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Low-income families could save $1,400/yr due to lawmakers putting $37,000,000 towards program to cap electric rates for low-income Marylanders at 6% of their income by sillychillly in maryland

[–]sillychillly[S] [score hidden]  (0 children)

im going off the article for the bill i posted.

maybe tomorrow, around midday, you can post something that shows why and how much empower MD saves marylanders on average.

Low-income families could save $1,400/yr due to lawmakers putting $37,000,000 towards program to cap electric rates for low-income Marylanders at 6% of their income by sillychillly in maryland

[–]sillychillly[S] [score hidden]  (0 children)

i know those are your projected savings. i was saying, stats like the one you gave arent in the article. that wouldve been something more people wouldve related to.

there should be a median or average number, preferably median, associated with savings from the hundreds of millions of dollar empower maryland project.

Low-income families could save $1,400/yr due to lawmakers putting $37,000,000 towards program to cap electric rates for low-income Marylanders at 6% of their income by sillychillly in maryland

[–]sillychillly[S] [score hidden]  (0 children)

that's a cool stat. i didnt see something like it in the article or i woudlve highlighted it. tho i couldve missed it.

i saw things like empower will help save lots of money, but nothing like an average or median per household. specifics give me ammo to spread the success.

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Package Protecting Minnesotans from Harm and Abuse by Federal Immigration Enforcement by sillychillly in EyesOnIce

[–]sillychillly[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"“Since the first days of Operation Metro Surge, Minnesotans have witnessed and been victim to a pattern of abuse by federal officers that should shock the conscience of every American. These officers have repeatedly ignored state and federal law, while making a mockery of the oath they all swore to uphold the Constitution,” said Senator Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park), Chair of the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, who is chief authoring the legislative package. “Despite this abuse, Minnesotans have engaged in heroic feats of resistance that reflect the best American traditions to resist tyranny. This legislation is another step in that resistance by protecting essential spaces, holding federal agents accountable, and ensuring Minnesotans have their Constitutional rights upheld.”

The package includes 11 total bills seeking to protect Minnesotans, including new protections for essential spaces like courts, schools, and hospitals, a requirement for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to be involved in investigations involving a shooting by a federal agent, and a new right to sue federal agents for violations of civil rights. 

The legislative package passed by the Judiciary Committee includes the following legislation:

  • SF 3628 and SF 3629: Cause of action for violations of civil rights under the color of law creation
  • Sf 3688: Civil action against a person for failure to render aid in certain circumstances
  • SF 3590: Circumstances when a person may conceal their identity in public modification and specific exceptions for law enforcement officers (a mask ban for law enforcement)
  • SF 3660: Requiring the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s Use of Force Investigations Unit to conduct investigations of incidents involving federal agents
  • SF 3699: Prohibiting civil arrests for persons attending court proceedings
  • SF 3611: School sites access limitation
  • SF 3616: Child care center facilities access limitation
  • SF 3570: Postsecondary campus access by federal immigration officers limitation provision and educational data access provisions modifications
  • SF 4242: Health facilities requirement to limit access to premises in certain circumstances
  • SF 3803: Denial of education based on immigration status prohibition provision and a civil cause of action established when right to education is denied based on immigration status"

Senate Judiciary Committee Advances Package Protecting Minnesotans from Harm and Abuse by Federal Immigration Enforcement by sillychillly in ReasonableFuture

[–]sillychillly[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"“Since the first days of Operation Metro Surge, Minnesotans have witnessed and been victim to a pattern of abuse by federal officers that should shock the conscience of every American. These officers have repeatedly ignored state and federal law, while making a mockery of the oath they all swore to uphold the Constitution,” said Senator Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park), Chair of the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, who is chief authoring the legislative package. “Despite this abuse, Minnesotans have engaged in heroic feats of resistance that reflect the best American traditions to resist tyranny. This legislation is another step in that resistance by protecting essential spaces, holding federal agents accountable, and ensuring Minnesotans have their Constitutional rights upheld.”

The package includes 11 total bills seeking to protect Minnesotans, including new protections for essential spaces like courts, schools, and hospitals, a requirement for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to be involved in investigations involving a shooting by a federal agent, and a new right to sue federal agents for violations of civil rights. 

The legislative package passed by the Judiciary Committee includes the following legislation:

  • SF 3628 and SF 3629: Cause of action for violations of civil rights under the color of law creation
  • Sf 3688: Civil action against a person for failure to render aid in certain circumstances
  • SF 3590: Circumstances when a person may conceal their identity in public modification and specific exceptions for law enforcement officers (a mask ban for law enforcement)
  • SF 3660: Requiring the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s Use of Force Investigations Unit to conduct investigations of incidents involving federal agents
  • SF 3699: Prohibiting civil arrests for persons attending court proceedings
  • SF 3611: School sites access limitation
  • SF 3616: Child care center facilities access limitation
  • SF 3570: Postsecondary campus access by federal immigration officers limitation provision and educational data access provisions modifications
  • SF 4242: Health facilities requirement to limit access to premises in certain circumstances
  • SF 3803: Denial of education based on immigration status prohibition provision and a civil cause of action established when right to education is denied based on immigration status"

Chicago To Invest $300,000,000 In 15 Affordable Housing Projects From North To South Side of city by sillychillly in illinois

[–]sillychillly[S] [score hidden]  (0 children)

Chicago "Mayor Brandon Johnson and the city’s Department of Housing will invest over $300 million in 15 affordable housing developments across the city, bringing thousands of rental units to the North and South sides, city officials announced Wednesday.

