#publicpolicy — Public Fediverse posts

Broad tax reform belongs at the centre of Canada’s growth agenda
#Canada #Economy #TaxReform #EconomicGrowth #Productivity #Investment #EconomicResilience #PublicPolicy #Politics #TaxPolicy #Taxes #CRA #FiscalPolicy #The14Media
https://the-14.com/broad-tax-reform-belongs-at-the-centre-of-canadas-growth-agenda/

https://www.europesays.com/ch/129944/ No-frills city budget presented to Geneva councilors | News #Budget #Economy #Geneva #GovernmentFinances #payments #PoliticalEconomy #PublicEconomics #PublicFinance #PublicPolicy #tax

RE: https://mas.to/@thecontinent/117253179327056947

'In response to Namibia’s refusal to share its national health data, the United States will stop funding its HIV-response programme from 2027'

There's a lot of interesting material in this issue but I'm curious how many folks might believe that the Australian Gvt are not under the same pressure to surrender protected datasets on Australian populations (albeit with a different set of coercions)

#ausPol #publicPolicy

The Global Cybersecurity Alliance is calling for immediate government action in response to a surge in AI-driven cyber attacks. Read the full article for recommended policy measures, international coordination priorities, and practical steps for strengthening national defenses: https://wix.to/WYUe4We

#InfoSec
#GovTech
#PublicPolicy
#Cybersecurity
#RiskManagement
#ArtificialIntelligence

How has time spent alone changed by age over the last decade, and what does it mean for wellbeing?

Parth Pandya explores this question in a new #ResolutionFoundation spotlight, in collaborative work with the #ESRC Centre for Population Change and Connecting Generations: https://www.cpc.ac.uk/news/latest_news/?story_id=816

#YoungAdults #Loneliness #SocialChange #Demography #Population #SocialScience #Generations #Ageing #WFH #Society #PopulationChange #WorkingFromHome #PublicPolicy #LabourMarket #Wellbeing #TimeUse

Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley recommends requiring new data centers to cover their eventual decommissioning costs. That makes absolute sense: taxpayers should not inherit the cost of dismantling abandoned industrial infrastructure.

Video:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbOMvv0jlAt/

Provision text:
https://salemdata.net/CityOfSalem/other/BradfordCounty_Decommissioning_Provision_Corrected.txt

#DataCenter #DataCenters #Decommissioning #TaxpayerProtection #LocalGovernment #PublicPolicy #LandUse #EnergyPolicy #Accountability #SalemOR

Leadership Is Measured by the Lives We Try to Save

By Cliff Potts
WPS News Commentary

Every so often, a politician pulls back the curtain.

Recently, Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa did just that. During a town hall meeting, concerns were raised that cuts to government programs could result in people dying. Her response was blunt: “Well, we all are going to die.”

She is not seeking reelection, so political consequences are no longer much of a concern. That observation, however, is almost beside the point.

This essay is not about Joni Ernst.

It is about the philosophy that statement reveals.

Of course, she was technically correct. Every one of us will die. It is the one certainty every human being shares. But that has never been the moral question confronting leaders.

The question is whether people die sooner than they have to.

The question is whether children go hungry when there is enough food.

The question is whether a family loses a loved one because medicine was unaffordable, because disaster relief came too late, or because society decided saving them simply wasn’t worth the cost.

Leadership has never been about defeating death.

Leadership has always been about reducing unnecessary suffering.

That distinction matters.

No president can eliminate mortality.

No governor can abolish disease.

No senator can promise that every citizen will live a long and healthy life.

But every elected official has the power to influence whether fewer people suffer needlessly.

That is what public service is supposed to be.

Some argue that the United States cannot be responsible for the entire world. They are correct. Resources are finite. Governments have obligations to their own citizens first. Those are legitimate policy debates.

But acknowledging limits is not the same thing as dismissing human life.

There is an enormous moral difference between saying, “We cannot save everyone,” and saying, “People are going to die anyway.”

One statement recognizes tragedy.

