If there was any doubt about Donald Trump’s tariff plans before, there shouldn’t be now. He will keep his promise to raise tariffs on goods crossing American borders as soon as he takes office as president. “On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States,” he said. Trump also amplified his intention to add an additional 10% to tariffs on goods from China. Yes, the “Tariff Man,” as he likes to style himself, is back in town, and the pros and cons of his approach — continued mainly by President Joe Biden — have been on display for years. Yet, anytime government sausage is made, there are ingredients we can’t easily see. More than reinforcing an America First promise to protect U.S. industries and jobs, Trump presents his latest tariff foray as about bargaining. He indicates he will reduce the newly imposed tariffs when the affected countries eliminate shipments of drugs and illegal immigrants into the United States. Anyone who has looked closely knows that border taxes do serious collateral damage to U.S. businesses that rely on imported materials to manufacture American goods. They can also impose burdensome costs on businesses of all sizes caught in a competitive struggle to survive, either against better-protected rivals or in a market made less free and friendly. Indeed, since Trump’s announcement, concerns about retaliation and an expanded trade war have surfaced. For this, the tariff process provides potential relief. Those who anticipate economic pain can petition government trade managers for an exemption. Experience tells us that these requests will keep Trump’s trade office busy. According to news reports, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative handled 50,000 exemption requests for Chinese tariffs in Trump’s first term. The Department of Commerce received 500,000 requests for exclusions involving steel and aluminum. Such a process would give any president awesome power to reward friends and punish enemies. Recent research in the Journal of Financial & Quantitative Analysis found that this happened in Trump’s first term. The researchers focused on lobbying activities associated with the tariffs imposed on products imported from China between 2018 and 2020. Using statistical analysis, they examined $550 billion of imports facing an average 20% tariff, including 1,022 cases where exemptions were granted and 5,993 cases rejected. The authors found that campaign contributions and lobbying expenditures matter. As one put it: “Our findings reveal that politicians not only use exemptions to reward their supporters but also withhold exemptions to punish supporters of their opponents. The tariff exemption grant process functioned as an effective spoils system allowing the administration of the day to reward its political friends and punish its enemies.” Intentionally or not, the ability to levy and exempt businesses from tariffs concentrates power in the person of the president and the executive branch. Such power can certainly assist the returning president with his well-established preference for micromanaging the economy. There was a time when regulatory scholars tried to explain the behavior of politicians and regulators by focusing on a “public interest” theory. It argued that while there might be occasional slip-ups or even corruption, politicians involved in developing and managing regulations are primarily driven by a desire to serve the broad public interest. They want to make the world a better place. In 1971, this theory could no longer explain the growth in regulation, and Nobel laureate George Stigler offered an alternative theory — an economic one. It said to keep your eye on the money and you will better predict regulatory outcomes. Whatever the intentions of one politician or another, regulation usually ends up serving highly organized private interests in addition to addressing public interest concerns. We have no reason to doubt Trump’s belief that high tariffs, with all the potential payoffs and punishments, are what’s best for America. The Tariff Man is nothing if not steadfast. However, plans like these rarely discuss what’s best for all Americans. The old public interest theory doesn’t predict very well. Bruce Yandle is a distinguished adjunct fellow with the Mercatus Center at George Mason University and dean emeritus of Clemson University’s College of Business & Behavioral Science. He wrote this for InsideSources.com .Ukrainian newcomers will soon have two new places to call home in Guelph and Wellington County. Volunteer group Waterloo Region Grassroots Response to the Ukrainian Crisis has announced it is ready to open two new Ukrainian Guest houses in Guelph and Elora later this month – its first locations in both areas. Grassroots founder Stephanie Goertz said the homes are used to house Ukrainian newcomers who aren’t considered refugees and don’t receive as much support from the federal government. “The benefit of our houses is they not only provide an opportunity for people who really have a lack of money to rent their own or can’t find a landlord willing to rent to them because they don’t have a job or a credit history, it really allows these newcomers to build the social connections to need to be much more successful in Canada,” said Goertz in an interview. Grassroots’ newest property in Guelph/Eramosa was found thanks to a connection from the Rotary Club, which had a member with property available that he wanted to offer the group to “help and support displaced Ukrainians.” The location is set to open in the next couple of weeks as it needs “a couple of small renovations” including painting and new flooring. Located five minutes south of Elora, Goertz said the owners of the Centre Wellington property reached out to them after seeing a press release online several months ago and since their tenant was moving out decided they wanted to “use their property to help others.” “We are always seeking out landlords and property owners that have properties available,” said Goertz. “And the property owners themselves want to give back. They want to help newcomers, and they want to work with us in a collaborative way. So we’re always looking for those landlords.” The group is currently working to get its