Trump administration appeals blocking of executive order against law firm Perkins CoieNew Foto - Trump administration appeals blocking of executive order against law firm Perkins Coie

By Mike Scarcella (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Monday appealed a federal judge's decision to strike down an executive order targeting law firm Perkins Coie over its past legal work for Hillary Clinton and others. The Justice Department filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit challenging the May 2 ruling by U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell. The appeal could give one of the country's most influential courts its first chance to weigh the Republican president's orders singling out law firms, which the Justice Department has argued fall within his authority. Three other federal judges in Washington have rejected executive orders against law firms WilmerHale, Jenner & Block and Susman Godfrey. The Justice Department has not yet filed appeal notices in those cases. The court filing on Monday did not include arguments the administration intends to make in its appeal. The White House had no immediate comment. Perkins Coie said in a statement that it looked forward to presenting its case to the appeals court. It said judges in Washington "permanently blocked all four unlawful executive orders targeting law firms because those orders violate core constitutional freedoms." Trump in February launched a pressure campaign against law firms he perceived as aligned against him and the interests of his administration. His executive order against Perkins Coie accused the firm of taking part in an effort to "steal" the 2016 election for Clinton, his Democratic opponent. The order, issued in March, sought to strip government contracts from the law firm's clients and to restrict attorneys at the firm from entering federal buildings. The administration's executive orders against WilmerHale, Jenner & Block, and Susman Godfrey contained similar provisions. Perkins Coie's lawsuit, like the cases from rival firms, said the executive order violated U.S. constitutional protections for speech and other measures, and was designed to intimidate lawyers from representing clients Trump might disfavor. Howell agreed, rebuking the president in a strongly-worded 102-page ruling. "Settling personal vendettas by targeting a disliked business or individual for punitive government action is not a legitimate use of the powers of the U.S. government or an American president," wrote Howell, an appointee of Democratic former President Barack Obama. Republican-appointed U.S. District Judges John Bates and Richard Leon also ruled against the Trump administration in the cases brought by Jenner and WilmerHale, respectively. Democratic-appointed U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan ruled similarly in the case brought by Susman Godfrey. Nine other firms have pledged nearly $1 billion in free legal services and made other concessions in settlements with the White House to avoid being targeted by Trump. (Reporting by Mike Scarcella in Washington; Editing by David Bario, Matthew Lewis and Paul Simao)

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June 30, 2025

Trump administration appeals blocking of executive order against law firm Perkins Coie

Trump administration appeals blocking of executive order against law firm Perkins Coie By Mike Scarcella (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald T...
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DeSantis signs a slimmed-down Florida budget into law after vetoing millionsNew Foto - DeSantis signs a slimmed-down Florida budget into law after vetoing millions

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the state's new budget of about $115 billion into law Monday, capping the end of alengthyandcombative legislative seasonthat was largely defined byGOP infighting, despite the party's iron grip on Tallahassee. The signing came "right at the buzzer," DeSantis said, just one day before the budget goes into effect. It took lawmakers 105 days to finalize the spending plan, during what was supposed to be a 60-day session. The budget comes in at about $4 billion less than the state's current adjusted budget, and is nearly $600 million less than the Legislature'sproposed budget, after DeSantis used his line-item veto power to cut spending projects. "I think what you see in the budget is an example of a very fiscally responsible state," DeSantis said. "We're meeting the needs of the state of Florida that I think most people want us to be focusing on. We're not, you know, frittering it away." The new budget and a related tax cut package include a 2% raise for state workers and a 10% to 15% pay hike for state law enforcement, $1.3 billion a year in tax cuts for families and businesses, and $4 billion to fund scholarships toprivate and religious schools. Democrats supported the budget, but some criticized the spending on vouchers and tax cuts, arguing for more funding for public schools and programs that support low-income families. The second-term governor, who cannot run for reelection in 2026, held the bill signing event in The Villages, one of the world's largest retirement communities and a place long known asa conservative stronghold. DeSantis used the event to tout a slate of familiar talking points, railing against aself-described democratic socialistrunning forNew York City mayor, while touting his own crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and his push to eliminate property taxes in the state, a change that voters would have to approve. The adoption of a tighter state budget comes as officials are grappling with the loss of federal coronavirus funding and as economists fret over RepublicanPresident Donald Trump'strade warsand asweeping proposalto cut federal taxes and spending. Florida's legislative leaders have largely downplayed concerns about how Trump'saggressive and unpredictableeconomic policies could impact the state's coffers, but lawmakers are taking steps to set aside billions of dollars in reserves. ___ Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative.Report for Americais a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

