U.S. Politics

[Rick Plant]

US Senate candidate leads first lawsuit challenging dissolution of Disney World’s Reedy Creek district



ORLANDO, Fla. — Three Central Florida taxpayers represented by a lawyer running for U.S. Senate are suing Gov. Ron DeSantis over the dissolution of Disney World’s Reedy Creek Improvement District.

The lawsuit filed this week in federal court is the first in what could be a barrage of legal challenges to ending The Walt Disney Co.’s private government in Florida.

The plaintiffs are Michael and Edward Foronda of Kissimmee and Vivian Gorsky of Orange County. They are represented by William Sanchez, a Miami lawyer and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate.

The lawsuit accuses Florida of violating a state law called the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, as well as a contractual obligation with Reedy Creek’s bondholders and Disney’s First Amendment rights. DeSantis is listed as a defendant, along with Secretary of State Laurel Lee and Jim Zingale, executive director of the Florida Department of Revenue.

“Plaintiffs, who are property owners in the surrounding counties, fear that they will now have to assume the tax burden that Disney previously assumed under the special tax status,” the lawsuit reads. “Their fear is well founded, and it is through this taxpayer lawsuit ... that they are able to protect their rights.”

Sanchez did not return a message Wednesday seeking comment. In a video posted on YouTube, he said he is “punching back hard” against a law he thinks is discriminatory.

“We are basically letting Gov. DeSantis know that he has to follow the Constitution also,” Sanchez said. “Just because he is governor and he’s raised $100 million (for his reelection campaign) doesn’t mean he gets to do whatever he wants just like President Trump used to do.”

DeSantis signed legislation on April 22 abolishing the district on June 1, 2023.

No economic study was done on the ramifications of ending the district. Central Florida officials say local taxpayers could be forced to pick up the district’s $1 billion of outstanding debt and other obligations, resulting in a significant tax increase for residents.

DeSantis insists Central Florida homeowners will not face higher tax bills or other negative consequences. His office has not released a plan explaining how the dissolution would proceed. Christina Pushaw, a DeSantis spokeswoman, said she could not comment specifically on the lawsuit but reiterated the governor’s position.

“The local residents of Orange and Osceola counties will not have to bear the burden of Disney’s debt, as the governor has stated,” she said in an email. “And, there is no scenario where the state would inherit Disney’s debt.”

Reedy Creek, which encompasses Disney World and neighboring properties, has the power to issue tax-free bonds, levy taxes, oversee land use and environmental protections and provide essential public services.

The lawsuit cites the Florida Taxpayer Bill of Rights, which includes requirements to keep taxpayer information confidential and the “right to fair and consistent application of the tax laws.” It also accuses the state of violating a pledge to bondholders not to dissolve the district until its $1 billion in bond obligations are “fully met and discharged.”

Reedy Creek has previously issued a statement to its investors pointing out the state’s pledge to bondholders, too.

State Sen. Linda Stewart, an Orlando Democrat, said Monday she thinks dissolving Reedy Creek would require a voter referendum. The bill’s Republican sponsors said that provision doesn’t apply.

“I can tell you that right now there are legal minds on all sides that are working to see what exactly is possible legally,” Stewart said.

© Orlando Sentinel

[Rick Plant]

Dow surges 900 points, books best day since 2020
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/u-s-stock-futures-rise-as-market-awaits-what-could-be-the-biggest-fed-rate-hike-since-2000-11651658512


Joe Biden @JoeBiden

Senator Rick Scott released an Ultra-MAGA Agenda.

It could raise taxes on 75 million American families.

Under this new plan, while big corporations and billionaires would pay nothing more, working-class folks are going to pay a hell of a lot more.

https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1521999366898298882


President Biden @POTUS

For the first time since 2016, the Treasury Department is planning to pay down the national debt issued to the public this quarter. For all the talk that Congressional Republicans make about deficits — it didn’t happen during a single quarter under my predecessor.

