ close Video Eric Shawn reports: Ending the shutdown Sen. John Thune on fixing the mess. The Senate adjourned Sunday without reaching an agreement to end the government shutdown as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called for both […]

The post Shutdown enters third day as McConnell calls for bipartisan compromise: 'Step back from the brink' appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Shutdown enters third day as McConnell calls for bipartisan compromise: ‘Step back from the brink’

close

Video

Eric Shawn reports: Ending the shutdown

Sen. John Thune on fixing the mess.

The Senate adjourned Sunday without reaching an agreement to end the government shutdown as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called for both parties to “step back from the brink.”

“The shutdown should stop today,” McConnell, R-Ky., said on the Senate floor Sunday evening. “And we’ll soon have a vote that will allow us to do that.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell leaves the Senate floor Sunday evening.

 (AP/Jose Luis Magana )

However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he and McConnell “have yet to reach an agreement on a path forward” to re-opening the government.

Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration. Can’t let that happen!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018

For most of the day, a bipartisan group of approximately 18 senators huddled to craft a compromise spending plan to present to their respective leadership teams. The group was expected to meet at 10 a.m. Monday, with a vote to break a Democratic filibuster on a short-term funding bill scheduled for noon.

The contours of the bipartisan proposal were still taking shape Sunday evening. In exchange for Democratic votes on a three-week spending measure, the GOP leadership in the Senate would agree to address immigration policy and other pressing legislative matters in the coming weeks.

Sen. Bob Corker said he was “a little bit” more hopeful about reaching a compromise.

 (AP, File)

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said the potential deal would not secure an immediate vote on immigration tied to reopening the government, but lawmakers were seeking “an agreement that we would proceed to immigration.”

The approach found advocates in Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who has been trying to broker an immigration deal, and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., both of whom rejected an earlier short-term proposal. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., another previous “no” vote, announced he would vote in favor of reopening the government Monday.

.@SenSchumer: “Negotiating with this White House is like negotiating with jello, it’s next to impossible.” pic.twitter.com/bNNJHOckUA

— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 20, 2018

Seeking to win over holdout votes, McConnell pledged Sunday that the Senate would take up legislation on some top Democratic priorities, including immigration, if they aren’t already addressed by Feb. 8.

Republicans have appeared increasingly confident that Democrats were bearing the brunt of criticism for the shutdown and that they would ultimately buckle. The White House and GOP leaders said they would not negotiate with Democrats on immigration until the government is reopened.

There were indications Sunday that Democratic resolve was beginning to waver, with growing worries that a prolonged shutdown could prove to be an electoral headache for the party just as they have grown confident about their prospects in November.

“I think they miscalculated on the shutdown,” Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, said. “It’s very unpopular and they’re trying to find a way out of it.”

“The American people cannot begin to understand why the Senate Democratic leader thinks the entire government should be shut down until he gets his way on illegal immigration.”

– Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

During a meeting with reporters, Graham, R-S.C., warned Democrats to not “overplay your hand.”

“A government shutdown is not a good way to get an outcome legislatively,” Graham added.

Discussions took place in behind closed doors throughout the day with few outward signs of progress, as lawmakers took turns delivering animated speeches to near empty chambers to explain why the other party is to blame. McConnell and Schumer met off the Senate floor in the early evening, as many in quiet Capitol offices flipped their television screens to playoff football games.

McConnell opened the chamber’s rare Sunday legislative session, on the second day of the shutdown, by saying Schumer on Friday “made the extraordinary and destructive choice to filibuster our bipartisan bill and guarantee the American people a shutdown of their federal government.”

He also accused Schumer of making the decision to “shut down the federal government for hundreds of millions of Americans because he didn’t get everything he wanted in one meeting” with President Trump.

The shutdown has centered on Democrats’ demand that any spending bill to keep the government fully operational include protections for illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children. 

Schumer argued again Sunday that he offered a compromise immigration plan to Trump to avoid a shutdown, including billions for his must-have U.S.-Mexico border wall. However, he stopped short of repeating that “negotiating with President Trump is like negotiating with Jell-O.”

“On Friday in the Oval Office, I made what I thought was a very generous offer to the president, the most generous offer yet,” Schumer said Sunday on the Senate floor. “The president must take yes for an answer. Until he does, it’s the Trump Shutdown.”  

House now voting on whether floor chart with Senator Schumer used by AL GOP @RepByrne violates House rules. Objection raised by CO Democrat @RepPerlmutter pic.twitter.com/QwkU8t8qCr

— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) January 20, 2018

Earlier Sunday, Trump suggested that Senate Republicans change chamber rules — and resort to the “nuclear option” — so that they could sidestep the 60 votes needed to stop the Democrats’ filibuster, then pass a long-term budget with a simple, 51-vote majority.

“Great to see how hard Republicans are fighting for our Military and Safety at the Border,” Trump tweeted. “The Dems just want illegal immigrants to pour into our nation unchecked. If stalemate continues, Republicans should go to 51% (Nuclear Option) and vote on real, long term budget, no C.R.’s!” referring to continuing spending resolutions. 

However, McConnell has said he’s opposed to changing the rules.

“The Senate Republican Conference opposes changing the rules on legislation,” a McConnell spokeswoman told Fox News.

Later, on the Senate floor, McConnell sounded less unequivocal, suggesting he supported using a filibuster “from an institutional point of view but the question is, when do you use it?”

Coons was critical of Trump’s tweet on “Fox News Sunday”, including its suggestion about the nuclear option, considering the 60-vote threshold has for decades provided the Senate’s minority party with some check on the majority party’s power.

“This is another example of President Trump throwing a tweet in the middle of bipartisan negotiations that are making progress,” Coons said. “I think Senator McConnell, the majority leader, in the end will have much more say about how the Senate is run than the president should.”

Many Americans already have felt the impact of the shutdown, with weekend closures at national parks. But the full impact will be more evident Monday, when nearly 1 million federal workers are set to be furloughed without pay. In addition, many needed-but-non-essential government services with be curtailed because the government has no money to provide them.

Democrats have said their concerns about the spending bill go beyond protecting young illegal immigrants from deportation to include providing disaster relief and boosting spending for opioid treatment and other domestic programs.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, disagreed Sunday. “Amnesty for illegals is more important,” he told Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.”

His remarks were typical of the finger-pointing and blaming involved in the shutdown.

The GOP-controlled House passed its version of the spending bill before sending it to the Senate, where it has stalled.

House Republican leaders also met Sunday but only for about 15 minutes.

“Too many people are hurt by this,” House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said afterward. “We want to get this done.”

The president canceled plans to travel to his resort in Florida for the weekend, which was to include a high-dollar fundraiser. And he instead has worked the phones, staying in touch with McConnell, while White House legislative affairs director Marc Short and budget chief Mick Mulvaney meet at the Capitol with House Republicans.

Mulvaney told “Fox News Sunday” that Trump wouldn’t try to “weaponize” the shutdown to his political advantage like the Obama administration did in 2013.

Social Security and most other safety-net programs will not be affected by the lapse in federal spending authority. Critical government functions continued, with uniformed service members, health inspectors and law enforcement officers set to work without pay. But if no deal is reached before Monday, an estimated 800,000 federal employees will be furloughed.

On immigration, Democrats are seeking a deal to protect so-called Dreamers. About 700,000 of them have been shielded against deportation by the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, which Trump will end in March. He’s given lawmakers until then to pass legislation restoring the protections, but he’s demanded added money for his proposed border wall with Mexico as a price.

Fox News’ Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: Shutdown enters third day as McConnell calls for bipartisan compromise: ‘Step back from the brink’

The post Shutdown enters third day as McConnell calls for bipartisan compromise: 'Step back from the brink' appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/shutdown-enters-third-day-as-mcconnell-calls-for-bipartisan-compromise-step-back-from-the-brink/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/newly-released-texts-between-ex-mueller-team-members-suggest-they-knew-outcome-of-clinton-email-probe-in-advance/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=newly-released-texts-between-ex-mueller-team-members-suggest-they-knew-outcome-of-clinton-email-probe-in-advance https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/newly-released-texts-between-ex-mueller-team-members-suggest-they-knew-outcome-of-clinton-email-probe-in-advance/#respond Mon, 22 Jan 2018 00:30:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/newly-released-texts-between-ex-mueller-team-members-suggest-they-knew-outcome-of-clinton-email-probe-in-advance/ Newly released texts between ex-Mueller team members suggest they knew outcome of Clinton email probe in advance close Video Texts suggest contact between FBI, media on Russia case Catherine Herridge reports on the text messages between agent Peter Strzok and lawyer Lisa Page. The Justice Department has given various congressional committees nearly […]

The post Newly released texts between ex-Mueller team members suggest they knew outcome of Clinton email probe in advance appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Newly released texts between ex-Mueller team members suggest they knew outcome of Clinton email probe in advance

close

Video

Texts suggest contact between FBI, media on Russia case

Catherine Herridge reports on the text messages between agent Peter Strzok and lawyer Lisa Page.

The Justice Department has given various congressional committees nearly 400 pages of additional text messages between two FBI officials who were removed from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials.

One of the newly discovered messages, lawmakers said, appeared to indicate that Peter Strzok and Lisa Page knew that charges would not be filed against Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton as a result of the investigation into her email server — before Clinton was interviewed by the bureau.

Strzok and Page were pulled off the probe last summer after it emerged that some of their messages to each other included anti-Trump content. Strzok, an FBI counterintelligence agent, was reassigned to the Bureau’s human resources division after the discovery of the exchanges with Page, with whom he was having an affair.

According to a Saturday letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray from Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, the Justice Department provided 384 pages of messages to lawmakers on Friday. However, Johnson noted that additional texts sent between Dec. 14, 2016 and May 17 of last year were not preserved by the FBI’s system.

One exchange between Strzok and Page, dated July 1, 2016, referenced then-Attorney General Loretta Lynch’s decision to accept the FBI’s conclusion in the Clinton investigation. Lynch’s announcement came days after it was revealed that the attorney general and former President Bill Clinton had an impromptu meeting aboard her plane in Phoenix.

“Timing looks like hell,” Strzok texted Page.

“Yeah, that is awful timing,” Page agreed. In a later message, she added: “It’s a real profile in couragw [sic], since she knows no charges will be brought.”

Four days later, then-FBI Director James Comey announced that no charges would be brought against Clinton, even though — as he put it — her actions in regard to the private server were “extremely careless.”

Another exchange from the day before referenced a change to Comey’s statement closing out the investigation. While an earlier draft of the statement said Clinton and President Barack Obama had an email exchange while Clinton was “on the territory” of a hostile adversary, the reference to Obama at first was changed to “senior government official” and then omitted entirely in the final version.

‘F TRUMP’: TEXTS BETWEEN EX-MUELLER TEAM MEMBERS EMERGE, CALLING TRUMP ‘LOATHSOME HUMAN,’ ‘AN IDIOT’

Last month, the Justice Department released hundreds of text messages that the two had traded before becoming part of the Mueller investigation. Many focused on their observations of the 2016 election and included discussions of the Clinton investigation. Republican lawmakers have contended the communication reveals the FBI and the Mueller team to be politically tainted and biased against Trump — assertions Wray has flatly rejected.

In Johnson’s letter to Wray, he asked whether the FBI had any records of communications between Strzok and Page during that five-month window and whether the FBI had searched their non-FBI phones for additional messages. He also asks for the “scope and scale” of any other records from the Clinton investigation that have been lost.

A source on the committees receiving the texts told Fox News it was “outrageous” that the FBI had not previously indicated that the five-month gap in the messages existed. The source said it was incumbent on the FBI to prove that the missing texts do not constitute “obstruction” of congressional oversight or “destruction of evidence.”

The source added that congressional investigators want to know if the Justice Department’s inspector general has copies of the messages.

Fox News’ Jake Gibson and Catherine Herridge contributed to this report, along with The Associated Press.

Source: Newly released texts between ex-Mueller team members suggest they knew outcome of Clinton email probe in advance

The post Newly released texts between ex-Mueller team members suggest they knew outcome of Clinton email probe in advance appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/newly-released-texts-between-ex-mueller-team-members-suggest-they-knew-outcome-of-clinton-email-probe-in-advance/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-calls-for-nuclear-option-to-end-shutdown-mcconnell-signals-no/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trump-calls-for-nuclear-option-to-end-shutdown-mcconnell-signals-no https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-calls-for-nuclear-option-to-end-shutdown-mcconnell-signals-no/#respond Sun, 21 Jan 2018 17:11:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-calls-for-nuclear-option-to-end-shutdown-mcconnell-signals-no/ Trump calls for ‘nuclear option’ to end shutdown, McConnell signals no close Video Trump suggests GOP use nuclear option to pass budget White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah provides insight on ‘Fox & Friends.’ President Trump suggested Sunday that Senate Republicans change chamber rules — and resort to the “nuclear […]

The post Trump calls for 'nuclear option' to end shutdown, McConnell signals no appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Trump calls for ‘nuclear option’ to end shutdown, McConnell signals no

close

Video

Trump suggests GOP use nuclear option to pass budget

White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Raj Shah provides insight on ‘Fox & Friends.’

President Trump suggested Sunday that Senate Republicans change chamber rules — and resort to the “nuclear option” — so that they can pass a long-term budget with a simple, 51-vote majority, amid their funding stalemate with Democrats that has resulted in a government shutdown.

The standoff between the parties primarily centers on Democrats saying that any spending bill that keeps the government fully operational must include protection for illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children. And they have so far failed to provide the Senate’s 51 Republicans with enough votes to cross the chamber’s 60-vote threshold to end a Democrat-led filibuster and pass the spending bill.

Great to see how hard Republicans are fighting for our Military and Safety at the Border. The Dems just want illegal immigrants to pour into our nation unchecked. If stalemate continues, Republicans should go to 51% (Nuclear Option) and vote on real, long term budget, no C.R.’s!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 21, 2018

“Great to see how hard Republicans are fighting for our Military and Safety at the Border,” Trump tweeted Sunday, the second day of the shutdown. “The Dems just want illegal immigrants to pour into our nation unchecked. If stalemate continues, Republicans should go to 51% (Nuclear Option) and vote on real, long term budget, no” continuing spending resolution.  

However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is opposed to taking Trump’s advice and changing the rules — as he did this past summer when Trump suggested McConnell use the so-called nuclear option to end a Democratic filibuster so Republicans could repeal and replace ObamaCare.

“The Senate Republican Conference opposes changing the rules on legislation,” a McConnell spokeswoman told Fox News on Sunday.

Delaware Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, at about the same time, was critical on “Fox News Sunday” of Trump’s tweet, including its suggestion about the nuclear option, considering the 60-vote threshold has for decades provided the Senate’s minority party with some check on the majority party’s power.

We’ve got to keep working and listening to each other. I agree with my friend, Senator Graham – we can get this done. We’re here working today to do just that. https://t.co/bqMAQDcDWU

— Senator Chris Coons (@ChrisCoons) January 20, 2018

“This is another example of President Trump throwing a tweet in the middle of bi-partisan negotiations that are making progress,” Coons said. “I think Senator McConnell, the majority leader, in the end will have much more say about how the Senate is run than the president should.”

Fox News’ Mike Emanuel contributed to this report.

Source: Trump calls for ‘nuclear option’ to end shutdown, McConnell signals no

The post Trump calls for 'nuclear option' to end shutdown, McConnell signals no appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-calls-for-nuclear-option-to-end-shutdown-mcconnell-signals-no/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/mulvaney-trump-wont-weaponize-shutdown-like-obama-team-did/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mulvaney-trump-wont-weaponize-shutdown-like-obama-team-did https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/mulvaney-trump-wont-weaponize-shutdown-like-obama-team-did/#respond Sun, 21 Jan 2018 15:51:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/mulvaney-trump-wont-weaponize-shutdown-like-obama-team-did/ Mulvaney: Trump won’t ‘weaponize’ shutdown like Obama team did close Video Mick Mulvaney on impact of the shutdown, efforts to reopen Director of the Office of Management and Budget weighs in on ‘Fox News Sunday.’ White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney tried Sunday to calm Americans’ fears about the government shutdown, vowing […]

The post Mulvaney: Trump won't 'weaponize' shutdown like Obama team did appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Mulvaney: Trump won’t ‘weaponize’ shutdown like Obama team did

close

Video

Mick Mulvaney on impact of the shutdown, efforts to reopen

Director of the Office of Management and Budget weighs in on ‘Fox News Sunday.’

White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney tried Sunday to calm Americans’ fears about the government shutdown, vowing those going to work Monday won’t see a “dramatic difference” because President Trump isn’t trying to “weaponize” the situation like the Obama administration did in 2013. 

“The effects won’t actually be as visible as they were as in 2013,” Mulvaney told “Fox News Sunday.” “Keep in mind that in 2013, the only way I can describe it, was the Obama administration chose to weaponize the shutdown. They wanted it to be showy. They went out of their way to hurt more people and to be more visible.”

Mulvaney argued the former administration put barricades in front of the WWII memorial, on the National Mall, arguably to keep out military veterans and to try to put the blame on Republicans.

The most recent shutdown started overnight Friday, after the GOP-controlled Senate failed to pass a temporary spending bill to give the government the money needed to stay fully operational.

The GOP-controlled House passed its spending bill because it had enough Republican members and didn’t need Democrats’ support.

However, the bill stalled in the Senate because Republicans needed votes from at least nine Democrats to advance the bill.

Republicans blame Democrats for insisting that any spending bill to avoid a shutdown include protection from deportation for illegal immigrants brought to the United States as children.

Democrats argue the GOP spending bill falls short on several issues — including funding for community health centers, the opioid crisis and hurricane relief for Puerto Rico.

President Trump, who is ending the Obama-era deportation protection in early March, has vowed to find a permanent solution.

But he says any comprehensive immigration-reform plan must include funding for his U.S.-Mexico border wall and changes to the country’s so-called “chain” and “diversity-based” immigration programs.

Mulvaney also said Sunday that Trump told his top staffers Friday to try hard to “keep as many as folks at work and as many of these (federal) agencies open as we can” during the shutdown.

Still, Mulvaney acknowledged that the shutdown will have an impact on the country, including nearly 1 million federal workers being furloughed at the start of the workweek.

“Those notices went out yesterday,”’ he said.

Mulvaney also said any temporary spending bill would have to be at least three-weeks long to negotiate a change to the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program that protected young illegal immigrants from deportation.

“Let’s be clear, the president wants to resolve DACA,” Mulvaney said.

Still, he expressed some optimism about congressional Democrats and Republicans reaching a deal soon.

“I think there’s a chance it gets solved before Monday,” Mulvaney said. “I really do believe that at heart here there was an interest by some folks in the Democratic Party to deny the president sort of the victory lap of the anniversary of his inauguration, the chance to talk about the success with the tax bill … . And I think if they get over that there’s a chance this thing gets done before 9 o’clock on Monday morning and folks will come to work.”

Source: Mulvaney: Trump won’t ‘weaponize’ shutdown like Obama team did

The post Mulvaney: Trump won't 'weaponize' shutdown like Obama team did appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/mulvaney-trump-wont-weaponize-shutdown-like-obama-team-did/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/on-day-2-of-shutdown-congress-returns-to-find-fix-end-politically-charged-stalemate/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=on-day-2-of-shutdown-congress-returns-to-find-fix-end-politically-charged-stalemate https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/on-day-2-of-shutdown-congress-returns-to-find-fix-end-politically-charged-stalemate/#respond Sun, 21 Jan 2018 13:38:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/on-day-2-of-shutdown-congress-returns-to-find-fix-end-politically-charged-stalemate/ On Day 2 of shutdown, Congress returns to find fix, end politically charged stalemate close Video Gorka: Americans understand shutdown isn’t Trump’s fault Former deputy assistant to President Trump weighs in. Congress was back to work Sunday trying to strike a spending deal that would end the government shutdown that’s now in […]

The post On Day 2 of shutdown, Congress returns to find fix, end politically charged stalemate appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

On Day 2 of shutdown, Congress returns to find fix, end politically charged stalemate

close

Video

Gorka: Americans understand shutdown isn’t Trump’s fault

Former deputy assistant to President Trump weighs in.

Congress was back to work Sunday trying to strike a spending deal that would end the government shutdown that’s now in its second day.

The focus will be on the Senate, where Republican leaders of the GOP-controlled chamber failed overnight Friday to pass a spending bill to keep open the government. With just 51 senators, Republicans needed support from at least nine Senate Democrats to get 60 votes on the measure to break a Democratic filibuster, then move to a final vote.

However, Democrats refused to provide the votes until they strike a deal with President Trump to protect from deportation illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as young children by their parents.

Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration. Can’t let that happen!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018

Congressional Democrats and Republicans were also on Capitol Hill on Saturday for another rare weekend session to try to end the politically unpopular shutdown, especially before Monday, when as many as 1 million federal workers will be furloughed without pay and many needed but non-essential government services with be curtailed because the government has no money to provide them.

However, much of their efforts and political rhetoric was more about finger-pointing and trying to dodge blame. Democrats bristled as Republicans put the blame largely on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, calling him “Shutdown Chuck.”

.@SenSchumer: “Negotiating with this White House is like negotiating with jello, it’s next to impossible.” pic.twitter.com/bNNJHOckUA

— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 20, 2018

“Amnesty for illegals is more important,” Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, told Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” on Sunday. The GOP-controlled House passed its version of the spending bill before sending it to the Senate, where it has stalled.

Democrats say their concerns about the spending bill go beyond protecting young illegal immigrants from deportation to include providing disaster relief and boosting spending for opioid treatment and other domestic programs.

The scene highlighted the political stakes for both parties in an election-year shutdown whose consequences are far from clear.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he’ll have a vote by 1 a.m. Monday to break the Democratic filibuster on the spending bill.

“The American people cannot begin to understand why the Senate Democratic leader thinks the entire government should be shut down until he gets his way on illegal immigration,” McConnell, R-Ky., hours after a last-chance Senate vote failed.

Democrats feel “very, very strongly about the issues” said Schumer, D-N.Y.

“The American people cannot begin to understand why the Senate Democratic leader thinks the entire government should be shut down until he gets his way on illegal immigration.”

– Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Republicans began Saturday hopeful they might pick off Democratic support for a three-week version and bring the episode to a quick end.

Democrats are insisting on an alternative lasting only several days — which they think would pressure Republicans to cut an immigration deal — and say they’ll kill the three-week version when the Senate votes on it by early Monday.

The shutdown came on the anniversary of Trump’s inauguration. As lawmakers bickered in the Capitol, protesters marched outside in a reprise of the women’s march from a year ago. The president remained out of sight and canceled plans to travel to his resort in Florida for the weekend. He did tweet, making light of the timing by saying Democrats “wanted to give me a nice present” to mark the start of his second year in office.

And Trump resumed his social media commentary early Sunday, before lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill, tweeting that it was “Great to see how hard Republicans are fighting for our Military and Safety at the Border.”

“The Dems just want illegal immigrants to pour into our nation unchecked.” He suggested that if the stalemate drags on, majority Republicans should consider changing Senate rules to do away with the 60-vote threshold to advance legislation and “vote on real, long term budget.”

Trump earlier had worked the phones, staying in touch with McConnell, while White House legislative affairs director Marc Short and budget chief Mick Mulvaney met at the Capitol with House Republicans. GOP lawmakers voiced support for the White House stance of not negotiating while the government was shuttered.

Tempers were short and theatrics high.

Lawmakers bickered over blame, hypocrisy and even the posters brought to the House floor. While neither chamber voted on a measure to open the government, the House did vote on whether a poster displayed by Republican Rep. Bradley Byrne of Alabama violated the House rules on decorum. The House voted to allow the poster, which bore a photo of Schumer, and the New York senator’s quote on “the politics of idiocy” from 2013.

House now voting on whether floor chart with Senator Schumer used by AL GOP @RepByrne violates House rules. Objection raised by CO Democrat @RepPerlmutter pic.twitter.com/QwkU8t8qCr

— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) January 20, 2018

While Republicans blame the breakdown on Schumer, Democrats increasingly focused their messaging on criticizing Trump.

“Negotiating with President Trump is like negotiating with Jell-O,” Schumer said.

Short compared Democrats’ actions to “a 2-year-old temper tantrum.”

Republicans seemed content to hope additional Democrats will break as pressure builds and the impact of the shutdown becomes clearer. GOP lawmakers argued that Democrats were blocking extra Pentagon money by keeping government closed and thwarting a long-term budget deal.

But pressure on Republicans could mount when the new business week begins and the impact becomes more apparent to the public.

Social Security and most other safety-net programs were unaffected by the lapse in federal spending authority. Critical government functions continued, with uniformed service members, health inspectors and law enforcement officers set to work without pay. But if no deal is reached before Monday, hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be furloughed.

On immigration, Democrats are seeking a deal to protect so-called DREAMers. About 700,000 of them have been shielded against deportation by the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, which Trump will end in March. He’s given lawmakers until then to pass legislation restoring the protections, but he has demanded added money for his proposed border wall with Mexico as a price.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: On Day 2 of shutdown, Congress returns to find fix, end politically charged stalemate

The post On Day 2 of shutdown, Congress returns to find fix, end politically charged stalemate appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/on-day-2-of-shutdown-congress-returns-to-find-fix-end-politically-charged-stalemate/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/mcconnell-promises-vote-on-ending-shutdown-by-1-a-m-monday/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mcconnell-promises-vote-on-ending-shutdown-by-1-a-m-monday https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/mcconnell-promises-vote-on-ending-shutdown-by-1-a-m-monday/#respond Sun, 21 Jan 2018 03:45:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/mcconnell-promises-vote-on-ending-shutdown-by-1-a-m-monday/ McConnell promises vote on ending shutdown by 1 a.m. Monday close Video DACA dominates government shutdown discussions Director of immigration policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center provides insight. Day One of a government shutdown, filled with increasingly angry finger pointing from both Democrats and Republicans, appeared to produce little Saturday in terms […]

The post McConnell promises vote on ending shutdown by 1 a.m. Monday appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

McConnell promises vote on ending shutdown by 1 a.m. Monday

close

Video

DACA dominates government shutdown discussions

Director of immigration policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center provides insight.

Day One of a government shutdown, filled with increasingly angry finger pointing from both Democrats and Republicans, appeared to produce little Saturday in terms of a potential solution for the impasse on how to fund the government.

But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell insisted that a vote to break a Democratic filibuster on a short-term spending bill to reopen the government would happen by 1 a.m. Monday.

“I asked for consent to move up a vote on this bipartisan solution and end this craziness. The Democrats objected,” McConnell said late Saturday, Roll Call reported. “That won’t work forever. If they continue to object, we cannot proceed to a cloture vote until 1 a.m. Monday.

“But I assure you,” McConnell added, “we will have the vote at 1 a.m. Monday, unless there is a desire to have it sooner.”

After ending talks Saturday, the Senate planned to reconvene at 1 p.m. Sunday, Roll Call reported.

The shutdown kicked in late Friday into Saturday after Senate Democrats blocked a 28-day resolution to keep the government open. The bill would have funded the government, and included a six-year extension of funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). But Democrats rejected it, as it did not include a legislative fix for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

‘Happy anniversary, Mr. President. You wanted a shutdown. The shutdown is all yours.’

– Nancy Pelosi

That Obama-era program, which offered protection for illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, was repealed by President Donald Trump in September, with a March deadline for Congress to come up with a fix. While separate bipartisan immigration talks had been underway, Democrats demanded a DACA fix as part of the continuing resolution (CR) — requiring Republicans to try in vain to cobble together the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.

The subsequent 50-49 vote broke largely along party lines, with five Republicans voting no, and five Democrats voting yes.

On Saturday, although both the House and the Senate were in session, both sides seemed more focused on pushing their respective narratives about who was to blame for the crisis.

When McConnell, R-Ky, addressed lawmakers Saturday evening, he urged his Democratic counterpart, Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York, to withdraw his filibuster so that members could pass the short-term spending bill and reopen the government.

McConnell said the shutdown was not a crisis, but rather a “manufactured crisis” by the Senate Democrats. 

Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration. Can’t let that happen!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018

Through Day One, Democrats pointed fingers at Republicans, arguing that they could not blame Democrats for the shutdown at a time when the GOP has control of the House, the Senate and the White House.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., took aim at Trump, saying he had earned an F for “failure in leadership.” She said Republicans are “so incompetent and negligent that they couldn’t get it together to keep the government open.”

“Happy anniversary, Mr. President,” Pelosi said. “You wanted a shutdown. The shutdown is all yours.”

Schumer said on the Senate floor that in a White House meeting Friday, he offered Trump funding for a border wall with Mexico in exchange for a DACA fix. He claimed that Trump seemed open to a deal but that the president made further demands hours later that Schumer said were “off the table.”

“Republican leadership can’t get its tumultuous president on board with anything,” Schumer said. “The breakdown of compromise is poisoning this Congress and it all comes down to President Trump.”

Republicans, for their part, blasted Democrats for what they saw as holding the government “hostage” over illegal immigration. White House Legislative Affairs Director Marc Short accused Democrats of having a “2-year-old temper tantrum.”

Trump accused the Democrats of “holding our Military hostage” over their desire for “unchecked illegal immigration.”

What’s more, the White House pushed back against Schumer’s account of the Trump meeting. Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said at a briefing that Schumer had in fact offered only $1.8 billion in funding for the wall, far short of the roughly $20 billion Trump wanted. Mulvaney said Schumer still told Trump that he was giving him everything he wanted.

“Does it even become profitable to work with someone like that?” Mulvaney asked reporters.

A sign of the bitterness of the blame game came from the White House comments line, where a voicemail blamed Democrats for users being unable to use the line.

“Thank you for calling the White House, unfortunately, we cannot answer your call today because congressional Democrats are withholding government funding, including funding for our troops and other national security priorities, hostage to an unrelated immigration debate. Due to this obstruction, our government is shut down,” the voicemail said.

As evening rolled around, there seemed to be little sign of a break. Fox News was told that a Senate Democratic caucus meeting resulted in a caucus more unified and locked in, with Democrats only willing to support a CR that would fund the government for a few days.

On the Republican side, Fox News was told that there was a good chance McConnell would try a vote on a CR that would fund the government to Feb. 8 — less time than the initial 28-day CR.

The White House also buckled in, saying it would not negotiate on DACA until the government was funded.

“The White House position remains the same, that we will not negotiate the status of 690,000 unlawful immigrants while hundreds of millions of taxpaying Americans, including hundreds of thousands of our troops in uniform and border agents protecting our country, are held hostage by Senate Democrats,” Short said.

Fox News’ Joseph Weber, Ed Henry, Chad Pergram, Jenny Buchholz and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Adam Shaw is a Politics Reporter and occasional Opinion writer for FoxNews.com. He can be reached here or on Twitter: @AdamShawNY.

