www.thecentersquare.com – By Kenneth Schrupp | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-20 18:00:00
U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune is holding a vote to overturn California’s 2035 ban on new gas-powered cars, a regulation adopted by 11 other states. The vote would also affect California’s diesel and zero-emission vehicle requirements. California’s stricter air regulations have been adopted by several states, raising concerns about automaker compliance and jobs in the automotive industry. California Governor Gavin Newsom framed the vote as a choice between protecting American health and industry or aligning with China. Some automakers, like General Motors, have shifted support for overturning the ban, citing market challenges and the need for a unified national standard.
(The Center Square) – U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced he is holding a vote to overturn California’s 2035 ban on the sale of new gas-powered cars, which has been adopted by 11 other states and the District of Columbia, making up 40% of the American market.
The vote would also impact other California emissions rules approved in the last days of the Biden administration, including the state’s diesel-engine and zero-emission heavy-duty-vehicle requirements.
The phased-in zero-emission vehicle requirement applies to Massachusetts, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington for the ongoing model year 2026, and Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. for model year 2027.
Last month, the Senate parliamentarian ruled that the Biden administration’s EPA waiver that allowed California to enact this regulation is not subject to congressional review, the power by which Congress has 60 legislative days to overturn regulatory actions by executive agencies such as the EPA.
Because California’s air emissions regulations predate the EPA — the state sought to regulate air pollution causing its once-infamous smog — it alone is allowed to create its own air regulations more stringent than the federal standard, so long as it receives an EPA waiver for each rule.
States seeking more stringent air regulations than the federal standard have done so by adopting California’s rules, making California’s emissions regulations a matter of national concern.
In California, zerio-emission vehicle market share would have to grow to 35% for the ongoing 2026 model year.
With ZEV market share in California — which has the highest ZEV adoption rates in the country — having declined from 22% in 2024 to 20.8% in the first quarter of 2025, Toyota has said the target is “impossible” to meet, as ZEV sales would have to increase 68% practically overnight.
Automakers can buy and trade credits from other automakers to meet the rising targets, or face fines of $10,000 per credit they are short, resulting in automakers pulling some cars from markets impacted by the new requirements.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom positioned the vote as a matter of health and maintaining dominance in the geopolitical confrontation with China.
“The United States Senate has a choice: cede American car-industry dominance to China and clog the lungs of our children, or follow decades of precedent and uphold the clean air policies that Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon fought so hard for,” said Newsom in a statement. “Will you side with China or America?”
The Specialty Equipment Market Association, which represents the automotive aftermarket industry, says overturning the gas car ban would protect jobs and small businesses and grow the real economy.
“The automotive aftermarket industry will be deeply impacted by EV mandates and internal combustion engine bans,” said SEMA in a statement. “This is an industry made up of small businesses, 33% of which are ICE-vehicle dependent; the death of California’s waiver will give life to more than 330,000 American jobs and preserves over $100 billion of economic impact to the nation’s economy.”
General Motors, the nation’s largest American automaker, has supported California vehicle regulations in the past, but has since come out in support of its reversal as EV sales have struggled.
“GM believes in customer choice, and we continue to focus on offering the best and broadest portfolio of vehicles on the market,” said GM in a statement. “GM has long supported one national standard and consistency in emissions regulations that are aligned with market realities.”
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article primarily reports on the legislative and regulatory developments related to California’s ban on the sale of new gas-powered cars and the efforts by Senate Majority Leader John Thune to hold a vote to overturn this ban. It presents statements and positions from multiple stakeholders, including political leaders, industry groups, and automakers, without evident editorializing or emotionally charged language. The coverage explains the history and rationale behind California’s emissions regulations alongside the political and economic arguments from both supporters and opponents of the ban. This balanced presentation indicates neutral, factual reporting rather than the expression of a distinct ideological stance by the article itself.
House Republicans met on May 20, 2025, to negotiate the details of a major reconciliation bill, focusing on taxes, Medicaid, and the SALT deduction. Speaker Mike Johnson expressed confidence in reaching a deal despite outstanding issues. President Trump attended a GOP meeting, declaring unity, though not all Republicans were on board, particularly regarding the SALT cap, which some felt was too low. Conservative factions, including Rep. Chip Roy, voiced concerns over deficit spending. Senate Majority Leader John Thune suggested the bill would undergo changes in the Senate, with emphasis on permanent tax policies and spending reforms.
by Jennifer Shutt and Ashley Murray, Virginia Mercury May 20, 2025
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Republicans who have yet to rally behind the party’s “big, beautiful bill” huddled in the speaker’s office Tuesday as different factions tried to hash out agreement on taxes, Medicaid and a few other outstanding issues.
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters before those meetings began there were “a number of loose ends to tie up” with deficit hawks and members from high-tax states, who are pressing to raise the state and local tax deduction, also known as SALT.