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June 30, 2025

DeSantis signs a slimmed-down Florida budget into law after vetoing millions

DeSantis signs a slimmed-down Florida budget into law after vetoing millions TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis s...
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US revokes visas for Bob Vylan after music duo's Glastonbury chantsNew Foto - US revokes visas for Bob Vylan after music duo's Glastonbury chants

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States has revoked visas for members of Britain's Bob Vylan punk-rap duo after they led chants during their set at the Glastonbury music festival in England over the weekend that the State Department and the BBC, who broadcast the event, said were antisemitic. "The @StateDept has revoked the US visas for the members of the Bob Vylan band in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants. Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country," U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau said in a post on X on Monday. On Monday, the British broadcaster said it regretted not stopping its livestream of Saturday's event, which included on-stage chants of "death, death to the IDF," a reference to the Israel Defense Forces fighting a war in Gaza, and "From the river to the sea, Palestine must be, will be, inshallah, it will be free." That phrase is often taken in Israel as a call for Israel's destruction and denial of its right to exist, although many Palestinians dispute that characterization. Bob Vylan, known for mixing grime and punk rock, tackles a range of issues including racism, homophobia and the class divide in their songs and has previously voiced support for Palestinians. Its lead vocalist, who goes by the stage name Bobby Vylan, appeared to refer to the weekend performance in a post on Instagram, writing: "I said what I said." "Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place," he added. The State Department did not immediately give more details as to the names of those who had visas revoked and what kind of visas they were. Bob Vylan is scheduled to play some concerts in the U.S. in November. (Reporting Daphne Psaledakis; writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

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June 30, 2025

US revokes visas for Bob Vylan after music duo's Glastonbury chants

US revokes visas for Bob Vylan after music duo's Glastonbury chants WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States has revoked visas for member...
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Will Trump visit 'Alligator Alcatraz'? FAA notice hints at presidential stopNew Foto - Will Trump visit 'Alligator Alcatraz'? FAA notice hints at presidential stop

