(The Center Square) – Spent the last week on the street, which was a refreshing change from the dying, COVID-locked life I indulged in in Chicago and its suburbs.
I traveled to and then through South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida – where the sun was shining and no more than ten inches of mature snow had lay on the ground.
The birds are chirping behind me as I write this. Geese fight for position in a pond. A blue heron stands as still as a statue on the other side of the water. Probably safe to guess that there is no alligator in the area. The air is filled with natural sounds that I had forgotten – except for the sound of a mower whirring somewhere in the distance. But that's a sound that I haven't heard in almost five months and that is welcomed.
Life here was different – certainly different from northern Illinois. The southeast is much freer and noticeably more open. Shops are in operation. People run around and live life. Some wear masks. Some don't. From what I've seen over the past week, wherever I went, people were respectful of others and kept a reasonable safe distance whether they were wearing a mask or not.
According to Mayo Clinic data collection, only 17 per 100,000 people in the county I lived in, Camden County, had COVID-19 as of Friday. Check this against your local data if you get a chance The schools here have been open since the first week of August. The local high school has been continuously personal learning since the beginning of the 2020-21 school year.
While in South Carolina before going to Georgia, I watched the school council meeting hosted by my local elementary school district back in Illinois.
For almost 30 minutes mom after papa after mom after papa came to the lectern and throttled the board. In my district (one of more than 850 independently operated local school districts in Illinois), children have attended fewer than 10 face-to-face days since the second week of March 2020.
The tension was palpable. The vitriol was real – the product of pent-up frustration with a district administration following "the science and the data" that have not yet been moved towards reopening our schools.
The pain was articulated by parents who described their children being turned off after months of zoom-based learning. One mother said her twins often cry because they feel like failures. Another said that her children spend so much time in front of screens that they can no longer sleep properly. Another said that her child's personality had changed in the past six months. She was almost in tears.
This is not the case here in South Georgia. The local schools were closed for one day at the beginning of the school year. But that was because a hurricane was going in that direction.
I grew up in the north. The information I processed as a younger person and even as a younger adult informed me that life in the north was superior to life in the south. It was just better. I am now convinced that this was ridiculous and I was a sucker for propaganda.
Southern states teach their children. Florida schools are temporarily closed. They are reopened and Governor Ron DeSantis said he overreacted in the fall when the state succumbed to the pressure shut down.
The southern states allow their children to lead a somewhat normal life. They are looking at the same datasets and largely the same transmission rates that exist across the country, but they are actually following "the science and data" that said from the start that children are not vectors for COVID-19. You think sensibly, rationally and holistically about the realities of the coronavirus.
The people work here – go about their business and earn a living, take care of their families. The load on the systems is therefore lower here. And day after day the false story that life here is somehow less pleasant, or less cultivated, or less interesting, or just less, melts away. Thank god for that.
COVID-19 has at least partially opened the nation's eyes to the value of where you live. It confirmed the truth that we live in the United States (plural) of America. And it showed where freedom is strong and where government is less interested in dictating our lives.
It is intellectually dishonest to believe that the population of the southern states is only growing because the weather is tastier than in the north. The truth is that the southern states are freer and more open, actually more inclusive and less separate – probably the best places to live in this country now and for the foreseeable future.
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Elsewhere in America …
NEW YORK
In a week in which the New York Governor Andrew Cuomo Popularity values take a hit Following allegations of mismanagement and cover-up related to the state's handling of COVID-19 in nursing homes, the governor is now facing new, unrelated allegations. Former Administrative Assistant Lindsey Boylan detailed allegations of sexual harassment against Cuomoand said that he kissed her and made inappropriate remarks without her consent. Cuomo officials have denied the allegations, but both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have expressed dismay and a desire to see the allegations being investigated.