Source: McConnell promises vote on ending shutdown by 1 a.m. Monday

The post McConnell promises vote on ending shutdown by 1 a.m. Monday appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/mcconnell-promises-vote-on-ending-shutdown-by-1-a-m-monday/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/pence-makes-diplomatic-trip-to-middle-east-meets-with-egypts-el-sissi-first/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pence-makes-diplomatic-trip-to-middle-east-meets-with-egypts-el-sissi-first https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/pence-makes-diplomatic-trip-to-middle-east-meets-with-egypts-el-sissi-first/#respond Sun, 21 Jan 2018 00:34:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/pence-makes-diplomatic-trip-to-middle-east-meets-with-egypts-el-sissi-first/ Pence makes diplomatic trip to Middle East, meets with Egypt’s el-Sissi first U.S. Vice President Mike Pence shakes hands with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, right, at the Presidential Palace in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018.  (AP) Vice President Mike Pence met with Egyptian leader Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo on Saturday on […]

The post Pence makes diplomatic trip to Middle East, meets with Egypt's el-Sissi first appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Pence makes diplomatic trip to Middle East, meets with Egypt’s el-Sissi first

U.S. Vice President Mike Pence shakes hands with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, right, at the Presidential Palace in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018.

 (AP)

Vice President Mike Pence met with Egyptian leader Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi in Cairo on Saturday on the first leg of a trip to the volatile Mideast.

Meeting at the presidential palace in Cairo, the two leaders discussed ways to combat the growing terror threat in the region.

Pence listened as el-Sissi cited the need to address “urgent issues,” including “ways to eliminate this disease and cancer that has terrified the whole world.”

Pence said that “we stand shoulder to shoulder with you and Egypt in fighting against terrorism,” and that “our hearts grieve” for the loss of life in recent terrorist attacks against Egyptians, referring to a December attack against Christians where at least nine people were killed, and a November attack at a mosque in Northern Sinai where another 311 people were killed.

“We resolve to continue to stand with Egypt in the battle against terrorism,” Pence said.

Pence arrived in Cairo hours after Congress and President Donald Trump failed to reach agreement on a plan to avert a partial federal closure. Pence went ahead with his four-day trip to the Middle East, citing national security and diplomatic reasons.

Pence is set to meet with Jordan’s King Abdullah II on Sunday and visit with U.S. troops in the region. He will also travel to Israel but he is not expected to meet with Palestinian officials.

His visit to the region came more than a month after Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, a step that’s enraged Palestinians. El-Sissi identified “the peace issue” as one of the most important issues in their discussions.

“We heard President el-Sissi out,” Pence said. “He said to me about what he said publicly about a disagreement between friends over our decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.”

Pence said he assured el-Sissi that “we’re absolutely committed to preserving the status quo with regard to holy sites in Jerusalem, that we have come to no final resolution about boundaries or other issues that will be negotiated. … I reminded President el-Sissi that President Trump said that if the parties agree, we will support a two-state solution. My perception was that he was encouraged by that message.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: Pence makes diplomatic trip to Middle East, meets with Egypt’s el-Sissi first

The post Pence makes diplomatic trip to Middle East, meets with Egypt's el-Sissi first appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/pence-makes-diplomatic-trip-to-middle-east-meets-with-egypts-el-sissi-first/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/ryan-orders-ethics-inquiry-into-pa-lawmakers-reported-use-of-taxpayer-cash-to-settle-misconduct-case/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ryan-orders-ethics-inquiry-into-pa-lawmakers-reported-use-of-taxpayer-cash-to-settle-misconduct-case https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/ryan-orders-ethics-inquiry-into-pa-lawmakers-reported-use-of-taxpayer-cash-to-settle-misconduct-case/#respond Sat, 20 Jan 2018 23:12:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/ryan-orders-ethics-inquiry-into-pa-lawmakers-reported-use-of-taxpayer-cash-to-settle-misconduct-case/ Ryan orders ethics inquiry into Pa. lawmaker’s reported use of taxpayer cash to settle misconduct case  (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) HARRISBURG, Pa — House Speaker Paul Ryan ordered an Ethics Committee investigation Saturday after The New York Times reported that U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan had used taxpayer money to settle a complaint arising […]

The post Ryan orders ethics inquiry into Pa. lawmaker's reported use of taxpayer cash to settle misconduct case appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Ryan orders ethics inquiry into Pa. lawmaker’s reported use of taxpayer cash to settle misconduct case

 (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

HARRISBURG, Pa — House Speaker Paul Ryan ordered an Ethics Committee investigation Saturday after The New York Times reported that U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan had used taxpayer money to settle a complaint arising from hostility toward an ex-aide who rebuffed his romantic overtures.

The story, published online Saturday, cites unnamed people who said Meehan, R-Pa., had used thousands of dollars from his congressional office fund to settle the sexual harassment complaint the ex-aide filed last summer to the congressional Office of Compliance.

Ryan’s office said the allegations must be investigated “fully and immediately” by the House Ethics Committee, and that Meehan should repay any taxpayer funds used to settle the case.

Ryan’s office also said Meehan is being removed from the committee.

The Times did not identify the accuser and said she did not speak to the newspaper.

In a statement, the four-term congressman denied that he sexually harassed or mistreated the ex-aide. He also said he had asked congressional lawyers who handled the case to ask her lawyer to dissolve the settlement’s confidentiality requirements “to ensure a full and open airing of all the facts.”

The accuser’s lawyer, Alexis Ronickher, said Meehan had demanded the confidentiality provisions and is trying to victimize her client twice by revealing the woman’s identity and litigating the case in the media.

She called it a “dirty political maneuver” and an effort to save his career by making it look like he’s being transparent. 

Source: Ryan orders ethics inquiry into Pa. lawmaker’s reported use of taxpayer cash to settle misconduct case

The post Ryan orders ethics inquiry into Pa. lawmaker's reported use of taxpayer cash to settle misconduct case appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/ryan-orders-ethics-inquiry-into-pa-lawmakers-reported-use-of-taxpayer-cash-to-settle-misconduct-case/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/alabama-dem-doug-jones-votes-with-gop-on-spending-bill-to-avoid-shutdown/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=alabama-dem-doug-jones-votes-with-gop-on-spending-bill-to-avoid-shutdown https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/alabama-dem-doug-jones-votes-with-gop-on-spending-bill-to-avoid-shutdown/#respond Sat, 20 Jan 2018 19:17:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/alabama-dem-doug-jones-votes-with-gop-on-spending-bill-to-avoid-shutdown/ Alabama Dem Doug Jones votes with GOP on spending bill to avoid shutdown close Video Senator-elect Doug Jones talks victory in Alabama Does the Democrat’s victory put more pressure on the GOP to pass tax reform before he gets to the Senate? Newly elected Alabama Sen. Doug Jones, in his most high-profile […]

The post Alabama Dem Doug Jones votes with GOP on spending bill to avoid shutdown appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Alabama Dem Doug Jones votes with GOP on spending bill to avoid shutdown

close

Video

Senator-elect Doug Jones talks victory in Alabama

Does the Democrat’s victory put more pressure on the GOP to pass tax reform before he gets to the Senate?

Newly elected Alabama Sen. Doug Jones, in his most high-profile vote since taking office, was one of five Democratic senators to vote overnight with Republicans on a spending bill to avoid a government shutdown.

Jones’ election to the Senate last month marked the first time in 25 years that Alabama voters picked a Democratic senator.

The election results sparked much political speculation about whether Jones would vote with Republicans or fellow Democrats, considering that Alabama is one of the country’s most conservative-leaning states and gave President Trump more than 62 percent of its vote in 2016.

While Jones’ vote this weekend might suggest an intent to represent his electorate or win a 2020 re-election, he made clear from the start of his improbable special-election win that his top priority upon arriving on Capitol Hill would be to keep alive the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which the GOP spending bill did for several years.

“Because of CHIP and the many families in Alabama and around our country that would be put in jeopardy by a government shutdown, I felt compelled to vote yes,” Jones said in a statement posted on his Twitter account.

Jones won last month by less than 2 percentage points over Republican candidate Roy Moore, a conservative firebrand whose campaign was severely damaged in the closing months by allegations of sexual misconduct as a young man.

The Republican leaders of the GOP-controlled Senate failed overnight to get the 60 votes needed to move forward and pass a temporary spending bill to keep the government fully operational past Friday midnight.

Republicans have a 51-to-49 member majority in the Senate. The vote was 50-49.

Arizona GOP Sen. John McCain did not vote because he’s home recovering from cancer treatment.

The four other Senate Democrats who voted for the bill were Sens. John Donnelly of Indiana; Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota; Joe Manchin of West Virginia; and Claire McCaskill of Missouri.

All four are up for re-election this year in states that voted for Trump in 2016.

Jones, who has the seat left open after Republican Jeff Sessions became attorney general, is up for re-election in 2020.

In his victory speech last month, Jones effectively avoided any talk about how he’d vote in Congress but made clear that he won with bipartisan support. And he urged the GOP-controlled Congress to fund CHIP before he arrived in January.

The Alabama Republican Party was straightforward after Jones’ win about how it wanted him to vote.

“During this campaign, we heard Mr. Jones repeatedly say he would talk about ‘kitchen table issues’ and that he would ‘reach across the aisle’ to work with Republicans,” said party Chair Terry Lathan.

“While these issues weren’t discussed and no other Democratic Senator has worked with the Republicans, all eyes will be on his votes. Alabamians will watch the issues he will support or try to stop. We will hold him accountable for his votes.”

She also fired a warning shot at Jones — pointing out that essentially 60 percent of elected offices in Alabama are held by Republicans, which means “a strong slate” of candidates in upcoming elections.

Source: Alabama Dem Doug Jones votes with GOP on spending bill to avoid shutdown

The post Alabama Dem Doug Jones votes with GOP on spending bill to avoid shutdown appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/alabama-dem-doug-jones-votes-with-gop-on-spending-bill-to-avoid-shutdown/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/dc-lawmakers-dig-their-heels-in-point-fingers-as-government-shutdown-rolls-on/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dc-lawmakers-dig-their-heels-in-point-fingers-as-government-shutdown-rolls-on https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/dc-lawmakers-dig-their-heels-in-point-fingers-as-government-shutdown-rolls-on/#respond Sat, 20 Jan 2018 18:42:00 +0000 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/dc-lawmakers-dig-their-heels-in-point-fingers-as-government-shutdown-rolls-on/ DC Lawmakers dig their heels in, point fingers as government shutdown rolls on close Video DACA dominates government shutdown discussions Director of immigration policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center provides insight. Democrats and Republicans played the blame game for a government shutdown Saturday — with both sides unable to come to an […]

The post DC Lawmakers dig their heels in, point fingers as government shutdown rolls on appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

DC Lawmakers dig their heels in, point fingers as government shutdown rolls on

close

Video

DACA dominates government shutdown discussions

Director of immigration policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center provides insight.

Democrats and Republicans played the blame game for a government shutdown Saturday — with both sides unable to come to an agreement on Democratic demands for language to protect illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.

The shutdown kicked in at midnight Friday after Senate Democrats blocked a month-long short-term resolution to keep the government open.

While the bill would have funded the government, as well as given a six-year extension of funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Democrats rejected it as it did not include a legislative fix for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals  (DACA) program.

That Obama-era program was repealed by Trump in September, with a March deadline for Congress to come up with a fix. While separate bipartisan immigration talks had been underway, Democrats demanded a DACA fix as part of the continuing resolution (CR), requiring Republicans to cobble together 60 votes to overcome the filibuster.

The subsequent 50-49 vote fell largely along party lines, with five Republicans voting no, and five Democrats voting yes.

On Saturday, although both the House and the Senate were in session, both sides seemed focused on pushing their respective narratives about who was to blame for the crisis.

‘Happy anniversary Mr President. You wanted a shutdown. The shutdown is all yours.’

– Nancy Pelosi

Democrats pointed the finger at Republicans, arguing that they could not blame Democrats for the shutdown when Republicans control the House, Senate, and White House.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., took aim at  Trump, saying he had earned an F for “failure in leadership.” She said Republicans are “so incompetent and negligent that they couldn’t get it together to keep the government open.”

“Happy anniversary Mr President,” Pelosi said. “You wanted a shutdown. The shutdown is all yours.”

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, said on the Senate floor that in a White House meeting on Friday, he offered Trump funding for a border wall in exchange for a DACA fix. He claimed that Trump seemed open to a deal, and they came close to an agreement but hours later he made further demands that Schumer said were untenable.

“Republican leadership can’t get its tumultuous president on board with anything,” Schumer said. “The breakdown of compromise is poisoning this Congress and it all comes down to President Trump.”

Republicans, meanwhile, blasted Democrats for what they saw as holding the government “hostage” over illegal immigration. President Trump accused the Democrats of “holding our Military hostage” over their desire for “unchecked illegal immigration.”

Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration. Can’t let that happen!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018

A sign of the bitterness of the blame game came from the White House comments line, where a voicemail blamed Democrats for users being unable to use the line.

“Thank you for calling the White House, unfortunately, we cannot answer your call today because congressional Democrats are withholding government funding, including funding for our troops and other national security priorities, hostage to an unrelated immigration debate. Due to this obstruction, our government is shut down,” the voicemail said.

Both sides seemed unable to find common ground on the central issue of disagreement, DACA. Congressional lawmakers and the White House said they were not budging on DACA until the government was funded.

“The President will not negotiate on immigration reform until Democrats stop playing games and reopen the government,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

On the Democratic side, in addition to Schumer’s remarks about wall funding, Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., said that while he would not vote for a CR that did not include a DACA fix, he would vote for one that included a DACA fix and a border wall.

“At this point, I’m not supporting any CR that doesn’t include a fix. Now what I am telling you is, if that fix includes a wall, I’m ready,” he said.

Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said in a statement that he believed that a compromise was close and suggested a compromise that would fund the government through Feb. 8, with a commitment for the Senate to move to an immigration debate.

“After my discussions with numerous senators on both sides of the last night it is clear to me a commitment to move to immigration after February 8th is the key to ending the government shutdown and finding resolution on all the outstanding issues,” Graham said.

Fox News’ Joseph Weber, Ed Henry, Chad Pergram, Jenny Buchholz and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Adam Shaw is a Politics Reporter and occasional Opinion writer for FoxNews.com. He can be reached here or on Twitter: @AdamShawNY.

Source: DC Lawmakers dig their heels in, point fingers as government shutdown rolls on

The post DC Lawmakers dig their heels in, point fingers as government shutdown rolls on appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/dc-lawmakers-dig-their-heels-in-point-fingers-as-government-shutdown-rolls-on/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/maine-town-manager-under-fire-for-promoting-white-separatism-criticizing-islam/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=maine-town-manager-under-fire-for-promoting-white-separatism-criticizing-islam https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/maine-town-manager-under-fire-for-promoting-white-separatism-criticizing-islam/#respond Sat, 20 Jan 2018 18:25:00 +0000 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/maine-town-manager-under-fire-for-promoting-white-separatism-criticizing-islam/ Maine town manager under fire for promoting white separatism, criticizing Islam Jackman Town Manager Tom Kawczynski poses in front of his flag for his New Albion racial segregationist group on his Facebook page. The town manager of a small northern Maine community is under fire for promoting white separatist views and making […]

The post Maine town manager under fire for promoting white separatism, criticizing Islam appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Maine town manager under fire for promoting white separatism, criticizing Islam

Jackman Town Manager Tom Kawczynski poses in front of his flag for his New Albion racial segregationist group on his Facebook page.

The town manager of a small northern Maine community is under fire for promoting white separatist views and making comments critical of Islam, it was reported Saturday.

Jackman Town manager Thomas Kawczynksi, 37, says he is the leader of New Albion, a racial segregationist movement that wants to preserve the white majority of northern New England and Atlantic Canada.

“I am not a white supremacist. I am not a racist,” Kawczynski told the Portland Press Herald. “What gets me in trouble sometimes is I am a white person who is not ashamed to be white.”

He told the paper he opposed Islam because it was “not compatible with Western culture.”

The paper interviewed the pastor of First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Portland who said that what Kawczynski was doing was awful.

“He’s going against everything that is American and what we stand for,” Rev. Christinia Sillari said. “He needs to be stopped.”

The Bangor Daily News reported Friday that Kawczynski frequently shared his political views on the far-right website GAB and his personal Facebook page.

The paper quoted Kawczynski as calling Islam “the scourge of Western civilization.”

“We are pro-white without being anti-other groups in terms of their racial identity,” he said, according to the paper. “But we … oppose the idea of bringing people in from the outside that come from different cultures.”

He added, “I would say unequivocally that I see Islam as fundamentally incompatible with Western civilization.”

“Wow,” American Civil Liberties Union of Maine legal director Zachary Heiden told the paper. He said Kawczynski’s views were “shockingly racist.”

Kawczynski told the paper he doesn’t run Jackman town affairs in a way that discriminates against anyone. The town, near the Canadian border, has 860 residents.

In 2016, he served as town chair for Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in a town in New Hampshire, the paper reported.

Two members of the Jackman Board of Selectmen told Maine Public Radio they were unaware of Kawczynksi’s viewpoints. 

The Lewiston Sun Journal reported that the Jackman board hired Kawczynski as town manager last year. His contract was extended another six months just before Christmas.

He told the paper he was worried about the backlash over his views.

“I’m tired of people backing down from stating the obvious for fear of being politically correct or being blackmailed into silence,” Kawczynski told the paper. “I won’t be silenced like that. I can be hurt. We all can. But only we can ever sell our dignity.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: Maine town manager under fire for promoting white separatism, criticizing Islam

The post Maine town manager under fire for promoting white separatism, criticizing Islam appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/maine-town-manager-under-fire-for-promoting-white-separatism-criticizing-islam/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/first-lady-melania-trump-says-first-year-has-been-filled-with-many-wonderful-moments/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=first-lady-melania-trump-says-first-year-has-been-filled-with-many-wonderful-moments https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/first-lady-melania-trump-says-first-year-has-been-filled-with-many-wonderful-moments/#respond Sat, 20 Jan 2018 18:00:00 +0000 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/first-lady-melania-trump-says-first-year-has-been-filled-with-many-wonderful-moments/ First lady Melania Trump says first year has been ‘filled with many wonderful moments’ Melania Trump is pictured at the Republican National Convention in July 2016.  (Reuters/ Mark Kauzlarich) On the one year anniversary of her husband’s inauguration, first lady Melania Trump tweeted a short sentiment of her time in the White […]

The post First lady Melania Trump says first year has been 'filled with many wonderful moments' appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

First lady Melania Trump says first year has been ‘filled with many wonderful moments’

Melania Trump is pictured at the Republican National Convention in July 2016.

 (Reuters/ Mark Kauzlarich)

On the one year anniversary of her husband’s inauguration, first lady Melania Trump tweeted a short sentiment of her time in the White House.

“This has been a year filled with many wonderful moments. I’ve enjoyed the people I’ve been lucky enough to meet throughout our great country & the world!” she wrote Saturday.

This has been a year filled with many wonderful moments. I’ve enjoyed the people I’ve been lucky enough to meet throughout our great country & the world! ?? pic.twitter.com/MMRi72ENd0

— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) January 20, 2018

Over the past year, Melania Trump has kept a relatively low-profile, though the first lady has focused on her anti-cyberbullying campaign shortly after President Trump entered the White House.

Speaking at the United Nations in September 2017, Trump advocated for children and addressed cyberbullying. 

“When we join together as parents caring for children, whether they live in our own families, across the street, across the nation, or across the globe, we claim our responsibility to the next generation to ensure they are prepared to accept the torch of leadership for the world of tomorrow,” the first lady said during the speech. 

“We must teach each child the values of empathy and communication,” she also said, adding that children “are the core of kindness, mindfulness, integrity and leadership.”

Additionally, the first lady, along with Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, visited a middle school in Michigan in October of last year. She spoke to students about bullying and encouraged them to treat each other with “respect and compassion.”

And in November of last year, Trump also visited children in Alaska on her way home from Asia after joining President Trump for most of his first presidential trip to Asia. 

The first lady’s tweet comes amid a government shutdown that began at midnight Friday night. Congress failed to reach an agreement on immigration and spending, leading to the shutdown that has extended into Saturday.

Madeline Farber is a Reporter for Fox News. You can follow her on Twitter @MaddieFarberUDK.

Source: First lady Melania Trump says first year has been ‘filled with many wonderful moments’

The post First lady Melania Trump says first year has been 'filled with many wonderful moments' appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/first-lady-melania-trump-says-first-year-has-been-filled-with-many-wonderful-moments/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/shutdown-begins-statue-of-liberty-others-closed-as-america-feels-impact-of-impasse/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=shutdown-begins-statue-of-liberty-others-closed-as-america-feels-impact-of-impasse https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/shutdown-begins-statue-of-liberty-others-closed-as-america-feels-impact-of-impasse/#respond Sat, 20 Jan 2018 17:37:00 +0000 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/shutdown-begins-statue-of-liberty-others-closed-as-america-feels-impact-of-impasse/ Shutdown begins: Statue of Liberty, others closed as America feels impact of impasse close Video Paul Ryan: No reason for Dems to keep forcing a shutdown House speaker slams the Democrats over the government shutdown. The impact of the government shutdown is already being felt across the country – including at the […]

The post Shutdown begins: Statue of Liberty, others closed as America feels impact of impasse appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Shutdown begins: Statue of Liberty, others closed as America feels impact of impasse

close

Video

Paul Ryan: No reason for Dems to keep forcing a shutdown

House speaker slams the Democrats over the government shutdown.

The impact of the government shutdown is already being felt across the country – including at the nation’s most famous monuments to immigration – as Washington lawmakers and officials rolled out plans to deal with the spending bill impasse.

The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island in New York were closed Saturday, while Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke acknowledged that sections of some national parks will be closed this weekend. In Washington, D.C, public tours of the Capitol building have been temporarily cancelled.

“Great to meet visitors at the WWII memorial today,” Zinke said in a tweet that included a picture of him with visitors at the National Mall memorial. “Not all parks are fully open but we are working hard to make as many areas as accessible to the public as possible.’

Great to meet visitors at the WWII memorial today. Not all parks are fully open but we are all working hard to make as many areas as accessible to the public as possible. pic.twitter.com/tqVjiPho1z

— Secretary Ryan Zinke (@SecretaryZinke) January 20, 2018

However, the biggest impact will be felt Monday if Congress fails this weekend to agree on a spending deal.

The U.S. military will remain fully operational and carry out its “fundamental responsibility” to the United States and its people, Defense Secretary retired Gen. James Mattis said in a department-wide memo Friday night, as the shutdown appeared imminent. However, service members won’t get paid until Congress approves the funding.

“We will continue to execute daily operations around the world — ships and submarines will remain at sea, our aircraft will continue to fly and our warfighters will continue to pursue terrorists throughout the Middle East, Africa and South Asia,” Mattis wrote in the email obtained by Fox News.

“You have my personal commitment that the department’s leadership will do our best to mitigate any financial burdens to you and your family. … Stay alert.”

USAA is reportedly try to help if military members don’t get paid during the shutdown by offering interest-free payroll loans to eligible members.

House and Senate members will be paid during a government shutdown, as provided under the Constitution, but some staffers would be furloughed. In total, almost half the 2 million civilian federal workers will be barred from doing their jobs if the shutdown extends into Monday.

President Trump canceled weekend plans to go to his Mar-a-Lago estate, in Florida, to attend a high-dollar fundraiser Saturday night to commemorate his first year in office.

Congressional lawmakers met Saturday in Washington for rare House and Senate sessions to try to agree on a stop-gap spending bill and reopen the government. But as of early afternoon, no bipartisan talks had taken place, and a compromise did not appear on the near horizon.

The shutdown began overnight after the Senate failed to reach a spending deal, stalled in part over Democrats’ calls to include protections for illegal immigrants brought into the United States as children.  

However, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, said Republicans and Democrats share the blame.

“Political gamesmanship, an unwillingness to compromise, and a lack of resolve on both sides have led us to this point,” he said Saturday.

The other federal agencies and services impacted by the shutdown include:

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

A shutdown plan posted on the Treasury Department’s website shows that nearly 44 percent of the IRS’ 80,565 employees will be exempt from being furloughed, which would mean nearly 45,500 others agency employees will be sent home — at the start of the tax filing season and amid sweeping changes made by the new GOP tax law.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT

Half of the more than 80,000 employees will be sent home. Key programs will continue to function because their funding has ongoing authorization and doesn’t depend on annual approval by Congress. But critical disruptions could occur across the vast jurisdiction of HHS programs — including the seasonal flu program.

Medicare, which insures nearly 59 million seniors and disabled people, will keep going. As will Medicaid, which covers more than 74 million low-income and disabled people, including most nursing home residents.

States will continue to receive payments for the Children’s Health Insurance Program, which covers about 9 million kids. However, long-term funding for the program will run out soon unless Congress acts to renew it.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT

Many of the nearly 115,000 Justice Department employees have national security and public safety responsibilities that allow them to keep working during a shutdown. Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team investigating Russian meddling in the presidential election will also continue working. His office is paid for indefinitely.

The more than 95,000 employees who are “exempted” include most of the members of the national security division, U.S. attorneys, and most of the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Marshals Service and federal prison employees.  

STATE DEPARTMENT

Many State Department operations will continue during a shutdown. Passport and visa processing, which are largely self-funded by consumer fees, will not shut down. The agency’s main headquarters in Washington, in consultation with the nearly 300 embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions around the world, will draw up lists of nonessential employees who will be furloughed.

Department operations will continue through the weekend and staffers will be instructed to report for work as usual on Monday to find out whether they have been furloughed.

HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT

A department spokesman said nearly 90 percent of Homeland Security employees are considered essential and will continue to perform their duties during a government shutdown.

That means most Customs and Border Protection and Transportation Security Administration workers will stay on the job, according to the department’s shutdown plan, dated Friday.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement will be staffed at about 78 percent, meaning more than 15,000 of the agency’s employees will keep working. The Secret Service, also part of Homeland Security, will retain more than 5,700 employees during the shutdown.

INTERIOR DEPARTMENT

In addition to Zinke’s comments Saturday, the Interior Department said national parks and other public lands will remain as accessible as possible. That position is a change from previous shutdowns, when most parks were closed and became high-profile symbols of dysfunction.

Spokeswoman Heather Swift said the American public — especially veterans who come to the nation’s capital — should find war memorials and open-air parks available to visitors. Swift said many national parks and wildlife refuges nationwide will also be open with limited access when possible.

Still, the National Park Service announced that both New York sites would be closed Saturday “due to a lapse in appropriations.” The park service said the closure of the Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island was effective immediately and until further notice.

TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT

More than half — 34,600 — of the Department of Transportation’s 55,100 employees will continue working during a shutdown. The bulk of those staying on the job work for the Federal Aviation Administration, which operates the nation’s air traffic control system.

Controllers and aviation, pipeline and railroad safety inspectors are among those who would continue to work. 

Fox News’ Jennifer Griffin and Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: Shutdown begins: Statue of Liberty, others closed as America feels impact of impasse

The post Shutdown begins: Statue of Liberty, others closed as America feels impact of impasse appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/shutdown-begins-statue-of-liberty-others-closed-as-america-feels-impact-of-impasse/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-accuses-democrats-of-holding-our-military-hostage-over-shutdown-impasse/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trump-accuses-democrats-of-holding-our-military-hostage-over-shutdown-impasse https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-accuses-democrats-of-holding-our-military-hostage-over-shutdown-impasse/#respond Sat, 20 Jan 2018 16:12:00 +0000 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-accuses-democrats-of-holding-our-military-hostage-over-shutdown-impasse/ Trump accuses Democrats of ‘holding our Military hostage’ over shutdown impasse close Video Trump waits for Senate action on short-term funding The White House is trying to deflect any responsibility if there is no agreement, while the OMB director is pointing out there is nothing in the temporary spending bill that the Democrats […]

The post Trump accuses Democrats of 'holding our Military hostage' over shutdown impasse appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Trump accuses Democrats of ‘holding our Military hostage’ over shutdown impasse

close

Video

Trump waits for Senate action on short-term funding

The White House is trying to deflect any responsibility if there is no agreement, while the OMB director is pointing out there is nothing in the temporary spending bill that the Democrats oppose; John Roberts has the roundup for ‘Special Report.’

President Trump blamed Democratic lawmakers for a government shutdown Saturday, accusing them of “holding our Military hostage” over their demand that a short-term spending bill include protection for illegal immigrants brought to the country as children.

“Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration,” he tweeted. “Can’t let that happen!”

Democrats are holding our Military hostage over their desire to have unchecked illegal immigration. Can’t let that happen!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018

Earlier in the day, he blasted Democrats for playing ‘Shutdown politics’ instead of working to make a deal with their counterparts across the aisle.

“They could have easily made a deal but decided to play Shutdown politics instead,” said Trump, who on Saturday officially marked his first year in office.

Democrats are far more concerned with Illegal Immigrants than they are with our great Military or Safety at our dangerous Southern Border. They could have easily made a deal but decided to play Shutdown politics instead. #WeNeedMoreRepublicansIn18 in order to power through mess!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018

Congress overnight failed to reach an agreement on a temporary spending bill to keep the federal government from running out of money. It has resulted in the temporary shuttering of at least some agencies and services and furloughing some non-essential employees.

The GOP-led House passed a temporary spending measure earlier this week but it failed in the Senate, where the Republican Party has just a 51-49 member majority.

House and Senate members remain on Capitol Hill this weekend. The House is holding a rare Saturday session, but procedural moves in the Senate will likely mean no final resolution until at least Monday.

For those asking, the Republicans only have 51 votes in the Senate, and they need 60. That is why we need to win more Republicans in 2018 Election! We can then be even tougher on Crime (and Border), and even better to our Military & Veterans!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018

“For those asking, the Republicans only have 51 votes in the Senate, and they need 60,” Trump said in another tweet Saturday. “That is why we need to win more Republicans in 2018 Election! We can then be even tougher on Crime (and Border), and even better to our Military & Veterans!”

Republicans have said the stalemate is essentially the result of Democrats wanting the temporary bill to include protections for illegal immigrants brought as children to the United States, considering Trump is winding down Obama-era protections from deportation under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Democrats have said Republican proposals have also come up short on funding for such concerns as the opioid crisis and hurricane disaster relief for Puerto Rico.

Trump on Saturday also tweeted: “This is the One Year Anniversary of my Presidency and the Democrats wanted to give me a nice present. #DemocratShutdown.”

This is the One Year Anniversary of my Presidency and the Democrats wanted to give me a nice present. #DemocratShutdown

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018

Fox News’ Adam Shaw contributed to this report.

Source: Trump accuses Democrats of ‘holding our Military hostage’ over shutdown impasse

The post Trump accuses Democrats of 'holding our Military hostage' over shutdown impasse appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-accuses-democrats-of-holding-our-military-hostage-over-shutdown-impasse/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/government-braces-for-shutdown-as-senate-fails-to-meet-deadline-for-spending-deal/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=government-braces-for-shutdown-as-senate-fails-to-meet-deadline-for-spending-deal https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/government-braces-for-shutdown-as-senate-fails-to-meet-deadline-for-spending-deal/#respond Sat, 20 Jan 2018 05:15:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/government-braces-for-shutdown-as-senate-fails-to-meet-deadline-for-spending-deal/ Government braces for shutdown as Senate fails to meet deadline for spending deal close Video White House is planning for a possible government shutdown President Trump believes the politics over illegal immigration are a distraction technique employed by Democrats. The deadline arrived without a deal. The U.S. government shut down at midnight […]

The post Government braces for shutdown as Senate fails to meet deadline for spending deal appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Government braces for shutdown as Senate fails to meet deadline for spending deal

close

Video

White House is planning for a possible government shutdown

President Trump believes the politics over illegal immigration are a distraction technique employed by Democrats.

