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State Rep. James White, R-Hillister, will not seek reelection, a decision he first announced to East Texas TV station KLTV.

Hes considering a statewide run, as long as the people want me to pursue that, he told the Texas Tribune on Sunday.

Though he did not disclose which state-level seat he would run for, he said we believe that were qualified, and were competitive. We will definitely consider joining the statewide field.

For now, he says his focus will be on the upcoming special election this summer which Gov. Greg Abbott has said he plans to order and when White expects to bring back a GOP priority bill that would tighten Texas election laws.

White is the chairman of the House Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee, and is the only Black Republican in the Texas House. He represents solidly Republican House District 19 in East Texas.

The Texas House doesnt have term limits, but White suggested his longevity in the lower chamber impacted his decision. He was first elected in 2010. During his time as a state representative, he said he has lost three of the four counties in his original district, and gained four new counties because of redistricting.

White reminisced about his first race for state House representative, recalling being called crazy for running in East Texas.

But we took our message directly to the people, and the people lifted me up and sent me to Austin, he said. ... And that message was that we believe everyone in Texas, especially in our house district, is a child of God, and that means they deserve good representation, they deserve good service.

White said in his time as a representative, he is most proud of serving in the House Corrections Committee, which deals with state criminal justice measures.

The Texas House doesnt have term limits, but White said his longevity in the lower chamber is the reason for his decision to not seek reelection. He suggested that the state legislature adopt term limits, and for the House to uphold a limit between 10 and 14 years for representatives.

We did 12 years, White said, counting the couple of years prior to being elected he spent running for office. We think thats good enough.

Read more from the original source:
Texas Rep. James White, a Hillister Republican, won't run for reelection - The Texas Tribune

The Texas Republican congressman Louie Gohmert has asked a senior US government official if changing the moons orbit around the Earth, or the Earths orbit around the sun, might be a solution for climate change.

Bizarrely, the question was not posed to anyone from Nasa or even the Pentagon. Instead it was asked of a senior forestry service official during a House natural resources committee hearing on Tuesday.

Speaking with Jennifer Eberlien, associate deputy chief of the US Forest Service, Gohmert asked if it was possible to alter the orbits of the moon, or the Earth, as a way of combating climate change.

I understand from whats been testified to the Forest Service and the BLM [Bureau of Land Management], you want very much to work on the issue of climate change, Gohmert said, adding that a past director of Nasa had once told him that orbits of the moon and the Earth were indeed changing.

We know theres been significant solar flare activity, and so is there anything that the National Forest Service or BLM can do to change the course of the moons orbit, or the Earths orbit around the sun? Gohmert asked. Obviously that would have profound effects on our climate.

Eberlien said she would have to follow up with you on that one, Mr Gohmert.

Well, if you figure out a way that you in the Forest Service can make that change, Id like to know, Gohmert added.

Though he seemed to be entirely earnest, some observers have posited that Gohmert was seeking to express a belief that climate change was a phenomenon of natural changes in the orbits of celestial bodies, and so any other efforts to address it would be futile.

Gohmerts question comes three years after a congressional science, space and technology committee hearing, focused on how technology could be deployed for climate change adaptation, heard from the Alabama Republican Mo Brooks on the subject of sea-level rise.

Brooks posited a theory that erosion from land plays a significant role in sea-level rise, including silt from the worlds major rivers, and rocks along the California coastline and the White Cliffs of Dover falling into the sea.

Every time you have that soil or rock or whatever it is that is deposited into the seas, that forces the sea levels to rise, because now you have less space in those oceans, because the bottom is moving up, Brooks said.

Read more:
Texas Republican asks: can we fix the moons orbit to fight climate change? - The Guardian

During a press conference at the conclusion on the NATO summit in Brussels on Monday, President Biden commented on party politics calling the Republican Party vastly diminished in numbers, its leadership fractured and that the Trump wing of the party is the bulk of the party but it makes up a significant minority of the American people.

- Here at this meeting and earlier at the G7, you've said several times that America is back at allies side, but a lot of those allies are themselves pretty rattled by what happened on January 6 and attempted overturning of your election. And they may still be alarmed by the continued hold that Donald Trump has over the Republican party and the rise of nationalist figures like him around the world. What do you say to those allies? What have you been saying to them at these meetings about how the next president of the United States can keep any promises you make?

JOE BIDEN: What I'm saying is to them is watch me. I mean, I'm not saying anything, quite frankly. I'm just going out.

People, as I've said before, I don't doubt that I mean what I say. And they believe that I keep my commitments when I say it. I'm not making any promises to anyone that I don't believe are overwhelmingly likely to be kept.

I think that we're at a moment where-- I mean, let me put it this way. You may have had a different view, but I think an awful lot of people thought that my showing up at the G7 would not produce any kind of enthusiasm about American leadership and about where America was.