This week, my Administration released new information that confirms that we’re on track to cut the federal deficit by another $1.5 trillion by the end of this fiscal year — the biggest decline in a single year ever in American history.

All the talk about the deficit from my Republican friends in Congress – I love it.

I’ve reduced it $350 billion in my first year in office.

The unemployment rate was 6.4% when I took office. Now, because of our economic plans, it’s down to 3.6%.

That’s the fastest decline in unemployment ever recorded.

https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1521956738492252161


Biden touts economic growth, debt and deficit reduction

President Joe Biden on Wednesday said that the federal government will pay down the national debt this quarter for the first time in six years.

His remarks on economic growth came ahead of the Federal Reserve announcing a hike in interest rates Wednesday afternoon in an attempt to manage soaring inflation.

"Bringing down the deficit is one way to ease inflationary pressures in an economy, where a consequence of a war and gas prices and oil, food, and it all – it's just a different world right this moment because of Ukraine and Russia," Biden said.

Biden's remarks from the White House come after the Treasury Department updated estimates this week to project that the U.S. deficit will fall by over $1.5 trillion this year, a revision from the $1.3 trillion projected in Biden's budget.

"For all the talk the Republicans make about deficits, it didn't happen a single quarter under my predecessor, not once," Biden said. "The bottom line is the deficit went up every year under my predecessor, before the pandemic and during the pandemic, and it's gone down both years since I have been here. Period. There are the facts."

He credited the American Rescue Plan for growing the economy, though not a single Republican in Congress voted for the bill.

"Looking ahead, I plan to reduce the deficit even more which will help reduce inflationary measures and lower the cost for everyone's families," Biden said, as he tries to revive a stalled legislative agenda in Congress.

A White House official said, "This deficit reduction is occurring because the robust economic recovery means earnings and incomes are higher, which is increasing revenue, and because the Administration is winding down emergency spending."

"There is no reason why a billionaire should be paid a lower tax rate than a teacher or firefighter," Biden said Wednesday. "That is a sharp contrast to what's today's Republican Party is offering."

Raising a plan released by Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott, Biden blasted what he called "this ultra-MAGA agenda," which he said would raise costs for Americans families.

Former President Donald Trump's massive tax cut in 2017 has added more than $1 trillion to the debt by some estimates -- a point Biden hit head on.

AFP

[Rick Plant]

Funny how all these right wing radicals who were never Republicans call long time conservatives "RINOs". It's these far right wing radicals who are the RINOs, they call themselves Republicans, but hold no true conservative beliefs. These radicals hijacked the Republican party and turned it into a violent Christian nationalist movement based on absurd conspiracy theories. The true conservatives are leaving the GOP and the remaining ones who are still left are being purged by these right wing radicals.     

Regan blames special state House election loss on ‘coup’ from ‘RINO establishment’



The day after far-right Republican Robert Regan lost a special state House election Tuesday in a surprise upset, Regan blamed establishment Republicans for his loss during a radio talk show appearance.

“This was a big, big win for … quite frankly, the RINO [Republican in Name Only] establishment, who’s proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that they would rather have a Democrat in office than an American-first Republican candidate like me,” Regan said on “Trucker Randy” Bishop’s radio show Wednesday.

Bishop, a longtime GOP activist who filed to run for state Senate as a Democrat, agreed and said there was a “coup” to make sure Regan didn’t win on Tuesday.

Regan faced backlash and lost some GOP establishment support during his campaign after saying that he tells his daughters “if rape is inevitable, lie back and enjoy it.” He also called the war in Ukraine “a fake war just like the fake pandemic,” and shared a meme claiming that feminism is a “Jewish program to degrade and subjugate white men.”

Democrat Carol Glanville defeated Regan on Tuesday. She said the Republican’s “extreme, violent and antisemetic views” have no place in the House district that includes suburbs around Grand Rapids like Grandville, Rockford and Walker.