IsPresident Donald Trumpheading to Florida's so-called"Alligator Alcatraz"immigration detention center? The Federal Aviation Administration issued a "VIP Movement Notification" for Tuesday, July 1, for Ochopee, Fla. The alert is for a 30/10 NMR, which stands for a protective inner core radius of 10 nautical miles and an outer ring radius of 30 nautical miles. Those distances are reserved for the U.S. president. Ochopee is the site of Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport. It has been in the news for more than a week as the location of a planned immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades that has been dubbedAlligator Alcatraz. However, a notice of temporary flight restrictions had not been posted by the FAA. An attempt to seek confirmation Sunday from the White House on the president's travel plans this week was not successful. The president, who was focused on U.S. Senate passage of the massiveGOP tax and spending billall weekend, had not posted about a potential visit on his Truth Social account either. Florida Gov.Ron DeSantisdid offer the president an invitation to visit the facility during a cable news interview. The governor even said that Air Force One could land at the Everglades airstrip, once envisioned as an airport site. The first detainees from what Trump has promised will be the biggest immigration deportation crackdown in U.S. history are to arrive at the holding facility July 1. "I think the president will be impressed with what these guys are doing out here," DeSantis said on the "Fox and Friends" program June 29. Nonetheless, the development of a detention facility at the site near Everglades National Park is a source of contention. Two groups, Friends of the Everglades and the Center for Biological Diversity, have filed a lawsuit against the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to stop what they said is the "unlawful construction of a prison in the heart of the Everglades." Sierra Club Florida also is opposed to the development, which it said is "irresponsible." "This proposal is not only deeply inhumane, it is profoundly irresponsible from an environmental, ethical, and fiscal standpoint," the state chapter of the national organization said in a statement June 24. On Saturday, June 28, protesters gathered at the access road to the Dade-Collier Airport to protest the construction of the detention center. The demonstration was led by Betty Osceola, an activist and a member of the Miccosukee tribe. The president's visit would come as his immigration policies are roiling Miam-Dade County, a jurisdiction that has been a longtime bastion of Hispanic population, business hub and political base. And a place where Republicans have made significant inroads in the Trump era. Trump crushed Vice PresidentKamala Harrisin the traditional blue county in the 2024 presidential balloting. He lost the county to PresidentJoe Bidenin 2020, though by a narrower margin than in 2016 against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. But the crackdown on immigration, particularly detaining and deporting people with pending asylum and other status cases, has caused consternation. So has the administration's ending temporary protective status for Venezuelans and canceling a humanitarian parole program that benefited Cubans and Nicaraguans. Earlier this month, state Sen. Ileana Garcia, a Miami Republican, spoke out on X in a post highly critical of White House immigration adviser Stephen Miller. "I understand the importance of deporting criminal aliens, but what we are witnessing are arbitrary measures to hunt down people who are complying with their immigration hearings — in many cases, with credible fear of persecution claims — all driven by a Miller-like desire to satisfy a self-fabricated deportation goal," wrote Garcia, a founder of the Latinas for Trump movement. "This undermines the sense of fairness and justice that the American people value," she said. Another southern Miami-Dade County immigration holding facility, the Krome Detention Center, has been the site of protests. Activists and attorneys for some of those being held there have decried the conditions and overcrowding. While critical of the Biden Administration's border policies, Miami's three Cuban-American members of Congress, Mario-Diaz-Balart, Carlos Gimenez and Maria Elvira Salazar, have also supported continuing TPS coverage for Venezuleans. In May, the three, all Republicans, issued a statement saying they "have consistently supported and will continue to support Temporary Protected Status" for Venezuelans in the United States. "There is a clear distinction between individuals, such as members of the Tren de Aragua who exploited Biden's open border and wreaked havoc on American communities, and the many Venezuelans who have arrived in our country, fleeing the political crises under the repressive dictatorship of [Nicolás] Maduro with legitimate claims of persecution," the lawmakers said. Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor atThe Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him atafins@pbpost.com. This article originally appeared on USATNetwork:Will Trump visit 'Alligator Alcatraz'?

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June 30, 2025

Will Trump visit 'Alligator Alcatraz'? FAA notice hints at presidential stop

Will Trump visit 'Alligator Alcatraz'? FAA notice hints at presidential stop IsPresident Donald Trumpheading to Florida's so-cal...
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States brace for impact as Trump's big bill nears completion in CongressNew Foto - States brace for impact as Trump's big bill nears completion in Congress