The deadline arrived without a deal. The U.S. government shut down at midnight Friday after Congress failed to overcome a partisan divide over immigration and spending.

In a late-night vote, Senate Democrats joined to block a bill that would have kept the government running until mid-February. A flurry of last-minute negotiations failed to produce an agreement.

Democrats tried to use the Friday night funding deadline to win concessions from Republicans, including an extension of DACA, an Obama-era program protecting some young immigrants from deportation. The program is set to expire in March. Republicans sought more time for talks, but Democrats refused.

The shutdown is only the fourth government closure in a quarter-century. It will only partially curb government operations.

Uniformed service members, health inspectors, and law enforcement officers are set to work without pay. But Social Security and most other safety net programs are unaffected.

Not looking good for our great Military or Safety & Security on the very dangerous Southern Border. Dems want a Shutdown in order to help diminish the great success of the Tax Cuts, and what they are doing for our booming economy.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 20, 2018

If no deal is brokered by Monday, hundreds of thousands of federal employees are set to be furloughed.

The White House and Capitol Hill will be working with skeleton staffs, but some government agencies, like the Environmental Protection Agency, have said they were able to shift funding around to keep most workers on the job. National parks and federal museums will be open, but with potentially reduced services.

Earlier Friday night, President Donald Trump seemed pessimistic that a deal could be reached in time.

Here’s where we’re at:

Republicans – who control the House, Senate, and WH – are on the verge of making #TrumpShutdown a reality because they refuse to protect DREAMers and provide long-term certainty for our military, the opioid crisis, CHIP, and other key issues.

— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) January 20, 2018

“Not looking good for our great Military or Safety & Security on the very dangerous Southern Border,” the president tweeted. “Dems want a Shutdown in order to help diminish the great success of the Tax Cuts, and what they are doing for our booming economy.”

About 100 immigration protesters were seen gathering in the Russell Senate Office Building on Friday afternoon.

 (Adam Shapiro/Fox Business)

Negotiations, however, continued through the evening, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., working to pass a resolution to keep the government open, White House sources said.

Earlier in the day, demonstrators were seen protesting in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in the Russell Senate Office Building. Democrats refused to back a short-term spending bill unless it includes protections for illegal immigrants brought to the country as children.

“Republicans – who control the House, Senate, and WH – are on the verge of making #TrumpShutdown a reality because they refuse to protect DREAMers and provide long-term certainty for our military, the opioid crisis, CHIP, and other key issues,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi tweeted late Friday night.

During the day Friday, Schumer met with President Trump at the White House as part of an effort to avert the imminent shutdown.

That meeting came as the White House coined a decidedly Trumpian phrase in the battle to assign blame for the standoff, branding it the “Schumer Shutdown.”

A senior White House official told Fox News that the Trump-Schumer meeting was productive, but there was no deal yet. Still, the president labeled the meeting “excellent” in a tweet.

“Making progress,” Trump wrote, adding that a “four week extension would be best!”

“We had a long and detailed meeting,” Schumer said in a statement. “We discussed all of the major outstanding issues, we made some progress, but we still have a good number of disagreements. The discussions will continue.”

According to a White House source, Schumer arrived in the Oval Office and presented the president with a list of demands on domestic issues that went well beyond just DACA. The president listened to Schumer and appeared perplexed as Schumer rattled off his agenda items, the source said. The president told Schumer he wasn’t going to get all of those demands in a spending bill.

Schumer, the source said, did appear open to considering a continuing resolution that would keep the government funded for five days. The official White House position is still a 30-day extension.

Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney on Friday accused the Democrats of opposing a bill that contains nothing they are against.

“They don’t oppose anything in the bill, but they are opposing the bill,” Mulvaney said, pointing to popular measures in the bill such as funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Democrats seemed to be aware of the importance of messaging, with Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., taking to the Senate floor with an image declaring the logjam a “Trump Shutdown,” quoting a tweet from President Trump from May saying “our country needs a good ‘shutdown.'”

Markey blasted Republicans complaining about the threat of a shutdown, telling them to “spare me your crocodile tears.”

The Republican-dominated House of Representatives passed a one-month bill Thursday night by a vote of 230-197 that broke down largely along party lines, with 11 Republicans voting no and six Democrats voting yes.

Senate Democrats have said that Democrats want any spending bill to include a fix for DACA. Trump repealed the order in September, and gave Congress a deadline of March to come up with a legislative fix.

Video

Chris Wallace: A government shutdown ‘could last a while’

“Unless we pass the #DreamAct, I won’t support another short-term funding bill,” Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., tweeted Thursday. “Our Dreamers have waited far too long for a chance to be a part of this country’s future.”

Republicans had hoped to back Democrats into a corner by attaching a six-year CHIP extension to the bill. But Democrats have so far refused to budge.

Republicans have repeatedly put the blame firmly on Democrats’ positioning on DACA as the reason for the looming shutdown.

“Apparently they believe the issue of illegal immigration is more important than anything else, than the government services the American people depend on,” McConnell said.

President Trump has repeatedly urged Congress to keep the government open, warning that a shutdown will harm the U.S. military. The White House announced that Trump would not travel to Florida, as previously scheduled, until the continuing resolution is signed.

Should Congress miss the Friday night deadline, it is far from clear if the government will actually shut down immediately. Fox News is told that the Trump administration will not “weaponize” the shutdown, closing various monuments and national parks, to create a “show” as critics say the Obama administration did in a 2013 closure.

Fox News’  Chad Pergram, Peter Doocy, Mike Emanuel, Kristin Brown, Serafin Gomez, John Roberts and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Adam Shaw is a Politics Reporter and occasional Opinion writer for FoxNews.com. He can be reached here or on Twitter: @AdamShawNY.

Alex Pappas is a politics reporter at FoxNews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlexPappas.

Source: Government braces for shutdown as Senate fails to meet deadline for spending deal

The post Government braces for shutdown as Senate fails to meet deadline for spending deal appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/government-braces-for-shutdown-as-senate-fails-to-meet-deadline-for-spending-deal/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/sen-rand-pauls-neighbor-to-plea-guilty-in-federal-assault-case/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sen-rand-pauls-neighbor-to-plea-guilty-in-federal-assault-case https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/sen-rand-pauls-neighbor-to-plea-guilty-in-federal-assault-case/#respond Sat, 20 Jan 2018 02:14:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/sen-rand-pauls-neighbor-to-plea-guilty-in-federal-assault-case/ Sen. Rand Paul’s neighbor to plea guilty in federal assault case In this Nov. 9 photo, Rene Boucher, center, appears in court for an arraignment hearing with his attorney, Matt Baker, left, at the Warren County Justice Center in Bowling Green, Kentucky.  (AP) The neighbor of Kentucky Senator Rand Paul signed a […]

The post Sen. Rand Paul's neighbor to plea guilty in federal assault case appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Sen. Rand Paul’s neighbor to plea guilty in federal assault case

In this Nov. 9 photo, Rene Boucher, center, appears in court for an arraignment hearing with his attorney, Matt Baker, left, at the Warren County Justice Center in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

 (AP)

The neighbor of Kentucky Senator Rand Paul signed a plea agreement Friday for the November attack that left the Republican lawmaker with six broken ribs.

Rene Boucher, 58, was charged with assaulting a member of Congress and plans to plead guilty as a part of a federal plea agreement and could face up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if found guilty.

According to Boucher’s attorney, the episode surrounding the attack had “to do with yards and the maintenance of those.”

He added that his client is “very meticulous” about the maintenance of his yard, while Paul takes “a much more different approach.”

Paul was attacked on Nov. 3 while mowing his lawn when he was allegedly tackled by Boucher from behind. The senator’s office has rejected the claim that the attack had to do with a dispute over property maintenance.

Boucher is also facing a misdemeanor assault charge in state court in Kentucky. He has pleaded guilty in that case.

No date has been set for Boucher’s court appearance in the federal case but federal prosecutors will seek a 21-month prison sentence, The New York Times reported.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Source: Sen. Rand Paul’s neighbor to plea guilty in federal assault case

The post Sen. Rand Paul's neighbor to plea guilty in federal assault case appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/sen-rand-pauls-neighbor-to-plea-guilty-in-federal-assault-case/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/womens-march-will-focus-on-voter-registration-electing-more-women-organizers-say/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=womens-march-will-focus-on-voter-registration-electing-more-women-organizers-say https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/womens-march-will-focus-on-voter-registration-electing-more-women-organizers-say/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2018 23:45:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/womens-march-will-focus-on-voter-registration-electing-more-women-organizers-say/ Women’s March will focus on voter registration, electing more women, organizers say Marches are slated to take place in hundreds of cities both in the U.S. and beyond on Saturday.  (AP) It’s been nearly a year since women came out in droves to protest President Trump. And in light of Trump’s one-year […]

The post Women's March will focus on voter registration, electing more women, organizers say appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Women’s March will focus on voter registration, electing more women, organizers say

Marches are slated to take place in hundreds of cities both in the U.S. and beyond on Saturday.

 (AP)

It’s been nearly a year since women came out in droves to protest President Trump. And in light of Trump’s one-year anniversary in the White House on Jan. 20, there will be protests once more.

Marches are slated to take place in hundreds of cities both in the U.S. and beyond on Saturday. Thousands of people in New York alone have already signed up and as of Friday morning, nearly 85,000 people had registered to march in the state, according to The New York Times.

The protests this year go beyond just fighting for women’s rights in general, though that is still a primary focus. Indeed, according to the Women’s March website, the organization’s platform has expanded to include immigrant, worker and disability rights, and environmental justice, among other things.

Additionally, the national Women’s March organization is holding an event called “Power to the Polls” in Las Vegas, a rally that will focus on voter registration and electing more women to public office.

Ahead of the Women’s March events this weekend, here’s what you need to know.

What is it?

The Women’s March, which was first held on Jan. 21, 2017, was a response to Trump’s White House win. Thousands of women in Washington, D.C. and in cities across the U.S. and world used the day to advocate for women and human rights issues, which protesters argued would face adversity under the new administration.

The idea was first sparked by a Hawaii retiree named Teresa Shook, who took to Facebook just hours after Trump’s election. She asked a few friends via the social media platform to march on Washington with her in protest.

Bob Bland, a New York fashion designer who is now one of the organization’s national co-chairs, joined the call to action with her own message: “Who wants to join me?!?” she asked.

And with that, the Women’s March was born, soon to become the largest coordinated protest in the country’s history, according to the organization’s website. Additionally, the march in Washington in 2017 was about three times the size of the crowd at Trump’s inauguration, crowd scientists said at the time.

Other national co-chairs include Linda Sarsour, Tamika Mallory and Carmen Perez, among others.

How is this year different than last year?

Instead of another march on Washington, the national organization is hosting an event called “Power to the Polls” in Las Vegas on Sunday. This year’s event, which was inspired by the upcoming midterm elections, will focus on voter registration and inspiring more women to run for public office.

This means that any march this year will be hosted by either an  affiliated or unaffiliated chapter of the Women’s March organization, not the national organization itself, according to a disclaimer.

The organization chose Nevada because the state has “recent experience with some of the most pressing issues facing women in our nation today, from gun violence to politicians accused of sexual assault,” organizers said.

According to Bland: “It was more important for us to create an event somewhere strategic to reflect the work that needed to be done in 2018. And Nevada is an example of a battleground state that went for Hillary Clinton and went blue in 2016 for the first time,” she told NPR.

“There are a record number of women running for local office and then also for state and governorship and there are competitive Senate races. We want to uplift that local work on a national scale on Jan 21,” Bland added.

The event will be held in the Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas.

Who’s speaking this year?

In addition to the Women’s March co-chairs, Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood; Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.; Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga.; Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas; Alicia Garza, co-founder of Black Lives Matter and actress Marisa Tomei are slated to speak. A full list of expected speakers can be found here.

Organizers for the Women’s March did not respond to Fox News’ request for additional comment on this weekend’s events.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Madeline Farber is a Reporter for Fox News. You can follow her on Twitter @MaddieFarberUDK.

Source: Women’s March will focus on voter registration, electing more women, organizers say

The post Women's March will focus on voter registration, electing more women, organizers say appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/womens-march-will-focus-on-voter-registration-electing-more-women-organizers-say/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/democrat-congressman-pushes-to-impeach-trump-what-to-know-about-the-process/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=democrat-congressman-pushes-to-impeach-trump-what-to-know-about-the-process https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/democrat-congressman-pushes-to-impeach-trump-what-to-know-about-the-process/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2018 22:15:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/democrat-congressman-pushes-to-impeach-trump-what-to-know-about-the-process/ Democrat congressman pushes to impeach Trump: What to know about the process Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, again presented articles of impeachment against President Trump, calling him “unfit” for his office.  (Reuters/Aaron P. Bernstein) Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, again presented articles to impeach President Trump on the House floor on Jan. 19. […]

The post Democrat congressman pushes to impeach Trump: What to know about the process appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Democrat congressman pushes to impeach Trump: What to know about the process

Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, again presented articles of impeachment against President Trump, calling him “unfit” for his office.

 (Reuters/Aaron P. Bernstein)

Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, again presented articles to impeach President Trump on the House floor on Jan. 19.

Green, who has pushed for impeachment multiple times, called Trump “unfit” for the White House. He filed the articles based on Trump recently referring to Latin American and some African countries as “s—hole” places, he said.

Last month, Green forced a vote on the House floor that ultimately failed. On Friday, the House postponed the consideration of Green’s impeachment resolution for now.

What does impeachment mean?

Congress has the ability to remove a sitting president from office before his term is finished – an authority granted by the Constitution.

Along with the president and vice president, all civil officers in the U.S. can be removed from office if they are impeached and convicted of bribery, treason or other high crimes and misdemeanors, according to the Constitution.

How does impeachment work?

Article One of the Constitution grants the House of Representatives the sole power of impeachment; the Senate has the sole authority to try all impeachments. If the president is being tried, the Chief Justice should preside over the trial.

The House must vote, requiring a simple majority, to adopt the articles of impeachment. Before a vote, the House Judiciary Committee – or another special committee – may investigate the articles.

The House is able to vote to impeach even if the committee does not recommend doing so.

Should that vote be reached, then the House will appoint members – called managers – to act as “prosecutors” as the proceedings then go to trial in the Senate. The president is able to have defense attorneys.

The Senate would need a two-thirds majority in order to find the president guilty. Should that happen, the president would be removed from office and the vice president would take the president’s place.

Have other presidents been impeached?

Only two U.S. presidents have been impeached – and neither were removed from office.

Andrew Johnson was impeached in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998.

While an impeachment proceeding began against former President Richard Nixon, he was not actually impeached. Nixon was the only president to resign from office.

Fox News’ Brooke Singman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kaitlyn Schallhorn is a Reporter for Fox News. Follow her on Twitter @K_Schallhorn.

Source: Democrat congressman pushes to impeach Trump: What to know about the process

The post Democrat congressman pushes to impeach Trump: What to know about the process appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/democrat-congressman-pushes-to-impeach-trump-what-to-know-about-the-process/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/4-ways-to-capture-multicultural-sales-in-2018/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=4-ways-to-capture-multicultural-sales-in-2018 https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/4-ways-to-capture-multicultural-sales-in-2018/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2018 21:50:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/4-ways-to-capture-multicultural-sales-in-2018/ 4 ways to capture multicultural sales in 2018 As the country transforms, so must the ways in which we approach housing. On the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, it seems that our country has made great progress in some areas to become more inclusive and provide equal opportunity, but the overall […]

The post 4 ways to capture multicultural sales in 2018 appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

4 ways to capture multicultural sales in 2018

As the country transforms, so must the ways in which we approach housing. On the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, it seems that our country has made great progress in some areas to become more inclusive and provide equal opportunity, but the overall culture of the housing industry remains fairly stagnant compared to the multicultural growth in our surrounding communities.

Leading companies are using multicultural marketing strategies on the front line as part of their total market strategy. The ones who are effective are not simply translating their flyers or adding diversity to their ads. Through their marketing efforts and customer experience, the best companies are reflecting the country’s shift in cultural norms and expectations to connect with today’s diverse consumers.

For example, in a recent Zillow commercial, “Mijo,” features a Latino man, his wife, and his mother preparing to move to a new home that the couple recently purchased. This reflection of multigenerational living arrangements may be relatively new to mainstream culture, but it resonates with most of the country’s fast-growing minority buyers. As the percentage of minority homeownership grows, so does acceptance of the understanding of who makes up a household.

While minority purchasing power continues to increase, homeownership rates have not kept pace with their growth. In 2016, Hispanics and Latinos were the only minority ethnic group whose homeownership rate increased. Among the reasons for this are increasing average household income, as well as more, and better, targeting in effort to leverage often underserved or ignored Hispanic communities across the country. Though rates of homeownership among Hispanics grew, the gains have not kept pace in proportion to their population expansion, according to analysis of U.S. Census and Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data by Urban Institute. Meanwhile, homeownership among non-Hispanic White people grew in proportion to their expanding population.

Based on our assessment of companies who are effectively reaching diverse markets, there are a few best practices to capture new sales and encourage growth in minority homeownership:

Speak their language

Alterra Home Loans and Century 21 Real Estate have partnered recently to better support borrowers who wish to have access to bilingual loan officers with an understanding of their cultures — two factors necessary to leveraging opportunities in the growing Hispanic population, as well as building wealth through homeownership. As noted by DEVAL president Debbie-Garcia Gratacos, “Having a bilingual origination team is very important.”

Hiring bilingual loan officers and developing partnerships that leverage this value are a couple of ways to offer tailored service to more potential borrowers. As the most-spoken language in the U.S. after English, it may seem wisest to load up with Spanish-speaking loan officers. Consider also your surrounding region and lesser-served communities. Depending on where you’re located, it may also be beneficial to hire loan officers fluent in Mandarin, Arabic, or even Tagalog.

Reach out, teach out

Lower-down payment mortgage loan options through products such as Fannie Mae’s HomeReady and Home Possible mortgages from Freddie Mac require borrowers to attend financial workshops or seminars to ensure they are educated about their obligations and their rights. One way loan officers can, and do, get to know and connect with minority borrowers is to host educational workshops or seminars around the community.

For example, one of Alterra’s branch managers, Julia Adame, shared that her success largely stems from her commitment to educating the Latino community. “Last year I had a monthly homebuyer’s class, only in Spanish, and I also write weekly articles for this cause.” Other leaders are partnering with nonprofit agencies and corporations to share homebuyer education through channels less reached. This opens new opportunities for business and supports underserved communities.

Go digital

Meet your borrowers where they are, which remains, in high numbers, on phones and other mobile devices. All ethnic groups, according to Pew Research, possess smartphones, and that number doesn’t decrease much in low-to-moderate income groups.

Companies like Blend, Roostify, and Simple Nexus are making it easier for lenders of all sizes to create a digital, mobile-first experience that satisfies today’s consumer demands for transparency and on-demand features. However, a mobile app is not the end-all for companies’ user experience strategy. Technology should not replace the relationship. It should enhance it.

Particularly in multicultural communities, borrowers want the ease and convenience of an app, but they want a personal guide to answer any questions they have. Don Maxwell, expert in helping lenders reach the African American community, shares the digital experience must be paired with an excellent personal experience. “Minority communities often need higher touch from their loan officer.” Additionally, many younger buyers want to have at least one meeting in person with their loan officer. A combined 58% of millennials and Gen Xers reported beginning their mortgage origination process online and completing it with a person in Ellie Mae’s 2017 Origination Insights Survey.

Ensure Cultural Competence

Loan officers can try all the gimmicks in the world, but if they don’t at least make a passing effort to get to know the community they’re courting, their actions will ring hollow. Acknowledging and respecting cultural differences between borrowers isn’t a recipe for discrimination, but an antidote: The more loan officers know and understand their clients’ culture and values, the better loan officers can serve those clients individually with a benefit to the larger group. 

Companies like National MI and WFG are providing their employees and customers with access to multicultural sales education. Companies across the mortgage industry are finding training essential to drive new sales.

Remember: cultural generalities are meant to be guideposts, not givens. Get to know your borrowers as individuals, and follow the above steps with a genuine desire to help more families build wealth and stability through homeownership. With that mindset and a few key strategies, you will find great success with multicultural sales in 2018.

Source: 4 ways to capture multicultural sales in 2018

The post 4 ways to capture multicultural sales in 2018 appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/4-ways-to-capture-multicultural-sales-in-2018/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/new-housing-voices-on-capitol-hill-will-reshape-industrys-future/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-housing-voices-on-capitol-hill-will-reshape-industrys-future https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/new-housing-voices-on-capitol-hill-will-reshape-industrys-future/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2018 19:20:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/new-housing-voices-on-capitol-hill-will-reshape-industrys-future/ New housing voices on Capitol Hill will reshape industry’s future What we all knew would happen has finally happened — the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Richard Cordray, has stepped down and has been replaced with a person more aligned with the current administration. It’s what always happens when there’s a change […]

The post New housing voices on Capitol Hill will reshape industry’s future appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

New housing voices on Capitol Hill will reshape industry’s future

What we all knew would happen has finally happened — the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Richard Cordray, has stepped down and has been replaced with a person more aligned with the current administration. It’s what always happens when there’s a change of power. But Cordray’s replacement is just one of several new voices on Capitol Hill that are about to reshape housing policy as we know it.

The appointment of Mick Mulvaney as CFPB director may not be permanent. But during his time as a congressman for South Carolina, Mulvaney made it clear that he wanted to eliminate the CFPB. At the very least, he is likely to take a serious look at the CFPB’s budget. As director of the Office of Management and Budget, Mulvaney is known to take a hard line on budget issues. Almost certainly, enforcement will be de-emphasized at the CFPB while certain agency departments, such as Consumer Education and Engagement, Office of Equal Opportunity & Fairness and External and Community Affairs may be targets for elimination or substantial reductions.

Mulvaney has also supported eliminating the CFPB director’s position, rather running the agency by committee.  Working from within the agency may prove useful in this effort.  More critical to the CFPB’s future would be changing how the agency is funded. Currently, the CFPB is a branch of the U.S. Treasury, and any modification in its funding would require congressional approval. Such a change is more likely with the support of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who is aligned with Mulvaney on the agency’s future.

As the interim director of the CFPB, Mulvaney will also be a member of the Financial Stability Oversight Council, which will also play a role in reshaping our housing rules. The FSOC includes several newly installed financial services executives who are friendly with banks and Wall Street, among them Comptroller of Currency and former OneWest Bank executive Joseph Otting and SEC Chairman and former Wall Street man Jay Clayton.

There are still other congressional changes that could fuel a roll-back of regulations. Several housing policy leaders such as Sen. Bob Corker, R-Ky., and Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas, are resigning their seats, which opens the door for new leaders to take their place.

Hensarling is the representative behind The Financial CHOICE Act, which, if passed, would rein in Dodd-Frank and convert the CFPB to a commission with a director appointed by the president. More importantly, Hensarling chairs the House Financial Services Committee, which oversees the entire financial services industry, including securities, insurance, banking and housing. The committee’s current agenda ranks Dodd-Frank and Federal Reserve reform as its top priorities.

Of the other committee members, Reps Bill Huizenga, R-Mich., and Sean Duffy, R-Wisc., are the two most likely to replace Hensarling. Huizenga is a former real estate agent who worked on The Mortgage Choice Act of 2013, a bill which would have changed qualified mortgage rules. He is currently in charge of one of the Financial Services sub-committees on ‘Capital Markets, Securities and Investments’ and has risen through the ranks as a substantial voice on the industry. Duffy, a former district attorney and reality TV personality, is one of the GOP’s rising stars who currently chairs the Housing and Insurance sub-committee.

While shakeup at the CFPB is commanding everyone’s attention, it’s only the beginning of a massive shift in power that will have far-reaching repercussions for the mortgage industry. The full impact of these changes remains to be seen, and one thing is certain: they will be interesting to watch.

Source: New housing voices on Capitol Hill will reshape industry’s future

The post New housing voices on Capitol Hill will reshape industry’s future appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/new-housing-voices-on-capitol-hill-will-reshape-industrys-future/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/newly-released-clinton-emails-include-classified-messages-show-knowledge-of-security-problems-watchdog/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=newly-released-clinton-emails-include-classified-messages-show-knowledge-of-security-problems-watchdog https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/newly-released-clinton-emails-include-classified-messages-show-knowledge-of-security-problems-watchdog/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2018 17:43:00 +0000 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/newly-released-clinton-emails-include-classified-messages-show-knowledge-of-security-problems-watchdog/ Newly released Clinton emails include classified messages, show knowledge of security problems: watchdog close Video Report: Clinton email investigation reopening Todd Piro reports from New York City. A conservative watchdog group on Friday released 78 pages of new Hillary Clinton emails –three of which contained classified information and others that revealed the […]

The post Newly released Clinton emails include classified messages, show knowledge of security problems: watchdog appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Newly released Clinton emails include classified messages, show knowledge of security problems: watchdog

close

Video

Report: Clinton email investigation reopening

Todd Piro reports from New York City.

A conservative watchdog group on Friday released 78 pages of new Hillary Clinton emails –three of which contained classified information and others that revealed the former secretary of state knew about potential security issues with her private email server.

The State Department turned over the new emails to Judicial Watch as part of the group’s Freedom of Information Act lawsuit, which is on an accelerated schedule of production ordered by U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg.

Boasberg ordered the State Department to complete processing of the remaining 72,000 pages recovered by the FBI in its investigation into Clinton’s private email server by Sept. 28, 2018.

Judicial Watch said the new emails appear to be among those that Clinton had attempted to delete or had otherwise failed to disclose.

“The fact that Hillary Clinton and her agents tried to destroy or hide emails shows how she flagrantly and knowingly violated the laws that protect classified information and government records,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said in a statement. “And these new emails refute Hillary Clinton’s repeated claims of having little or no knowledge about her email system. She clearly was fully in charge of setting up her outlaw email system and overseeing its use.”

The new emails reveal Clinton’s apparent knowledge of “system vulnerabilities” with her non-state.gov email address.

One email on June 6, 2011 from Clinton aide Justin Cooper, who asked State Department IT aide Bryan Pagliano to set up Clinton’s private email server, warned about “overseas” security issues with her emails and BlackBerry devices.

“All of your older messages will remain on the server. There is a way for me to move everything onto the new device, but the security whizzes have convinced me that this is a horrible thing to do because you also transfer any viruses, spyware and junk overseas providers hide on there,” Cooper wrote in the email. “We also have some new security features and policies [sic] that I would like to add to any new berry you have –the most noticeable difference will require a more complex password. It is a constant fight to keep up with the security measures and unfortunately we keep seeing reminders of why we need to.”

Throughout the FBI investigation, and congressional probes into the private email server, Clinton claimed she wasn’t involved in issues involving the “email system.”

But new emails show exchanges between Clinton and top aides, like Pagliano and Cooper, who helped to set up the servers, discussing backups of emails and the setting up of Clinton’s ipad.

Cooper reportedly had no security clearance.

Brooke Singman is a Politics Reporter for Fox News. Follow her on Twitter at @brookefoxnews.

Source: Newly released Clinton emails include classified messages, show knowledge of security problems: watchdog

The post Newly released Clinton emails include classified messages, show knowledge of security problems: watchdog appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/newly-released-clinton-emails-include-classified-messages-show-knowledge-of-security-problems-watchdog/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/californias-bullet-train-and-biggest-boondoggle-is-over-budget-by-billions/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=californias-bullet-train-and-biggest-boondoggle-is-over-budget-by-billions https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/californias-bullet-train-and-biggest-boondoggle-is-over-budget-by-billions/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2018 17:34:00 +0000 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/californias-bullet-train-and-biggest-boondoggle-is-over-budget-by-billions/ California’s bullet train (and biggest boondoggle) is over budget by billions close Video Billion-dollar cost hike for California bullet train New reports reveal California’s bullet train construction project is costing $2.8 billion more than anticipated. What’s happening now and what it could mean in the future. It’s billions of dollars over budget […]

The post California's bullet train (and biggest boondoggle) is over budget by billions appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

California’s bullet train (and biggest boondoggle) is over budget by billions

close

Video

Billion-dollar cost hike for California bullet train

New reports reveal California’s bullet train construction project is costing $2.8 billion more than anticipated. What’s happening now and what it could mean in the future.

It’s billions of dollars over budget and seven years behind schedule, and appears to have no plausible way of living up to its goal of getting riders across the state in three hours or less.

Welcome to what’s arguably the nation’s largest infrastructure project and California’s biggest boondoggle.

The highly hyped bullet train has been a challenge from the start. No one thought it would be technically, financially and politically easy, but the way the project has been mishandled has some Californians fed up and demanding answers.

Just this week, the California High-Speed Rail Authority, the organization charged with overseeing construction, reported that the cost of the first segment had dramatically risen – again.

“The worst-case scenario has happened,” admitted Roy Hill, lead consultant on the project.

Since its start, this hot-mess express of a project has been plagued by delays and has blown through every single budget estimate imaginable. And it’ll likely cost the state and taxpayers more in the coming months and years.

Much more.

“The so-called bullet train is a solution in search of a problem that is plagued by billions of dollars in cost overruns and fiscal mismanagement,” San Diego City Councilman Mark Kersey told Fox News. “The billions being wasted on this boondoggle could have been invested in our current infrastructure needs, such as water storage, flood control, highways and bridges.”

This week’s updated cost estimate — to complete just the first phase – a 119-mile segment in the Central Valley – has ballooned to $10.6 billion. That’s a jaw-dropping 77 percent increase from initial estimates, 36 percent higher than forecasts from a year ago.

When California voters in 2008 narrowly approved $10 billion in bond as seed money for the high-speed rail development, they were told the total cost would be about $43 billion.

Fresh estimates put it now at $67 billion.

Brian Kelly, head of the State Transportation Agency, was appointed this week to run the High-Speed Rail Authority. He told The New York Times that even though the project has “mammoth opposition,” he has “never seen a single project that would have such a transformative impact as this one.”

Other supporters reason that the project should continue because billions of dollars have already been spent.

Critics, however, say the state should cut its losses and call it a day.

“The money is already wasted. There’s no way to unwaste it,” James Moore, director of the transportation engineering program at the University of Southern California, told Fox News. 

He added that Californians have only “scratched the surface” when it comes to expenses, and said that estimates were “overtly deceptive.”

He described ridership forecasts as “fictional” and said the idea behind the state bullet train lacks logic.

“If you build a mode that is slower than an aircraft and costlier than gas, people aren’t going to ride it,” he said.

Kersey agrees.

“It’s far from certain that Californians would even utilize the proposed high-speed rail given the ease of air travel among California’s major cities,” he said. “It’s so easy to get in an airplane and fly anywhere you want to, (to) any of the big cities around the state.”