The House seat had been left vacant after former state Rep. Mark Huizenga (R-Walker) won a special Senate election in 2021. Glanville’s win in the heavily red district marks the first state legislative flip of 2022 nationwide.

While speaking on Bishop’s show Wednesday, Regan said “establishment” Republicans are “trying to destroy” him.

In contrast, Regan said he and others like him are “street fighters” who “don’t mind getting dirty.”

“We need men and women that are willing to get dirty, get down in there and really go after these people. Because that’s what it’s gonna take,” Regan said. “Kind of how [former President] Donald Trump was, you’ve got to be willing to take and throw punches and go after these people.

“… You have to be willing to fight these people because they are downright evil, and they do not have our best interests at heart and they want to destroy our republic,” he added.

Regan also spoke at length about the long-debunked conspiracy theory that President Joe Biden did not rightfully win the 2020 presidential election.

“There is no way that Joe Biden won Michigan,” Regan falsely claimed.

Biden won Michigan by more than 154,000 votes.

Regan then claimed that he is in contact with active and retired “constitutional sheriffs around the state,” like Barry County’s Dar Leaf, who are planning to hold state officials accountable for widespread election fraud (which does not exist).

So-called constitutional sheriffs are anti-government, militia-friendly sheriffs that have openly declared their refusal to uphold state orders like guns at polls, COVID-19 orders and more.

“We’re working with the sheriffs and we’re working from the legal aspect to hold their feet to the fire because clearly, our RINO elected legislators, they’re not doing anything,” he said.

Regan said he plans to connect with far-right commentator Dinesh D’Souza and “his investigators” to dig up evidence for the sheriffs.

He also said his supporters are planning to “take over” the Kent County Republican Party via precinct delegate elections on Aug. 2.

In response to Regan’s radio appearance, Michigan GOP spokesperson Gustavo Portela tweeted Wednesday that Regan was “possibly the worst candidate I’ve ever seen.”

“There’s no room in our party for someone like him, advocating for violence against women,” Portela said, adding that Republicans will “win this seat back.”

https://michiganadvance.com/2022/05/04/regan-blames-special-state-house-election-loss-on-coup-from-rino-establishment/

[Rick Plant]

Republican wins GOP nomination — from jail as he awaits trial for murdering his wife



Despite being jailed after allegedly murdering his wife after she filed for divorce, an Indiana man advanced in a local election in Tuesday's primary election.

"Andrew Wilhoite, who’s suspected of fatally striking his wife with a gallon-sized concrete flower pot, secured a spot Tuesday as one of three Republican candidates in the race for a seat on the Clinton Township Board," the Indianapolis Star reports. "The 40-year-old has been incarcerated in the Boone County Jail since March after police said he told investigators he threw a concrete flower pot at his wife, Nikki Wilhoite, the night before and dropped her body over the side of a bridge."

Brad King, co-director of the Indiana Election Division, explained that under Indiana law, Wilhoite is allowed to run.

“Under our legal system, every person is innocent until proven guilty,” he explained. “If a candidate is ultimately convicted, then depending upon the timing of that conviction, the person can be replaced on the ballot by the political party that has a vacancy.”

Nikki Wilhoite was reported missing March 25.

"Investigators in a probable cause affidavit said Andrew Wilhoite initially told police he last saw his wife sleeping on the couch after the couple had an argument. When police spoke further with him, he asked for an attorney. Police said Andrew Wilhoite called again shortly after and said he’d take them to his wife’s body," the newspaper reported.

Fox 59 reports police say Wilhoite confessed.

"Police say they found blood in the master bedroom and bathroom and learned Nikki, who had recently successfully underwent chemo treatment, had filed for divorce on March 17. After being questioned by Indiana State Police, a probable cause affidavit shows Andrew confessed to fatally striking Nikki in the face with a gallon-sized cement flower pot and then throwing her body in a nearby creek," the station reported.