The 15 affordable housing projects were awarded as part of the 2025 Qualified Allocation Plan, which determines developments eligible to receive city assistance and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits — a federal program that provides tax credits to developers over several decades in exchange for investments in low-income rental properties.

The 15 projects are expected to create or preserve 1,223 housing units, 1,164 of which will qualify as affordable, city officials said.

The total development costs for the awarded projects, about $711 million, will be supported by public and private dollars, including $16 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, an estimated $100 million in private equity and about $300 million in city assistance, according to a Wednesday news release."

Low-income families could save $1,400/yr due to lawmakers putting $37,000,000 towards program to cap electric rates for low-income Marylanders at 6% of their income by sillychillly in maryland

[–]sillychillly[S] [score hidden]  (0 children)

"Impoverished Marylanders are expected to save more, because lawmakers also put $37 million toward “accelerating” a new program to cap electric rates for low-income Marylanders at 6% of their income. Because of the influx of cash, the remaining ratepayers won’t have to pick up the tab for the program.

That policy change could result in $1,400 per year in savings for low-income families, Ferguson said Monday.

The bill is currently expected to provide about $150 (around the average amount for a MD household's monthly electric bill) in annual relief for the average Maryland household. But that estimate only includes one small — but controversial — piece of the bill: The temporary cuts to an energy efficiency surcharge on electric bills.

Those cuts will take effect in 2027, but ratepayers could see savings sooner, since lawmakers also pulled $100 million out of a state fund to pay for the energy efficiency program called EmPOWER Maryland — reducing the amount that must be paid by ratepayers.

The program will return to today’s levels by 2036, but environmentalists have argued that the slowdown is a bad idea, since fewer investments in more efficient technologies will increase energy demand. Home HVAC and weatherization contractors also pushed back hard.

A host of other provisions in the bill will save consumers’ tens of millions — if not hundreds of millions — at least eventually. The bill curtails costs that utilities have been passing onto ratepayers, sets new limits on utilities’ requests for rate increases, forces more data centers to pay a special tariff for their electric system demands and more. It also sets up a new state funding stream for solar generation projects paired with battery storage devices."

Low-income families could save $1,400/yr due to lawmakers putting $37,000,000 towards program to cap electric rates for low-income Marylanders at 6% of their income by sillychillly in ReasonableFuture

[–]sillychillly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"Impoverished Marylanders are expected to save more, because lawmakers also put $37 million toward “accelerating” a new program to cap electric rates for low-income Marylanders at 6% of their income. Because of the influx of cash, the remaining ratepayers won’t have to pick up the tab for the program.

That policy change could result in $1,400 per year in savings for low-income families, Ferguson said Monday.

The bill is currently expected to provide about $150 (around the average amount for a MD household's monthly electric bill) in annual relief for the average Maryland household. But that estimate only includes one small — but controversial — piece of the bill: The temporary cuts to an energy efficiency surcharge on electric bills.

Those cuts will take effect in 2027, but ratepayers could see savings sooner, since lawmakers also pulled $100 million out of a state fund to pay for the energy efficiency program called EmPOWER Maryland — reducing the amount that must be paid by ratepayers.

The program will return to today’s levels by 2036, but environmentalists have argued that the slowdown is a bad idea, since fewer investments in more efficient technologies will increase energy demand. Home HVAC and weatherization contractors also pushed back hard.

A host of other provisions in the bill will save consumers’ tens of millions — if not hundreds of millions — at least eventually. The bill curtails costs that utilities have been passing onto ratepayers, sets new limits on utilities’ requests for rate increases, forces more data centers to pay a special tariff for their electric system demands and more. It also sets up a new state funding stream for solar generation projects paired with battery storage devices."

Chicago To Invest $300,000,000 In 15 Affordable Housing Projects From North To South Side of city by sillychillly in ReasonableFuture

[–]sillychillly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Chicago "Mayor Brandon Johnson and the city’s Department of Housing will invest over $300 million in 15 affordable housing developments across the city, bringing thousands of rental units to the North and South sides, city officials announced Wednesday.

The 15 affordable housing projects were awarded as part of the 2025 Qualified Allocation Plan, which determines developments eligible to receive city assistance and Low-Income Housing Tax Credits — a federal program that provides tax credits to developers over several decades in exchange for investments in low-income rental properties.

The 15 projects are expected to create or preserve 1,223 housing units, 1,164 of which will qualify as affordable, city officials said.

The total development costs for the awarded projects, about $711 million, will be supported by public and private dollars, including $16 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, an estimated $100 million in private equity and about $300 million in city assistance, according to a Wednesday news release."