He also said that by the time the train is up and running – sometime around 2025 – it will be outdated.

“The ‘high-speed’ rail debacle is the technology of yesteryear and has no feasible plan for success,” he said, adding that Californians shouldn’t be forced to foot the bill for “pet projects for politicians.”

The four leading Democratic candidates for governor in California have offered various levels of support for the rail project.

The Los Angeles Times says current Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom — the frontrunner in the gubernatorial race — has dodged repeated requests for interviews on the bullet train for more than two years.

Newsom’s office also did not return multiple calls from Fox News seeking comment.

“This reticence to speak about a deeply troubled project might seem like smart political strategy, given its support by the governor and construction trade unions, a valued Democratic constituency,” The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote in a scathing editorial. “If the Democratic candidates don’t detail how they would salvage the most expensive public project in California history, there’s a better adjective: cowardly.”

Last February, California’s House  asked the  administration to block a pending federal grant until an audit of the project’s finances is completed.

The letter was signed by all 14 members of the state’s Republican delegation and was sent to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.

As of now, there’s been no movement on the request.

Source: California’s bullet train (and biggest boondoggle) is over budget by billions

The post California's bullet train (and biggest boondoggle) is over budget by billions appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/californias-bullet-train-and-biggest-boondoggle-is-over-budget-by-billions/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/pennsylvania-special-house-election-pits-conor-lamb-against-rick-saccone/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pennsylvania-special-house-election-pits-conor-lamb-against-rick-saccone https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/pennsylvania-special-house-election-pits-conor-lamb-against-rick-saccone/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2018 17:30:00 +0000 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/pennsylvania-special-house-election-pits-conor-lamb-against-rick-saccone/ Pennsylvania special House election pits Conor Lamb against Rick Saccone State Rep. Rick Saccone (left) faces former attorney Conor Lamb (right) in a special House election for Pennsylvania’s 18th congressional district. The first special election of 2018 features Republican Rick Saccone and Democrat Conor Lamb battling for a Pennsylvania congressional seat. […]

The post Pennsylvania special House election pits Conor Lamb against Rick Saccone appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Pennsylvania special House election pits Conor Lamb against Rick Saccone

State Rep. Rick Saccone (left) faces former attorney Conor Lamb (right) in a special House election for Pennsylvania’s 18th congressional district.

The first special election of 2018 features Republican Rick Saccone and Democrat Conor Lamb battling for a Pennsylvania congressional seat.

The congressional seat became open after Republican Rep. Tim Murphy, who was staunchly anti-abortion, resigned in 2017 amid reports that he asked his mistress to get an abortion when he believed she was pregnant.

Democrats are hoping to stir up enough enthusiasm in the special election – especially among union members – to increase voter turnout and change the party representing a district that has recently been red.

“The one fact that has remained the same this year – whether Democrats have won or lost [recent special elections] – is Democrats are doing better in terms of turnout and enthusiasm,” Kevan Yenerall, a social sciences professor at Clarion University, told Fox News.

Read on for a look at the candidates and what’s unique about Pennsylvania’s 18th district ahead of the March 13 special election.

Rick Saccone

Pennsylvania state Rep. Rick Saccone has gotten the support of President Trump in the special House election.

 (Reuters/Kevin Lamarque)

A longtime state representative, Saccone, 59, is a conservative Republican who more embodies the policies of President Trump.

Saccone is more known for his religious conservatism as opposed to Murphy, who was a more mainstream Republican, Robert Speel, an associate professor of political science at Pennsylvania State University in Erie, told Fox News.

He was one of the lawmakers who championed Pennsylvania’s “Castle Doctrine,” or “stand your ground” law, which allows “law-abiding people to protect themselves, their families and others from intruders and attackers without fear of prosecution or civil action for acting in defense of themselves and others.”

Saccone also sponsored a bill that would require public school buildings to bear the motto “In God We Trust.” Additionally, he pushed for a “National Fast Day” in the state to mirror “President Lincoln’s proclamation of a national day of ‘humiliation, fasting and prayer.’”

Saccone is a retired Air Force officer with vast experience in counter-terrorism efforts, including working on task forces for two Olympic Games, according to his campaign website.

Trump tweeted his support of Saccone ahead of his Thursday visit to the Pittsburgh area.

“Rick is a great guy. We need more Republicans to continue our already successful agenda,” the president said.

Will be going to Pennsylvania today in order to give my total support to RICK SACCONE, running for Congress in a Special Election (March 13). Rick is a great guy. We need more Republicans to continue our already successful agenda!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018

Saccone is married with two sons. He studied in Africa, visited 75 countries, authored multiple books on North Korea and earned a Ph.D. in international affairs.

Conor Lamb

Conor Lamb, a veteran, is a more moderate Democratic candidate.

 (Reuters/Alan Freed)

A Marine Corps captain, Connor Lamb, 33, said on his campaign website that the “biggest issues facing the 18th congressional district aren’t partisan.”

“My only bias is the one they taught us in the Marines: a bias for action,” Lamb said on his website.

His congressional to-do list includes: battling the nation’s heroin epidemic, modern energy development and creating jobs.

In Pennsylvania, Lamb has already worked towards ending the growing heroin crisis; as an assistant U.S. attorney, Lamb worked to make the Justice Department’s Pittsburgh office “a national leader in the fight,” according to his campaign website.  

Lamb has advocated for new leadership in the House and said he would not vote for Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as Minority Leader again – a “politically astute” move that could garner him the support of more moderate or independent voters, said Yenerall.

“Most Democrats in the district may not dislike Pelosi, per se, but would like to shake up the status quo,” Yenerall told Fox News.

He added that Lamb’s background as a veteran and U.S. attorney as well as his “temperament” does “fit” the district more so than other Democrats.

The district

Pennsylvania’s 18th congressional district is located in the western part of the state near Pittsburgh. It includes parts of Allegheny, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland Counties and is made up of many rural, blue-collar voters.  

There are actually more registered Democrats than Republicans in the district – a result of strong organized labor in the area.

Union workers are a key demographic for the special election, although Trump made inroads with the more than 80,000 members in the district with his candidacy, Yenerall said.

What to look for in the race

Bellwether election: Pennsylvania’s 18th district overwhelmingly voted for Trump over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. The election is shaping up as the next test of Democrats’ enthusiasm and GOP resilience in the Trump era and an early indicator of whether a midterm wave could be coming later this year.

“Political activists are certainly looking at this race as an indicator of Pennsylvania and national trends,” Speel said.

Should Lamb, the Democrat, win this election, it could “spell major trouble for Republicans in similar districts across the country,” Yenerall said.

“Both parties have a great deal at stake here. If a Democrat can win this type of district with the right type of candidate … it would mean the Democrats would do better than expected in the midterms.”

Spending: This race is already turning out to be an expensive one.

Ending Spending Inc., a super PAC founded by billionaire Joe Ricketts, was the first to hit the airwaves with a $1 million ad buy in support of Saccone.

The Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC tied to Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan, announced earlier this year that it would open two field offices in the district with 50 full-time canvassers.

Lamb’s first television spot was set to debut this week, and in it, he notes that he has refused “corporate PAC money.”

One thing to watch for, according to Yenerall: can the labor strength in the district add enough resources to fend off spending from outside groups?

Paul Ryan & union-buster/Cubs owner Joe Ricketts already spending $1M+ for my opponent. Welcome to #PA18, fellas. We support unions, & we have a lot of Pirates fans volunteering their time & hard-earned money to help us win. Wouldn’t have it any other way. https://t.co/vohl9n7TTR

— Conor Lamb (@ConorLambPA) January 5, 2018

Tim Murphy fallout: The reasoning behind Murphy’s decision to leave office could have an effect on voters, some politicos in the state have warned. 

“It’ll be interesting to see if voters turn against the Republican Party, seeing them as hypocritical,” Speel said.

And Lamb has already painted Republicans as the party of hypocrisy. When he was selected as the Democrats’ nominee, Lamb said he planned to expose Republicans’ “public hypocrisy fully equal to the private hypocrisy of Tim Murphy,” the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported in November.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Kaitlyn Schallhorn is a Reporter for Fox News. Follow her on Twitter @K_Schallhorn.

Source: Pennsylvania special House election pits Conor Lamb against Rick Saccone

The post Pennsylvania special House election pits Conor Lamb against Rick Saccone appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/pennsylvania-special-house-election-pits-conor-lamb-against-rick-saccone/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/at-march-for-life-rally-trump-says-late-term-abortions-are-wrong-and-must-change/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=at-march-for-life-rally-trump-says-late-term-abortions-are-wrong-and-must-change https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/at-march-for-life-rally-trump-says-late-term-abortions-are-wrong-and-must-change/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2018 16:47:00 +0000 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/at-march-for-life-rally-trump-says-late-term-abortions-are-wrong-and-must-change/ At March for Life rally, Trump says late-term abortions are ‘wrong’ and must ‘change’ close Video Trump: We will always defend the right to life President Trump addresses pro-life leaders and advocates ahead of March for Life in Washington. President Trump on Friday lamented how the United States, along with China and […]

The post At March for Life rally, Trump says late-term abortions are ‘wrong’ and must ‘change’ appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

At March for Life rally, Trump says late-term abortions are ‘wrong’ and must ‘change’

close

Video

Trump: We will always defend the right to life

President Trump addresses pro-life leaders and advocates ahead of March for Life in Washington.

President Trump on Friday lamented how the United States, along with China and North Korea, allows late-term abortions in what was the first-ever live speech by a president to the pro-life activists of the annual March for Life rally in Washington.

“Americans are more and more pro-life,” Trump said in a speech in the Rose Garden that was streamed live to the crowd on the National Mall.

The president added: “We see that all the time. In fact, only 12 percent of Americans support abortion on demand at any time. Under my administration, we will always defend the very first right in the Declaration of Independence, and that is the right to life.”

Video

Mainstream media downplays March for Life

The March for Life rally is held every year by pro-life protesters on the anniversary of the 1973 Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion across the country.

“As you all know, Roe vs. Wade has resulted in some of the most permissive abortion laws anywhere in the world,” Trump told the crowd.

“For example, in the United States, it’s one of only seven countries to allow elective late-term abortions, along with China, North Korea, and others,” the president said. “Right now in a number of states, the laws allow a baby to be born from his or her mother’s womb in the ninth month. It is wrong. It has to change.” 

MARCH FOR LIFE REMINDS US THAT ATTITUDES ON ABORTION ARE CHANGING

The speech came within hours of a possible government shutdown if Congress doesn’t pass a spending bill by midnight.

The president was introduced Friday by Vice President Mike Pence, who called Trump the “most pro-life president in American history.”

Friday’s event also coincides with the House passing the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which aims to protect the child in the aftermath of an attempted abortion and requires the abortion provider to take lifesaving measures, such as sending the child to a hospital.

This month, the Senate is expected to vote on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which prohibits abortion after five months.

“I strongly supported the House of Representatives Pain-Capable bill, which would end painful, late-term abortions nationwide,” Trump said. “I call upon the Senate to pass this important law and send it to my desk for signing.”

Fox News’ Kellianne Jones contributed to this report.

Alex Pappas is a politics reporter at FoxNews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AlexPappas.

Source: At March for Life rally, Trump says late-term abortions are ‘wrong’ and must ‘change’

The post At March for Life rally, Trump says late-term abortions are ‘wrong’ and must ‘change’ appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/at-march-for-life-rally-trump-says-late-term-abortions-are-wrong-and-must-change/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/mattis-us-military-advantage-over-china-and-russia-eroding/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=mattis-us-military-advantage-over-china-and-russia-eroding https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/mattis-us-military-advantage-over-china-and-russia-eroding/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2018 16:03:00 +0000 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/mattis-us-military-advantage-over-china-and-russia-eroding/ Mattis: US military advantage over China and Russia ‘eroding’ Defense Secretary James Mattis speaks about the National Defense Review, Friday, in Washington.  (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) The U.S. military’s advantage over Russia and China is “eroding,” according to an unclassified summary of the Pentagon’s new National Defense Strategy unveiled Friday by Defense Secretary […]

The post Mattis: US military advantage over China and Russia 'eroding' appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Mattis: US military advantage over China and Russia ‘eroding’

Defense Secretary James Mattis speaks about the National Defense Review, Friday, in Washington.

 (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

The U.S. military’s advantage over Russia and China is “eroding,” according to an unclassified summary of the Pentagon’s new National Defense Strategy unveiled Friday by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in Washington. The document also says that ISIS no longer remains a top threat.

“Great power competition, not terrorism, is now the primary focus of U.S. national security,” Mattis said. “We face growing threats from revisionist powers as different as China and Russia, nations that seek to create a world consistent with their authoritarian models.”

Mattis named the rogue regimes in North Korea and Iran as top threats as well. But the strategy does not ignore the ability of terrorist groups to persist and evolve. ISIS has largely been defeated in Iraq and Syria, but Mattis warned the group will keep trying to reestablish itself and make a comeback like Hezbollah and Al Qaeda.

He warned that America’s ability to respond to threats has diminished.

“Our competitive edge has eroded in every domain of warfare – air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace – and is continually eroding,” Mattis warned, adding at one point: “America has no pre-ordained right to victory on the battlefield.”

He also said, “We will modernize key capabilities, recognizing we cannot expect success fighting tomorrow’s conflicts with yesterday’s weapons or equipment.”

Mattis said the modernization of China’s military over the past two decades as well as Russia’s advantages coupled with the U.S fighting its longest war in the nation’s history have led to loss of a competitive advantage.

Mattis went on to say the goal of this strategy is to send a message to anyone that wants to take on the U.S.

“To those who would threaten America’s experiment in democracy:  if you challenge us, it will be your longest and worst day,” he warned.

This is the first national defense strategy in 10 years. The classified version of the strategy is five times bigger than the 11-page unclassified report released today.

“The erosion of our military advantage is the problem,” said Elbridge Colby, deputy assistant secretary of defense for strategy and force development in a briefing to reporters Thursday ahead of the strategy’s release. “That is the fundamental concern. That is what is driving this [new strategy].”

He added: “The secretary also believes that we’ve been in strategy free environment for a long time.”

Lucas Tomlinson is the Pentagon and State Department producer for Fox News Channel. You can follow him on Twitter: @LucasFoxNews

Source: Mattis: US military advantage over China and Russia ‘eroding’

The post Mattis: US military advantage over China and Russia 'eroding' appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/mattis-us-military-advantage-over-china-and-russia-eroding/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/massachusetts/jumbo-capital-sound-mark-land-stony-brook-office-park-in-80-million-deal/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=jumbo-capital-sound-mark-land-stony-brook-office-park-in-80-million-deal https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/massachusetts/jumbo-capital-sound-mark-land-stony-brook-office-park-in-80-million-deal/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:29:26 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/local/massachusetts/jumbo-capital-sound-mark-land-stony-brook-office-park-in-80-million-deal/ Jumbo Capital, Sound Mark Land Stony Brook Office Park in + Million Deal Clarion Partners Cashes Out 270,000-SF Office Park Fully Leased to Brainshark, TIAA, Stanley Black & Decker Among Others The 270,196-square-foot Stony Brook Office Park in Waltham, MA has sold for $80.058 million. Jumbo Capital Management of Quincy, MA and Sound […]

The post Jumbo Capital, Sound Mark Land Stony Brook Office Park in +$80 Million Deal appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Jumbo Capital, Sound Mark Land Stony Brook Office Park in + Million Deal

Clarion Partners Cashes Out 270,000-SF Office Park Fully Leased to Brainshark, TIAA, Stanley Black & Decker Among Others

The 270,196-square-foot Stony Brook Office Park in Waltham, MA has sold for $80.058 million.

Jumbo Capital Management of Quincy, MA and Sound Mark Partners out of Greenwich, CT paid roughly $296 per square foot for the suburban campus comprised of four interconnected buildings located at 130 Turner St., and a 3,925-square-foot retail building at 5 Turner St.

Constructed in 1984 and renovated in 2003, the park is fully leased to Brainshark, Wolters Kluwer, TIAA, Stanley Black & Decker, Ultratech, DDC Capital Management and Wells Fargo.

Stony Brook Office Park sits on 16 acres roughly five minutes from I-90 and within walking distance of the Brandeis-Roberts MBTA commuter rail station. The complex is visible from I-95, adjacent to Brandeis University and roughly two miles from the Moody Street retail and restaurant corridor.

The Newmark Knight Frank Capital Markets Boston office team comprised of Robert Griffin, Edward Maher, Matthew Pullen, James Tribble and Samantha Hallowell represented Clarion Partners in the sale. David Douvadjian and Timothy O’Donnell of NFK’s Capital Markets debt team arranged financing for the buyer.

Please see CoStar COMP #4096921 for more information on this transaction.

Source: Jumbo Capital, Sound Mark Land Stony Brook Office Park in + Million Deal

The post Jumbo Capital, Sound Mark Land Stony Brook Office Park in +$80 Million Deal appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/massachusetts/jumbo-capital-sound-mark-land-stony-brook-office-park-in-80-million-deal/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/massachusetts/jumbo-capital-sound-mark-partners-land-stony-brook-office-park-in-80-million-deal/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=jumbo-capital-sound-mark-partners-land-stony-brook-office-park-in-80-million-deal https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/massachusetts/jumbo-capital-sound-mark-partners-land-stony-brook-office-park-in-80-million-deal/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2018 08:29:26 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/local/massachusetts/jumbo-capital-sound-mark-partners-land-stony-brook-office-park-in-80-million-deal/ Jumbo Capital, Sound Mark Partners Land Stony Brook Office Park in + Million Deal Clarion Partners Cashes Out 270,000-SF Office Park Fully Leased to Brainshark, TIAA, Stanley Black & Decker Among Others The 270,196-square-foot Stony Brook Office Park in Waltham, MA has sold for $80.058 million. Jumbo Capital Management of Quincy, MA and […]

The post Jumbo Capital, Sound Mark Partners Land Stony Brook Office Park in +$80 Million Deal appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Jumbo Capital, Sound Mark Partners Land Stony Brook Office Park in + Million Deal

Clarion Partners Cashes Out 270,000-SF Office Park Fully Leased to Brainshark, TIAA, Stanley Black & Decker Among Others

The 270,196-square-foot Stony Brook Office Park in Waltham, MA has sold for $80.058 million.

Jumbo Capital Management of Quincy, MA and Sound Mark Partners out of Greenwich, CT paid roughly $296 per square foot for the suburban campus comprised of four interconnected buildings located at 130 Turner St., and a 3,925-square-foot retail building at 5 Turner St.

Constructed in 1984 and renovated in 2003, the park is fully leased to Brainshark, Wolters Kluwer, TIAA, Stanley Black & Decker, Ultratech, DDC Capital Management and Wells Fargo.

Stony Brook Office Park sits on 16 acres roughly five minutes from I-90 and within walking distance of the Brandeis-Roberts MBTA commuter rail station. The complex is visible from I-95, adjacent to Brandeis University and roughly two miles from the Moody Street retail and restaurant corridor.

The Newmark Knight Frank Capital Markets Boston office team comprised of Robert Griffin, Edward Maher, Matthew Pullen, James Tribble and Samantha Hallowell represented Clarion Partners in the sale. David Douvadjian and Timothy O’Donnell of NFK’s Capital Markets debt team arranged financing for the buyer.

Please see CoStar COMP #4096921 for more information on this transaction.

Source: Jumbo Capital, Sound Mark Partners Land Stony Brook Office Park in + Million Deal

The post Jumbo Capital, Sound Mark Partners Land Stony Brook Office Park in +$80 Million Deal appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/massachusetts/jumbo-capital-sound-mark-partners-land-stony-brook-office-park-in-80-million-deal/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/syrian-opposition-leaders-in-washington-for-talks-deliver-message-to-trump-administration-congress/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=syrian-opposition-leaders-in-washington-for-talks-deliver-message-to-trump-administration-congress https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/syrian-opposition-leaders-in-washington-for-talks-deliver-message-to-trump-administration-congress/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2018 03:15:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/syrian-opposition-leaders-in-washington-for-talks-deliver-message-to-trump-administration-congress/ Syrian opposition leaders, in Washington for talks, deliver message to Trump administration, Congress Members of the Free Syrian Army delegation pose with Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill. (fourth from right)  (Courtesy Syrian American Council) Members of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) left Washington, D.C., last night following several days of meetings with a […]

The post Syrian opposition leaders, in Washington for talks, deliver message to Trump administration, Congress appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Syrian opposition leaders, in Washington for talks, deliver message to Trump administration, Congress

Members of the Free Syrian Army delegation pose with Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill. (fourth from right)

 (Courtesy Syrian American Council)

Members of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) left Washington, D.C., last night following several days of meetings with a White House official, members of Congress and State Department officials. Their message for President Trump was clear: Stop Iran and Al Qaeda in Syria, and they will work with his administration to bring peace to the war-torn nation.

“We are hopeful that Mr. Trump will take great steps to promote a unified Syria living in peace, freedom, and democracy,” said Saad Fahd Al-Shweish, the former head of the Raqqa Provincial Council.

The Free Syrian Army is the military wing of the opposition to Syrian President Bashar Assad. They claim to have approximately 60,000 troops and say the U.S. won’t find a better partner in the fight to free Syria.

Some of their meetings coincided with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s major policy speech Wednesday on a new way forward on Syria. Tillerson spoke of five points that included an enduring defeat of ISIS and Al Qaeda, denying Iranian influence and a unified Syria under a post-Assad leadership.

Osama Abu Zaid, one of the FSA’s leaders, told Fox News the Tillerson speech was in line with a lot of what the group are seeking, but he still wants more details. “

“It’s positive because the U.S. is still against Bashar Assad and supporting the political process about a democratic Syria and that is important,” Zaid said, “but we still need clarification of the details and how to stop Iranian influence on the ground.”

While the FSA members would not go into the specifics of their White House meeting one member of the delegation, Khalid Aba, told Fox News that officials there “listened carefully to our points.”

Aba is the political chief of the Levant Front, also known as Jabhat al-Shamiyah. He said his group was CIA-vetted and had spearheaded anti-ISIS forces in the city of Aleppo.

“I believe that the U.S. has shared interests with the Free Syrian Army because we are the best force to fight Iran,” Aba said. “There is a dire need to defend [the] besieged East Ghouta [area] because it is the last bastion preventing Iran from turning south Damascus into another stronghold, like Hezbollah has in southern Beirut.

“Iran and Assad contributed to the creation of Al Qaeda and other extremist groups,” Aba added.

Some have claimed the FSA is too close to Turkey and Qatar and even an ally of the Muslim Brotherhood, but members of the delegation say such accusations are true.

“The Free Syrian Army is interested only in defending the Syrian people,” said Mustafa Sejari, the founder of the Motassem Brigade, which he says was supported by the Pentagon. “We do not support the Brotherhood or any other political party; we only support the Syrian people in their aspirations for freedom and dignity.”

“The global jihadist organizations are to me the same as the Iranian, Iraqi, or Hezbollah militias,” added Zaid. “We must eliminate all of them.”

Tony Badran, a Syria analyst at the nonpartisan Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) research institute, told Fox News that the U.S. should not have much of an issue trusting the FSA.

“Depending on the region, they have either been targeted by more radical groups, or they have maintained a coexistence of sorts in order to avoid infighting which would only benefit the Iranians and the regime,” he said.

Badran also agreed with Aba that the FSA is all that stands between Iran and its partners establishing domination over key parts of Syria.

“When it comes to southwestern Syria, on the borders with Israel and Jordan, they are the only local partners standing in the way of the [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps] and Hezbollah setting up shop on our two allies’ borders,” Badran said. “If the administration is serious about carving out areas of U.S. influence geared at countering Iran’s position in Syria, then, aside from the [Syrian Democratic Forces] in the north and east, the FSA and other local formations are the assets for the U.S. and its allies to work with toward that goal.”

Aba told Fox News his message to President Trump was simple: “If you genuinely believe in fighting Iran, you won’t find a better partner than the FSA.”

Ben Evansky reports for Fox News on the United Nations and international affairs.

He can be followed @BenEvansky

Source: Syrian opposition leaders, in Washington for talks, deliver message to Trump administration, Congress

The post Syrian opposition leaders, in Washington for talks, deliver message to Trump administration, Congress appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/syrian-opposition-leaders-in-washington-for-talks-deliver-message-to-trump-administration-congress/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/ex-montana-lawmaker-gets-18-years-for-drug-trafficking/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=ex-montana-lawmaker-gets-18-years-for-drug-trafficking https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/ex-montana-lawmaker-gets-18-years-for-drug-trafficking/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2018 02:30:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/ex-montana-lawmaker-gets-18-years-for-drug-trafficking/ Ex-Montana lawmaker gets 18 years for drug trafficking Montana House Majority Leader Rep. Mike Lange is pictured in 2007.  (George Lane/Independent Record via AP) BILLINGS, Mont. –  A former leader of the Montana House of Representatives who once supported funding for an anti-drug campaign was sentenced to 18 years in prison Thursday […]

The post Ex-Montana lawmaker gets 18 years for drug trafficking appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Ex-Montana lawmaker gets 18 years for drug trafficking

Montana House Majority Leader Rep. Mike Lange is pictured in 2007.

 (George Lane/Independent Record via AP)

BILLINGS, Mont. –  A former leader of the Montana House of Representatives who once supported funding for an anti-drug campaign was sentenced to 18 years in prison Thursday for his central role in a methamphetamine trafficking ring.

Michael Lange, the Republican House majority leader during the 2007 Legislature, arranged deliveries of at least 20 and possibly up to 50 pounds of meth from a source in California over a seven-month period in 2016, prosecutors said. It was sold through a network of approximately 15 to 20 dealers in Montana and Wyoming, according to federal prosecutors and an FBI drug task-force officer.

Lange pleaded guilty in September to drug conspiracy and distribution charges. He apologized at his sentencing but drew a sharp rebuke from U.S. District Judge Susan Watters after Lange appeared to minimize his involvement in the trafficking ring and claimed the truth of what happened had never been revealed.

“You don’t get it, Mr. Lange,” Watters said. “For you to tell me in your letter of acceptance that it was never your intention for this methamphetamine to get out into the community is completely incredible to me. … What did you think was going to happen?”

Lange claimed prior to Thursday’s sentencing that he trafficked just 7 pounds of the drug, according to court documents. Prosecutors said that was contradicted by his own statements to investigators. They said one of his distributors had put the amount at up to 50 pounds.

During his three two-year terms in the Legislature, Lange supported giving $4 million in state money to an anti-methamphetamine public relations campaign, the Montana Meth Project. He was ousted from his leadership position after being captured on video in a profane tirade against then-Gov. Brian Schweitzer, a Democrat.

Lange, 57, lived a crime-free life until 2014, when he was charged with driving under the influence after moving to California to launch a new business and starting to cocaine, according to prosecutors and defense attorney Ashley Harada.

That same year, he committed a second DUI in California in conjunction with a felony charge of possessing over an ounce of methamphetamine for sale. He was sentenced to 16 months in prison in that case, according to court records.

Within months of his release, Lange began dealing much larger quantities of the drug, prosecutors said.

He was indicted in February 2017 after an investigation that began when three alleged dealers identified him as their supplier following their apprehension in Wyoming.

The source of the drug in California — identified in court papers only as “Manny” — has not been indicted.

Co-defendant Jose Soltero acknowledged acting as a middleman and interpreter for Lange and Manny. He received a 12-year prison sentence Wednesday.

Soltero claimed he got involved under duress after he and his family were threatened with violence.

Three others charged in the case received prison sentences of five to six years each. The defense requested a 10-year sentence for Lange, arguing that the other defendants had been as or more involved in the drug ring compared with the former lawmaker.

Harada, the attorney, said no decision had been made on whether to appeal Lange’s sentence.

Prosecutors described Lange as the central player in the conspiracy, responsible for receiving and redistributing methamphetamine and then returning the proceeds back to California.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Sullivan said Lange had become a “wrecking ball” within a community he once represented in the Legislature. The prosecutor blamed methamphetamine as the driving force behind violent crimes and a spate of child neglect cases in the Billings area.

“He held a very respectable position as a Montana politician,” Sullivan said. “For him to turn around and do this to a community in which he has lived for so long has a truly staggering effect.”

Source: Ex-Montana lawmaker gets 18 years for drug trafficking

The post Ex-Montana lawmaker gets 18 years for drug trafficking appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/ex-montana-lawmaker-gets-18-years-for-drug-trafficking/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-doj-asks-supreme-court-to-overturn-daca-ruling/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trump-doj-asks-supreme-court-to-overturn-daca-ruling https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-doj-asks-supreme-court-to-overturn-daca-ruling/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2018 02:19:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-doj-asks-supreme-court-to-overturn-daca-ruling/ Trump DOJ asks Supreme Court to overturn DACA ruling close Video Trump points finger at Democrats for holding up DACA deal John Roberts reports from the White House on the president’s remarks at Mar-a-Lago. The Department of Justice on Thursday formally asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower court’s ruling […]

The post Trump DOJ asks Supreme Court to overturn DACA ruling appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Trump DOJ asks Supreme Court to overturn DACA ruling

close

Video

Trump points finger at Democrats for holding up DACA deal

John Roberts reports from the White House on the president’s remarks at Mar-a-Lago.

The Department of Justice on Thursday formally asked the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower court’s ruling to block, in part, the Trump administration’s decision to phase out the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals program.

The unusual step bypasses the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which would have been the normal move to overturn U.S. District Judge William Alsup’s ruling.

Last week, the San Francisco-based judge ordered the Trump administration to renew parts of DACA and start accepting renewal applications from those already part of the program while related lawsuits make their way through the legal system. However, Alsup did not demand that new applications be accepted.

On Tuesday, Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Alsup’s ruling “defies both law and common sense” and said the department’s Supreme Court request would happen by week’s end.

DACA, which impacts roughly 700,000 people dubbed “Dreamers,” had been set to expire March 5 after Sessions announced in September the Trump administration was rescinding the Obama-era program.

Click for more from the Washington Examiner.

Source: Trump DOJ asks Supreme Court to overturn DACA ruling

The post Trump DOJ asks Supreme Court to overturn DACA ruling appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-doj-asks-supreme-court-to-overturn-daca-ruling/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-administration-bolsters-protections-for-doctors-nurses-who-oppose-abortion/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trump-administration-bolsters-protections-for-doctors-nurses-who-oppose-abortion https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-administration-bolsters-protections-for-doctors-nurses-who-oppose-abortion/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2018 01:45:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-administration-bolsters-protections-for-doctors-nurses-who-oppose-abortion/ Trump administration bolsters protections for doctors, nurses who oppose abortion Pro-abortion rights activists facing off against anti-abortion demonstrators in front of the Supreme Court in 2013.  (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File) More than eight months since President Trump signed an executive order instructing agencies to expand religious liberty under federal law, his […]

The post Trump administration bolsters protections for doctors, nurses who oppose abortion appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Trump administration bolsters protections for doctors, nurses who oppose abortion

Pro-abortion rights activists facing off against anti-abortion demonstrators in front of the Supreme Court in 2013.

 (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

More than eight months since President Trump signed an executive order instructing agencies to expand religious liberty under federal law, his administration on Thursday delivered some results. 