Elora location ready for a family with a mother, teenage daughter and dog, who are set to arrive later this week. As some of the other houses couldn’t support a family with a pet, Goertz said the Elora property came at “the perfect time” as the group has been working for the last two weeks to figure out where to settle this family. “Right now, the house is completely empty- we’re still getting in and cleaning,” said Goetz. “But over the next day or two, we’ll have everyone setting up the house with dishes, bedding, towels, soap, hygiene items and all that stuff for the welcome.” Outside of housing, Goertz said one of the best ways to support the group is through employment opportunities. The group is currently looking to connect with employers in Guelph or Elora that might have a job for one of their newcomers. “Right now we are desperately calling as many as possible this week to find companies who would be willing to talk with us about hiring Ukrainian newcomers,” said Goertz. “We would love to, in the next week, find at least two or three companies and then connect them with the people that need employment so that when we move those people into the house,...they have everything they need and then it gets them on their feet.” Grassroots is also currently looking for financial support as it’s anticipated more newcomers will be directed their way once government support is cut off in March. 2025 and they want to continue helping new families and providing their existing support beyond the deadline. “Our operational budget is quite extensive. So, yes, we want to keep expanding. Yes, want to keep helping people, but we need the financial support because if we don’t get the financial support, then we close,” said Goertz. “And right now we can’t really close because there’s no other groups that are really doing what we’re doing for Ukrainian newcomers.” This help continues to be important for newcomers like Lyudmila Chentsova, who arrived in Roseville last spring with her sons after connecting with a host family through Grassroots- passport in hand, two weeks before her flight to Canada was planned. Since arriving in Canada, Chentsova has found employment and reunited with her husband in Canada thanks to Grassroots and continues to volunteer with the group in the hopes she can be “useful” to the community. “I was so happy when I heard from Grassroots,” said Chentsova. “This has been a big help for me and for my family.” Any donations and/or inquiries should be directed towards Grassroots’ website: Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
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Responding to a significant increase in potential threats to lawmakers and the public in recent years, Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias’s office recently implemented new emergency rules requiring nearly anyone to pass through security screening upon entering the Statehouse or any building in the Illinois Capitol Complex. “Unfortunately, the world is not getting safer,” Amy Williams, senior legal adviser in the secretary of state’s office, told a legislative oversight committee Tuesday. One of the more serious threats, Williams said, occurred in March when security officials were notified of an active shooter threat, prompting a lockdown of the complex. The lockdown was lifted after investigators determined there was no credible threat, according to reports at the time. In April, police locked down the Capitol for about an hour as the building was cleared following a bomb threat. Illinois State Police arrested a suspect accused of making the threat the following month. So far in 2024, Williams told the committee, the Secretary of State Police Department has responded to 17 threats to the Capitol, nearly twice as many as any other year since 2018. There have also been threats directed at individual lawmakers. In September, a man was arrested for threatening to assassinate Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore. And on Monday, Dec. 9, Rep. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, reported an employee in her district office became ill after opening office mail, according to a social media post. The employee was transported to a local hospital, prompting police to evacuate the building and cordon off a portion of the street while emergency crews responded. In October, Williams said, the secretary of state’s office was advised by a security consultant to increase the number of people required to go through security screening to include everyone other than lawmakers, state government employees and other elected officials. That meant many people who had previously been given unrestricted access to the building — including lobbyists, vendors and members of the news media — now have to go through security screening as well. “Primarily that decision came about because members of the General Assembly, elected officials, are sensibly background checked by their constituents who choose them to go to the Capitol to do the people's work on their behalf,” she said. “And state government employees are background checked by their respective agencies. Lobbyists, vendors and members of the press are not subject to any background check.” To avoid congestion, Williams said the office has set up a “TSA Express-style” screening point at the east entrance of the building for those individuals who previously had unfettered access. The security changes near the tail end of a three-year, $224 million renovation project that will make permanent changes to the way the public enters and exits the Capitol. That project involves restoration and remodeling of the entire north wing of the Capitol. When it’s completed, sometime in 2025, all public access will be through a new entryway on the north side of the building where people will pass through security screening before entering the building itself. Until then, visitors will continue entering through either the east or west doors of the building where metal detectors and baggage x-ray machines are located just inside the building. Lawmakers are tentatively scheduled to return to the Statehouse Jan. 2 for the start of a brief lame duck session. The regular 2025 session begins Wednesday, Jan. 8.