Watch story: https://fox59.com/indiana-news/boone-county-murder-suspect-wins-60-votes-in-primary-election/

https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2022/05/05/andrew-wilhoite-accused-killing-wife-clinton-township-indiana-primary-winner/9659893002/

[Rick Plant]

Florida GOP official claims DUI investigation is a 'witch hunt' after crashing head-on into tree



The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office has released body cam footage that documents a deputy declaring a Republican Florida politician was intoxicated after crashing his truck.

"Video and audio footage show Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse slur his words and struggle to answer questions in a recorded 911 call and deputy’s bodycam footage that captured the moments immediately after his alleged DUI crash," the Bradenton Herald reported Thursday. "The commissioner has not been arrested in connection with the crash, and denies he was drinking."

In the bodycam footage, which was released after a public records request from the newspaper, was taken on the evening of April 20. A white Ford F-150 can be seen crashed into a tree.

By the time the deputy arrived, Kruse's wife Jessica was already on the scene.

The footage shows another sheriff's deputy pull up and discuss the situation.

"What happened?" the second deputy asked.

"The dude freaking crashed into a tree," the first deputy said, saying Kruse was "drunk."

"I just can't do a DUI because nobody can put him behind the wheel," he explained. "When I got here, he was in his wife's car."

Kruse told the Business Observer that the investigation was "entirely political."

"It's just a witch hunt. There was no alcohol, there were no drugs involved. My citation does not check that box," he claimed.

The Bradenton Herald reported there are inconsistencies in how Kruse explained the crash. "During an interview with the sheriff’s office, Kruse said that he 'cut a curb' when another driver sped past him, but investigators found that he told his insurance company that he swerved to avoid a small animal," the newspaper explained.

The body cam footage shows the initial deputy on the scene discussing the situation with Jessica Kruse.

"You understand your husband could go to jail for intoxicated driving," he said. "So you need to just talk to him about that. He's obviously impaired. It's obvious. This kind of crush depth for this kind of crash, he was not doing the speed limit this road requires."

"I will say though, that this asphalt has been a complete sh*tshow," she replied.

The sheriff's office told the newspaper it has completed its investigation and handed over all evidence to the State Attorney's Office with a recommendation that charges be filed.

Watch WFLA-TV's coverage below

[Rick Plant]

Ron DeSantis banned from NY Museum of Jewish Heritage ahead of speaking role at the facility



On Thursday, WFLA reported that Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has been banned from the grounds of the New York Museum of Jewish Heritage — following an invitation to speak there by organizers of the Jewish Leadership Conference in June.

This was first revealed in an editorial by two of the organizers in the Wall Street Journal.

"Elliott Abrams and Eric Cohen are leading members of Jewish non-profit Tikvah Fund. Abrams is the chairman, while Cohen has been executive director of the organization since 2007, according to biographies of them on the Jewish Leadership Conference website," reported Sam Sachs. "The Tikvah Fund is a philanthropy organization, founded to support the 'intellectual, religious, and political leaders of the Jewish people and the Jewish State.' According to the Tikvah Fund, the organization 'invests in a wide range of initiatives' around the world, including in the United States and Israel."

"The two writers said staff from the museum had told them that DeSantis was banned while the Tikvah Fund was still planning out the event details," said the report. "Museum staff reportedly told Abrams and Cohen that 'DeSantis didn’t ‘align with the museum’s values and its message of inclusivity.'' Conference leaders were told that either the governor could be disinvited, or the event would not be welcome at the museum, according to the editorial."

Abrams and Cohen complained about the decision in the editorial. "We know things are bad when a Jewish institution — in this case, a museum whose purpose is to keep Jewish heritage alive by remembering the Holocaust — turns on its own and tries to make a virtue of its own intolerance," they wrote, arguing that Florida is experiencing a "remarkable Jewish renaissance" they thought DeSantis could offer some perspective on.