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — PresidentDonald Trump'sbig bill to cut taxesand reduce federal spending on some social safety net programs could have large implications for states, but for many it's too late to do much about it this year. Tuesday marks the start of a new budget year in 46 states. Though some legislatures are still working, most already have adjourned and finalized their spending plans without knowing whether federal funding will be cut and, if so, by how much. "The ebb and flow of rumors and reality have created great uncertainty and some anxiety in state governments," said David Adkins, executive director of The Council of State Governments. Several states have taken preemptive steps, setting aside money in reserves or tasking committees to monitor the impact of federal funding reductions. Others are tentatively planning to return in special sessions this year to account for potential fundingcuts to joint federal-state programssuch as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Others will have to wait until their legislatures are back in session next year. What's at stake for states? "If there are significant cuts, states wouldn't be able to fully absorb those," said Brian Sigritz, director of state fiscal studies at the National Association of State Budget Officers. Nationally, theMedicaid health care programfor lower-income residents accounts for 30% of total state expenditures, according to the health policy research organization KFF. That makes it the costliest program in many states, ahead of even K-12 education. The bulk of Medicaid money comes from the federal government, meaning any changes in federal policy can create big ripples for states. Legislation pending in Congress would affect Medicaid in several ways. New work requirements are expected toreduce enrollment by millionsof people, while other proposed changes also could reduce federal payments to states. Until now the federal government also has covered the full cost of SNAP benefits and half the administrative costs. Trump's bill would shift more of those costs to states, leaving them to either divert money from other purposes or trim back their food assistance programs. The Medicaid and SNAP changes are just the latest in a series of Trump policies affecting state finances, including the rollback of grants fortransportationandhigh-speed internet projectsand attempts to withhold federal funds fromsanctuary jurisdictionsthat limit cooperation with federalimmigrationauthorities. Some legislatures are stocking up on savings A surge in federal aid and state tax revenue during the coronavirus pandemic led to booming budgets andhistoric cash surplusesin many states. As revenues slow and those surpluses get spent, some states now are trying to guard against federal funding reductions. New Mexicoenacted a lawthis year creating a Medicaid trust fund gradually stocked with up to $2 billion that can be tapped to prop up the program if federal funding cuts would otherwise cause a reduction in coverage or benefits. Hawaii lawmakers, in crafting the state's budget, left an extra $200 million in the general fund as a contingency against federal funding uncertainty. They plan to return for a special session. And Vermont's budget sets aside up to $110 million in case federal funding is cut. That includes $50 million that can be spent while the Legislature is not in session and up to $60 million that could be appropriated in the future to address federal funding shortfalls. Though not necessarily tied to federal cuts, Florida lawmakers approved a proposed constitutional amendment that wouldset aside $750 million a year— or an amount equal to up to 25% of the state's general revenue, whichever is less — in a reserve fund that lawmakers could use for emergencies. That measure still must go before voters. Some governors are cutting back on spending Because of legislative deadlines, some state lawmakers had to craft budgets well before the details of Trump's bill took shape. Virginia lawmakers passed a budget in February for their fiscal year that starts Tuesday. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin announcedseveral dozen line-item vetoesin May with the goal of creating a roughly $900 million financial cushion. "There are some short-term risks as President Trump resets both fiscal spending in Washington and trade policies that require us to be prudent and not spend all of the projected surplus before we bank it," Youngkin said in a statement. Other states also have left money unspent, even though it has not always been touted as a buffer against federal cuts. States are "enacting really cautious budgets, knowing that they may have to kind of revise them in special sessions or address changes in next year's sessions," said Erica MacKellar, a fiscal affairs program principal at the National Conference of State Legislatures. Some are taking a wait-and-see approach Before adjourning their sessions, some state legislatures established procedures to monitor federal funding cuts and recommend budgetary changes. Montana's budget includes $50,000 for an analysis of the financial implications of federal actions, but that spending kicks in only upon the cancellation of at least $50 million of previously approved federal funding or the anticipated loss of at least $100 million of future revenue. If federal funding to Maryland decreases by at least $1 billion,a provision approved by lawmakersrequires the state budget office to submit a report to the General Assembly with proposed actions and potential spending reductions. The spending plan passed by Connecticut lawmakers also requires the state budget office to respond quickly to federal reductions by identifying state funds that could be used to preserve programs, particularly those providing health care, food assistance, education and other priorities. North Dakota lawmakers left room for more work. They adjourned their biennial session six days shy of their 80-day limit, allowing time to reconvene if needed.

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June 30, 2025

States brace for impact as Trump's big bill nears completion in Congress

States brace for impact as Trump's big bill nears completion in Congress JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — PresidentDonald Trump'sbig bill ...
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