NEW JERSEY
New Jersey's unemployment insurance system, which stalled in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic under pressure from numerous claims, needs about $ 200 million worth of upgrades to function reliably, according to a new report. But the Democratic Governor Phil Murphy has only asked for $ 7.75 million in its upcoming budgetIt is up to the federal government to repair the system at the national level first. That doesn't go well with lawmakers like Senator Anthony Bucco, R-Boonton, who says there's no guarantee Washington will do anything anytime soon and that Murphy has already been given enough financial flexibility from the democratically controlled legislature to do so real changes and soon.
PENNSYLVANIA
How the Pennsylvania Legislature Behaves this year's budget hearingsThe controversial tone sometimes seen between the Republican-controlled legislature and the Democratic government has reached new heights.
In hearings with the heads of state last week Environment, economic development, Agriculture, transport, and Fleet control Agencies and lawmakers urged administrators to share details about decisions they make as capricious and without input from lawmakers.
"The governor is talking about bipartisanism, but you continue to respond to this edict that you can do whatever you want by order of the executive," Stan Saylor, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said in a hearing.
GEORGIA
A measure that grants certain federal paycheck protection program loans exempt from state income tax and extended tax deductions for medical expenses, charitable donations and business lunches awaiting signature from Governor Brian Kemp. Medical allowances could be the greatest boon to taxpayers. The measure will permanently reduce the deductible to 7.5% of the adjusted gross income of a taxpayer. Georgia Treasury officials estimate taxpayers could save $ 62 million over the next five years.
NORTH CAROLINA
The state's Debt Affordability Advisory Committee recommends North Carolina lawmakers Allocate $ 100 million each fiscal year through fiscal 2025 in support of North Carolina's unfunded pension obligations. North Carolina's pension systems are underfunded by $ 12.1 billion and the state health plan is underfunded by $ 27.7 billion.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Legislation was filed in the South Carolina House that would Create educational grant accounts This would allow parents to receive flexible educational grants for their child's education through an online, parent-controlled account to pay tuition fees at private and charter schools. Students in families earning 200% of the federal poverty line, Medicaid recipients, students participating in South Carolina early reading development and education program, and past exceptional students in South Carolina can receive ESAs.
TENNESSEE
A Memphis area school principal suspended for telling students that social media and technology companies pose a threat to freedom of expression. filed a lawsuit against Shelby County Schools The exercise of his First Amendment rights was violated. Barton Thorne was put on administrative leave last month after raising concerns to students about how tech and social media companies have the ability to control conversations and end online discussions. "Director Thorne has been suspended from his job for preaching the virtues of free speech and tolerance," said Daniel Suhr, a Liberty Justice Center attorney who is representing Thorne in the lawsuit. "He warned students that nowadays any vote can be canceled at any time by a small group of people for whatever reason – and the school administrators agreed with him."
LOUISIANA
Budget proposal from Governor John Bel Edwards does not cut expenses and calls for a wage increase of $ 400 for teachers and a $ 200 increase for school support staff. The federal government has increased its share of Medicaid spending so state officials can use the state's share for other things, Edwards said. The governor's proposal increases spending by $ 186 million. Most of the increase in spending goes into education, including the $ 40 million needed to help teachers and school aids.
OHIO
With more employees working from home than from offices, Ohio income tax laws continue to be challenged, and the latest opposition comes in at the General Assembly. Senator Kristina Roegner, R-Hudson, has tabled a bill that will return that of the state Income Tax Act on pre-pandemic regulations, which means most employees pay taxes in the city they live in and the city they work in. However, since last March, many employees have been working and living in the same city. The opposition is likely to come from the largest cities in Ohio, where some of the majority of employees work in one city while living in another. Many of these workers tend to have higher paying jobs, and many of these cities tend to have higher tax rates. Removing these workers from big cities 'tax bases would significantly reduce government revenue streams, the cities argue, but distant workers say they no longer benefit from the taxpayers' money collected there
MICHIGAN
Though the Michigan Supreme Court last October Declared unconstitutional Governor Gretchen Whitmer's Executive Orders issued after April 30 implemented a workaround with emergency powers granted to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Despite the Whitmer administration's assurances of transparency, many companies were surprised to find the 200-page MDHHS pandemic notice dated February 4th a Extension of the 25% limit From February 21 to March 29, shisha, vaping, and cigar smoking lounge owners across the state were made aware of a different provision in the MDHHS February 4 order when they received it Emails from the MDDHS on February 22, which required masks to be worn at these facilities at all times, effectively turning them off, except for selling products for off-site use.