DeSantis has inflamed controversy by signing a law that prohibits teachers from even mentioning sexual orientation or gender identity in classrooms, known by critics as the "Don't Say Gay" law. He compounded this by signing a bill seeking to strip the Walt Disney corporation of its special district status for criticizing the measure, which could reportedly cause taxes to skyrocket for families in Orlando and Kissimmee.

https://www.wfla.com/news/politics/gov-desantis-reportedly-banned-from-ny-museum-of-jewish-heritage/

[Rick Plant]

Arizona Republican Paul Gosar spent nearly $8,000 of taxpayer money to attend events with far-right groups



Prescott Republican Congressman Paul Gosar spent more than $7,800 for travel, lodging and vehicle expenses while attending events with far-right groups and white nationalists, according to a review of the congressman’s finances by a nonpartisan watchdog group.

The Moonlight Foundation conducted a review of congressional travel that showed Gosar has spent more on travel than any other congressman in the past five years. An additional review of the data by CNN found he has spent nearly $1 million on travel since 2016 — including having taxpayers pay for his trip to speak at a white nationalist conference in Florida in 2021.

Gosar was the first sitting politician to attend the America First Political Action Conference, or AFPAC for short, that is organized by white nationalist Nick Fuentes who Gosar is now attempting to distance himself from.

Gosar spent nearly $3,500 to travel to Florida with his chief of staff Tom Van Flein to attend both the Conservative Political Action Conference and AFPAC. While there, the pair billed an additional $1,000 in hotel rooms. Gosar also charged the government an additional $1,000 for what appears to be a single day vehicle rental during that week.

In July 2018, Gosar came under scrutiny for having a lengthy dinner with Belgian official Filip DeWinter, a leader in the far-right Flemish Nationalist party that traces its roots back the Vlaams Blok, which sought to collaborate with the Nazis in WWII.

Gosar was speaking with DeWinter about an anti-Muslim activist who was jailed in the United Kingdom for breaking rules barring reporting on ongoing court cases. Initially, Gosar told a house ethics committee that a group named the Middle East Forum had paid for the trip. However, an analysis by CNN found he charged taxpayers $2,300 in commercial travel expenses.

A day after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump, Gosar charged $1,787 on commercial transportation, the Moonlight Foundation found.

A spokesman for Gosar’s office told CNN that the expenses were all within the realm of official activity and have been reviewed both “in-house” and by the House of Representatives. However, lawmaker spending is largely protected from public scrutiny, as expenses are filed under general categories such as “commercial transportation” or “travel.”

Gosar has far outspent other members of Arizona’s delegation. Republican Congressmen Andy Biggs spent only $69,000 in 2021 and David Schweikert spent just $47,000.

https://www.azmirror.com/blog/paul-gosar-spent-nearly-8000-of-taxpayer-money-to-attend-events-with-far-right-groups/

[Rick Plant]

Another strong jobs report as the Biden boom continues. Biden's record job creation is now at over 8 million jobs since he took office with the lowest unemployment rate since 1969.

April jobs report: Payrolls rise by 428,000 as unemployment rate holds at 3.6%

U.S. job growth remained robust in April as the unemployment rate held near its pre-virus low, further underscoring the still-tight domestic labor market.

The Labor Department released its monthly jobs report for April Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. ET. Here were the main metrics from the print, compared with consensus data compiled by Bloomberg

Non-farm payrolls: +428,000 vs. +380,000 expected and a revised +428,000 in March

Unemployment rate: 3.6% vs. 3.5% expected, 3.6% in March

Average hourly earnings, month-over-month: 0.3% vs. 0.4% expected and a revised 0.4% in March

Average hourly earnings, year-over-year: 5.5% vs. 5.5% expected, 5.6% in March

The U.S. economy has brought back payrolls each month so far in 2022, and April's payrolls gains still represented growth well-above pre-pandemic trends. Throughout 2019, payroll growth had averaged about 164,000 per month. And though payroll gains were also slightly downwardly revised for February and March, these increases were still solid on a historical basis. In February, employment grew by 714,000, versus the 750,000 previously reported, while March employment was upwardly revised by 3,000 to reach 428,000.