The Department of Health and Human Services announced the creation of its Conscience and Religious Freedom Division. 

“HHS is the next area where the issues of conscience and the issues of life and death are coming to the fore,” said Roger Severino, the new head of HHS’s Office of Civil Rights in a ceremony marking the occasion. 

The announcement comes as a backlash to several Obama-regulations — including the Obamacare requirement that non-church employers had to provide contraceptive coverage or face fines, an absurd demand, conservative critics said, for organizations like the Little Sisters of the Poor.  

Though the Supreme Court ultimately overturned the contraceptive mandate, there were countless other alleged civil rights abuses.

Sara Hellwege, a certified midwife who spoke at Thursday’s ceremony, claims she was rejected for a job at a health care center because of her pro-life views. 

HHS Acting Secretary Eric Hargan said health care practitioners have been bullied and discriminated against because of their religious beliefs and moral convictions.

 (REUTERS)

“I was told that because of these convictions, I wouldn’t  be allowed to interview and proceed with the hiring process,” she said.

HHS maintains the new Conscience Division will make it easier for doctors, nurses and other health providers to opt out of services that violate their moral or religious beliefs. And it will ensure hospitals, clinics and other health centers accommodate religious beliefs.

That may be problematic in such a polarized country where one citizen’s civil right is often seen as another’s injustice. “They say it’s for religious liberty. What we know is it discriminates against LGBT people and women,” says Mara Kiesling of the National Center for Transgender Equality. “Religious freedom is so important, but that’s not what this is about.This is about pediatricians refusing to treat children with gay parents. This is about transgender people turned away from emergency rooms and doctors offices,” she told Fox News.

The Conscious and Religious Freedom division will be a part of Health and Human Services.

 (REUTERS)

The National Abortion Rights Action League mirrored that view in a statement Thursday, calling the Trump Administration’s HHS a place, “where science, ethics, and concern for the well-being of all Americans are non-existent.” 

But the decision may only energize Trump’s base, especially evangelicals. About 63 percent of them approve of the job he’s doing, down only 3 percent from October. 

How the new Division of Conscience and Religious Freedom plays out in the long run remains to be seen. Religious accommodations and health services were not as complex in the days when the First Amendment was written as they are in today’s multi-cultural patchwork of many religions and numerous health services.

Doug McKelway joined Fox News Channel (FNC) in November 2010 and serves as a Washington-based correspondent. Click here for more information on Doug McKelway. 

Source: Trump administration bolsters protections for doctors, nurses who oppose abortion

The post Trump administration bolsters protections for doctors, nurses who oppose abortion appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-administration-bolsters-protections-for-doctors-nurses-who-oppose-abortion/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/house-oks-temporary-spending-bill-to-avoid-shutdown-but-future-in-senate-unclear/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=house-oks-temporary-spending-bill-to-avoid-shutdown-but-future-in-senate-unclear https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/house-oks-temporary-spending-bill-to-avoid-shutdown-but-future-in-senate-unclear/#respond Fri, 19 Jan 2018 01:30:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/house-oks-temporary-spending-bill-to-avoid-shutdown-but-future-in-senate-unclear/ House OKs temporary spending bill to avoid shutdown, but future in Senate unclear close Video Deal or no deal, will there be a government shutdown? Garrett Tenney reports from Washington, D.C. A temporary spending bill passed in the House of Representatives Thursday evening, but its prospects in the Senate are unclear as […]

The post House OKs temporary spending bill to avoid shutdown, but future in Senate unclear appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

House OKs temporary spending bill to avoid shutdown, but future in Senate unclear

close

Video

Deal or no deal, will there be a government shutdown?

Garrett Tenney reports from Washington, D.C.

A temporary spending bill passed in the House of Representatives Thursday evening, but its prospects in the Senate are unclear as Congress fights to avoid a government shutdown set for Friday night.

The final House vote in favor of the bill was 230-197, with 11 Republicans voting no and six Democrats voting yes. Republicans hold a slim 51-49 majority in the Senate.

Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, R-Wis., spoke to reporters just after the vote and directed his comments to Senate Democrats and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

House of Representatives needs to pass Government Funding Bill tonight. So important for our country – our Military needs it!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018

“Senator Schumer, do not shut down the federal government. Do not jeopardize funding for our military and for our national security. Do not jeopardize funding for the children’s health insurance program.”

He added that not passing the bill is “risky, reckless and it is wrong.”

Immplying that Republicans have done their part, Ryan put the possibility of a government shutdown solely on the shoulders of Democrats.

“I ask the American people to understand this. The only people standing the way of keeping the government open are Senate Democrats,” he said. 

While the bill appears very unlikely to pass in the Senate Thursday, members have opened the floor for debate.

A government shutdown will be devastating to our military…something the Dems care very little about!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018

CHIP should be part of a long term solution, not a 30 Day, or short term, extension!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018

President Donald Trump urged lawmakers Thursday evening, in a last-ditch effort, to pass the short-term spending bill. Trump took to Twitter to express his concerns over the looming deadline and again stressed its importance for the U.S. military.

“House of Representatives needs to pass Government Funding Bill tonight. So important for our country – our Military needs it!”

The bill would keep the government afloat through Feb. 16. 

It includes a multi-year extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP), but there is no language to legalize the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) for illegal immigrants brought to the country as children — something Democrats and even some Republicans had wanted in any spending bill.

President Trump has said that he wants DACA, which is set to expire in March, to be formalized as part of a separate deal that includes significant border security measures, including funding for a border wall.

The political calculation from Republicans appears to be to stare down Democrats and see if they are prepared to vote against extending children’s health insurance over the issue of illegal immigrants. 

 “If the Senate Democrats want to shut the government down, if they want to shut down the military, if they want to shut down CHIP, that’s their decision to make,” House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters.

The split is not entirely along party lines, with some Republicans opposed to extending a long line of emergency bills to fund the government. Congress approved a continuing resolution in September, with two more in December.

President Trump, taking to Twitter early Thursday, urged a long-term solution and warned about the effects a shutdown would have on the military. He also demanded a long-term solution to CHIP.

Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, quickly tweeted to clarify that the short-term resolution did indeed include a multi-year CHIP extension.

In remarks to reporters outside the Pentagon Thursday, Trump focused on the military again.

“The group that loses big would be the military and we’re never letting our military lose at any point,” he said.

Asked if there was going to be a shutdown, he said “it could happen, it’s up to the Democrats.”

Bipartisan talks took place Wednesday, including talks between members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly but appear not to have been fruitful, with Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., saying there was good will but “no progress.”

Some Republicans are unhappy that an increase in military spending has not been secured, while others like Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., and Carlos Curbelo, R-Fla., are aligning with Democrats in complaining that the bill lacks a DACA fix. 

The Senate needs 60 votes in order to avoid a filibuster. With Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., recovering after cancer surgery, it means that Republicans need 10 Democrats to get to 60. But Democrats say they are very opposed to the bill.

“The overwhelming number in our caucus have said they don’t like this deal and they believe if we kick the can down the road this time we’ll be back where we started from next time,” Schumer, D-N.Y., said. “So there’s very, very strong support not to go along with their deal.”

However, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., wavered somewhat when asked if she would vote for a short term CR.

“If we have to, yes,” she said. “I hope not. So it’s just that difficult, precipitous time before you know what’s gonna happen.”  

When the Senate approved a similar bill in December, 17 Democrats voted to keep the government open, seven of those coming from states Trump won in November 2016. 

The need for 10 Democrats presumes full Republican support, but as of yet, the bill does not have that.

“I’m not going to vote for a CR. You’re destroying the military here,” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said.

“If we say we’re fiscally conservative, we ought to be fiscally conservative, so I’m not voting for raising the spending caps and I’m not voting for $700 billion deficits,” Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said on Fox News.

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., said Thursday morning that he didn’t know if they had enough votes to pass the CR.

“We don’t know if they’ll come to their senses or not,” he said about holdout Republicans.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., meanwhile admitted that it will take “a little whip work” to get to 60 votes.

Predicating a shutdown, House Minoroty Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said “This will be the first shutdown in recent history when one party had the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives.”

Fox News’ Chad Pergram, John Roberts, Jason Donner and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Adam Shaw is a Politics Reporter and occasional Opinion writer for FoxNews.com. He can be reached here or on Twitter: @AdamShawNY.

Source: House OKs temporary spending bill to avoid shutdown, but future in Senate unclear

The post House OKs temporary spending bill to avoid shutdown, but future in Senate unclear appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/house-oks-temporary-spending-bill-to-avoid-shutdown-but-future-in-senate-unclear/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/fisa-surveillance-program-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-so-controversial/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fisa-surveillance-program-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-so-controversial https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/fisa-surveillance-program-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-so-controversial/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2018 18:45:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/fisa-surveillance-program-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-so-controversial/ FISA surveillance program: What is it and why is it so controversial? close Video What is FISA? The House voted to renew FISA, a key foreign surveillance program after a heated floor debate, and amid mixed messages from President Trump about his support. But what is the FISA act? A program that […]

The post FISA surveillance program: What is it and why is it so controversial? appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

FISA surveillance program: What is it and why is it so controversial?

close

Video

What is FISA?

The House voted to renew FISA, a key foreign surveillance program after a heated floor debate, and amid mixed messages from President Trump about his support. But what is the FISA act?

A program that allows for U.S. spy agencies to collect information on foreigners outside the country was reauthorized by both chambers of Congress this month.

The Senate voted 65 to 34 to approve the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act section 702 program Thursday. The House renewed the controversial program – that lets the U.S. spy on foreign targets abroad – with a 256 to 164 vote earlier this month.

The measure now heads to President Trump to be signed.

Here’s a look at Section 702 – controversial because Americans’ information can oftentimes be swept up in this collection – and what privacy advocates have to say about it. 

What is FISA Section 702?

Section 702 of FISA allows intelligence officials to oversee communications of foreigners outside the U.S. without a warrant. It’s an amendment added to FISA in 2008.

The House Intelligence Committee called Section 702 a “critical authority” that allows the U.S. to intercept “foreign terrorist threats.” 

Section 702 cannot be used to target Americans or people in the U.S., the committee said. However, the FISA Amendments Act allows the government to collect the data from American firms, such as Google or Microsoft, according to the nonprofit Center for Democracy & Technology.

Supporters of Section 702 , including intelligence agencies and House Republican leadership, argued that access to the database is essential to keeping Americans safe. 

What is so controversial about Section 702?

Critics of Section 702 say that the law is so broad that Americans’ communications can become easily swept up in this data collection.

The FISA Act is supposed to be used to “spy on foreigners on foreign lands,” Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told Fox News.

“But millions of Americans are accidentally or incidentally collected in this database, and we don’t want people just willy-nilly looking into this database without a warrant.”

“Millions of Americans are accidentally or incidentally collected in this database, and we don’t want people just willy-nilly looking into this database without a warrant.”

– Sen. Rand Paul

Neema Singh Guliani, a legislative counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, said there are two major misconceptions with Section 702: that the program only involves people overseas and that it’s about foreign terrorists.

Like Paul, she also criticized the government’s access to Americans’ information collected through Section 702.

“If you’re going to search through Section 702 data, you ought to get a warrant because that’s the standard that would apply if you wanted that data to begin with,” she told Fox News.  

What has the administration said?

Ahead of the House vote, President Trump suggested in a tweet that the surveillance program could have been used to “badly surveil” and “abuse” his own presidential campaign.

“This is the act that may have been used, with the help of the discredited and phony Dossier, to so badly surveil and abuse the Trump Campaign by the previous administration and others?” Trump tweeted.

His tweet seemingly stood in opposition to a previous White House statement opposing any changes to the program, and he published a second tweet soon after.

“With that being said, I have personally directed the fix to the unmasking process since taking office and today’s vote is about foreign surveillance of foreign bad guys on foreign land. We need it! Get smart!”

With that being said, I have personally directed the fix to the unmasking process since taking office and today’s vote is about foreign surveillance of foreign bad guys on foreign land. We need it! Get smart!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2018

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Source: FISA surveillance program: What is it and why is it so controversial?

The post FISA surveillance program: What is it and why is it so controversial? appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/fisa-surveillance-program-what-is-it-and-why-is-it-so-controversial/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/senate-votes-to-approve-reauthorization-of-controversial-fisa-surveillance-provision/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=senate-votes-to-approve-reauthorization-of-controversial-fisa-surveillance-provision https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/senate-votes-to-approve-reauthorization-of-controversial-fisa-surveillance-provision/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2018 18:00:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/senate-votes-to-approve-reauthorization-of-controversial-fisa-surveillance-provision/ Senate votes to approve reauthorization of controversial FISA surveillance provision close Video Where the Trump administration stands in the FISA fight At first the president issued a tweet highly critical of Section 702, which contradicted the press secretary’s policy statement, but later clarified his position; John Roberts has the roundup on ‘Special Report.’ […]

The post Senate votes to approve reauthorization of controversial FISA surveillance provision appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Senate votes to approve reauthorization of controversial FISA surveillance provision

close

Video

Where the Trump administration stands in the FISA fight

At first the president issued a tweet highly critical of Section 702, which contradicted the press secretary’s policy statement, but later clarified his position; John Roberts has the roundup on ‘Special Report.’

The Senate voted Thursday to approve a controversial government surveillance law, sending the House-approved measure to President Trump’s desk.  

The chamber voted 65-34 to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which lets intelligence agencies collect information on foreign targets abroad, before its expiration Friday night.

“Let’s be very clear about what Section 702 does: It enables our intelligence community to collect communications from foreign terrorists, on foreign soil, who threaten America and our allies,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a statement Thursday. “Make no mistake, Section 702 does not allow the targeting of American citizens. Nor does it permit the targeting of anyone –no matter their nationality—who is known to be located here in the U.S.”  

He added: “The men and women we trust to protect this country say this capability is essential to their missions….We need our armed forces and intelligence community to protect us. And they need us to give them the tools to do it.”

The bill allows the FBI to continue querying a key database, using search terms, for information on Americans. But in an important tweak, it would require investigators to get a probable cause warrant if they want to view the actual content of those communications.

The House passed the same measure last week, by a 256-164 vote, amid mixed messages from President Trump about his support.

The morning of the House vote, Trump tweeted suggesting 702 was used to “badly surveil and abuse” his campaign based on the “pony” Trump dossier.

“House votes on controversial FISA ACT today. This is the act that may have been used, with the help of the discredited and phony Dossier, to so badly surveil and abuse the Trump Campaign by the previous administration and others?” Trump tweeted last week.

His tweet caused confusion on Capitol Hill over the administration’s position on the reauthorization, as the White House and Cabinet members had previously said they would support it.

“House votes on controversial FISA ACT today.” This is the act that may have been used, with the help of the discredited and phony Dossier, to so badly surveil and abuse the Trump Campaign by the previous administration and others?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2018

Trump’s opposition didn’t last long, though, as he followed up with a tweet clarifying that he has sought changes to the law and voiced support for the program in general.

HOUSE VOTES TO RENEW FISA PROGRAM, FOLLOWING MIXED MESSAGES FROM TRUMP 

“With that being said, I have personally directed the fix to the unmasking process since taking office and today’s vote is about foreign surveillance of foreign bad guys on foreign land. We need it! Get smart!” he tweeted.

With that being said, I have personally directed the fix to the unmasking process since taking office and today’s vote is about foreign surveillance of foreign bad guys on foreign land. We need it! Get smart!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 11, 2018

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly clarified the gap in the president’s conflicting tweets.

“I spoke to the president about the issue. It’s an important issue. It’s the FISA reauthorization and it’s very, very important to law enforcement,” Kelly said in an exclusive Wednesday interview on “Special Report.” “He has strong feelings on personal privacy. He sent out the first tweet, and sent out the second tweet.”

Kelly was asked whether he spoke to the president in between the tweets to explain the program.

“He and I talk constantly. Weekends, mornings, late at night. We talk constantly. He bounces ideas off of me. I’m very proud of the fact that he respects my opinion, but again, he is the president of the United States,” Kelly said. “He’s got his own way of doing business. But again, I see a man who can change his mind when the facts and data and staff … bring him to a different conclusion.”

Fox News’ Alex Pappas, Adam Shaw and Chad Pergram contributed to this report. 

Brooke Singman is a Politics Reporter for Fox News. Follow her on Twitter at @brookefoxnews.

Source: Senate votes to approve reauthorization of controversial FISA surveillance provision

The post Senate votes to approve reauthorization of controversial FISA surveillance provision appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/senate-votes-to-approve-reauthorization-of-controversial-fisa-surveillance-provision/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-protecting-medical-providers-who-oppose-abortion/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trump-protecting-medical-providers-who-oppose-abortion https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-protecting-medical-providers-who-oppose-abortion/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2018 16:37:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-protecting-medical-providers-who-oppose-abortion/ Trump protecting medical providers who oppose abortion WASHINGTON– Moving to solidify its standing with social conservatives, the Trump administration is creating an office to protect the religious rights of medical providers, including those who oppose abortion. The announcement Thursday by the Department of Health and Human Services drew immediate criticism from Democrats […]

The post Trump protecting medical providers who oppose abortion appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Trump protecting medical providers who oppose abortion

WASHINGTON– Moving to solidify its standing with social conservatives, the Trump administration is creating an office to protect the religious rights of medical providers, including those who oppose abortion.

The announcement Thursday by the Department of Health and Human Services drew immediate criticism from Democrats who said it could undermine the rights of women, gays and transgender people.

The new division will be part of the HHS Office of Civil Rights, which enforces federal anti-discrimination and privacy laws. The administration said it will focus on enforcing conscience and religious protections already part of federal law. No new efforts to expand such protections were announced.

“President Trump promised the American people that his administration would vigorously uphold the rights of conscience and religious freedom,” acting HHS Secretary Eric Hargan said in a statement. “That promise is being kept today.”

Roger Severino, director of the HHS civil rights office, said that during the Obama era, 10 complaints were filed involving religious and conscience rights. Since Donald Trump won the White House, the office has received 34 complaints.

Religious and social conservatives are a core constituency for the Trump administration. Trump will address via satellite Friday’s annual anti-abortion march in Washington.

Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington was quick to criticize the administration’s decision to create the new office.

“This would be yet another attempt to let ideology dictate who is able to get the care they need,” Murray said in a statement. “Any approach that would deny or delay health care to someone and jeopardize their wellbeing for ideological reasons is unacceptable.”

Monday marks the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the landmark Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.

Source: Trump protecting medical providers who oppose abortion

The post Trump protecting medical providers who oppose abortion appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-protecting-medical-providers-who-oppose-abortion/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/developer-says-its-moving-forward-with-keystone-xl-pipeline/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=developer-says-its-moving-forward-with-keystone-xl-pipeline https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/developer-says-its-moving-forward-with-keystone-xl-pipeline/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2018 16:37:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/developer-says-its-moving-forward-with-keystone-xl-pipeline/ Developer says it’s moving forward with Keystone XL pipeline LINCOLN, Neb.– The developer of the Keystone XL pipeline announced Thursday that it will proceed with its plans to build the pipeline according to an alternative route approved by Nebraska authorities and that it hopes to begin construction next year. TransCanada Corp. said […]

The post Developer says it's moving forward with Keystone XL pipeline appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Developer says it’s moving forward with Keystone XL pipeline

LINCOLN, Neb.– The developer of the Keystone XL pipeline announced Thursday that it will proceed with its plans to build the pipeline according to an alternative route approved by Nebraska authorities and that it hopes to begin construction next year.

TransCanada Corp. said in a news release that its decision builds on the Nebraska Public Service Commission’s vote to approve a route through the state on Nov. 20. The approved route, which TransCanada says it will follow, is longer and requires an extra pumping station to the route the company had proposed.

TransCanada, based in Calgary, Canada, said it has secured enough 20-year commitments from oil companies to ship approximately 500,000 barrels per day through the pipeline.

“Over the past 12 months, the Keystone XL project has achieved several milestones that move us significantly closer to constructing this critical energy infrastructure for North America,” Russ Girling, TransCanada’s president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

The project faces intense opposition from environmental groups, property owners along the route and Native American tribes, who consider it a threat to their groundwater and property rights.

The Nebraska commission’s vote to approve a route through the state removed one of the last regulatory obstacles for the project, although it still could face years of court challenges.

If completed, the pipeline would carry oil from Canada through Montana, South Dakota and Nebraska, where it would connect to an existing pump station in Steele City, Nebraska. From there it would continue through Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas until it reaches Gulf Coast refineries. Business groups and some unions support the project as a way to create jobs and reduce the risk of shipping oil by trains that can derail.

President Barack Obama’s administration studied the project for years before finally rejecting it in 2015 because of concerns about carbon pollution. President Donald Trump reversed that decision in March. Federal approval was required because the route crosses an international border.

The route approved 3-2 by the Nebraska commission is 5 miles (8 kilometers) longer than TransCanada’s preferred route and would require an additional pumping station. Commissioners who voted for it said the alternative route would affect less rangeland and endangered species. The commission was not allowed to take into account the recent leak of the existing Keystone pipeline in South Dakota because pipeline safety is a federal responsibility.

Source: Developer says it’s moving forward with Keystone XL pipeline

The post Developer says it's moving forward with Keystone XL pipeline appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/developer-says-its-moving-forward-with-keystone-xl-pipeline/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/what-could-attract-nearly-200-female-mortgage-execs-to-dallas-today/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-could-attract-nearly-200-female-mortgage-execs-to-dallas-today https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/what-could-attract-nearly-200-female-mortgage-execs-to-dallas-today/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2018 15:00:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/what-could-attract-nearly-200-female-mortgage-execs-to-dallas-today/ What could attract nearly 200 female mortgage execs to Dallas today? Nearly 200 mortgage professionals gathered for the NEXT conference underway in Dallas, TX. The NEXT conference is the first of its kind and focuses on women who are C-suite and senior execs in mortgage lending. The show kicked off to a promising […]

The post What could attract nearly 200 female mortgage execs to Dallas today? appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

What could attract nearly 200 female mortgage execs to Dallas today?

Nearly 200 mortgage professionals gathered for the NEXT conference underway in Dallas, TX.

The NEXT conference is the first of its kind and focuses on women who are C-suite and senior execs in mortgage lending.

The show kicked off to a promising start, despite cold temperatures and a much-rowdier conference being hosted by Whole Foods across the hall.

“People are loving NEXT,” said NEXT co-host Jeri Yoshida, who put the entire event together with help of fellow mortgage veteran Molly Dowdy. HousingWire is a media sponsor of the event.

“We’ve gotten great feedback from attendees about the quality of the content and caliber of executives in attendance,” Yoshida added. “It feels great to give women mortgage executives and experience this meaningful.”

Exhibitors included tech innovators such as Ellie Mae, Pavaso and BombBomb, as well as popular mortgage lending podcast veteran David Lykken, host of the popular Lykken on Lending, who drove up from Austin early in the morning to participate.

“The number one reason I’m here is, I believe, we as an industry must come behind and support the unsung heroes of the industry,” Lykken said. “Guys walk away with too many accolades without enough honor for those who work equally hard to make our industry a success.”

Source: What could attract nearly 200 female mortgage execs to Dallas today?

The post What could attract nearly 200 female mortgage execs to Dallas today? appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/what-could-attract-nearly-200-female-mortgage-execs-to-dallas-today/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/developer-plans-nearly-700-apartments-in-downtown-miami/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=developer-plans-nearly-700-apartments-in-downtown-miami https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/developer-plans-nearly-700-apartments-in-downtown-miami/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2018 10:41:57 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/developer-plans-nearly-700-apartments-in-downtown-miami/ Developer Plans Nearly 700 Apartments in Downtown Miami Developer Property Markets Group paid $55 million for a site at 400 Biscayne Blvd. in downtown Miami, where it plans to build nearly 700 rental units above 20,000 square feet of shops and restaurants. The property is located across from Bayside Marketplace and offers unobstructed […]

The post Developer Plans Nearly 700 Apartments in Downtown Miami appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Developer Plans Nearly 700 Apartments in Downtown Miami

Developer Property Markets Group paid $55 million for a site at 400 Biscayne Blvd. in downtown Miami, where it plans to build nearly 700 rental units above 20,000 square feet of shops and restaurants.

The property is located across from Bayside Marketplace and offers unobstructed views of Biscayne Bay.

“We feel that this market is one of the most important areas of Miami from a future growth perspective, general location and view standpoint,” said Ryan Shear, principal of PMG.

The seller, First United Methodist Church of Miami, will continue operating at the site until PMG is ready to move forward, probably within a year, officials said. PMG and partner Greybrook Realty Partners will build a new church with a separate entrance on the land once the mixed-use project is finished.

“The timing was right for the church to take advantage of the revitalization in the neighborhood and gracefully grow together with the thriving city around us,” FUMC Pastor Audrey Warren said.

The church wanted to establish a good working relationship with the eventual buyer and was impressed with PMG’s executives and vision for the site, said Luis Flores, a partner with Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, which represented the developer.

“They had a good feeling when they sat across the table from them,” Flores said of the church leaders.

See CoStar COMPS #4111195 for more information on this transaction.

The project is part of PMG’s X Social Communities portfolio geared towards young professionals in downtown settings. The developer is planning 5,000 units nationwide over the next five years, including the 464-unit X Miami in downtown Miami opening this summer and the 1,200-unit X Las Olas on the failed Las Olas Riverfront property in Fort Lauderdale, FL delivering in early 2020.

Other projects are planned for Chicago this spring and Denver in 2020.

Amenities in the communities will include co-working spaces, gyms and fitness studios, communal kitchens, dog runs and bike storage facilities. Keyless entry is available with a mobile app.

Paul Owers, South Florida Market Reporter  CoStar Group   

Source: Developer Plans Nearly 700 Apartments in Downtown Miami

The post Developer Plans Nearly 700 Apartments in Downtown Miami appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/developer-plans-nearly-700-apartments-in-downtown-miami/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/developer-plans-nearly-700-residential-units-in-downtown-miami/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=developer-plans-nearly-700-residential-units-in-downtown-miami https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/developer-plans-nearly-700-residential-units-in-downtown-miami/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2018 10:41:57 +0000 https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/developer-plans-nearly-700-residential-units-in-downtown-miami/ Developer Plans Nearly 700 Residential Units in Downtown Miami Developer Property Markets Group paid $55 million for a site at 400 Biscayne Blvd. in downtown Miami, where it plans to build nearly 700 residential units above 20,000 square feet of shops and restaurants. The property is located across from Bayside Marketplace and offers […]

The post Developer Plans Nearly 700 Residential Units in Downtown Miami appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Developer Plans Nearly 700 Residential Units in Downtown Miami

Developer Property Markets Group paid $55 million for a site at 400 Biscayne Blvd. in downtown Miami, where it plans to build nearly 700 residential units above 20,000 square feet of shops and restaurants.

The property is located across from Bayside Marketplace and offers unobstructed views of Biscayne Bay.

“We feel that this market is one of the most important areas of Miami from a future growth perspective, general location and view standpoint,” said Ryan Shear, principal of PMG.

The seller, First United Methodist Church of Miami, will continue operating at the site until PMG is ready to move forward, probably within a year, officials said. PMG and partner Greybrook Realty Partners will build a new church with a separate entrance on the land once the mixed-use project is finished.

“The timing was right for the church to take advantage of the revitalization in the neighborhood and gracefully grow together with the thriving city around us,” FUMC Pastor Audrey Warren said.

The church wanted to establish a good working relationship with the eventual buyer and was impressed with PMG’s executives and vision for the site, said Luis Flores, a partner with Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr, which represented the developer.

“They had a good feeling when they sat across the table from them,” Flores said of the church leaders.

See CoStar COMPS #4111195 for more information on this transaction.

The project is part of PMG’s X Social Communities portfolio geared towards young professionals in downtown settings. The developer is planning 5,000 units nationwide over the next five years, including the 464-unit X Miami in downtown Miami opening this summer and the 1,200-unit X Las Olas on the failed Las Olas Riverfront property in Fort Lauderdale, FL delivering in early 2020.

Other projects are planned for Chicago this spring and Denver in 2020.

Amenities in the communities will include co-working spaces, gyms and fitness studios, communal kitchens, dog runs and bike storage facilities. Keyless entry is available with a mobile app.

Paul Owers, South Florida Market Reporter  CoStar Group   

Source: Developer Plans Nearly 700 Residential Units in Downtown Miami

The post Developer Plans Nearly 700 Residential Units in Downtown Miami appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/developer-plans-nearly-700-residential-units-in-downtown-miami/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/toronto-only-canadian-city-to-make-hq2-list/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=toronto-only-canadian-city-to-make-hq2-list https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/toronto-only-canadian-city-to-make-hq2-list/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2018 09:12:45 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/toronto-only-canadian-city-to-make-hq2-list/ Toronto Only Canadian City to Make HQ2 List Canada’s Largest City Makes the Next Cut For Amazon’s Second Headquarters as Calgary and Vancouver Shut Out Toronto was the only Canadian market among 20 cities in North America to make the next cut for Amazon’s HQ2, but the Seattle-based company would face a tight […]

The post Toronto Only Canadian City to Make HQ2 List appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Toronto Only Canadian City to Make HQ2 List

Canada’s Largest City Makes the Next Cut For Amazon’s Second Headquarters as Calgary and Vancouver Shut Out

Toronto was the only Canadian market among 20 cities in North America to make the next cut for Amazon’s HQ2, but the Seattle-based company would face a tight market if it ultimately chooses the country’s largest metropolis for its second headquarters, say industry watchers.

“There is no space, so somebody will be building them a building,” said Paul Finkbeiner, chief executive of GWL Realty Advisors, which has 19 million square feet in office space and is one of the country’s major landlords.

He says there are landlords out there that can build Amazon space in the urban core, but Finkbeiner questions if that is what the web giant will want.

“There are probably two or three landlords that have space, but they will want to build a traditional building and Amazon probably doesn’t want a traditional building,” said Finkbeiner.

The port lands about five kilometres southeast of the city continue to get mentioned as the ideal location for an Amazon move to Toronto, with First Gulf’s 60-acre site at the old Unilever factory regularly touted. Once complete, First Gulf says there will be 12 million square feet of development able to accommodate 50,000 workers.

Colliers International noted in the third quarter that the vacancy in the city’s core for AAA space was 3.9%, dropping from 5.2% a quarter earlier, as the office market has tightened up. There are more opportunities in the suburbs where Colliers says the vacancy rate was 8.6% in the third quarter, but the expectation is Amazon would stay near the core.

“What it could do is shift the downtown. They don’t want to be blue suits (at Amazon),” said Finkbeiner. “You could get into districts and Amazon could create its own funky town and suck some of the people from the downtown.”

Benjamin Tal, deputy chief economist with CIBC World Markets, said there is a lot of “905 moving to 416,” referring to the area codes that reflect the suburbs and city of Toronto, respectively. He doesn’t expect Amazon to focus on the suburbs either.

“If there is an issue for the office sector, it’s 905 because they are older buildings and they don’t fit the newer environmental codes,” said Tal. “Young people want to live downtown.”

The economist says if Amazon moves into the downtown core, it could have a profound effect on the office and housing markets. “We could see vacancy rates going to zero,” said Tal, referring to the residential rental market.

