The Maryland House and Senate have reportedly reached a budget agreement, aiming to restore funding for immediate transportation needs and invest in education, following a $1.2 billion revenue package proposed by the House. Efforts to pass the $63 billion spending plan had stalled over disagreements on tax increases and gaming expansion, but details of the agreement are expected to be released in a news conference with House and Senate leaders, with Gov. Wes Moore also expected to address the compromise.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed eight bills and made amendments to 12 others as the General Assembly prepared to wrap up its session without including his plan for a $2 billion sports arena. The vetoed bills covered topics such as firearms, book banning, marijuana, voter rolls, surrogacy, railroad safety, and cybersecurity. The General Assembly will have a chance to override the vetoes and amendments when it reconvenes for its “veto session” on April 17.
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has withdrawn regulations that would have phased out the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035 after facing opposition from the legislature's Regulation Review Committee. The committee was set to vote against the regulations, prompting the administration to pull them. Instead, Lamont and legislators will propose an alternative plan to keep Connecticut in line with the timetable established by California and other states to phase out new sales of most gas-powered vehicles. The proposed regulations aimed to require all new vehicles sold in the state to have zero emissions by 2035.
Virginia Democrats, who recently gained control of the state's General Assembly, have introduced four bills, including a proposal for a constitutional amendment to guarantee abortion access in the state. The bills also include raising the minimum wage, banning assault-style firearms, and repealing felon voter disqualification. The push for the constitutional amendment comes after abortion became a prominent issue in the election, with both parties campaigning on the topic. Virginia Republicans criticized the legislation, accusing Democrats of changing their stance on abortion.
Democrats claim victory in several key races in Northern Virginia, potentially making it difficult for Republicans to gain control of both chambers of the state's General Assembly. The election results will determine the direction of the commonwealth on issues such as abortion access and gun laws, as well as the political future of Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin. The outcome of tight races in Northern Virginia will play a crucial role in determining which party will hold the majority in the General Assembly.
Candidates in New Jersey are competing for state Senate and General Assembly seats in the 2023 election. WHYY News will provide live coverage of the results as they come in.
The military junta in Niger has accused UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of obstructing their participation in the UN General Assembly, claiming it undermines efforts to resolve the country's crisis. The coup leaders criticized Guterres for not allowing their chosen representative to attend the assembly, while the overthrown government also applied to represent Niger. The UN Secretary-General's spokesperson clarified that the matter would be decided by the Credentials Committee of the General Assembly. Niger, one of the world's poorest nations, has faced international concerns over the Sahel region's stability since the coup.
The General Assembly's 78th session will host a high-level meeting on the fight against tuberculosis, featuring statements from various leaders and stakeholders. The objective of the meeting is to review the progress made in achieving tuberculosis goals and identify solutions to accelerate progress towards ending the epidemic by 2030. The meeting aims to approve a concise and action-oriented political declaration to be adopted by the General Assembly.
The United Nations Credentials Committee, an obscure and opaque body, serves as the gatekeeper to the world stage at the UN General Assembly's annual meeting. The committee decides which representatives from divided nations are granted legitimacy and the opportunity to speak. While effective control of territory is a key criterion, the committee's decision-making process remains unclear and may involve political considerations. The committee's recommendations can have significant impacts, including determining who represents a country at international courts. The lack of transparency allows the committee to avoid making difficult decisions and kick them down the road.
President Biden has announced his five nominations for the U.S. representatives to the upcoming General Assembly of the United Nations (UN). The nominees include Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Rep. French Hill (R-Ark.), political consultant Janet Keller, former Georgia state Rep. Calvin Smyre (D), and Jeff Worthe, president of Worthe Real Estate Group. The nominees will be confirmed by a full Senate vote. The General Assembly, which includes all 193 UN member states, will open on Tuesday and discuss key issues related to peace, security, admission of new members, and the budget.
Virginia's General Assembly has reached a budget deal that includes additional tax relief for residents, investments in education, natural resources, and behavioral health. The deal includes a one-time tax rebate, increases the standard deduction, removes the age requirement for military retiree subtraction, and reinstates the sales tax holiday. The legislators emphasized the importance of maintaining college affordability and increasing financial aid. They praised the negotiations as fair and balanced, highlighting the cordial and respectful atmosphere during the process.
Two incumbent lawmakers in Northern Virginia lost their seats in the General Assembly primaries on Tuesday. Del. Ibraheem Samirah defeated Del. Steve Heretick in the Democratic primary for the 79th House District, while challenger Suhas Subramanyam defeated Del. Rip Sullivan in the Democratic primary for the 48th House District. Both Samirah and Subramanyam ran on progressive platforms, including support for the Green New Deal and Medicare for All.
Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and South Korea have been elected to the UN Security Council for two-year terms starting on 1 January 2024, while Belarus was denied a spot. Slovenia beat out Belarus in the only competitive race. The Security Council is the only UN body that can make legally binding decisions such as imposing sanctions and authorizing use of force. Russia has since used the territory of Belarus as a launchpad for its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Algeria, Guyana, Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia have been elected as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, starting in January for a two-year period. The Security Council is composed of 15 countries, five of which are permanent members with veto power. The 10 non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly, and candidates must receive a two-thirds majority. The newly elected countries will join Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland as non-permanent members of the Council.
Ambassador Dennis Francis of Trinidad and Tobago has been elected as the new President of the United Nations General Assembly, starting in September. He plans to prioritize promoting meaningful dialogue and enhancing current approaches to deliver peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability. Francis has had a distinguished diplomatic career spanning nearly four decades and has served as Senior Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs on all multilateral matters, including climate change and the negotiations for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