Whitmer explained one Energy emergency due to delays in propane deliveries that put the heat source at risk for many Michigan homes a week ago. The arrangement allows tanker drivers to exceed their maximum daily driving limits by February 28th. Republican lawmakers argued, however, that Whitmer's attempt to shut down Enbridge Line 5, which Enbridge estimates provides 65% of propane needs in the Upper Peninsula and 55% of the entire state of Michigan, would permanently reduce propane access for those same Michigandans.
INDIANA
A new report states that Indianapolis are charter schools Do more with lessand give the state "more for its money". The report from researchers from the University of Arkansas and the Reason Foundation looked at charter schools in seven cities, including Indianapolis. Specifically, it looked at how much government funding the charter schools received compared to traditional public schools, and calculated "cost-effectiveness" by measuring how much students' test scores on the NAEP tests for $ 1,000 per student each have risen. Overall, charter schools in the seven cities surveyed received a third less funding than traditional public schools and achieved the same or better results.
KENTUCKY
The U.S. Junior Senator in Kentucky tabled a bill that would allow private industry workers in some sectors refuse to join a union. Republican US Senator Rand Paul said his bill, entitled "The National Right to Work Act," would cover workers in industries such as airlines and railroads who are about to be dismissed if they do not pay union dues. He noted that Kentucky as well as 26 other states have passed similar laws. The Law on the Right to Work allows workers in a trade union business to choose not to pay contributions to the work organization.
VIRGINIA
Legislation that would put additional mandates for some companies The Virginia Senate passed the Virginia Senate Thursday to ensure paid sick leave for workers and overtime for white-collar workers. Both laws have already been passed by the House, but the Senate has changed the bills, which means they will have to return to the House for review. House Bill 2137, sponsored by Del. Elizabeth Guzman, D-Dale City, would require companies that employ critical workers to give those workers paid sick leave. The paid sick leave mandate would be for an eligible employee who works at least 20 hours per week or 90 hours per month.
WEST VIRGINIA
In a town hall about a plan to abolish the West Virginia Income TaxGovernor Jim Justice answered questions about how this would lead to growth in the state and how his plan would make up for lost revenue. The judiciary's plan would not end state income tax immediately. Rather, the proposed legislation would initially cut the tax in half for most Western Virgins and by a third for the richest. After seeing economic growth, the state's plan is to put in place laws that would completely repeal the tax, although the proposal does not provide a set timetable for it. The proposal would still be a complete overhaul of the current tax system, which takes $ 2.1 billion of its income tax receipts and accounts for more than half of its annual revenue. To offset lost revenue, Justice is proposing several tax increases, including a 1.5% increase in sales tax, an increase in taxes on purchases of cigarettes and soda, and a luxury tax on large purchases.
ILLINOIS
Taxpayers might be hooked for the full month's salary three state legislators for the month of February alone from one district. According to Illinois' comptroller, arcane state law needs to change. The law stipulates that the legislature must be paid for the entire month, even if they do not work for the entire month. Former MP Edward Guerra Kodatt, D-Chicago, was sworn in on Sunday after being handpicked by Madigan. He resigned Wednesday after Madigan made the suggestion for "allegedly questionable conduct". There was no explanation of this behavior. Comptroller Susana Mendoza said Kodatt was eligible under state law to receive more than $ 5,700 for three business days. She asks Kodatt to decline the payment.