The Toronto Real Estate Board says the average detached home in Toronto sold for $1,420,046 in 2017, up from $1,003,645 a year earlier, and 50,000 workers coming to the city could put more pressure on both the office and housing market. Research firm Urbanation Inc. said average rents in the city of Toronto climbed 9.1% year over year and reached $2,166 per month in the fourth quarter.

“Rents will rise, and we will see more money going into the city,” said Tal, who says he’ll be “surprised” if Toronto wins.

Craig Hennigar, direct of market intelligence for Canada at Colliers, thinks Toronto might have an advantage over its 19 American competitors because of the city’s ability to attract workers.

“The challenge is Amazon is going to have to import half of these employees,” said Hennigar. “It’s a sovereign issue, whether or not they leave the U.S. In Canada, they can bring people in and we’ve seen that in Vancouver again and again where tech firms will set up a satellite office here because it’s easier for them.”

Hennigar said before 2000, Microsoft built “a ton of space” in the Vancouver suburb of Richmond to accommodate new employees. “Suddenly it became easier to bring people into the States, and all that business went away.”

Toronto wasn’t worried about any of that after beating out other Canadian cities like Calgary and Vancouver in making the shortlist. “This is good news for our city, it’s good news for the region, it’s good news for the province, and I think it’s great news for Canada,” said John Tory, mayor of the city, at a press conference. “We are on this list without offering any tax breaks or financial investments.”

Dean Newman, a principal and broker of record with Cresa Toronto, which represents tenants, said there isn’t supply in the Greater Toronto Area to accommodate Amazon in one building, but there are towers they could lease as part of a first entry to the market.

“Amazon (moving) would continue to spur the building boom we are seeing. There is still more development capability and buildings to be built,” said Newman. “It’s great because the new product just rejuvenates the city.”

Garry Marr, Toronto Market Reporter  CoStar Group   

Source: Toronto Only Canadian City to Make HQ2 List

The post Toronto Only Canadian City to Make HQ2 List appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/toronto-only-canadian-city-to-make-hq2-list/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/most-important-undeveloped-site-in-miamis-wynwood-for-sale/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=most-important-undeveloped-site-in-miamis-wynwood-for-sale https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/most-important-undeveloped-site-in-miamis-wynwood-for-sale/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2018 07:23:42 +0000 https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/most-important-undeveloped-site-in-miamis-wynwood-for-sale/ ‘Most Important Undeveloped Site’ in Miami’s Wynwood For Sale A 1.72-acre slice of land in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood is up for grabs in what could lead to a mixed-use project with rentals, shops, restaurants, offices and a hotel. Cushman & Wakefield says it has been named the exclusive adviser for the sale of […]

The post 'Most Important Undeveloped Site' in Miami's Wynwood For Sale appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

‘Most Important Undeveloped Site’ in Miami’s Wynwood For Sale

A 1.72-acre slice of land in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood is up for grabs in what could lead to a mixed-use project with rentals, shops, restaurants, offices and a hotel.

Cushman & Wakefield says it has been named the exclusive adviser for the sale of Strada Wynwood on behalf of the William & Doris Friedopfer Trusts. There is no asking price for the land, at Northwest Second Avenue and Northwest 25th Street.

The property can accommodate up to 259 residential units and more than 540,000 square feet of development. It currently houses two industrial buildings and a retail building, and is home to artist Romero Britto’s studio and art gallery.

“With its key location directly along Northwest Second at the clear geographic center of Wynwood, this is the most important undeveloped site in the area,” said Cushman’s Robert Given.

The brokerage said four other projects in the area are planned: CUBE Wynwood, featuring 80,000 square feet of offices and 11,400 square feet of retail; Wynwood 25 with 289 apartments and 31,000 square feet of retail; The Wynwood Garage totaling 428 parking spaces with 30,000 square feet of offices and 20,500 square feet of retail and Wynwood Walk offering 52,500 square feet of retail space.

Given said Wynwood can accommodate the different product types, which shows the strength and “diverse character” of the trendy, 50-block neighborhood north of downtown that once was an industrial eyesore.

“It’s happening,” Cushman’s Robert Kaplan added. “Wynwood has begun its next phase in the evolutionary process.”

Cushman’s Troy Ballard, Errol Blumer, James Quinn and Mark Rutherford are marketing the site with Given and Kaplan.

Paul Owers, South Florida Market Reporter  CoStar Group   

Source: ‘Most Important Undeveloped Site’ in Miami’s Wynwood For Sale

The post 'Most Important Undeveloped Site' in Miami's Wynwood For Sale appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/most-important-undeveloped-site-in-miamis-wynwood-for-sale/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-accuses-russia-of-supporting-north-korea-helping-to-evade-sanctions/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trump-accuses-russia-of-supporting-north-korea-helping-to-evade-sanctions https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-accuses-russia-of-supporting-north-korea-helping-to-evade-sanctions/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2018 06:05:00 +0000 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-accuses-russia-of-supporting-north-korea-helping-to-evade-sanctions/ Trump accuses Russia of supporting North Korea, helping to evade sanctions November 11, 2017: U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin talk during the family photo session at the APEC Summit in Danang, Vietnam.  (Reuters) President Donald Trump Wednesday accused Russia of supporting North Korea and bypassing international sanctions against […]

The post Trump accuses Russia of supporting North Korea, helping to evade sanctions appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Trump accuses Russia of supporting North Korea, helping to evade sanctions

November 11, 2017: U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin talk during the family photo session at the APEC Summit in Danang, Vietnam.

 (Reuters)

President Donald Trump Wednesday accused Russia of supporting North Korea and bypassing international sanctions against the regime.

“Russia is not helping us at all with North Korea,” Trump said during an interview with Reuters. “What China is helping us with, Russia is denting. In other words, Russia is making up for some of what China is doing.”

The president said Russian President Vladimir Putin “can do a lot” when it comes to North Korea’s threat, but the Kremlin’s actions are not helpful.

Trump praised China, a key economic partner of North Korea, on its progress to cut back coal and oil imports from Pyongyang. Trump noted that more can be done.

Both China and Russia voted at the United Nations Security Council in favor of new broad sanctions against the rogue communist regime on the Korean Peninsula in December following the launch a ballistic missile that could possibly reach anywhere on the U.S. mainland.

Previous sanctions, supported by all members of the U.N Security Council, also limited oil exports to North Korea. But the Russian efforts to comply with the sanctions regime came under scrutiny after news reports suggested Russian tankers transferred fuel to North Korean tankers at sea last year.

North Korea relies heavily on imported fuel and oil as its state-dominated economy continues to struggle while the nuclear weapons program demands excessive resources.

Video

Reuters: Russian ships in violation of North Korea sanctions

The Kremlin has not yet issued a response to Trump’s accusations, but assured last year that the country has “fully and strictly observed the sanctions regime.”

Trump told Reuters that he would be open to sit down the North Korean leader, but remained skeptical whether “sitting down will solve the problem,” adding that he hopes the standoff could be solved “in a peaceful way, but it’s very possible that it can’t.”

He refused to reveal whether he has any contact with the communist leader. White House chief of staff John Kelly also declined to comment Wednesday night whether the president is in touch with Kim.

“There are open channels but I would prefer not to comment,” Kelly told Bret Baier on “Special Report.”. “There are a lot of people trying to help out here.

When asked about a possible military action against North Korea, Trump declined to discuss any such suggestion. “We’re playing a very, very hard game of poker and you don’t want to reveal your hand,” he said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Lukas Mikelionis is a reporter for FoxNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @LukasMikelionis.

Source: Trump accuses Russia of supporting North Korea, helping to evade sanctions

The post Trump accuses Russia of supporting North Korea, helping to evade sanctions appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-accuses-russia-of-supporting-north-korea-helping-to-evade-sanctions/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-reportedly-denies-us-embassy-move-to-jerusalem-in-year-despite-netanyahus-earlier-assessment/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trump-reportedly-denies-us-embassy-move-to-jerusalem-in-year-despite-netanyahus-earlier-assessment https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-reportedly-denies-us-embassy-move-to-jerusalem-in-year-despite-netanyahus-earlier-assessment/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2018 05:08:00 +0000 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-reportedly-denies-us-embassy-move-to-jerusalem-in-year-despite-netanyahus-earlier-assessment/ Trump reportedly denies US Embassy move to Jerusalem in year despite Netanyahu’s earlier assessment close Video Nikki Haley on the decision to move US embassy to Jerusalem Insight from the United States ambassador to the United Nations on ‘The Story.’ Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said his “solid assessment” is […]

The post Trump reportedly denies US Embassy move to Jerusalem in year despite Netanyahu's earlier assessment appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Trump reportedly denies US Embassy move to Jerusalem in year despite Netanyahu’s earlier assessment

close

Video

Nikki Haley on the decision to move US embassy to Jerusalem

Insight from the United States ambassador to the United Nations on ‘The Story.’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday said his “solid assessment” is that the American Embassy will be moved to Jerusalem in the coming year, but President Trump said otherwise later in the day.

“By the end of the year?” Trump told Reuters in an exclusive interview. “We’re talking about different scenarios. I mean obviously that would be on a temporary basis. We’re not really looking at that. That’s a no.”

He stood by his decision to relocate the embassy and told the news agency that it will be “beautiful” and not one that costs $1.2 billion.

Trump recently criticized the U.S. Embassy in London that he said cost $1.2 billion. He tweeted last week that he would not come to London to open the new embassy because it represented a poor investment.

Reason I canceled my trip to London is that I am not a big fan of the Obama Administration having sold perhaps the best located and finest embassy in London for “peanuts,” only to build a new one in an off location for 1.2 billion dollars. Bad deal. Wanted me to cut ribbon-NO!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2018

Trump’s decision to move the embassy in Israel prompted some blowback in the region. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Trump is unfit to broker any negotiations and called the move “sinful.”

Trump upended decades of U.S. policy with his Dec. 6 announcement that he was recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Though Trump said he was merely recognizing reality and not prejudging negotiations on the future borders of the city, Palestinians saw the move as siding with Israel on the most sensitive issue in the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

Netanyahu told Israeli reporters traveling with him in India on Wednesday his “solid assessment” is that the American Embassy “will be moved far faster than what we think … in the course of the year.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report 

Edmund DeMarche is a news editor for FoxNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @EDeMarche.

Source: Trump reportedly denies US Embassy move to Jerusalem in year despite Netanyahu’s earlier assessment

The post Trump reportedly denies US Embassy move to Jerusalem in year despite Netanyahu's earlier assessment appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-reportedly-denies-us-embassy-move-to-jerusalem-in-year-despite-netanyahus-earlier-assessment/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/south-florida-identified-as-a-finalist-for-amazon-hq2/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=south-florida-identified-as-a-finalist-for-amazon-hq2 https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/south-florida-identified-as-a-finalist-for-amazon-hq2/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2018 04:13:51 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/south-florida-identified-as-a-finalist-for-amazon-hq2/ South Florida Identified as a Finalist for Amazon HQ2 Officials Say the Region Has Enough Tech Talent to Land Massive Tech Headquarters South Florida business development leaders said they aren’t surprised that the Tri-County region made the list of 20 finalist communities for Amazon’s new headquarters, though the timing caught them off guard. […]

The post South Florida Identified as a Finalist for Amazon HQ2 appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

South Florida Identified as a Finalist for Amazon HQ2

Officials Say the Region Has Enough Tech Talent to Land Massive Tech Headquarters

South Florida business development leaders said they aren’t surprised that the Tri-County region made the list of 20 finalist communities for Amazon’s new headquarters, though the timing caught them off guard.

“I didn’t think we’d see this until February or March,” said Bob Swindell, CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance.

But Swindell insists the accomplishment shows Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties have the tech talent and infrastructure in place to compete for the retail giant’s massive headquarters.

“This silences the detractors,” he said.

The three counties teamed to make a regional bid for Amazon’s HQ2 that included confidential real estate sites in each county.

The area has 6 million residents, with more than half of the 3.1 million-person workforce bilingual. The area has 2,000 daily direct flights, 375,000 university students, no state or local income taxes and 150 miles of coastline.

“We are beaming right now,” said Kelly Smallridge, president of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County. “South Florida is hip, chic, urban and we’re attractive to millennials. We have it all.”

Smallridge and Swindell said officials also made clear the three counties are linked together by the new Brightline commuter train that started service between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale last week. Service to Miami is expected to begin in the spring, and the service also will reach Orlando in the next few years.

  Breaking News: Amazon Narrows HQ2 Search to 20 MarketsJANUARY 18, 2018  |  RANDYL DRUMMER

Seattle-based Amazon said it will work with each of the 20 finalists to better understand the proposals and expects to make a decision this year.

“Amazon HQ2 will be a complete headquarters for Amazon, not a satellite office,” the company said in a statement. “The company plans to invest over $5 billion and grow this second headquarters to accommodate as many as 50,000 high-paying jobs.”

The other 19 finalists are: Atlanta; Austin, TX; Boston; Chicago; Columbus, OH; Dallas; Denver; Indianapolis; Los Angeles; Montgomery County, MD; Nashville, TN; Newark, NJ; New York City; Northern Virginia; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Raleigh, NC; Toronto and Washington D.C.

Smallridge said she’s not sure of the next step, though she expects Amazon to send an executive team for ground visits to the communities.

“Fingers crossed,” she said.

Paul Owers, South Florida Market Reporter  CoStar Group   

Source: South Florida Identified as a Finalist for Amazon HQ2

The post South Florida Identified as a Finalist for Amazon HQ2 appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/south-florida-identified-as-a-finalist-for-amazon-hq2/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/amazon-narrows-hq2-search-to-20-markets/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=amazon-narrows-hq2-search-to-20-markets https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/amazon-narrows-hq2-search-to-20-markets/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2018 03:45:30 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/amazon-narrows-hq2-search-to-20-markets/ Amazon Narrows HQ2 Search to 20 Markets E-Commerce Giant Includes Many Major Markets but Also a Few Surprises in Running for $5 Billion, 50,000-job HQ in 2018 Credit: Amazon.com Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN) issued a short list of 20 metropolitan areas making the next cut in the competition to host the company’s second North […]

The post Amazon Narrows HQ2 Search to 20 Markets appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Amazon Narrows HQ2 Search to 20 Markets

E-Commerce Giant Includes Many Major Markets but Also a Few Surprises in Running for $5 Billion, 50,000-job HQ in 2018

Credit: Amazon.com

Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN) issued a short list of 20 metropolitan areas making the next cut in the competition to host the company’s second North America headquarters. This top 20 were narrowed from 238 proposals Amazon received from across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico in an unprecedented bidding process to host the company’s second North America headquarters.

Amazon said it will work in coming months with each of the candidate locations to request more information and “dive deeper into their proposals” for the internet retailer’s planned $5 billion investment and up to 50,000 employees, a partnership expected to bring profound economic development benefits to the winning market.

Editor’s note: More to follow as CoStar News updates this breaking news story throughout the day. Updated: 2:50 p.m. EST

The next cut for the massive headquarters includes expected contenders such as New York City, Chicago, L.A. and D.C., but also several smaller markets such as Raleigh, Indianapolis, Columbus, Newark and Pittsburgh. Amazon listed the metros in alphabetical order and offered no signals about which geographic area or market the company would prefer.

The early morning decision brought swift reaction from local officials vying for the headquarters.

“We are beaming right now,” said Kelly Smallridge, president of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, FL, of Miami’s inclusion on the list. “South Florida is hip, chic, urban and we’re attractive to millennials. I’m not surprised at all that we made the list.”

The South Florida counties of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade teamed to present a regional bid to Amazon that included confidential real estate sites in each county, Smallridge said.

“Over the coming weeks and months, we look forward to working more closely with [Amazon] to show them why Music City would be the perfect fit for their company,” Nashville Mayor Megan Barry said in a Twitter post.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett tweeted that Central Indiana’s “unique combination of connectivity, quality of life, and affordable living has once again put us on the global stage.” In a statement, Hogsett said the inclusion shows that “every day we are gaining more recognition as a growing tech hub.”

“As a thriving city with a talented and diverse workforce, culture of innovation and opportunity for all, I see no better city than Boston for Amazon to call their second home,” Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh said in a statement.

While Boston shares finalist status with 19 other cities, locals feel Beantown may have better odds than most of its competitors. That feeling was bolstered when it was revealed two weeks ago that Amazon was already seeking to lease up to 1 million square feet in the city.

Amazon has been looking to land space in the city’s revamped Seaport District, separate from the headquarters search. Boston’s official bid for the new Amazon headquarters is focused around the 161-acre Suffolk Downs horse racing track property in East Boston and neighboring Revere. The company already employs about 1,000 people in the city.

Which US Region Has the Edge?

As the day progressed, analysts speculated on what part of the country has a higher probability of landing the coveted headquarters. Among other observers, Stephen Basham, CoStar senior market analyst for the Los Angeles market, believes Eastern markets have an edge.

“Amazon looks to be interested in expanding their geographical footprint,” Basham said. “Three-fourths of the finalist cities are east of the Mississippi River, and Los Angeles was the only West Coast metro to make the cut.”

The selection of three metros in the Washington, DC/Maryland/Virginia region has to position the region among the favorites, Basham said. As has always been the case, though, the final pick will likely hinge on what specific incentives and concessions the candidates are willing to offer.

“It would be hard to overstate the impact that an Amazon headquarters would have,” Basham added. “You just have to look at how Seattle has transformed over the past 10-15 years as an example of a major metro that has been reshaped and revitalized by a single company.”

Residential REIT analyst Aaron Hecht of JMP Securities opined that Atlanta or Austin are the most likely destination due to their active tech industry bases, quality higher-education institutions, favorable cost of living and low corporate tax rates.

“Although a number of East Coast cities have stronger strategic geographic locations to conduct business internationally, we believe the benefits being offered by many of those cities will ultimately be watered down by local politics,” Hecht continued.

“With Amazon already having its first headquarters in Seattle, which has a high cost of living and with local politicians looking to increase taxes on high wage earners, we believe the company will look for a city with more conservative views on tax policies,” Hecht said.

Amazon’s move comes less than a day after Apple, Inc. announced plans to ramp up its US investment by adding 20,000 jobs and another U.S. corporate campus in investments worth an estimated $350 billion to the U.S. economy over five years.

Amazon said its HQ2 will be a complete co-headquarters and not a satellite office. In addition to direct hiring and investment, construction and ongoing operation of Amazon HQ2 is expected to create tens of thousands of additional jobs and tens of billions of dollars in additional investment in the surrounding region.

Over the past five years, Amazon has invested more than $100 billion in the U.S., including corporate offices, development and research centers, fulfillment infrastructure and compensation to the company’s 540,000 employees.

“Getting from 238 to 20 was very tough,” said Holly Sullivan, of Amazon Public Policy. “All the proposals showed tremendous enthusiasm and creativity. Through this process we learned about many new communities across North America that we will consider as locations for future infrastructure investment and job creation.”

The 20 metropolitan areas advancing to the next phase of the process include the following:

• Atlanta
• Austin
• Boston
• Chicago
• Columbus, OH
• Dallas
• Denver
• Indianapolis
• Los Angeles
• Miami
• Montgomery County, MD
• Nashville
• Newark, NJ
• New York City
• Northern Virginia
• Philadelphia
• Pittsburgh
• Raleigh, NC
• Toronto
• Washington, D.C.

  CoStar News reporters and editors Mark Heschmeyer, Paul Owers and John Doherty and Jacquelyn Ryan contributed to this report.

Source: Amazon Narrows HQ2 Search to 20 Markets

The post Amazon Narrows HQ2 Search to 20 Markets appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/amazon-narrows-hq2-search-to-20-markets/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/breaking-news-amazon-narrows-hq2-search-to-20-markets/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=breaking-news-amazon-narrows-hq2-search-to-20-markets https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/breaking-news-amazon-narrows-hq2-search-to-20-markets/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2018 03:45:30 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/breaking-news-amazon-narrows-hq2-search-to-20-markets/ Breaking News: Amazon Narrows HQ2 Search to 20 Markets E-Commerce Giant Includes Many Major Markets but Also a Few Surprises in Running for $5 Billion, 50,000-job HQ in 2018 Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN) issued a short list of 20 metropolitan areas making the next cut in the competition to host the company’s second North […]

The post Breaking News: Amazon Narrows HQ2 Search to 20 Markets appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Breaking News: Amazon Narrows HQ2 Search to 20 Markets

E-Commerce Giant Includes Many Major Markets but Also a Few Surprises in Running for $5 Billion, 50,000-job HQ in 2018

Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN) issued a short list of 20 metropolitan areas making the next cut in the competition to host the company’s second North America headquarters. This top 20 were narrowed from 238 proposals Amazon received from across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico in an unprecedented bidding process to host the company’s second North America headquarters.

Amazon said it will work in coming months with each of the candidate locations to request more information and “dive deeper into their proposals” for the internet retailer’s planned $5 billion investment and up to 50,000 employees, a partnership expected to bring profound economic development benefits to the winning market.

Editor’s note: More to follow as CoStar News updates this breaking news story throughout the day. Updated: 2:12 p.m. EST

The next cut for the massive headquarters includes expected contenders such as New York City, Chicago, L.A. and D.C., but also several smaller markets such as Raleigh, Indianapolis, Columbus, Newark and Pittsburgh. Amazon listed the metros in alphabetical order and offered no signals about which geographic area or market the company would prefer.

The early morning decision brought swift reaction from local officials vying for the headquarters.

“We are beaming right now,” said Kelly Smallridge, president of the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County, FL, of Miami’s inclusion on the list. “South Florida is hip, chic, urban and we’re attractive to millennials. I’m not surprised at all that we made the list.”

The South Florida counties of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade teamed to present a regional bid to Amazon that included confidential real estate sites in each county, Smallridge said.

“Over the coming weeks and months, we look forward to working more closely with [Amazon] to show them why Music City would be the perfect fit for their company,” Nashville Mayor Megan Barry said in a Twitter post.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett tweeted that Central Indiana’s “unique combination of connectivity, quality of life, and affordable living has once again put us on the global stage.” In a statement, Hogsett said the inclusion shows that “every day we are gaining more recognition as a growing tech hub.”

“As a thriving city with a talented and diverse workforce, culture of innovation and opportunity for all, I see no better city than Boston for Amazon to call their second home,” Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh said in a statement.

While Boston shares finalist status with 19 other cities, locals feel Beantown may have better odds than most of its competitors. That feeling was bolstered when it was revealed two weeks ago that Amazon was already seeking to lease up to 1 million square feet in the city.

Amazon has been looking to land space in the city’s revamped Seaport District, separate from the headquarters search. Boston’s official bid for the new Amazon headquarters is focused around the 161-acre Suffolk Downs horse racing track property in East Boston and neighboring Revere. The company already employs about 1,000 people in the city.

As the day progressed, analysts speculated on what region of the country has a higher probability of landing the coveted headquarters.

“In general, just from talking to people in the industry, the prevailing view is they’ll look to expand their geographic footage probably on the East Coast,” said Stephen Basham, CoStar senior market analyst for the Los Angeles market.

Basham noted that L.A. is the only West Coast market on the list, and that three of the 20 potential markets are in the Washington, D.C./Maryland metro area.

“It would be hard to overstate the impact that an Amazon headquarters would have,” Basham said. “You just have to look at how Seattle has transformed over the past 10-15 years as and example of a major metro that has been reshaped and revitalized by a single company.”

Residential REIT analyst Aaron Hecht of JMP Securities opined that Atlanta or Austin are the most likely destination due to their active tech industry bases, quality higher-education institutions, favorable cost of living and low corporate tax rates.

“Although a number of East Coast cities have stronger strategic geographic locations to conduct business internationally, we believe the benefits being offered by many of those cities will ultimately be watered down by local politics,” Hecht continued.

“With Amazon already having its first headquarters in Seattle, which has a high cost of living and with local politicians looking to increase taxes on high wage earners, we believe the company will look for a city with more conservative views on tax policies,” Hecht said.

Amazon’s move comes less than a day after Apple, Inc. announced plans to ramp up its US investment by adding 20,000 jobs and another U.S. corporate campus in investments worth an estimated $350 billion to the U.S. economy over five years.

Amazon said its HQ2 will be a complete co-headquarters and not a satellite office. In addition to direct hiring and investment, construction and ongoing operation of Amazon HQ2 is expected to create tens of thousands of additional jobs and tens of billions of dollars in additional investment in the surrounding region.

Over the past five years, Amazon has invested more than $100 billion in the U.S., including corporate offices, development and research centers, fulfillment infrastructure and compensation to the company’s 540,000 employees.

“Getting from 238 to 20 was very tough,” said Holly Sullivan, of Amazon Public Policy. “All the proposals showed tremendous enthusiasm and creativity. Through this process we learned about many new communities across North America that we will consider as locations for future infrastructure investment and job creation.”

The 20 metropolitan areas advancing to the next phase of the process include the following:

• Atlanta
• Austin
• Boston
• Chicago
• Columbus, OH
• Dallas
• Denver
• Indianapolis
• Los Angeles
• Miami
• Montgomery County, MD
• Nashville
• Newark, NJ
• New York City
• Northern Virginia
• Philadelphia
• Pittsburgh
• Raleigh, NC
• Toronto
• Washington, D.C.

  CoStar News reporters and editors Mark Heschmeyer, Paul Owers and John Doherty contributed to this report.

Source: Breaking News: Amazon Narrows HQ2 Search to 20 Markets

The post Breaking News: Amazon Narrows HQ2 Search to 20 Markets appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/breaking-news-amazon-narrows-hq2-search-to-20-markets/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/president-trump-reveals-winners-of-his-fake-news-awards/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=president-trump-reveals-winners-of-his-fake-news-awards https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/president-trump-reveals-winners-of-his-fake-news-awards/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2018 03:30:00 +0000 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/president-trump-reveals-winners-of-his-fake-news-awards/ President Trump reveals winners of his ‘Fake News’ awards close Video Trump’s ‘Fake News’ award winners are … New York Times, CNN, ABC News, Time Magazine and the Washington Post are among the ‘winners.’ #Tucker President Trump revealed the winners of his self-proclaimed ‘Fake News’ awards Wednesday night on Twitter — with […]

The post President Trump reveals winners of his ‘Fake News’ awards appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

President Trump reveals winners of his ‘Fake News’ awards

close

Video

Trump’s ‘Fake News’ award winners are …

New York Times, CNN, ABC News, Time Magazine and the Washington Post are among the ‘winners.’ #Tucker

President Trump revealed the winners of his self-proclaimed ‘Fake News’ awards Wednesday night on Twitter — with The New York Times topping the list.

And the FAKE NEWS winners are…https://t.co/59G6x2f7fD

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018

CNN also came out as a “winner,” with the left-leaning news network making the list four times.

The list, published on GOP.com, noted that “studies have shown that over 90% of the media’s coverage of President Trump is negative.” It went on to call 2017 “a year of unrelenting bias, unfair news coverage and even downright fake news.”

Coming in first place was The New York Times’ Paul Krugman for his prediction that the stock markets would never recover from Trump’s election.

Paul Krugman in 2009.

 (REUTERS/Chip East)

In a bit of irony, the Dow Jones industrial average closed above 26,000 for the first time on Wednesday.

The Times was followed by ABC News’ Brian Ross for his botched report that Trump advised former National Security advisor Michael Flynn to make contact with Russian officials during the 2016 campaign.

ABC News’ Brian Ross in January 2017.

 (Rainmaker Photo/MediaPunch/IPX)

The list pointed to a false CNN report that Trump had early access to “hacked documents” from Wikileaks, a video that suggested Trump overfed fish in a visit with the Japanese prime minister and a report that former FBI Director James Comey would deny saying Trump was told he was not under investigation.

The Times appeared on the list again for a false report that the Trump administration hid a report on climate change.

Newsweek sent a tweet out Wednesday evening acknowledging its “award.”

Fake News Awards: Newsweek came in 8th place! https://t.co/7keSmiR1DS pic.twitter.com/Un6BItIfSi

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) January 18, 2018

The final “winner” on the list, as Trump described it: “And last, but not least: ‘RUSSIA COLLUSION!’ Russian collusion is perhaps the greatest hoax perpetrated on the American people. THERE IS NO COLLUSION!”

The website carrying the results of the “Fake News Awards” crashed because it was flooded with visitors after Trump tweeted out the link.

Without naming anyone, Trump also tweeted out his praise for the “many great reporters.”

Despite some very corrupt and dishonest media coverage, there are many great reporters I respect and lots of GOOD NEWS for the American people to be proud of!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018

He continued, “Despite some very corrupt and dishonest media coverage, there are many great reporters I respect and lots of GOOD NEWS for the American people to be proud of!”

Below is the full list of winners of the 2017 Fake News Awards.

1)     The New York Times’ Paul Krugman claiming markets would ‘never’ recover from a Trump presidency

2)     ABC News’ Brian Ross’ bungled report on former national security adviser Michael Flynn

3)     CNN falsely reporting the Trump campaign had early access to hacked documents from WikiLeaks

4)     TIME report that Trump removed a bust of Martin Luther King, Jr. from the Oval Office

5)     The Washington Post’s Dave Weigel tweeting that Trump’s December rally in Pensacola, Florida, wasn’t packed with supporters

6)     CNN’s video suggesting Trump overfed fish during a visit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

7)     CNN’s retracted report claiming Anthony Scaramucci-Russia ties

8)     Newsweek report that Polish First Lady Agata Kornhauser-Duda did not shake Trump’s hand

9)     CNN report that former FBI Director James Comey would dispute President Trump’s claim he was told he was not under investigation

10)  The New York Times report that the Trump administration had hidden a climate-change study

11)  In Trump’s words, “‘RUSSIA COLLUSION!’ Russian collusion is perhaps the greatest hoax perpetrated on the American people. THERE IS NO COLLUSION!”

Source: President Trump reveals winners of his ‘Fake News’ awards

The post President Trump reveals winners of his ‘Fake News’ awards appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/president-trump-reveals-winners-of-his-fake-news-awards/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/gop-fights-to-retain-pennsylvania-congressional-seat/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gop-fights-to-retain-pennsylvania-congressional-seat https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/gop-fights-to-retain-pennsylvania-congressional-seat/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2018 02:45:00 +0000 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/gop-fights-to-retain-pennsylvania-congressional-seat/ GOP fights to retain Pennsylvania congressional seat close Video GOP fights to retain Pennsylvania congressional seat President Trump and other top Republicans to campaign in Pennsylvania’s 18th District to campaign for GOP candidate Rep. Rick Saccone. A special election in the Keystone State’s snow-frosted southwestern corner is the hot new race to […]

The post GOP fights to retain Pennsylvania congressional seat appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

GOP fights to retain Pennsylvania congressional seat

close

Video

GOP fights to retain Pennsylvania congressional seat

President Trump and other top Republicans to campaign in Pennsylvania’s 18th District to campaign for GOP candidate Rep. Rick Saccone.

A special election in the Keystone State’s snow-frosted southwestern corner is the hot new race to watch.