Services-based employers have brought back some of the most jobs yet again in April, as companies hastened to hire back workers let go during the pandemic to meet renewed consumer demand. Employment in the leisure and hospitality industry increased by 78,000 in April, slowing just slightly from March's 100,000. Education and health services employers brought back slightly more jobs in April compared to March at 59,000. Transportation and warehousing payroll gains increased much more markedly in April compared to March, rising by 52,000 compared to 9,500 during the prior month.

In the goods-producing sector, payroll growth was little changed month-on-month, with jobs growing by 66,000 in April. This was in turn led by hiring in manufacturing, where payrolls grew 55,000.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate held steady in April at 3.6%, or just a hair above February 2020's level of 3.5% from before the pandemic. That, in turn, had been the lowest level for joblessness since 1969.

Wages also climbed yet again, albeit at a slower monthly and annual pace compared to March. On a month-over-month basis, average hourly earnings increased by 0.3%, slowing from March's upwardly revised 0.5% increase. And on a year-over-year basis, average hourly earnings were up 5.5%.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/april-2022-jobs-report-labor-department-unemployment-usa-184903769.html


Biden heads to Ohio to tout industrial renewal plan



US President Joe Biden will travel to political battleground state Ohio on Friday to announce the launch of a new industrial renewal plan that his administration hopes will revive the country's manufacturing sector.

The initiative, dubbed "AM Forward" (Additive Manufacturing Forward), is aimed at increasing the use of 3D printing and other next-generation production technologies among US companies, a White House statement said.

Several top US firms, including GE Aviation, Honeywell, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Siemens Energy, have committed to a voluntary pact to support US-based suppliers in adopting new parts manufacturing technologies, the statement said.

Small and medium enterprises that choose to take up the initiative will be able to avail the support of federal programs to boost their competitiveness in the sector, the administration promised.

Biden will announce the plan in the US midwestern state of Ohio -- a political battleground that has often been a bellwether in US presidential polls -- ahead of a general election in November.

The president's Democratic Party will be seeking to build on its majority in the US Congress at the polls.

The election for Ohio's next senator, a position previously held by a Republican considered moderate, is one that will be closely watched.

It will pit Democrat Tim Ryan against far right Republican J.D. Vance, a 37-year-old former marine and author known for his bestselling memoir "Hillbilly Elegy."

He graduated from the Ivy League Yale Law School and was previously opposed to Trump -- famously dubbing him "America's Hitler" -- but later became an ardent supporter.

AFP


President Joe Biden will visit United Performance Metals in Butler County during Cincinnati visit

President Joe Biden will visit a metal manufacturer in Hamilton, Ohio, and talk 3D printing on Friday afternoon.

While in the Cincinnati region, Biden will push Congress to pass a bill designed to boost manufacturing in the United States, particularly products hampered by overseas supply chain issues. That’s according to a release from the White House.

Biden will speak at United Performance Metals in Hamilton.  The company is a global distributor of high-performance metals serving industries including aerospace, semiconductor, power generation, oil and gas and others.

Air Force One is expected to fly into the Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport at 1 p.m.

Biden will tout the "Bipartisan Innovation Act" that would provide money for making semiconductors and other technology that have suffered from delays in the supply chain. The semiconductor chip shortage has slowed auto manufacturing.

This will be Biden's second trip to Cincinnati as president and first since he held a town hall at Mount St. Joseph University in July 2021. It's his fifth trip to Ohio.  He came to Lorain in Northeast Ohio in February to talk about his infrastructure law and how it would pay for $1 billion to clean up the Great Lakes.

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2022/05/05/president-joe-biden-visit-united-performance-metals-hamilton-during-cincinnati-visit/9656004002/