I would suggest that it didn't turn out that way. I would suggest that there is the a-- the leaders I'm dealing with in NATO and the G7 are leaders who know our recent history, know generically the character of the American people, and know where the vast center of the public stands, not Democrat Republican, but who we are. We're a decent, honorable nation. And I think that they have seen things happen as we have that shocked them and surprised them that could have happened, but I think they, like I do, believe the American people are not going to sustain that kind of behavior.

Story continues

And so I-- you know, I don't want to get into these statistics, because, you know, that old phrase [INAUDIBLE] there's three kinds of lies, lies, damn lies, and statistics. But I think it's appropriate to say that the Republican party is vastly diminished in numbers. The leadership of the Republican Party is fractured.

And the Trump wing of the party is the bulk of the party, but it makes up a significant minority of the American people. I think it is a shock and surprise that what's happened in terms of the consequence of President Trump's phony populism has, has happened. And it is disappointing that so many of my Republican colleagues in the Senate, who I know know better, have been reluctant to take on, for example, an investigation, because they're worried about being primaried.

But at the end of the day, we've been through periods like this in American history before, where there has been this reluctance to take a chance on your re-election because of the nature of your party's politics at the moment. I think this is passing. I don't mean easily passing.

That's why it's so important that I succeed in my agenda, the agenda whether it's dealing with the vaccine, the economy, infrastructure. It's important that we demonstrate we can make progress and continue to make progress. And I think we're going to be able to do that. So as I said, the proof will be in where it is, you know, six months from now, where we are, but I think you're going to see that there's-- that God willing, we're going to be making progress. And there's going to be a coalescing of a lot of Republicans, particularly younger Republicans, who are coming up in the party.

Read more:
Biden calls the Republican Party vastly diminished in numbers and its leadership fractured - Yahoo News

Oakmont survey launched

An Oakmont survey to help craft a comprehensive plan was recently launched on the boroughs website, oakmontborough.com.

Questions include: What do you value most about Oakmont? If you were thinking about living or starting a business in Oakmont today, what is it about the community that makes it an easy decision?

There is no deadline to fill out the survey.

Republican committee to meet

The Plum Borough Republican Committee (PBRC) will meet at Palmieris Restaurant on 951 Old Frankstown Road in Plum on June 17 at 7 p.m.

The featured guest speaker will be Elizabeth Stelle, director of policy analysis at the Commonwealth Foundation. This meeting is open to all registered Republicans and provides a forum to meet with candidates, discuss issues, exchange ideas and enjoy fellowship.

For more information, call 724-787-8673, email sdschlauch@gmail.com or send a message to PBRC, PO Box 14244, Plum, PA 15239. Visit their Facebook page at Plum Boro Republican Party and website at plumrepublicans.org.

Student news

Joshua Boland, biology; Caitlyn Chirdon, middle grade education; Daniel Cocca, computer systems; Karen Dopico, history education; Madelaine Quarles, psychology; Michael Schollaert, communication; Thomas Krusinski, information systems; and Marina Paulone, psychology, were named to the deans list of Saint Vincent College for the spring 2021 semester. In order to qualify for the deans list, a student must achieve a semester GPA of 3.5 or better out of a possible 4.0.

Tanner Conklin, business administration, has been named to the deans list for the spring 2021 semester at Baldwin Wallace University. Any full-time student who achieves a GPA of at least 3.6 for 12 or more graded hours or part-time student who achieves a GPA of at least 3.6 for six or more graded hours in the fall or spring semester is placed on the deans list.

Ian Dryburgh Jr. was recently hired as Treasury Management Intern at Dollar Bank. He is a rising junior and business/finance major at the University of Pittsburgh Business School. He was named to the deans list for the fourth consecutive semester with a 3.9 overall GPA.

Vanessa Adams, Arthur Bash, Michela Beattie, Ellison Bellinotti, Jocelyn Bentley, Skyler Bisceglia, Derek Brewer, Matthew Brown, Wyatt Carter, Hanna Clarke, Drew Confer, Shane Copeland, Angela Dawson, Emily DeMarco, Amber Delahunty, Dominic Delvecchio, Danielle Delvecchio, Griffin Dent, Daniel Dinatale, Hunter Fields, Cailey Flemm, Lucas Gildea, Alexander Giles, Nicholas Glass, Zachary Harden, Rylee Hepler, Sarah Herwald, Lawrence Hill, Katie Holler, Erin Huff, Kaylee Johnson, Alexis Jones, Alana Jump, Connor Karkowsky, Jake Lewis, Sommer Lewis, Mitchell Loedding, Angela Malak, Tara Marcyjanik, Julia McAfee, Daniel McCarthy, Jeremiah McClain, Madison Mercurio, Cameron Meyers, Lauren Mock, Dominic Ray, Tyler Ruggiero, Aidan Sames, Olivia Shirley, Stephanie Skeba, Alyssa Snyder, Alexa Sorch, Samantha Stapf, Miranda Stiffey, Jeremy Stirland, Giavonna Tavella, Jacob Tecak, Francis Teichman, Miles Tush, Tyler Vaill, Meghan Walker, Alexis Waltz, Morgan Weeter and Domenic Zottola have been named to the deans list at Slippery Rock University for the Spring 2021 semester. The deans list consists of SRU undergraduate students who earned an adjusted semester GPA of 3.5 or higher, based on a schedule of at least 12 newly attempted and earned credits.