The congressional seat in Pennsylvania’s 18th district has been in Republican hands for nearly 15 years and with the recent loss in Alabama still smarting, Republicans aim to hold it.

On Thursday, President Trump will hit the political battleground, where he’ll talk taxes and economy, joined during his visit by the Republican candidate, State Rep. Rick Saccone, a full-throated Trump backer who is thrilled the president is coming to town. 

“This is Trump country. People around here, people in the 18th district love President Trump. As you know he won by 20 points. I think he’s more popular today than he was before,” Saccone said. 

Saccone touts his experience on the campaign trail, including 20 years in the Air Force, counter-intelligence work, a Ph.D. in international affairs and even a year spent serving as a diplomat in North Korea. He argues his diverse background makes him the right person to fill the seat left vacant by Republican Rep. Tim Murphy, who resigned amid allegations he asked a woman with whom he was having an affair to terminate a pregnancy. 

Rick Saccone, left, is challenging Conor Lamb for the congressional seat.

Though deep-red flowed from the polls in 2016, Democrats have a 70,000 voter registration edge here and are committed to flipping the seat, selecting political neophyte Conor Lamb. 

“People are ready for a real contest this time and that’s what we are going to give them,” said Lamb. 

The 33-year-old former federal prosecutor and Marine Corp veteran is from a politically connected family. Lamb has distanced himself from House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi, is calling for new leadership in Washington and said he’s willing to seek common ground with the president. 

“If he is going to do anything to help create jobs in western Pennsylvania and to help keep our people safe I will work with him anytime,” Lamb said. 

The Cook Political Report changed its rating of the race from “likely” to “Lean Republican” last month, giving Lamb supporters hope that the race may be winnable. 

Outside money is beginning to flow in and Super PAC cash has already put pro-Saccone advertising on local airwaves. 

Though recent history may favor a GOP victory, Duquesne Political Science Professor Kristen Allen argues a win for the Democrats would be dramatic, potentially spurring the party to take further action. 

“One win in a state like Pennsylvania, in a district like PA 18, might be just the impetuous that the Democratic party needs to look at some of these races and say, ‘hey, we need to pay attention and put some money in these districts where we have not been giving too much focus or energy or money before,’” said Allen. 

The special election in Pennsylvania’s 18th congressional district is scheduled for March 13th.

Molly Line joined Fox News Channel as a Boston-based correspondent in January 2006.

Source: GOP fights to retain Pennsylvania congressional seat

The post GOP fights to retain Pennsylvania congressional seat appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/gop-fights-to-retain-pennsylvania-congressional-seat/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/top-house-intel-committee-dem-says-corey-lewandowski-should-be-subpoenaed/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=top-house-intel-committee-dem-says-corey-lewandowski-should-be-subpoenaed https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/top-house-intel-committee-dem-says-corey-lewandowski-should-be-subpoenaed/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2018 02:15:00 +0000 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/top-house-intel-committee-dem-says-corey-lewandowski-should-be-subpoenaed/ Top House Intel Committee Dem says Corey Lewandowski should be subpoenaed Corey Lewandowski arrives to testify before the House Intelligence Committee Wednesday.  (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst) The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee called for former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski to be subpoenaed Wednesday over his refusal to answer certain questions as […]

The post Top House Intel Committee Dem says Corey Lewandowski should be subpoenaed appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Top House Intel Committee Dem says Corey Lewandowski should be subpoenaed

Corey Lewandowski arrives to testify before the House Intelligence Committee Wednesday.

 (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee called for former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski to be subpoenaed Wednesday over his refusal to answer certain questions as part of an investigation into alleged Russian collusion with Trump campaign associates.

Lewandowski and Deputy White House Chief of Staff Rick Dearbon testified behind closed doors one day after the committee interviewed ex-White House chief strategist Steve Bannon for almost 12 hours on.

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., told reporters that Dearborn answered every question that was put to him. By contrast, Schiff said Lewandowski refused to answer questions related to events that occurred after he left the Trump campaign in June 2016.

“This, in my view, is completely unacceptable,” said Schiff. “We should have subpoenaed him today and compelled answers to those questions.”

“We as an investigative committee cannot allow that to become a routine, where witnesses choose when and were they answer questions,” Schiff added.

STEVE BANNON SUBPOENAED DURING HOUSE INTEL MEETING FOR INFORMATION THE WHITE HOUSE INSTRUCTED HIM NOT TO GIVE

Bannon was subpoenaed during his interview for information the White House instructed him not to give regarding his time in the Trump administration and his time during the transition.

“Given that [Dearborn] was fully willing to answer all these questions,” Schiff said, “it does tell us that the White House is treating Steve Bannon differently than others who serve in the administration and this committee is treating witnesses differently then they treated Mr. Bannon.”

Lewandowski told Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria” Wednesday that he was not instructed by the White House to withhold any information.

“I’ll tell you anything,” Lewandowski said. 

Lewandowski, who led the Trump campaign for almost two years through the Republican primaries, said he welcomed the “opportunity” to testify before the committee.

“Steve was [with the campaign] for a short period of time. I was there almost two years, every day next to the candidate, next to President Trump,” Lewandowski said on Fox News Channel’s “Outnumbered Overtime” Tuesday. “Never, ever, ever did we coordinate or cooperate or collude with any Russians.”

Lewandowski told Fox News that he would “answer every question truthfully, honestly, to the best of my ability and the best of my recollection.”

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Rick Dearborn, who will leave his post in early 2018, will testify before the House Intelligence Committee Wednesday.

 (AP)

“But because I have nothing to hide, I’m looking forward to this opportunity help finally bring this to a close,” he said.

Lewandowski added that he hopes Democrats come to a “realization” that there was no Trump-Russia collusion.

“They want to keep this going to make it a political issue into the midterm elections,” Lewandowksi said.

Dearborn announced his resignation from his White House post in late December. Dearborn oversaw the White House’s political operation, public outreach and legislative affairs.

Dearborn, who planned to remain in the West Wing for the first month or two of this year, worked for Trump for more than two years, helping to set up the campaign’s Washington office. Dearborn also served as executive director of the presidential transition team after the election.

Fox News’ Samuel Chamberlain, Chad Pergram and Jason Donner contributed to this report.

Brooke Singman is a Politics Reporter for Fox News. Follow her on Twitter at @brookefoxnews.

Source: Top House Intel Committee Dem says Corey Lewandowski should be subpoenaed

The post Top House Intel Committee Dem says Corey Lewandowski should be subpoenaed appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/top-house-intel-committee-dem-says-corey-lewandowski-should-be-subpoenaed/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/la-quinta-selling-operating-business-to-wyndham-worldwide-after-spinoff-of-real-estate/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=la-quinta-selling-operating-business-to-wyndham-worldwide-after-spinoff-of-real-estate https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/la-quinta-selling-operating-business-to-wyndham-worldwide-after-spinoff-of-real-estate/#respond Thu, 18 Jan 2018 01:38:32 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/la-quinta-selling-operating-business-to-wyndham-worldwide-after-spinoff-of-real-estate/ La Quinta Selling Operating Business to Wyndham Worldwide After Spinoff of Real Estate After announcing plans a year ago to split its hotel business into separate firms, Blackstone-controlled La Quinta Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LQ) reached a deal this week to sell its hotel franchise and management businesses to Wyndham Worldwide Corp. (NYSE: WYN) […]

The post La Quinta Selling Operating Business to Wyndham Worldwide After Spinoff of Real Estate appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

La Quinta Selling Operating Business to Wyndham Worldwide After Spinoff of Real Estate

After announcing plans a year ago to split its hotel business into separate firms, Blackstone-controlled La Quinta Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LQ) reached a deal this week to sell its hotel franchise and management businesses to Wyndham Worldwide Corp. (NYSE: WYN) for $1.95 billion.

As part of the agreement, immediately prior to the sale La Quinta will spin off its owned real estate assets into a publicly-traded REIT to be called CorePoint Lodging. The company’s owned and franchised portfolio currently consists of more than 880 hotel properties with about 87,500 rooms in 48 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Honduras.

Wyndham hopes the addition of La Quinta will expand its reach further into the fast-growing upper-midscale hotel segment.

Wyndham’s Hotel Group is one of the world’s largest and most diverse hotel business based on number of properties. With the acquisition of La Quinta’s asset-light, fee-for-service business consisting of nearly 900 managed and franchised hotels, Wyndham Hotel Group will span 21 brands and over 9,000 hotels across more than 75 countries.

“La Quinta will immediately become one of our flagship brands,” said Geoff Ballotti, president and CEO of Wyndham Hotel Group. “It is an exceptionally strong brand that is led by service-minded associates who deliver some of the highest customer engagement levels in our industry.”

Keith Cline, president and CEO of La Quinta, will serve in the same role at CorePoint Lodging.

“As we anticipated, the separation of our businesses is enabling greater strategic clarity and allowing our company to take advantage of growth opportunities that naturally flow from each business model,” Cline said. “The midscale and upper midscale segments are among the largest in the lodging industry in terms of number of properties and developers – not surprising given the cash-on-cash returns. As a pure-play lodging real estate company with a portfolio focused in these highly desirable segments, there is a significant opportunity to drive value for CorePoint.”

Barclays is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP is acting as legal advisor to Wyndham Worldwide. Barclays and Deutsche Bank are providing committed financing to Wyndham Worldwide in connection with the transaction.

J.P. Morgan is acting as exclusive financial advisor and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is acting as legal advisor to La Quinta. J.P. Morgan is providing committed financing to CorePoint Lodging in connection with the transaction.

Source: La Quinta Selling Operating Business to Wyndham Worldwide After Spinoff of Real Estate

The post La Quinta Selling Operating Business to Wyndham Worldwide After Spinoff of Real Estate appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/la-quinta-selling-operating-business-to-wyndham-worldwide-after-spinoff-of-real-estate/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-and-the-russia-investigation-what-to-know/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trump-and-the-russia-investigation-what-to-know https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-and-the-russia-investigation-what-to-know/#respond Wed, 17 Jan 2018 18:15:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-and-the-russia-investigation-what-to-know/ Trump and the Russia investigation: What to know President Donald Trump and the Kremlin have denied allegations that Russia and the Trump campaign colluded in the 2016 presidential election – but the probe into Russia’s meddling is forging ahead. A special counsel was appointed to investigate potential wrongdoing, and his team has […]

The post Trump and the Russia investigation: What to know appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Trump and the Russia investigation: What to know

President Donald Trump and the Kremlin have denied allegations that Russia and the Trump campaign colluded in the 2016 presidential election – but the probe into Russia’s meddling is forging ahead.

A special counsel was appointed to investigate potential wrongdoing, and his team has already brought multiple charges against people associated with the presidential campaign. 

Read on for a breakdown of what’s happened in the Russia investigation thus far and what it means for the administration.  

What exactly is being investigated?

Multiple investigators are looking into just how wide the scope of Russia’s involvement in the 2016 presidential election is and if the foreign nation had any interaction with the Trump campaign.

Investigators are also looking at the financial ties between some Trump associates and the Kremlin.

Who is in charge of the investigations?

Robert Mueller was tasked to lead the Justice Department’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

 (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Multiple congressional committees have launched probes into Russia’s attempts to influence the election.

And the Department of Justice appointed Robert Mueller as its special counsel overseeing its investigation in May 2017.

Mueller was appointed after Attorney Gen. Jeff Sessions, the first Republican senator to endorse Trump, recused himself from the investigation. His appointment also followed a growing Democratic outcry for someone outside the Justice Department to handle the probe.

Trump has been critical of Mueller and called his friendship with fired FBI Director James Comey “very bothersome.” Multiple investigators on Mueller’s team face questions about their potential biases – and one was reassigned from the probe.

Has anyone been charged yet?

Paul Manafort is one of President Trump’s former campaign officials who has been charged in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe.

 (Reuters/Joshua Roberts)

Mueller’s investigation has led to multiple charges – although none are directly related to misconduct from the campaign.

Paul Manafort and his associate, Richard Gates, turned themselves over to federal authorities in October 2017 and were charged with 12 counts – ranging from conspiracy against the U.S. to conspiracy to launder money.  

As special counsel, Mueller took over the criminal investigation into Manafort’s financial dealings dating back prior to the election. Manafort worked for controversial former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, a pro-Russia politician who was ousted from power twice, and Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska. In 2005, Manafort came up with a plan to influence U.S. politics, business dealings and the media in order to “greatly benefit the Putin Government,” according to the Associated Press.

Manafort joined Trump’s campaign ahead of the Republican National Convention to help wrangle delegates before becoming the campaign chairman. He resigned in August 2016.

Then-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn speaks during a White House press briefing.

 (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, has also been charged in connection with Mueller’s probe. Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to one charge of lying to the FBI – reportedly about his talks with a Russian ambassador.

Flynn was Trump’s national security adviser only for a short time, but his connection to the White House was rife with controversy that still bedevils the administration. Flynn resigned after less than a month in the position.

At issue was his contact with Moscow’s ambassador to Washington. Flynn and the Russian appear to have discussed U.S. sanctions on Russia late in 2016, raising questions about whether he was freelancing on foreign policy while former President Barack Obama was still in office and whether he misled Trump officials about the calls.

Additionally, George Papadopoulos, a former foreign policy adviser to Trump’s campaign, pleaded guilty in 2017 to making false statements to the FBI about his connections with Russian officials.

During his time on the campaign, Papadopoulos attempted to set up meetings between campaign officials and Russians on numerous occasions. He also interacted with a professor “understood to have substantial connections to Russian government officials” who told Papadopoulos that the Russians had “dirt” on Hillary Clinton, according to court documents released by Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s office.

Does anyone else on Trump’s team have connections to Russians or the investigation?

Donald Trump Jr., the president’s oldest son, took a meeting with a Russian lawyer during the campaign. She was supposed to have damning information about Hillary Clinton.

 (Reuters/Joe Raedle)

Donald Trump Jr., the president’s oldest son, got the administration into some hot water when it was revealed that he took a meeting with a Russian lawyer during the campaign who was supposed to have damning information about Clinton.

“This is obviously very high level and sensitive information but is part of Russia and its government’s support for Mr. Trump,” an email about the meeting said in part.

Trump Jr. maintained that the lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, did not have any information to share and instead wanted to discuss the Magnitsky Act and other sanctions.

Manafort and Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, were also at the meeting.

Jared Kushner, who is married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka, has been under FBI scrutiny as well.

 (Reuters/Joshua Roberts)

Kushner, too, has been under FBI scrutiny. Married to Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter, Kushner may possess substantial information relevant to the investigation, officials have said.

Although he’s denied colluding with Russians or knowing of anyone who did so, Kushner has had private meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to discuss the controversial meeting with Veselnitskya that occurred in the summer of 2016. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have accused him of not being forthcoming in the information divulged.

Steve Bannon, Trump’s former White House chief strategist, has agreed to meet with Mueller as part of his investigation, potentially  avoiding appearing under subpoena in front of a grand jury.

What about Trump?

Aside from his associates’ connections to Russians, the president has also found himself under scrutiny for certain interactions in office.

Trump sacked FBI Director James Comey on May 9, 2017 – less than two months after Comey publicly proclaimed the agency was investigating ties between Russia and Trump’s campaign.

The White House maintained Comey was let go due to his handling of an investigation into Clinton’s private email server used during her tenure as secretary of state. But Trump has alluded that he considered the Russian investigation when he fired Comey. 

James Comey will be replaced by someone who will do a far better job, bringing back the spirit and prestige of the FBI.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 10, 2017

Comey also informed a Senate intelligence committee that Trump had asked for the FBI to drop its investigation into Flynn; the White House said Trump was not attempting to influence his FBI director.

Comey, too, informed the committee that he offered Trump repeated reassurances that he was not under an FBI investigation.

After Comey’s dismissal, Trump met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador at the time, where he shared classified information regarding ISIS threats, the Washington Post reported.

Trump told those officials that firing Comey – who he allegedly called a “nut job” – took “great pressure” off of him, The New York Times later reported

How did the Russian meddling allegations begin?

Before Trump ever took office, tens of thousands of emails from the Democratic National Committee and officials connected to Clinton were leaked.

Those emails – released in July 2016 – purportedly showed the party favoring Clinton over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and led to the resignation of party chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

But more than just ousting Wasserman Schultz, intelligence officials concluded those responsible for leaking the emails were connected to the Russian government. In its assessment of the hack, the CIA concluded that Russia intervened in the election in order to help Trump secure the presidency.

Kaitlyn Schallhorn is a Reporter for Fox News. Follow her on Twitter @K_Schallhorn.

Source: Trump and the Russia investigation: What to know

The post Trump and the Russia investigation: What to know appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-and-the-russia-investigation-what-to-know/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/house-intel-committee-to-vote-on-whether-to-release-fusion-gps-glenn-simpson-transcript/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=house-intel-committee-to-vote-on-whether-to-release-fusion-gps-glenn-simpson-transcript https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/house-intel-committee-to-vote-on-whether-to-release-fusion-gps-glenn-simpson-transcript/#respond Wed, 17 Jan 2018 18:03:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/house-intel-committee-to-vote-on-whether-to-release-fusion-gps-glenn-simpson-transcript/ House Intel Committee to vote on whether to release Fusion GPS’ Glenn Simpson transcript close Video Rep. Schiff calls for release of all Fusion GPS transcripts Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton weighs in on ‘Fox & Friends First.’ The House Intelligence Committee is expected to make a decision Thursday on whether to […]

The post House Intel Committee to vote on whether to release Fusion GPS' Glenn Simpson transcript appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

House Intel Committee to vote on whether to release Fusion GPS’ Glenn Simpson transcript

close

Video

Rep. Schiff calls for release of all Fusion GPS transcripts

Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton weighs in on ‘Fox & Friends First.’

The House Intelligence Committee is expected to make a decision Thursday on whether to release hours of private testimony from an interview with the co-founder of the firm that compiled the infamous anti-Trump dossier.

A source familiar with the matter told Fox News the committee will vote Thursday on whether to release the transcript of its interview with Fusion GPS’ Glenn Simpson, who testified behind closed doors in November 2017. A transcript from a Senate committee’s interview of Simpson was released last week

The committee posted a notice on its website titled, “Business Meeting: Consideration of the Public Release of a Committee Transcript.” The transcript referenced is from Simpson’s interview, a source told Fox News.

“Democrats and Fusion GPS supporters will get some unwelcome surprises if this is published,” the source said.

“Democrats and Fusion GPS supporters will get some unwelcome surprises if this is published,”

– a source familiar told Fox News.

Simpson and Fusions’ co-founder Peter Fritsch penned an Op-Ed for The New York Times earlier this month calling for the release of transcripts. 

Ranking Committee Member Adam Schiff, D-Calif., also called for the release of Simpson’s testimony on Monday.

“In light of the selective leaks of Mr. Simpson’s testimony and misleading manner in which Fusion GPS’ role has been characterized, I support releasing the transcript,” Schiff said in a statement.

Democrats have tried to play down the dossier amid questions about its veracity.

The vote comes just a week after Senate Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., unilaterally released a 312-page transcript of Simpson’s August interview with committee investigators.

Video

Grassley: Release of Simpson transcript is breach of trust

The release provoked controversy on Capitol Hill. The hundreds of pages of Simpson’s responses were rich with revelations about Fusion GPS, its work and its investigation of Trump, which began in September 2015.

TRUMP BLASTS ‘SNEAKY DIANNE FEINSTEIN’ FOR RELEASING FUSION GPS TRANSCRIPT 

One passage, in particular, drew heavy attention. Simpson’s lawyer claimed someone had been killed over the dossier’s publication.

“He wants to be very careful to protect his sources,” Simpson’s attorney Josh Levy said during the Aug. 22 committee interview. “Somebody’s already been killed as a result of the publication of this dossier and no harm should come to anybody related to this honest work.”

Levy did not elaborate on who was killed, and congressional investigators did not follow up with any questions to his claim.

Neither a spokesperson for Grassley nor Feinstein responded to Fox News’ request for comment on why investigators did not follow up with questions on the serious charge made by Levy.

The dossier was written by former British MI6 agent Christopher Steele. Fusion GPS, which hired Steele, was funded by the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee. The findings eventually made their way to the FBI. The dossier was published on BuzzFeed News in January 2017.

The decision on whether to release Simpson’s testimony from his meeting with the House Intelligence Committee would reveal different answers to hours of different questions on the House side of Capitol Hill. 

Brooke Singman is a Politics Reporter for Fox News. Follow her on Twitter at @brookefoxnews.

Source: House Intel Committee to vote on whether to release Fusion GPS’ Glenn Simpson transcript

The post House Intel Committee to vote on whether to release Fusion GPS' Glenn Simpson transcript appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/house-intel-committee-to-vote-on-whether-to-release-fusion-gps-glenn-simpson-transcript/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/corey-lewandowski-rick-dearborn-testify-before-house-intel-committee-as-part-of-russia-probe/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=corey-lewandowski-rick-dearborn-testify-before-house-intel-committee-as-part-of-russia-probe https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/corey-lewandowski-rick-dearborn-testify-before-house-intel-committee-as-part-of-russia-probe/#respond Wed, 17 Jan 2018 16:04:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/corey-lewandowski-rick-dearborn-testify-before-house-intel-committee-as-part-of-russia-probe/ Corey Lewandowski, Rick Dearborn testify before House Intel Committee as part of Russia probe close Video House Intel Committee to interview Lewandowski Bannon claims executive privilege during his testimony. Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowksi and another key Trump aide will testify behind closed doors Wednesday as part of a congressional probe […]

The post Corey Lewandowski, Rick Dearborn testify before House Intel Committee as part of Russia probe appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Corey Lewandowski, Rick Dearborn testify before House Intel Committee as part of Russia probe

close

Video

House Intel Committee to interview Lewandowski

Bannon claims executive privilege during his testimony.

Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowksi and another key Trump aide will testify behind closed doors Wednesday as part of a congressional probe into Russian collusion with Trump campaign associates.

Lewandowski and Deputy White House Chief of Staff Rick Dearbon’s interviews with the House Intelligence Committee come after ex-White House chief strategist Steve Bannon met with congressional investigators for almost 12 hours on Tuesday.

Fox News learned that Bannon was subpoenaed during his committee interview Tuesday for information the White House instructed him not to give regarding his time in the administration and his time during the transition. 

Lewandowski said on Fox Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria” Wednesday that he was not instructed by the White House to withhold any information. 

“I’ll tell you anything,” Lewandowski said. 

Lewandowski, who led the Trump campaign for almost two years through the Republican primaries, said they welcomed the “opportunity” to testify before the committee.  

STEVE BANNON SUBPOENAED DURING HOUSE INTEL MEETING FOR INFORMATION THE WHITE HOUSE INSTRUCTED HIM NOT TO GIVE

“Steve was [with the campaign] for a short period of time. I was there almost two years, every day next to the candidate, next to President Trump,” Lewandowski said on Fox News Channel’s “Outnumbered Overtime” Tuesday. “Never, ever, ever did we coordinate or cooperate or collude with any Russians.”

Lewandowski told Fox News that he would “answer every question truthfully, honestly, to the best of my ability and the best of my recollection.”

“But because I have nothing to hide, I’m looking forward to this opportunity help finally bring this to a close,” he said.

Lewandowski added that he hopes Democrats come to a “realization” that there was no Trump-Russia collusion.

“They want to keep this going to make it a political issue into the midterm elections,” Lewandowksi said.

Dearborn, on the other hand, announced his resignation from his White House post in late December. Dearborn oversaw the White House’s political operation, public outreach and legislative affairs.

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Rick Dearborn, who will leave his post in early 2018, will testify before the House Intelligence Committee Wednesday.

 (AP)

Dearborn, who planned to remain in the West Wing for the first month or two of this year, worked for Trump for more than two years, helping to set up the campaign’s Washington office. Dearborn also served as executive director of the presidential transition team after the election.

Fox News’ Chad Pergram contributed to this report. 

Brooke Singman is a Politics Reporter for Fox News. Follow her on Twitter at @brookefoxnews.

Source: Corey Lewandowski, Rick Dearborn testify before House Intel Committee as part of Russia probe

The post Corey Lewandowski, Rick Dearborn testify before House Intel Committee as part of Russia probe appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/corey-lewandowski-rick-dearborn-testify-before-house-intel-committee-as-part-of-russia-probe/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/arizona-republican-sen-jeff-flake-compares-trumps-press-attacks-to-stalin-in-fiery-senate-floor-speech/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=arizona-republican-sen-jeff-flake-compares-trumps-press-attacks-to-stalin-in-fiery-senate-floor-speech https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/arizona-republican-sen-jeff-flake-compares-trumps-press-attacks-to-stalin-in-fiery-senate-floor-speech/#respond Wed, 17 Jan 2018 15:33:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/arizona-republican-sen-jeff-flake-compares-trumps-press-attacks-to-stalin-in-fiery-senate-floor-speech/ Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake compares Trump’s press attacks to Stalin in fiery Senate floor speech close Video Flake slams Trump: We are not in a fake news era The Republican gives remarks on the Senate floor on the president’s ‘attacks’ on the truth. Outgoing Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake launched a […]

The post Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake compares Trump's press attacks to Stalin in fiery Senate floor speech appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake compares Trump’s press attacks to Stalin in fiery Senate floor speech

close

Video

Flake slams Trump: We are not in a fake news era

The Republican gives remarks on the Senate floor on the president’s ‘attacks’ on the truth.

Outgoing Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake launched a fiery attack on President Trump Wednesday over Trump’s criticisms of the media — alleging that the president pushes “pernicious fantasies,” uses Stalinist language and causes global instability by undermining the free press.

“An American president who cannot take criticism, who must constantly deflect and distort and distract, who must find someone else to blame is charting a very dangerous path. And a Congress that fails to act as a check on the president adds to the danger,”” Flake said.

He also criticized Trump for describing the press as “the enemy of the people,” a phrase he said was used by mass-murdering Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

“It is a testament to the condition of our democracy that our own president uses words infamously spoken by Joseph Stalin to describe his enemies,” he said.

Flake’s remarks, made on the Senate floor, came as Trump was set to hold what he had described as the “Fake News Awards” for members of the media he believes are “corrupt and biased.” 

In his remarks, Flake frequently warned of the danger of despotism, which he said was the real “enemy of the people” and he reminded the Senate: “the free press is the despot’s enemy.”

The Fake News Awards, those going to the most corrupt & biased of the Mainstream Media, will be presented to the losers on Wednesday, January 17th, rather than this coming Monday. The interest in, and importance of, these awards is far greater than anyone could have anticipated!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 7, 2018

“The free press is the despot’s enemy, which makes the free press the guardian of democracy,” he said. “When a figure in power reflexively calls any press that doesn’t suit him “fake news,” it is that person who should be the figure of suspicion, not the press.”

He criticized Trump not only for his attacks on the media, which he claimed had given encouragement to dictators in Syria and the Philippines to undermine the press, but also for his own promotion of dubious stories.

“Not only has the past year seen a president borrow despotic language to refer to the free press, but it seems that he has now in turn inspired authoritarians and dictators with his own language,” he said.

In particular, Flake cited what he called Trump’s “pernicious fantasies about rigged elections and voter fraud, which are as destructive as they are inaccurate.”

‘It is a testament to the condition of our democracy that our own president uses words infamously spoken by Joseph Stalin to describe his enemies.’

– Sen. Jeff Flake

Flake has been one of the more outspoken critics of Trump among Republican lawmakers and in October attacked his fellow Republicans for their “complicity” in what Trump is doing. In that speech, he announced that he would not be seeking re-election in 2018.

Flake was supported in his remarks by fellow Arizona Sen. John McCain who, in an editorial in The Washington Post, urged the president to stop attacking the press.

“Whether Trump knows it or not, these efforts are being closely watched by foreign leaders who are already using his words as cover as they silence and shutter one of the key pillars of democracy,” McCain wrote.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders dismissed Flake’s speech, telling reporters that on a recent trip to Cuba, Flake had “served as a mouthpiece” for the Cuban government.

“He’s not criticizing the president because he’s against oppression, he’s criticizing the president because he has terrible poll numbers and he is looking for some attention,” Sanders said.

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel attacked Flake, saying that he’d gone “too far” in his criticism of the president, and that Trump had a right to criticize coverage that was biased against him.

“Sen. Flake, turn on the news. It’s wall-to-wall with biased coverage against @POTUS. He has every right to push back. Comparing the leader of the free world to murderous dictators is absurd,” she tweeted. “You’ve gone too far.”

Fox News’ John Roberts contributed to this report

Adam Shaw is a Politics Reporter and occasional Opinion writer for FoxNews.com. He can be reached here or on Twitter: @AdamShawNY.

Source: Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake compares Trump’s press attacks to Stalin in fiery Senate floor speech

The post Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake compares Trump's press attacks to Stalin in fiery Senate floor speech appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/arizona-republican-sen-jeff-flake-compares-trumps-press-attacks-to-stalin-in-fiery-senate-floor-speech/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/inside-the-trump-flake-feud-from-media-criticisms-to-immigration/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=inside-the-trump-flake-feud-from-media-criticisms-to-immigration https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/inside-the-trump-flake-feud-from-media-criticisms-to-immigration/#respond Wed, 17 Jan 2018 15:26:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/inside-the-trump-flake-feud-from-media-criticisms-to-immigration/ Inside the Trump-Flake feud, from media criticisms to immigration Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake isn’t running for re-election, but that doesn’t mean he’s taking a step back from battling President Trump. The fracas between Flake and Trump has grown over disagreements on immigration, the president’s harsh rhetoric regarding the media and an Alabama […]

The post Inside the Trump-Flake feud, from media criticisms to immigration appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Inside the Trump-Flake feud, from media criticisms to immigration

Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake isn’t running for re-election, but that doesn’t mean he’s taking a step back from battling President Trump.

The fracas between Flake and Trump has grown over disagreements on immigration, the president’s harsh rhetoric regarding the media and an Alabama special Senate election.

Read on for notable fights between the two Republicans.

Trump vs. Stalin

Flake gave a speech on the Senate floor on Jan. 17 in which he blasted Trump’s harsh rhetoric regarding the media.

Flake pointed to times when foreign “dictators and authoritarians” – such as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro – used the term “fake news,” a phrase Trump has often uttered regarding media coverage.

Flake said Trump has “inspired dictators and authoritarians with his own rhetoric.”

Flake also compared Trump’s rhetoric to that of former Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

“The ‘enemy of the people’ was how the president of the United States called the free press in 2017. Mr. President, it is a testament to the condition of our democracy that our own president uses words infamously spoken by Joseph Stalin to describe his enemies.”

Flake said, “2018 must be the year that the truth takes a stand against the power that would weaken it.”

‘Jeff Flake(y)’

In criticizing Flake online, Trump gave the senator one of his notorious nicknames: “Jeff Flake(y).”

“Sen. Jeff Flake(y), who is unelectable in the Great State of Arizona (quit race, anemic polls) was caught (purposely) on ‘mike’ saying bad things about your favorite President. He’ll be a NO on tax cuts because his political career anyway is ‘toast.’”

GOP will be ‘toast’

Flake was caught on a hot mic in Nov. 2017 telling a Republican mayor that, “if we become the party of Roy Moore and Donald Trump, we’re toast.”