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If you’re new to snowboarding, you may not realize the importance of a solid pair of snowboard bindings. In reality, this piece of gear does more than just secure your boots to the snowboard. Bindings are responsible for transferring the power from your legs to the board, allowing improved control and comfort. A quality pair of bindings could last for years, so the decision to buy is a big one. For snowboard bindings that are durable, lightweight and comfortable, check out the BURTON Malavita Snowboard Bindings . Some snowboard bindings are better suited for certain riding styles. Consider how you plan to use your snowboard before settling on a specific pair of bindings. If you’re not sure, try renting some gear for a day and see how the bindings feel on the slopes. Many snowboard manufacturers include a 1 to 10 flexibility rating with their bindings. A high number indicates stiff bindings, while a low number is assigned to bindings that are particularly soft and flexible. Most snowboard bindings have straps that secure the ankle and toe sections of your boots to the board. The ankle straps keep you in a flexible yet fixed position when you lean forward onto your toes, while the toe straps keep your feet in place when you lean back. Padding is used on snowboard bindings to absorb some of the shock caused by bumpy runs. Think about your riding style when deciding how much padding you need. Mounts secure the bindings to the board. You can use mounting screws to attach the bindings and adjust the foot positioning to your preference. Just like a snowboard, snowboard bindings come in a wide variety of different colors and patterns. If you want a cohesive look, pick out bindings that match the rest of your gear. When shopping for snowboard gear online, try to purchase from well-known brands like Burton, Salomon or Rossignol. Cheap snowboard bindings from an obscure manufacturer might be tempting, but you could find yourself with an inferior product once you hit the slopes. The cost of snowboard bindings can vary depending on the brand name and the quality of the parts. Beginner and intermediate snowboarders can expect to pay around $100-$250 for a quality pair of bindings, while advanced snowboard bindings regularly exceed $300. A. Most snowboard bindings are sold in two to five size options. Look at the model’s sizing chart and compare it with your boot size to find bindings that fit you. A. Yes. Although there are women’s snowboard bindings that advertise particular design features, snowboard bindings are universal. This means you can choose any pair you want, as long as they’re the right size. BURTON Malavita Snowboard Bindings What you need to know: Despite being advertised as men’s snowboard bindings, these bindings use advanced technology to deliver quality support and performance for any rider. What you’ll love: Backed by Burton’s legendary reputation, these snowboard bindings offer an advanced level of performance, control and comfort in a stylish package. The padding has a gel to absorb extra shock, and the bindings come in five color options. What you should consider: These bindings might be too expensive for beginner and intermediate riders. Salomon Pact Snowboard Bindings What you need to know: These versatile bindings are durable and affordable enough for almost any rider. What you’ll love: A solid choice for beginners, these snowboard bindings have a rear-entry design with high-quality straps for fine adjustments. Many users note their durability and comfort during long days of riding. What you should consider: These bindings have a limited number of size options, and the mounting discs may not attach to every board type. BURTON Grom Snowboard Bindings What you need to know: Designed for kids and small snowboarders, these popular bindings have a solid construction and reasonable price tag. What you’ll love: Perfect for young riders hitting the slopes for the first time, these beginner bindings are compatible with most snowboard mounting systems and feature a single-component baseplate for consistent control and responsiveness. They’re also available in two sleek color options, black and white. What you should consider: Some users questioned the quality and longevity of the bindings’ highback. Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change. Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.Tottenham in glum mood ahead of Chelsea clash as familiar frailty proves costly against BournemouthTulsi Gabbard’s Syria visit doesn’t faze GOP senators who also seem poised to confirm Ratcliffe as CIA director