Written By Welcome to the world of politics, where every move and decision made by government officials can affect our daily lives. From new policies on healthcare to foreign affairs, it’s vital that we stay up-to-date with the latest developments from those in power. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the most recent moves and shakers within the government as they work to implement changes that will shape our future. So grab your coffee and get ready for a whirlwind tour of the latest policy updates!
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
On December 17, 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) by a margin of 217-213. The TCJA is one of the largest legislative achievements in U.S. history and represents a major shift in American tax policy. The TCJA lowers the statutory corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, reduces individual income tax rates, expands the child tax credit, and makes numerous other changes. The bill is expected to generate nearly $1 trillion in revenue over 10 years and will provide substantial relief for individuals and businesses across the country.
The TCJA has been met with significant opposition from both sides of the aisle due to its distributional impacts, namely its effect on low-and moderate-income households. The House Speaker Paul Ryan argued that these concerns are unfounded given that most families will see their taxes decrease under the TCJA and that there will be no increase in deficit spending as a result of these cuts.[1] However, while many analyses have found that most families will receive modest offsetting tax benefits from other provisions of the TCJA (usually in the form of increased take-home pay),[2][3] others have concluded that middle-income households will experience larger drops in after-tax incomes,[4] which could lead to increased poverty rates.[5]
In light of this controversy, several Senate Republicans have announced plans to propose changes to the TCJA prior to its
The Trump Administration’s Immigration Policies
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has made a number of moves affecting immigration policies. These include suspending the issuance of visas to citizens of Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries, as well as ordering the construction of a wall along the Mexican border. Here is a look at some of the other developments:
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released new guidelines that would limit green card holders from certain countries from obtaining citizenship if they have ever been convicted of a crime. The new rule would apply to immigrants who were already in the country, had been here for more than five years and had not committed any crimes other than a single offense for which they were not adjudicated guilty.
The Trump Administration also announced it would end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Salvadorans, Haitians and South Sudanese in January 2019. TPS is an emergency program that allows nationals from countries facing conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to persecution or natural disaster to remain in the United States while their status is resolved.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) began accepting applications for renewable two-year work visas starting on April 3. The visa will allow foreign workers with skills that are needed by US businesses to stay in the country while their applications are reviewed. This program replaces an earlier scheme, DACA, which allowed young immigrants who arrived in the US as children to live and work without fear of being deported.
This article was written by Laura Berman from Forbes
The State of the Union Address
In his State of the Union Address, President Obama outlined some of his administration’s plans for the next year. The president highlighted several initiatives he plans to pursue in order to improve the economy and strengthen national security. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most important government moves and shakers from this week:
1. President Obama announced his intention to sign an executive order that would require federal contractors to disclose any violations of labor laws within their companies. This move is part of a larger effort by the administration to crack down on illegal labor practices and help ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used ethically.
2. The White House released a report detailing how climate change will affect the American economy over the next eighty years. The report predicts that climate change will cost U.S. businesses trillions of dollars in lost revenue, and will cause millions of jobs to be lost.
3. The IRS released new guidance clarifying how taxes should be reported by certain types of LLCs, including those formed for business purposes such as investing in startup companies or making strategic acquisitions. This guidance is intended to make it easier for these types of LLCs to file taxes correctly and avoid misunderstandings with tax authorities.
4. The Department of Veterans Affairs released a report stating that suicides among veterans have increased by 24 percent since 2010, and must be taken more seriously as a national public health crisis. The VA has launched an initiative called “Suicide Prevention for Veterans” aimed at reducing suicide
DACA Renewal and the Future of Immigrant Youth
As the Trump administration continues to develop its agenda for DACA, it has also signaled its intent to revisit the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The future of DACA and the estimated 800,000 young immigrants who have received it is uncertain, as various legislative proposals are being developed in Congress.
One proposal, known as the Dream Act, would provide a pathway to citizenship for qualifying immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children. While this proposal has broad support among lawmakers and advocates, it faces significant opposition from President Trump and some members of his administration.
In early September, DHS announced that it would begin accepting renewal applications for DACA on October 5th. However, the decision drew criticism from both sides of the aisle because it did not include a clear path to citizenship or any other specific provisions. The Trump administration has since said that a comprehensive solution for DACA recipients is still being developed and that no decisions have been made about how to move forward with the program.[1]
This uncertainty surrounding DACA has implications beyond just those affected by it. Young immigrants who are already registered with DACA fear that their status will be revoked if Congress does not come up with a permanent solution soon. This could result in them being unable to continue their educations or gain employment opportunities – both of which are critical components of successful integration into American society.
In addition to affecting these individuals directly, delays in enacting legislation on this issue could have
A Look Ahead at the 2018 Midterm Elections
The midterm elections are just around the corner, and with that comes a slew of government moves and shakers that you’ll want to keep your eye on! Here are the latest updates on the most important policy developments:
1. Tax Reform: The Trump-Republican party is in full swing when it comes to pushing for tax reform, which is likely to be one of the major topics of discussion during this year’s midterm elections. This would be Trump’s third attempt at getting this passed – previous attempts have met with failure due to disagreements between Republicans in Congress. However, if they can get this through (and there’s still some way to go), it would be a major victory for Trump and the Republican party, as it would reduce taxes for the majority of Americans and boost the economy.
2. DACA: Another key issue that is expected to come up during this year’s midterm elections is DACA (or “the Dreamers”), which refers to immigrants who were brought into the United States illegally as children. While there has been much debate surrounding how to deal with these immigrants, many politicians agree that some form of legislative action needs to be taken in order for them not to become a political football over the next few years. There are currently about 800,000 people who are benefiting from DACA, and while their status may change after the midterms, it’s likely that lawmakers will want to take some kind of action in order to protect them.
3. The Mueller Investigation:
Conclusion
In this final installment of our government moves and shakers series, we will be providing you with updates on the latest policy developments. Here are some of the key headlines you will want to keep an eye out for: -The Trump administration is considering new rules that would allow coal companies to pollute streams and waterways without consequence. -A bill proposing cannabis legalization has been introduced in both the House and Senate. -The Department of Labor is expected to release updated regulations governing overtime pay.