Shea Lynch was named to the spring 2021 deans list at Lincoln Memorial University. To be placed on the deans list, a student must be a full-time undergraduate student and have a 3.5 or higher GPA for the semester.

Movie in the Park

Plums Movie in the Park returns to Larry Mills Park this summer. Movies are being planned for July 10 and Aug. 14. Times may vary.

Plum Rotary will provide free popcorn. There also will be activities before the screening.

Go to plumboro.com for more information.

Plums Monday Market

The Monday Market is every Monday through Oct. 25 from 3 to 7 p.m. There is no market on July 5 and Labor Day.

The Market is located at Plum Creek Park (Plum Baseball Fields), 1040 Ross Hollow Road.

Holiday Park firefighters golf outing

Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department will host a golf tournament July 25 at Meadowink Golf Course, 4076 Bulltown Road in Murrysville.

Registration opens at 7 a.m. Putting green and driving range opens at 8. Shotgun start is at 9.

Other activities include a Chinese auction, competition on designated holes, prizes, box lunch on the course, steak dinner and more.

Cost is $125 per person or $450 per foursome if signed as a group.

Event is limited to 144 competitors. Sponsorship packages are available. They range from $250 to $2,500.

Email fundraising@holiday parkvfd.org for more information.

Womens Business Network

The Womens Business Network is an award-winning business association that supports the success and growth of women in business. All professional women are welcome to attend a meeting at no cost. Many meetings are being held virtually, please check with the local chapter representative for more information. To learn more, visit wbninc.com.

The Monroeville Chapter holds meetings on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. The next meeting will be June 23 and will feature a two-part event that includes a virtual morning meeting and an outdoor, socially distanced tour of two historic houses built in the early 1800s that will include a boxed dinner. For more information, contact Chapter Representative Jo Luncher at 412-372-3411 or jo@anywhere-travel.net.

The Allegheny Valley Chapter meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 8 a.m. The next meeting is June 17. To RSVP or for more information, contact Susan Kinger at 412-782-4848 or skinger607@dollarbank.com.

The All Virtual Chapter holds meetings via Zoom on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information, contact chapter representative Jennifer Pasquale at 412-908-1663.

See the original post:
In brief: Oakmont survey launched, Republican committee meeting and more in Plum, Oakmont - TribLIVE

Senate Tax Committee Chairwoman Carla Nelson (R-Rochester) today announced a deal has been struck on a bipartisan $944 million tax bill aimed at jumpstarting the economy and helping workers and small business owners recover from COVID-19.

All year, the Senate Tax committee has focused on nimble, good tax and fiscal policies that empower Minnesota families and grow economic activity, said Sen. Nelson. Minnesotans should be thrilled with this bipartisan agreement that puts their needs first. This bill provides millions of dollars in tax relief, so individuals can keep more of their hard-earned dollars and provide a spark to our economy.

The bill empowers Minnesotans and encourages economic growth with two top priorities for workers championed by Senate Republicans all year: full conformity to federal tax rules for the forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loans many businesses used to survive the COVID-19 pandemic, and full conformity for federal pandemic unemployment benefits up to $10,200.

There is simply no reason why we should ask folks to pay taxes on this emergency assistance, Sen. Nelson added. Businesses relied on these loans to keep people employed during the worst of the pandemic, and many of them are still struggling. Individuals were forced off the job through no fault of their own, and they depended on the extra unemployment to help make ends meet. Providing this protection is one of the most important things we can do to help employees and employers recover from pandemic-induced economic hardship.

The bill also lowers statewide property taxes for job creators by increasing the statewide property tax exclusion from $100,000 to $150,000. The bill also replenishes $491 million that was borrowed from the state budget reserve two years ago, and provides relief to Minnesota contractors for their June accelerated sales tax payments.

Other highlights of the bill:

Read the rest here:
Republican and Democrat legislators reach agreement on tax bill to provide meaningful relief for Minnesota families and businesses - Minnesota Senate...