Despite his budget proposal, which cut the previous record year's spending by less than $ 2 billion and announced an expected surplus of $ 120 million, Governor J. B. Pritzker said Illinois still needs those $ 7.5 billion included in President Joe Biden's COVID-19 relief plan. Center Square asked Pritzker if he believed the state still had to pay the estimated amount proposed in the relief plan after announcing in his budget address that he had balanced the current year's books and expected a surplus next year as well . "This is a budget that is the result of a crisis that we have faced the state and the country," he replied. "If you say there is a surplus in the end, it is a mild surplus. Not entirely insignificant, more than $ 100 million, but that equates to a budget of $ 41.6 billion. This is a budget that's balanced, but balanced in a way, and unfortunately doesn't really offer what all the people in Illinois need, but it's the best we can do in this very tight time. "
MINNESOTA
Proposal from Governor Tim Walz $ 52.4 billion budget aims to raise taxes by $ 1.6 billion, prompting a wide range of companies to protest and pledge support last week. Walz aims to increase the corporate tax rate for profitable businesses from 9.8% to 11.25% from 2021 to generate additional revenue of $ 424 million, bringing Minnesota 10.5% to the second highest corporate tax rate in the country would bring to New Jersey. Walz also proposed a fifth tier income tax rate for household incomes over $ 1 million or a single wage earner bringing in $ 500,000 or more, removing Minnesota from the fifth highest income tax – 9.85% on taxable income over $ 164,400 each Year – moved to the US state would be third highest.
WISCONSIN
Governor Tony Evers Spending plan Because Wisconsin is revealing more than what the governor presented to lawmakers and voters earlier this month. The Institute for Government Reform added its report to Evers' budget for 2021-2023 on Wednesday. In addition to showing $ 1.3 billion in new taxes and $ 2 billion in new spending, the report also shows where the money would go and some surprise taxes.
IOWA
Private companies that provide water, sanitation, or rainwater drainage services to the public may be exempt state corporate taxes. Invoices currently under review by Iowa lawmakers would give tax exemptions to companies providing the above services through a pipeline distribution or collection system. Customers would be entitled to resulting cost reductions under HF 607, which was introduced on February 18. The accompanying draft SF 297 was on February 16 in a subcommittee on ways and means.
TEXAS
Governor Greg Abbott accused Power outages Across Texas during this month's winter storms on the Texas Electric Reliability Council (ERCOT), the nonprofit is charged with overseeing power generation for 26 million residents. "We now know that power generators from all sources were unprepared for this harsh winter weather," Abbott said. "We also learned that ERCOT operators should have acted faster in order to stabilize the grid and prevent power generators from being switched offline." Others accused the governor and the legislature of failing to act to secure the state's electricity grid.
ARIZONA
Arizona Republicans are move forward with laws increasing state unemployment benefits, but several reforms, it is said, would eradicate fraud and encourage return to the workforce. An amended Senate Draft 1411, sponsored by Senate President Karen Fann, R-Prescott, would increase the state's maximum weekly unemployment benefit from $ 240 to $ 320. It would rise again to $ 400 if the state unemployment trust is adequately funded. The bill was approved in a non-partisan manner in the Senate Funds Committee on Tuesday. It would also increase disregard for income, or the income an unemployed person can earn before their benefits cease, to $ 160
COLORADO
Colorado officials last week discussed legislative efforts too Overhaul of transportation financing and how to find the money to cover the nearly $ 9 billion backlog of state infrastructure projects. However, any tax increase would require voter approval under the taxpayer's Bill of Rights. While the legislation has not yet been put in place, lawmakers are reportedly considering a gas fee that conservative stakeholders have already viewed as detrimental to the state's economic recovery.
OREGON
Republicans in the Oregon legislature staged their third go out in three years last week. Oregon Senate Republicans said the strike was in protest against the state's vaccine rollout for seniors and virtual learning models. The Senate Republicans are protesting in solidarity with students who want to go back to the classroom, "the statement said." With seniors who failed with the introduction of the vaccine. And working Oregonians who are struggling to make ends meet. “The strike effectively prevents lawmakers from billing or sending laws to the governor's desk.
CALIFORNIA
A Republican legislature calls for one detection Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, after a CapRadio investigation found that the state had at least half a dozen companies that made a significant contribution to Newsom's campaign during the state's COVID-19 shutdown with no-bid contracts had excellent. Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, is calling on lawmakers to investigate the governor, who is also facing a possible recall election.