The other risks accepting it.

History shows that American foreign aid has often served strategic interests alongside humanitarian ones. During the Cold War, it was frequently used to strengthen alliances and counter Soviet influence. Nations rarely act from pure altruism.

Yet regardless of the political motivation, vaccines still save children.

Emergency food still prevents famine.

Clean water projects still reduce disease.

Disaster relief still keeps families alive.

The child who survives because a shipment of medicine arrived on time does not care whether the funding came from compassion, diplomacy, or national security. Survival is survival.

The same principle applies at home.

Whether the issue is health care, veterans’ services, nutrition assistance, infrastructure, disaster response, or care for the elderly, the purpose of government is not simply to balance numbers on a spreadsheet.

Budgets are moral documents.

Every line represents a choice.

Every appropriation reflects a set of priorities.

Every cut has consequences.

The strength of a civilization is not measured by how much wealth it accumulates. It is measured by how it treats those with the least power to protect themselves.

Children.

The elderly.

The disabled.

The poor.

The sick.

Those who possess power always face the same test: Will they use it only for those who already have enough, or will they extend opportunity and protection to those who have the least?

Civilization itself is built upon that answer.

The measure of leadership has never been whether death exists. Death has always existed.

The measure of leadership is whether those entrusted with power fight to delay unnecessary death, reduce unnecessary suffering, and leave behind a society that is more compassionate than the one they inherited.

We will all die someday.

That has never been in dispute.

What remains in dispute is whether we still believe that every life is worth trying to save.

Recognizing Governments, Recognition of Arbitral Awards

Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay A company based in Barbados won an arbitral award against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela…
#Conflict #Conflicts #War #ArbitralAwards #arbitration #FederalArbitrationAct #NewYorkConvention #publicpolicy #Venezuela
https://www.europesays.com/3082921/

Medicaid Provider Cuts Could Impact Disability Services Nationwide: What Raleigh Residents Should Know

A recent report from Disability Scoop highlights growing concerns about Medicaid access and disability services after one state temporarily cut ties with thousands of Medicaid providers in an effort to comply with new federal funding requirements. The move is raising alarms among disability advocates and healthcare providers across the country who fear similar actions could affect access to critical services for people with disabilities. (Disability Scoop⁠)

What Happened?

According to Disability Scoop, state officials reviewing Medicaid providers terminated or suspended relationships with nearly two-thirds of the providers under review while attempting to meet federal oversight and funding requirements. The action was described as temporary, but it immediately created uncertainty for providers and the individuals who depend on their services. (LinkedIn⁠)

The situation comes as states nationwide face increasing pressure to comply with evolving Medicaid regulations while maintaining access to federal funding. Medicaid remains the primary source of funding for many disability support programs, including home and community-based services, personal care assistance, transportation, and healthcare coordination. (KFF⁠)

Why Disability Advocates Are Concerned

Advocates worry that aggressive provider reviews, funding reductions, and administrative changes could reduce access to services for people with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities. Even temporary disruptions can create major challenges for individuals who rely on consistent support services to live independently and participate in their communities. (Disability Belongs™⁠)

Many disability organizations have already expressed concerns about broader Medicaid policy changes scheduled to take effect over the next several years. Experts warn that states facing budget pressures may struggle to maintain provider networks, especially for home and community-based services that help individuals avoid institutional care. (KFF⁠)

What This Could Mean for North Carolina

While the Disability Scoop report focuses on actions taken in another state, the issue has relevance for North Carolina residents. Medicaid is a critical lifeline for thousands of North Carolinians with disabilities, seniors, and low-income families.