Flake later admitted to the comment on Twitter, saying “no news here.”

“I’ve been saying this to anyone who will listen,” Flake said.

No news here. I’ve been saying this to anyone who will listen https://t.co/50klmeSm5a

— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) November 18, 2017

Flake remained in stalwart opposition to Roy Moore, the beleaguered Republican Alabama Senate candidate in a special election last year. Moore, accused by multiple woman of sexual misconduct when they were in their teens, lost to Democrat Doug Jones.

Flake donated to Jones’ campaign.

Country over Party pic.twitter.com/JZMTaEYdxQ

— Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) December 5, 2017

Ending Flake’s Senate career

In a scathing speech from the Senate floor, Flake announced on Oct. 24, 2017 that he would not run for re-election. In his announcement, Flake took shots at Trump and the Republican Party, calling the president “reckless, outrageous and undignified.”

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders later said Flake’s decision to leave the Senate “is probably a good move” because of “the lack of support he has in Arizona.”

Flake faced a tough primary, and his favorability ratings in Arizona decreased after he began combating the president.

Trump discussed spending $10 million to defeat Flake if he had decided to run for re-election, Politico reported.

‘Weak’

Trump blasted Flake as “weak” multiple times on social media.

“The Republican Party needs strong and committed leaders, not weak people such as [Flake], if it is going to stop illegal immigration,” he tweeted on Sept. 4, 2016.

The Republican Party needs strong and committed leaders, not weak people such as @JeffFlake, if it is going to stop illegal immigration.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2016

“The Great State of Arizona, where I just had a massive rally (amazing people), has a very weak and ineffective Senator, Jeff Flake. Sad!” he said in another tweet.

The Great State of Arizona, where I just had a massive rally (amazing people), has a very weak and ineffective Senator, Jeff Flake. Sad!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 4, 2016

In Aug. 2017, Trump tweeted, “Phoenix crowd last night was amazing – a packed house. I love the Great State of Arizona. Not a fan of Jeff Flake, weak on crime & border!”

Phoenix crowd last night was amazing – a packed house. I love the Great State of Arizona. Not a fan of Jeff Flake, weak on crime & border!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 23, 2017

‘Conscience of a Conservative’

Flake went after Trump – as well as his own party – in a book published by Random House called “Conscience of a Conservative.”

In his book, Flake called Trump “a candidate who entertained [voters] and offered oversimplified answers” to complex issues.

Kelli Ward endorsement

Before Flake announced that he would not seek re-election, Trump had already issued his public support for his Republican challenger.

“Great to see that Dr. Kelli Ward is running against Flake Jeff Flake, who is WEAK on borders, crime and a non-factor in Senate,” Trump tweeted on Aug. 17. “He’s toxic!”

Great to see that Dr. Kelli Ward is running against Flake Jeff Flake, who is WEAK on borders, crime and a non-factor in Senate. He’s toxic!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2017

Ward, a controversial Republican candidate, previously challenged Sen. John McCain’s Arizona seat and lost.

Election Day

Flake eventually revealed that he did not vote for Trump in the 2016 presidential election.

“I am a Republican. I am a conservative. I would love to have a Republican president but not at any cost,” Flake told NBC.

Flake goes to a mosque

During the presidential election, Flake visited a mosque in Arizona where he told Muslim worshipers that his “hope and prayer today is that the isolated voices calling for division are overwhelmed by the chorus of voices, like those in this room today, calling for acceptance, for tolerance and inclusion,” the Arizona Republic reported.

He blasted Trump’s comments about Muslims during the campaign, calling them “the antithesis of all we stand for here in America.”

Flake’s visit was in December 2015; he said then that he did not think Trump would become the GOP presidential nominee.

Kaitlyn Schallhorn is a Reporter for Fox News. Follow her on Twitter @K_Schallhorn.

Source: Inside the Trump-Flake feud, from media criticisms to immigration

The post Inside the Trump-Flake feud, from media criticisms to immigration appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/inside-the-trump-flake-feud-from-media-criticisms-to-immigration/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/the-nautilus-hotel-on-south-beach-hits-the-block/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-nautilus-hotel-on-south-beach-hits-the-block https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/the-nautilus-hotel-on-south-beach-hits-the-block/#respond Wed, 17 Jan 2018 08:07:30 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/the-nautilus-hotel-on-south-beach-hits-the-block/ The Nautilus Hotel on South Beach Hits the Block The fully-renovated Nautilus South Beach hotel has hit the market, and the listing broker said the oceanfront property could command nearly three times the previous sale price of $61 million. CBRE Hotels said Wednesday that it’s marketing the 250-room hotel, located at 1825 Collins […]

The post The Nautilus Hotel on South Beach Hits the Block appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

The Nautilus Hotel on South Beach Hits the Block

The fully-renovated Nautilus South Beach hotel has hit the market, and the listing broker said the oceanfront property could command nearly three times the previous sale price of $61 million.

CBRE Hotels said Wednesday that it’s marketing the 250-room hotel, located at 1825 Collins Ave. in Miami Beach, FL, for owner Quadrum Global.

CBRE’s Christian Charre said there is no asking price, but he expects the property to fetch in the range of $175 million to $180 million. It last sold in April 2011 for $244,000 a room, according to CoStar data.

^{See CoStar COMPS #2092514.}

The hotel, designed by acclaimed architect Morris Lapidus, opened in 1951. It closed during a four-year renovation before reopening in 2015.

“It’s like buying a brand new hotel,” Charre told CoStar News. “You don’t have to put a penny into it.”

Charre said Quadrum is ready to sell because it’s not a long-term holder of real estate. The group says it has invested more than $1 billion in U.S. real estate over the past eight years. The company has offices in New York and Miami.

“It’s time to move on to the next opportunity,” Charre said of the seller.

CBRE’s Paul Weimer added that Miami Beach has one of the top lodging markets in the nation.

“Miami’s long-term lodging dynamics are very positive,” he said. “Furthermore, with displacement from Caribbean islands and a newly renovated and expanded Convention Center set to reopen in the spring 2018, the Miami Beach lodging market is poised to grow faster than the rest of the country.”

CBRE Hotels’ Natalie Castillo and Jennifer Jin are marketing the property with Charre and Weimer.

Paul Owers, South Florida Market Reporter  CoStar Group   

Source: The Nautilus Hotel on South Beach Hits the Block

The post The Nautilus Hotel on South Beach Hits the Block appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/florida/the-nautilus-hotel-on-south-beach-hits-the-block/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/apple-to-open-another-corporate-campus-pledges-to-create-20000-us-jobs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=apple-to-open-another-corporate-campus-pledges-to-create-20000-us-jobs https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/apple-to-open-another-corporate-campus-pledges-to-create-20000-us-jobs/#respond Wed, 17 Jan 2018 06:38:03 +0000 https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/apple-to-open-another-corporate-campus-pledges-to-create-20000-us-jobs/ Apple to Open Another Corporate Campus, Pledges to Create 20,000 US Jobs iPhone Manufacturer Estimates Total Spending Impact of $350 Billion Over Next Five Years Apple unveiled its new visitor center in Cupertino near Apple Park last November. Credit: Apple Inc. Just a few months after opening its 2.8 million-square-foot circular headquarters campus […]

The post Apple to Open Another Corporate Campus, Pledges to Create 20,000 US Jobs appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Apple to Open Another Corporate Campus, Pledges to Create 20,000 US Jobs

iPhone Manufacturer Estimates Total Spending Impact of $350 Billion Over Next Five Years

Apple unveiled its new visitor center in Cupertino near Apple Park last November. Credit: Apple Inc.

Just a few months after opening its 2.8 million-square-foot circular headquarters campus in Cupertino, CA, Apple Inc. today announced plans to build a third U.S. corporate campus and hire 20,000 workers as part of a $30 billion capital-spending program over the next five years.

Apple said in a release that it will announce the location of the new campus, which will “initially house technical support for customers,” later this year, drawing immediate comparisons to Amazon’s search for its HQ2 headquarters campus, which drew 238 proposals from states, provinces and territories across North America.

The company provided no further details about the potential location or size of the campus, or whether Apple will seek existing space or build new facilities. Apple also did not specific whether it will, like Amazon, use a request for proposals (RFP) process to identify the new location.

The iPhone maker owns or leases more than 6.5 million square feet of office space in the U.S., according to CoStar information, ranging in size from its new $5 billion Apple Park “spaceship” headquarters campus which opened in Cupertino last year, to the former headquarters at 1 Infinite Loop totaling about 850,000 square feet, which now serves as office and research and development space. Apple also occupies several buildings totaling more than 1 million square feet at a technical support campus in Austin.In its latest major absorption of office space, Apple leased more than 200,000 square feet at two locations in Culver City on L.A.’s West Side.

The company expects to make about $38 billion in repatriated corporate tax payments to take advantage of a tax break under the new tax law approved by President Donald Trump and the Republican-led Congress, the largest payment by a company to date under the legislation. Combined with the planned capital expenditures and investments in U.S. manufacturing, the tax payment will account for about $75 billion of Apple’s direct contribution, the company said.

The company will spend about one-third, or $10 billion, of its expanded capital expenditures on data centers across the country to support its App Store, iCloud and Apple Music services, adding to its existing network of data centers and co-location facilities in North Carolina, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona and a recently announced project in Iowa. Apple today is breaking ground on a new facility in downtown Reno that will support its existing Nevada facilities.

In total, the iPhone manufacturer on Wednesday estimated its direct contribution to the U.S. economy over the next five years would be $350 billion, including about $55 billion this year, as a result of the combination of new investments and ongoing business with its U.S.-based vendors, suppliers and manufacturers.

Elected and economic development officials in several states and U.S. metros immediately vowed to put themselves in the running for the new campus, presuming Apple has not already made a decision.

“I don’t know what Apple’s looking for, but what ever it is, we’re going to go compete and we’re going to put our best foot forward,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a news conference after Wednesday’s regular city council meeting.

Emanuel, noting that the Windy City has led the U.S. in corporate relocations for four straight years in part due to housing affordability, good transportation system and proximity to high-quality universities, said many employees in coastal markets where Apple, Google and other tech companies are headquartered “cannot afford to work or live where they are.”

“Companies are realizing that where they are is not a long-term strategy, and Chicago has a lot to offer,” Emanuel said.

Source: Apple to Open Another Corporate Campus, Pledges to Create 20,000 US Jobs

The post Apple to Open Another Corporate Campus, Pledges to Create 20,000 US Jobs appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/apple-to-open-another-corporate-campus-pledges-to-create-20000-us-jobs/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/massachusetts/gazit-globe-subsidiary-to-open-new-office-in-boston/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=gazit-globe-subsidiary-to-open-new-office-in-boston https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/massachusetts/gazit-globe-subsidiary-to-open-new-office-in-boston/#respond Wed, 17 Jan 2018 05:38:55 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/local/massachusetts/gazit-globe-subsidiary-to-open-new-office-in-boston/ Gazit-Globe Subsidiary to Open New Office in Boston Alison Lies to Launch Boston Office of Gazit Horizons, Serve as SVP of Acquisitions The U.S. subsidiary of Israeli shopping center and mixed-use owner, operator and developer Gazit-Globe (NYSE; TSX; TASE: GZT) has confirmed plans to open a new office in Boston. Alison Lies, a […]

The post Gazit-Globe Subsidiary to Open New Office in Boston appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Gazit-Globe Subsidiary to Open New Office in Boston

Alison Lies to Launch Boston Office of Gazit Horizons, Serve as SVP of Acquisitions

The U.S. subsidiary of Israeli shopping center and mixed-use owner, operator and developer Gazit-Globe (NYSE; TSX; TASE: GZT) has confirmed plans to open a new office in Boston.

Alison Lies, a former vice president of acquisitions at Equity One, will relocate to Boston to launch the new office of Gazit Horizons as the senior vice president of acquisitions. The company targets income-producing real estate in major markets throughout the U.S., and currently operates offices in Miami and New York City.

Lies is a 16-year industry veteran who has worked with Gazit Horizons as a consultant since the firm’s launch this past May. In addition to her time at Equity One, she has held senior positions at Olshan Properties in New York City as well as Equity Inc. In her career, she has been involved in more than $3 billion in transactions and financing.

Lies, who is originally from the Boston area, holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University.

“Alison was here with us as a consultant when we started Gazit Horizons, and she quickly proved herself to be an invaluable part of our team,” said Jeff Mooallem, president and CEO of Gazit Horizons. “Our desire to grow in the Boston market, coupled with Alison’s familiarity with that market both as a former resident and as an investor, made this a win-win and an easy decision.”

Source: Gazit-Globe Subsidiary to Open New Office in Boston

The post Gazit-Globe Subsidiary to Open New Office in Boston appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/local/massachusetts/gazit-globe-subsidiary-to-open-new-office-in-boston/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/house-conservatives-gops-plan-to-evade-government-shutdown-doesnt-have-enough-party-support/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=house-conservatives-gops-plan-to-evade-government-shutdown-doesnt-have-enough-party-support https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/house-conservatives-gops-plan-to-evade-government-shutdown-doesnt-have-enough-party-support/#respond Wed, 17 Jan 2018 05:20:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/house-conservatives-gops-plan-to-evade-government-shutdown-doesnt-have-enough-party-support/ House conservatives: GOP’s plan to evade government shutdown doesn’t have enough party support close Video No funding deal in sight as Dems press for a DACA agreement Congress is working on a funding extension in lieu of a long-term solution; Mike Emanuel has more for ‘Special Report.’ House conservatives said late Tuesday […]

The post House conservatives: GOP's plan to evade government shutdown doesn't have enough party support appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

House conservatives: GOP’s plan to evade government shutdown doesn’t have enough party support

close

Video

No funding deal in sight as Dems press for a DACA agreement

Congress is working on a funding extension in lieu of a long-term solution; Mike Emanuel has more for ‘Special Report.’

House conservatives said late Tuesday that there is not enough Republican support of the GOP’s plan to prevent a government shutdown after both sides of the aisles locked horns on items like the border wall and DACA.

Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., the leader of the House Freedom Caucus, emerged from the meeting to say its members — and other GOP lawmakers as well — want a short-term bill keeping federal agencies open to contain added money for the military.

“There’s not enough support to pass it with GOP-only votes in the House,” Meadows, told reporters. He said he planned to discuss their concerns with Republican leaders. The GOP focus on keeping government open comes as it’s become certain there’s no time to cut a deal by Friday on protecting young immigrants.

The disagreements are not all that uncommon, but both parties hope to avoid an election-year shutdown when the Senate is up for grabs.

The Democrats want to shut down the Government over Amnesty for all and Border Security. The biggest loser will be our rapidly rebuilding Military, at a time we need it more than ever. We need a merit based system of immigration, and we need it now! No more dangerous Lottery.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018

The block by the hard-right group came as Republican leaders raced against a 12:01 a.m. deadline on Saturday to push a short-term spending bill through Congress.

If they fail, federal agencies would start shutting their doors over the weekend.

House Republican leaders tried to win over wary conservatives with a promise to repeal unpopular taxes as part of the bill preventing a shutdown. They sweetened the plan with a two-year delay on implementation of unpopular taxes on medical devices and generous employer-subsidized health care plans. The taxes, also unpopular with many Democrats, are part of former President Obama’s marquee health law.

Those talks were soured by Trump’s reported incendiary remark about ‘sh—hole’ countries in Africa last week. The Wall Street Journal reported that the White House added more complications when it insisted that Congress earmark billions for President Trump’s long-promised border wall.

Republicans in the House are scheduled to meet on Wednesday to talk about possible changes, The Journal reported.

Democratic leaders said they would not promise to vote to keep the government open past Friday without a plan to preserve a program that protects the young immigrants known as “Dreamers.”

Many Democrats said they’re still unlikely to support the measure without an agreement on immigration.

“We don’t want to shut down the government. … We want to keep the government open,” Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., told reporters. “But we’re not going to be held hostage to do things that we think are going to be contrary to the best interests of the American people.”

STIREWALT: WHAT WOULD A SHUTDOWN LOOK LIKE?

The temporary funding bill would also include a long-delayed, six-year renewal of a popular health insurance program for children of low-income families. It would fund the government through Feb. 16.

Even if they succeed in the House, Republicans would still need at least nine Democratic votes to push a spending package through the Senate, which the GOP controls 51-49. Democrats seeking leverage are forcing that bill to require 60 votes for passage.

On the left, liberal groups are ramping up pressure on Democrats to resist any spending plan, threatening primary challenges and public ridicule for Democrats unwilling to risk a government shutdown to save the program for young immigrants.

Meanwhile, the bipartisan group of senators continued work to build support for a plan to protect the “Dreamers” and toughen border security, including funds to start building Trump’s long-promised border wall.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Source: House conservatives: GOP’s plan to evade government shutdown doesn’t have enough party support

The post House conservatives: GOP's plan to evade government shutdown doesn't have enough party support appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/house-conservatives-gops-plan-to-evade-government-shutdown-doesnt-have-enough-party-support/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/brokers-see-listings-as-big-challenge-in-2018-apt-market/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=brokers-see-listings-as-big-challenge-in-2018-apt-market https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/brokers-see-listings-as-big-challenge-in-2018-apt-market/#respond Wed, 17 Jan 2018 04:28:20 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/brokers-see-listings-as-big-challenge-in-2018-apt-market/ Brokers See Listings as Big Challenge in 2018 Apt. Market Pictured: Brian McAuliffe, president of institutional properties at CBRE, and head of its multifamily sales platform. The big national apartment brokerages think 2018 will be a year in which their biggest sales job will be convincing owners to sell. “In a lot of […]

The post Brokers See Listings as Big Challenge in 2018 Apt. Market appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Brokers See Listings as Big Challenge in 2018 Apt. Market

Pictured: Brian McAuliffe, president of institutional properties at CBRE, and head of its multifamily sales platform.

The big national apartment brokerages think 2018 will be a year in which their biggest sales job will be convincing owners to sell.

“In a lot of cases it’s not a no-brainer to sell,” says Josh Goldfarb, the co-head of Cushman & Wakefield’s multifamily investment sales platform. Valuations of most apartment properties soared during the early years of the economic recovery, driving apartment pricing – and sales – to historic highs. The pace of rent growth and the resulting increases in property values pushed some owners to shorten their hold times on assets to cash in on the great pricing. Buyers of an apartment property in 2010 found themselves unexpected, – but, happy – sellers in 2012, or 2013.

Now, though, valuations are slowing or staying flat. “You have to come up with a really thoughtful reason for doing this (selling) if the valuations aren’t there,” says Goldfarb.

“If you bought in 2010, or 2011, or 2012, you hit your pro forma in two or three years,” says Blake Okland, head of Newmark’s Apartment Realty Advisors arm. “The next guy is going to take five-to-seven years. So we really need to be able to entice these guys to sell.”

Okland predicts the market will see an increase in off-market deals, as buyers approach sellers on their own, with their own pitch. Look, too, for entity-level deals, where investors buy apartment shops outright as a way to achieve scale and deploy pent-up capital in one big chunk. For brokers, touting one’s ability to mass-market a new property listing will be less important than offering owners full-service advisory services: portfolio assessment, broker-opinions of value, and market forecasting.

Capital, say brokers, isn’t a problem. Investors – foreign, domestic, institutional and private – continue to pour into the apartment sector. U.S. real estate continues to be seen as one of the world’s surest bets – and multifamily tops the list of preferred asset classes.

Amazon and other online retailers looking to build out a home-delivery distribution network have upped the industrial sector’s appeal as they hunt for warehouses around the country. But even that demand is unlikely to push industrial properties to compete with multifamily in the coming years.

“If I want to be in real estate, logistics and the industrial sector is the darling right now, but it’s a fraction of the size of multifamily,” says Brian McAuliffe, head of CBRE’s institutional apartment sales platform. “When we look at the amount of capital – foreign, domestic, private – who want apartments, it’s as robust as ever.”

The end of one year and the start of another is usually the time brokerages are flooded with requests for BOV’s – broker opinion of values. Those requests from owners are seen as the first step to bringing a property to market for sale. Brokers say the pace of requests this year have been on par with years past.

The difference is where the potential listings are.

Core, downtown properties have been the favorite in recent years, but suburban value-added deals have been gaining ground. In 2018, brokers expect that trend to expand.

“Suburban, Class B isn’t a super-aggressive play, but it’s the safest harbor for multifamily money,” says Okland, of ARA.

In the face of flattening value appreciation, the higher returns in those older, suburban properties will drive sales.

“The big trend we saw in the second half of 2017, was the drive for current yield,’ says CBRE’s McAuliffe. “Investors can’t bet that the market will bail them out with lower cap rates and appreciation.”

The big turn to the suburbs and secondary markets could quickly change the dynamics in those areas. As investors boost rents after renovations to the older properties, those rents could approach the level where new development makes sense since the start of the economic developers could justify new apartment development in the best, downtown locations. But given the going rent levels elsewhere, new product was almost always seen as a losing proposition.

Goldfarb, of Cushman, says he’s seeing new suburban apartment development already – especially in certain southeast markets. In many places, the supply of 20-year-old apartment properties ripe for a renovation is drying up.

“In the last few years, you’ve been able to find an early-2000’s vintage property, throw some new stainless steel stoves in, and the sky’s the limit,” says Goldfarb. “Now, that’s getting played out. And the rising rents are justifying new development.”

Source: Brokers See Listings as Big Challenge in 2018 Apt. Market

The post Brokers See Listings as Big Challenge in 2018 Apt. Market appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/brokers-see-listings-as-big-challenge-in-2018-apt-market/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-cites-federal-report-on-foreign-born-terrorists-to-urge-immigration-reform/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trump-cites-federal-report-on-foreign-born-terrorists-to-urge-immigration-reform https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-cites-federal-report-on-foreign-born-terrorists-to-urge-immigration-reform/#respond Wed, 17 Jan 2018 02:45:00 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-cites-federal-report-on-foreign-born-terrorists-to-urge-immigration-reform/ Trump cites federal report on foreign-born terrorists to urge immigration reform President Donald Trump has urged lawmakers to do away with lottery visa programs and chain migration as they look to reform immigration policy.  (AP) President Donald Trump on Tuesday used a new report from the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security […]

The post Trump cites federal report on foreign-born terrorists to urge immigration reform appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Trump cites federal report on foreign-born terrorists to urge immigration reform

President Donald Trump has urged lawmakers to do away with lottery visa programs and chain migration as they look to reform immigration policy.

 (AP)

President Donald Trump on Tuesday used a new report from the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security — revealing that nearly three out of four individuals convicted on international terrorism charges in the U.S. were foreign-born — to call for immigration reform.

The DHS and DOJ released the report  to “be more transparent with the American people,” abiding by the guidelines of Trump’s March 6 executive order, more commonly known as the travel ban. 

According to the report, at least 549 people were convicted of international terrorism-related charges in the U.S. between September 11, 2001 and December 31, 2016. Of those convicted, 254 were not U.S. citizens, 148 were foreign-born and received citizenship and 147 were citizens by birth.

It also noted that the DHS in 2017 denied U.S. entry to 2,554 people on the terror watch list.

Trump reacted to the report by tweeting: “We have submitted to Congress a list of resources and reforms we need to keep America safe, including moving away from a random chain migration and lottery system, to one that is merit-based.”

….we need to keep America safe, including moving away from a random chain migration and lottery system, to one that is merit-based. https://t.co/7PtoSFK1n2

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 16, 2018

The president has made it clear in recent meetings on immigration with lawmakers from both parties that he wants to end the visa lottery program, aimed at increasing immigrant diversity, and chain migration, when immigrants enter the U.S. through sponsorship from family members already settled in the country.

I am calling on Congress to TERMINATE the diversity visa lottery program that presents significant vulnerabilities to our national security. pic.twitter.com/tW4wOlI4vu

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2017

The report also found that from October 1, 2011 to September 30, 355,345 non-U.S. citizens were arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the purpose of deportation after being convicted of an “aggravated felony” or two or more felony offenses. In addition, 370,098 non-U.S. citizens were deported for the same offenses during that time period.

A senior administration official said Tuesday that the report “is part of the administration’s efforts to illuminate basic statistics that should be at the hands of the American people to inform public discourse on the issue,” The Hill reported.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions reacted to the report on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight” Tuesday. 

“We have immigration, we want immigration, but we want to vet these people,” Sessions said. “We want to know who they are and make sure they’re going to be productive people, people who will flourish in America, who are going to not be terrorists, not be criminals and that’s exactly correct for America.”

Sessions added that the U.S. should “tighten up on our admission of people from dangerous areas of the globe, where we can’t vet, where we have high numbers of terrorists that live in those areas. We should certainly be more careful and limit that kind of immigration.”

Source: Trump cites federal report on foreign-born terrorists to urge immigration reform

The post Trump cites federal report on foreign-born terrorists to urge immigration reform appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/politics/trump-cites-federal-report-on-foreign-born-terrorists-to-urge-immigration-reform/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/kansas-city-realtor-assn-selects-costar-as-cre-data-provider/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=kansas-city-realtor-assn-selects-costar-as-cre-data-provider https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/kansas-city-realtor-assn-selects-costar-as-cre-data-provider/#respond Wed, 17 Jan 2018 02:38:38 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/kansas-city-realtor-assn-selects-costar-as-cre-data-provider/ Kansas City Realtor Assn. Selects CoStar as CRE Data Provider CoStar to Provide Listing Management, Property Search Service for KCRAR’s Commercial Members The Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors (KCRAR) and CoStar issued a joint statement today announcing that CoStar will become the real estate organization’s exclusive data, analytics and marketing provider for […]

The post Kansas City Realtor Assn. Selects CoStar as CRE Data Provider appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Kansas City Realtor Assn. Selects CoStar as CRE Data Provider

CoStar to Provide Listing Management, Property Search Service for KCRAR’s Commercial Members

The Kansas City Regional Association of Realtors (KCRAR) and CoStar issued a joint statement today announcing that CoStar will become the real estate organization’s exclusive data, analytics and marketing provider for its commercial real estate division.

Under the agreement, KCRAR’s commercial real estate members will be offered preferential CoStar pricing and KCRAR members’ listings will be made available to tenants and investors on the association’s website through LoopLink, a hosted listing management and property search service offered by CoStar’s LoopNet affiliate and supported by CoStar’s extensive CRE database.

Additionally, CoStar agreed to an annual KCRAR sponsorship and to provide market statistics and data to the organization’s members.

KCRAR CEO Kipp Cooper said the agreement supports the association’s mission of providing innovative resources, tools and education to its members.

“We set out to find the best information and marketing system with the best analytic tools for our members and to make it affordable. We believe our collaboration with CoStar provides the best solution,” Cooper said in a statement.

CoStar Group CEO Andrew Florance said the agreement will provide Kansas City commercial real estate professionals with the best-available research and marketplace solutions.

“We are committed to helping KCRAR members make faster, better decisions by providing the most up-to-date CRE information that is backed by an incredible team of more than 1,850 researchers who conduct 12 million interviews annually,” said Florance.

The agreement with KCRAR comes as CoStar is in the midst of a two-week, 30-city road show with presentations to current and prospective users. The presentations, which are focused on the transforming impact of technology on commercial real estate, include such topics as 3D cameras, infrared drones and augmented reality.

Source: Kansas City Realtor Assn. Selects CoStar as CRE Data Provider

The post Kansas City Realtor Assn. Selects CoStar as CRE Data Provider appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/kansas-city-realtor-assn-selects-costar-as-cre-data-provider/feed/ 0 https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/updated-mgm-growth-properties-makes-play-to-acquire-vici-properties/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=updated-mgm-growth-properties-makes-play-to-acquire-vici-properties https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/updated-mgm-growth-properties-makes-play-to-acquire-vici-properties/#respond Wed, 17 Jan 2018 01:59:28 +0000 http://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/updated-mgm-growth-properties-makes-play-to-acquire-vici-properties/ Updated: MGM Growth Properties Makes Play to Acquire VICI Properties Caesars Palace in Las Vegas MGM Growth Properties LLC (NYSE: MGP) is making a play to combine two of the largest casino owners in the world. MGM sent a letter to the CEO and the chairman VICI Properties Inc. (OTCMKTS: VICI) proposing to […]

The post Updated: MGM Growth Properties Makes Play to Acquire VICI Properties appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]>

Updated: MGM Growth Properties Makes Play to Acquire VICI Properties

Caesars Palace in Las Vegas

MGM Growth Properties LLC (NYSE: MGP) is making a play to combine two of the largest casino owners in the world.

MGM sent a letter to the CEO and the chairman VICI Properties Inc. (OTCMKTS: VICI) proposing to acquire 100% of VICI’s outstanding common stock for $19.50 per share in an all-stock deal.

MGM said VICI had so far has elected not to engage in meaningful discussions. Maybe for a good reason: its stock has been trading for a little more than $20 a share through most of December and January. Its stock price today was trading in a range from $20.50 to $23/share.

VICI has a market capitalization value of about $6.4 billion.

VICI Properties confirmed the unsolicited, non-binding, written proposal from MGM Growth Properties and in consultation with its financial and legal advisors, determined that pursuing it was not in the best interests of the company and its stockholders.

“VICI’s board unanimously believes that our prospects as a standalone independent company will deliver significantly superior results for our shareholders,” said Edward Pitoniak, CEO of VICI Properties. “With our high quality, diversified real estate portfolio and best-in-class corporate governance, we are best positioned to successfully execute on our identifiable embedded growth from call-option and right of first refusal assets and our active pipeline of incremental accretive acquisitions. Through this we believe we will create greater long-term value than by pursuing MGP’s proposal.”

[Editor’s Note: This story was update Wednesday Jan. 17, 9 AM EST with VICI’s response.]

Born out of the bankruptcy reorganization of Caesars Entertainment Corp., VICI Properties was spun-off late last year as the owner of a diverse portfolio consisting of 20 gaming facilities including Caesars Palace Las Vegas. Its national, geographically diverse portfolio consists of over 36 million square feet and features approximately 14,500 hotel rooms and more than 150 restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

MGM Growth Properties currently owns 11 premier destination resorts in Las Vegas and elsewhere across the United States and one dining and entertainment complex. The properties collectively comprise 27,541 hotel rooms, over 2.65 million convention square footage, over 100 retail outlets, over 200 food and beverage outlets and over 20 entertainment venues.

MGM said it believes that a proposed combination is extremely attractive strategically and financially for itself and VICI. The combination of the two would create the largest triple-net lease REIT and a Top 15 public REIT by enterprise value.

In addition, the ownership in the combined company would benefit from operational synergies, wider potential trading in VICI stock, more efficient cost of capital and additional liquidity as a significantly larger company.

MGM said it is working with third party financial and legal advisors and could make a definitive offer within two weeks assuming VICI comes to the table.

Source: Updated: MGM Growth Properties Makes Play to Acquire VICI Properties

The post Updated: MGM Growth Properties Makes Play to Acquire VICI Properties appeared first on NAS Press Online.

No related news.

]]> https://www.naswpressonline.org/real-estate/updated-mgm-growth-properties-makes-play-to-acquire-vici-properties/feed/ 0