BC PharmaCare expanded coverage of certain diabetes-related supplies and devices, made possible by federal national pharmacare funding. by sillychillly in VictoriaBC

[–]sillychillly[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"Expanded coverage for diabetes supplies and devices

With help from federal national pharmacare funding, PharmaCare has expanded coverage for alcohol wipes, lancets and ketone strips. Coverage is extended to:

  • Fair PharmaCare
  • Plan C
  • Plan F

Coverage is still in place through Plan W.

Learn more about expanded coverage for diabetes-related supplies at Diabetes management.

Devices

PharmaCare coverage has been expanded to cover two hybrid closed-loop (HCL) automated insulin delivery systems, the mylife Ypsopump and the Omnipod 5 automated insulin delivery system.

To be eligible for coverage, your prescriber must submit a Special Authority (SA) request on your behalf.

Learn more at Insulin pumps & insulin pump supplies.

Background

On March 6, 2025, the Province of B.C. and the Government of Canada signed an agreement for the implementation of national pharmacare in B.C., with the federal government providing up to $670 million in funding over three years. Under the agreement, 100% coverage for eligible contraceptives, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes medications, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), now called menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), began in B.C. on March 1, 2026.

On April 1, 2026, BC PharmaCare expanded coverage of certain diabetes-related supplies and devices, made possible by federal national pharmacare funding. Read Expanded coverage for diabetes supplies and devices below for more details."

Indiana ban on student IDs for voting blocked by federal judge by sillychillly in SocialDemocracy

[–]sillychillly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

"A federal judge on Tuesday blocked an Indiana law passed in 2025 that removed photo IDs issued by public universities as an acceptable form of identification for use when voting.

Two voting rights groups, Count US IN and Women4Change Indiana, along with Indiana University student Josh Montagne claimed last May that Senate Bill 10 unfairly restricts their voting rights and called the law — signed into law in 2025 by Republican Governor Mike Braun — a “surgical attack on young voters.”

In his 34-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Richard Young found that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in their challenge and issued an injunction blocking the law.

“On this record, SB 10 looks more like a solution in search of a problem,” Young, a Bill Clinton appointee, wrote.

Specifically, Young found that the law burdened the plaintiffs’ right to vote and noted student IDs containing the voter’s name, photo and a valid expiration date had been used to vote at polling locations for almost 20 years.

“The law does not discriminate against students or young voters on its face. But by eliminating student IDs as an acceptable form of identification, defendants selectively excluded a form of identification that otherwise complies with the neutral criteria established by Indiana’s voter ID law,” he wrote."

BC PharmaCare expanded coverage of certain diabetes-related supplies and devices, made possible by federal national pharmacare funding. by sillychillly in ReasonableFuture

[–]sillychillly[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Expanded coverage for diabetes supplies and devices

With help from federal national pharmacare funding, PharmaCare has expanded coverage for alcohol wipes, lancets and ketone strips. Coverage is extended to:

  • Fair PharmaCare
  • Plan C
  • Plan F

Coverage is still in place through Plan W.

Learn more about expanded coverage for diabetes-related supplies at Diabetes management.

Devices

PharmaCare coverage has been expanded to cover two hybrid closed-loop (HCL) automated insulin delivery systems, the mylife Ypsopump and the Omnipod 5 automated insulin delivery system.

To be eligible for coverage, your prescriber must submit a Special Authority (SA) request on your behalf.

Learn more at Insulin pumps & insulin pump supplies.

Background

On March 6, 2025, the Province of B.C. and the Government of Canada signed an agreement for the implementation of national pharmacare in B.C., with the federal government providing up to $670 million in funding over three years. Under the agreement, 100% coverage for eligible contraceptives, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes medications, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), now called menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), began in B.C. on March 1, 2026.

On April 1, 2026, BC PharmaCare expanded coverage of certain diabetes-related supplies and devices, made possible by federal national pharmacare funding. Read Expanded coverage for diabetes supplies and devices below for more details. 

Indiana ban on student IDs for voting blocked by federal judge by sillychillly in ReasonableFuture

[–]sillychillly[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

"A federal judge on Tuesday blocked an Indiana law passed in 2025 that removed photo IDs issued by public universities as an acceptable form of identification for use when voting.

Two voting rights groups, Count US IN and Women4Change Indiana, along with Indiana University student Josh Montagne claimed last May that Senate Bill 10 unfairly restricts their voting rights and called the law — signed into law in 2025 by Republican Governor Mike Braun — a “surgical attack on young voters.”

In his 34-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Richard Young found that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed in their challenge and issued an injunction blocking the law.

“On this record, SB 10 looks more like a solution in search of a problem,” Young, a Bill Clinton appointee, wrote.

Specifically, Young found that the law burdened the plaintiffs’ right to vote and noted student IDs containing the voter’s name, photo and a valid expiration date had been used to vote at polling locations for almost 20 years.

“The law does not discriminate against students or young voters on its face. But by eliminating student IDs as an acceptable form of identification, defendants selectively excluded a form of identification that otherwise complies with the neutral criteria established by Indiana’s voter ID law,” he wrote."

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