“We got some hours ahead of us to work this out, and I’m very confident we will,” Johnson said. “I’m going to have a series of meetings that will begin right now in my office to try to tie up the final loose ends. This is a 1,100-page piece of legislation. We’re down to a few provisions so we are very confident, very optimistic we can get this done and stay on our timetable.”
Johnson hopes to pass the legislation this week, though he didn’t appear to have the votes as of Tuesday afternoon.
Trump pays a House call
The smaller meetings followed a closed-door huddle between all the chamber’s GOP lawmakers and President Donald Trump earlier in the day that didn’t quite have the intended effect of immediately convincing holdouts to vote for the bill.
Trump, however, appeared to declare victory before leaving the Capitol.
“I think we have unbelievable unity. I think we’re going to get everything we want,” Trump said after the morning meeting. “And I think we’re going to have a great victory.”
House Republicans have an extremely thin 220-213 majority, requiring nearly every GOP lawmaker to support the 1,116-page package in order for it to reach the Senate.
Getting SALT-y
The reconciliation bill currently proposes lifting the SALT cap from $10,000 to $30,000 for married couples filing jointly, with a phase-down for those earning $400,000 or more, but that’s not enough for Republicans from states most impacted by the aspect of tax law.
New York Republican Rep. Nick LaLota told reporters in the early afternoon that he would likely lose reelection if he can’t secure a better SALT agreement than what was on the table.
“If I do a bad deal, I would expect my constituents to throw me out,” LaLota said. “If I did a deal at $30,000, my own mother wouldn’t vote for me.”
LaLota said Republicans leaders should prioritize a deal that benefits swing voters to avoid the party losing centrist members and possibly the House majority in the 2026 midterms.
“If we win that one issue, they’ll have a much easier November of 2026. And thus we’ll be able to keep the House and do other fiscally responsible things for the next couple of cycles here, if we get this one issue right,” LaLota said. “Conversely, you get this issue wrong — you vote for a bad bill and you keep the cap low — those folks are getting thrown out of office, we lose the majority, and then we have an open border, then we have an impeached president, and then we have all the other things that America voted against.”
LaLota said later Tuesday, after GOP leaders proposed different SALT cap numbers, that there was still “no accepted deal, yet the parties are talking a little more with an understanding of each other’s position.”
“Leadership understands better what our pain threshold is,” LaLota said. “We clearly rejected the $30,000 number that’s in the Ways and Means bill.”
He declined to say if the SALT Caucus was prepping a counteroffer for leadership, but said that staff were conducting “some research on some of the mixes of income caps and what SALT cap there would be and how much that would be valued at relative to the entire $4 trillion package.”
‘Bad faith negotiation’
Rep. Mike Lawler, a staunch supporter of raising the SALT cap for his constituents north of New York City, would not comment to reporters outside the speaker’s office about a specific dollar amount but said there’s an “improved offer” on the table.
“We’re waiting on more details. We’ll have more to say later,” Lawler said.
Speaking to Fox News in the hallway, he said, “I’m not going to sacrifice my constituents and throw them under the bus in a bad faith negotiation, which is what this has been by leadership and Jason Smith,” he said referring to the chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means.
“We need to come to an agreement. We need to provide real and lasting tax relief, and that’s what I’m fighting for, for my constituents. I respect the president … but I’ll respectfully disagree,” Lawler said.
Trump urged House Republicans Tuesday morning that raising the SALT cap benefits Democratic governors.
Conservatives still unhappy
Complicating negotiations, some far-right House Republicans remain opposed to the bill, saying it does not go far enough.
Rep. Chip Roy of Texas, who did not support the bill during a committee vote Sunday night, told States Newsroom Tuesday afternoon that his “concerns and problems still exist.”
Roy argues the massive reconciliation deal does not reduce deficit spending enough, particularly with respect to Medicaid and clean energy tax credits.
When asked whether lawmakers were approaching an agreement, Roy said “Not sure. We’re still talking. We’ve had literally like five meetings today already.”
Thune predictions
The House passing the package this week would only be one of many steps in the long, winding process.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said during a press conference Tuesday afternoon, just after Johnson spoke during a closed-door lunch, that changes to the package are expected in the upper chamber.
Thune said one of the major questions for GOP senators is whether the legislation holds “sufficient spending reforms to get us on a more sustainable fiscal path.”
“I think most of our members are in favor of a lot of the tax policy and particularly those portions of the tax policy that are stimulative, that are pro-growth, that will create greater growth in the economy,” Thune said. “But when it comes to the spending side of the equation: This is a unique moment in time and in history where we have the House and the Senate and the White House, and an opportunity to do something meaningful about government spending.”
Thune said that GOP senators would likely make “tweaks” to the tax provisions once the House sends over a package, especially around how long certain tax policy lasts.
“They have cliffs and some shorter-term timeframes when it comes to some of the tax policies,” Thune said. “We believe that permanence is the way to create economic certainty and thereby attract and incentive capital investment in this country that creates those good-paying jobs, and gets our economy growing and expanding, and generates more government revenue.”
Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
This article primarily reports on negotiations and dynamics among House Republicans regarding a large tax and budget reconciliation bill. It features statements from prominent Republican figures such as Speaker Mike Johnson, President Donald Trump, and Senators like John Thune, reflecting their perspectives and policy priorities, such as tax relief, deficit reduction, and pro-growth economic policies. The text does not exhibit overt criticism or praise but focuses on intra-party GOP discussions and their implications. Its framing and content lead to a centrist to center-right bias due to the emphasis on GOP viewpoints and policy goals without notable left-leaning commentary or analysis.
www.youtube.com – 12 On Your Side – 2025-05-19 18:09:13
SUMMARY: The Byrd Theatre in Kerry Town is undergoing its final phase of seat replacements, with crews removing old chairs dating back to the 1928 opening. The renovation focuses on enhancing comfort while preserving the theater’s original 1920s aesthetic. Key elements, like the carved handrests and fabric, will be restored or replicated. Some rows are being removed to accommodate ADA platforms and space for events. Though renovations are ongoing, the balcony remains open. The total project costs around \$660,000, with \$14,000 still needed to complete funding. The renovation is expected to finish by early September.
The iconic Byrd Theatre in Carytown is getting another upgrade with the final phase of seat replacements underway.
Virginia’s general fund revenues surged 6.3%, nearly $1.5 billion above last year, with April alone up 8.8%, surpassing forecasts by $211.1 million. Gov. Glenn Youngkin highlighted strong job growth, noting 265,000 more Virginians employed over three years and over $100 billion in capital investments. While the national economy slowed, driven by a spike in imports and a GDP decline, Virginia added 5,900 jobs in March in sectors like construction and healthcare. Federal job losses, both state and national, pose risks. Inflation eased slightly in April, and the Federal Reserve maintained interest rates, indicating steady economic conditions amid cautious optimism.
Virginia’s general fund revenues rose sharply in April, bucking signs of a national economic cooldown as the state continues to post steady long-time job growth and rake in more tax dollars than projected.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Monday that general fund revenues are up 6.3% — nearly $1.5 billion — compared to the same 10-month period last fiscal year. April alone brought in $322.4 million more than the same month in 2024, marking an 8.8% jump. Overall, revenues are tracking 0.8% — or $211.1 million — ahead of the state’s official forecast, with two months left in the fiscal year.
“Virginia’s financials remain strong, reflecting strong job growth and business investment,” Youngkin said in a statement. “With over 265,000 more Virginians working today versus three years ago and over $100 billion in capital investment commitments from companies eager to grow in Virginia, the Commonwealth’s financial performance is tracking ahead of forecast.”
The upbeat state report comes even as the national economy posted a notable dip in growth. According to a memo from Secretary of Finance Stephen Cummings to the governor, real U.S. GDP growth fell sharply in the first quarter of 2025.
The decline was largely driven by a surge in imports, as consumers rushed to beat expected tariffs. Imports grew at a 9% annual rate, while the rest of the economy posted a more modest 2% pace.
Despite the GDP slide, hiring remained solid. The U.S. added 177,000 jobs in April, and Virginia tacked on 5,900 jobs in March — the most recent month with available data — led by construction, health care and transportation. The state’s unemployment rate nudged up slightly to 3.2% in March, up from 3.1 percent the previous month.
Still, federal employment is showing cracks. Virginia lost an estimated 4,100 federal jobs in March, while nationally the federal government shed 9,000 jobs in April — figures that state officials say bear watching.
“Strong revenue results for April, a significant collection month, indicate that the Virginia economy continues to exceed our prudent forecast,” Cummings said in a statement. “While we continue to have confidence in our FY2025 forecast and the long-term resiliency and strength of the Virginia economy, we are cognizant of potential short-term risks associated with federal job reductions and the resetting of trade relationships.”
Cummings added that the governor’s final budget decisions reflect a “prudent and responsible plan on behalf of our taxpayers to provide additional cushion for the commonwealth’s general fund resources.”
Meanwhile, inflation cooled slightly in April. Consumer prices rose 2.3% compared to last year, down from 2.4% in March and well below the 3.3% rate seen a year ago. Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, held steady at 2.8%. The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge also fell, with the core personal consumption expenditures index easing to 2.6% in March.
The Federal Reserve kept interest rates unchanged earlier this month and is expected to do so again at its June 18 meeting.
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Virginia Mercury is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Virginia Mercury maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Samantha Willis for questions: info@virginiamercury.com.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
This content presents a largely factual and positive portrayal of Virginia’s economic performance under Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican. The focus on strong job growth, increased revenues, and prudent fiscal management reflects a favorable view of conservative economic policies. However, the tone remains measured and avoids partisan rhetoric, emphasizing data and official statements without overt political critique or ideological framing. Thus, the content leans slightly right of center, aligning with pro-business and fiscally conservative perspectives typical of center-right reporting.