If provider participation decreases or administrative requirements become more burdensome, residents could experience:

• Longer wait times for services
• Reduced provider availability
• Challenges accessing specialty care
• Increased strain on caregivers and families
• Delays in home and community-based support programs

North Carolina has expanded Medicaid in recent years, increasing access to healthcare coverage for many residents. However, disability advocates continue to monitor federal and state policy changes that could affect long-term service delivery and funding stability. (KFF⁠)

The Bigger Picture

The Medicaid debate is increasingly focused on balancing fiscal accountability with access to care. Supporters of stricter oversight argue that states must ensure providers meet program requirements and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. Critics counter that broad provider removals and funding restrictions can unintentionally harm vulnerable populations who depend on Medicaid-funded services every day. (KFF⁠)

For people with disabilities, Medicaid is more than health insurance. It often funds the support systems that allow individuals to work, attend school, live independently, and remain connected to their communities. Any disruption in provider networks can have significant consequences for quality of life and independence. (Disability Belongs™⁠)

What Raleigh Residents Should Watch

As federal Medicaid policies continue to evolve, disability advocates, healthcare providers, and community organizations will be watching closely for any changes that could affect service access in North Carolina.

Residents who rely on Medicaid services should stay informed about policy updates, provider network changes, and public comment opportunities that may affect disability services and healthcare access in the years ahead.

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Published by Bryan Tomlinson | DoRaleigh.com

Canada needs a deeper municipal bond market
#Canada #Infrastructure #MunicipalBonds #Economy #Business #PublicPolicy #Municipalities #Cities #Finance #Investment #Taxation #EconomicGrowth #Transit #Housing #UrbanPlanning #Politics #InfrastructureFunding
https://the-14.com/canada-needs-a-deeper-municipal-bond-market/

https://www.europesays.com/ch/74624/ Geneva City Council shoots for no tax increase; as much as $2 million will need to be cut to achieve that goal | News #Economy #Geneva #GovernmentBudget #GovernmentFinances #payments #PublicFinance #PublicPolicy #tax

Cities are closer to Canada’s problems than they are to the money
#Canada #HousingCrisis #Infrastructure #Cities #Municipalities #ClimateChange #Politics #Economy #CostOfLiving #Immigration #PublicPolicy #UrbanPlanning #Politics #Housing #Environment
https://the-14.com/cities-are-closer-to-canadas-problems-than-they-are-to-the-money/

PS: The joyful picture of Barbara Gittings I posted earlier today came from the private sphere, but even their private moment was political. Certainly they left their papers to the NYPL under terms that allow it to share the image online.
#PrivateLives #PublicPolicy #ThePersonalIsPolitical 🏳️‍🌈
https://zirk.us/@markstoneman/113912211935345371

The 2023 US 50-State National Seismic Hazard Model - Overview And Implications
--
https://www.usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/science/2023-national-seismic-hazard-model-whats-shaking <-- USGS technical article
--
https://doi.org/10.1177/87552930231215428 <-- shared paper
--
#GIS #spatial #mapping #earthquake #seismichazard #risk #hazard #shakemap #cost #economics #geology #engineeringgeology #hazardmodel #model #modeling #seismicity #faultruptures #groundmotions #probabilistic #probability #geostatistics #engineering #planning #management #mitigation #NSHM #forecast #infrastructure #publicsafety #hazardassessment #fault #faulting #structuralgeology #intensity #mercalli #buildingcode #design #publicpolicy #shakemap #engineeringrisk #future
@USGS @FEMA

Today's work took me down a rabbit hole of #CollabortiveGovernance and #AdaptiveGovernance. Some themes emerged. One sticks out. In general, humans like the shiny new solution (no surprise). We seem less interested in measuring its success. The papers I reviewed kept referencing the need to do more analysis of #collaboration or #AdaptiveManagement post-implementation. It's not to say that the work doesn't exist, but the constant references to the lack suggest a possible #PublicPolicy gap.

My first #migration on here is complete.

👋🏻 #EduMasto looking forward to learning from and with you.

If we’ve only ever met on the bird app, I truly hope we can make a fresh start. Like my many plants, I’ve grown several new leaves and life looks wonderful and very different now.

My profile shows what I’m up to. Lots for #Education #college #RealCollege #Sociology #Writing #parenting #plants #inequality #publicpolicy #politics #Philadelphia #cats #dogs and more, including my ♥️ husband.