Weekly Report from Washington, D.C.
During the week of November 26, senior tax staff on the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees doubted Republicans’ catch-all tax and IRS package’s chances of success. The IRS released guidance granting automatic consent to accounting method changes to comply with new Code Sec. 451(b), as added by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (P.L. 115-97).CongressSenior tax staff on the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees doubt Republicans’ catch-all tax and IRS package’s chances of success, (TAXDAY, 2018/11/30, C.1).House Republicans’ blazing, 297-page tax package of IRS reforms, tax extenders, disaster relief, retirement savings, and corrections to last year’s tax reform received an icy reception from congressional Democrats, (TAXDAY, 2018/11/29, C.1).The House was expected to vote this week on a 297-page tax and IRS oversight package, (TAXDAY, 2018/11/28, C.1).IRSRevenue Procedure. The IRS released procedures granting automatic consent to accounting method changes to comply with new Code Sec. 451(b), as added by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (P.L. 115-97), (Rev. Proc. 2018-60; TAXDAY, 2018/11/30, I.1).Notice. Insurers, self-insuring employers, other coverage providers, and applicable large employers have until March 4, 2019, to provide individuals with Forms 1095-B, Health Coverage, or Forms 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage, (Notice 2018-94; TAXDAY, 2018/11/30, I.2).LB&I. The IRS Large Business and International Division (LB&I) issued a directive providing instructions to LB&I examiners for cases when a taxpayer files an amended return or claim for refund relating to Code Sec. 199, (TAXDAY, 2018/11/30, I.3).Loans and Hardships Procedures. Victims of Hurricanes Michael and Florence could now benefit from the IRS’s streamlined loan procedures and liberalized hardship distribution rules, (IR-2018-236; TAXDAY, 2018/11/30, I.4).FEMA. An October 15, 2018 notice in which the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that certain areas in Virginia were eligible for assistance from the federal government, was amended, (TAXDAY, 2018/11/30, I.6).Tax Tip. The IRS provided tips on tools and resources available on its website, (TAXDAY, 2018/11/30, I.7).Foreign Tax Credit Regulations. Highly anticipated foreign tax credit regulations were issued to provide guidance on the significant changes made by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (P.L. 115-97) to the foreign tax credit rules, (NPRM REG-105600-18; IR-2018-235; TAXDAY, 2018/11/29, I.1).Filing Methods. The IRS advised taxpayers that they would profit from deciding their filing methods for the 2018 return at the earliest, (IR-2018-234; TAXDAY, 2018/11/29, I.2).Tax Tip. The IRS provided tips on a new tax credit that benefits employers, (TAXDAY, 2018/11/29, I.3).Advice Memorandum. The IRS issued a memo that sets forth guidelines for determining if an employer’s reasons for furnishing meals to employees are substantial noncompensatory business reasons and whether the meals are excludable from income as meals provided for the convenience of the employer, (TAXDAY, 2018/11/28, I.1).Tax Tip. The IRS provided tips on changes to the child tax credit, (TAXDAY, 2018/11/28, I.2).Safe Harbor. A safe harbor was provided that allows taxpayers to treat certain infrastructure trades or businesses as electing real property trades or businesses not subject to the Code Sec. 163(j) business interest deduction limit, (Rev. Proc. 2018-59; NPRM REG-106089-18; IR-2018-233; TAXDAY, 2018/11/27, I.1)Notice. The IRS provided interim guidance for the 2019 calendar year on income tax withholding from wages and withholding from retirement and annuity distributions, (Notice 2018-92; TAXDAY, 2018/11/27, I.2).Safekeeping of Records. The seventh issue in a series of reminders to help taxpayers Get Ready for the upcoming tax filing season provided information for taxpayers about tax records, (IR-2018-232; TAXDAY, 2018/11/27, I.3).Per Diem. The U.S. State Department released a listing of maximum travel per diem allowances for travel in foreign areas, (TAXDAY, 2018/11/27, I.4).Tax Tip. The IRS provided tips on using its tax exempt organization search tool, (TAXDAY, 2018/11/27, I.5).Notice. The IRS released its annual “Required Amendments List” for 2018 for individually designed qualified retirement plans, (Notice 2018-91; TAXDAY, 2018/11/26, I.1).RRTA Tax Rates. The IRS released the tier 2 Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA) tax rates for 2019 for railroad employees, employers and employee representatives, respectively, (TAXDAY, 2018/11/26, I.2).Standard Deduction. The IRS informed taxpayers that the doubling of the standard deduction due to tax law changes is likely to reduce the number of taxpayers who normally itemize, (IR-2018-230; TAXDAY, 2018/11/26, I.3).Deadline for Forms. The IRS reminded employers that the due date for filing Forms W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, and Form W-3, Transmittal of Wage and Tax Statements, for their employees for calendar year 2018 is January 31, 2019, (IR-2018-231; TAXDAY, 2018/11/26, I.4).I.R.B. The IRS released I.R.B. 2018-48, dated November 26, 2018, (TAXDAY, 2018/11/26, I.5).FEMA. An October 11, 2018 notice in which the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that certain areas in Florida were eligible for assistance from the federal government, was amended, (TAXDAY, 2018/11/26, I.6).Tax Tip. The IRS provided tips on reconstructing records after disasters, (TAXDAY, 2018/11/26, I.7).Login to read more tax news on CCH® AnswerConnect or CCH® Intelliconnect®.Not a subscriber? 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Ethel Booba on hotel’s clarification that ‘kikiam’ is ‘chicken sausage’: ‘Kung di pa pansinin, baka isipin nila ok lang’ Trending Articles PLAY LIST 00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles00:50Trending Articles02:49Robredo: True leaders perform well despite having ‘uninspiring’ boss02:42PH underwater hockey team aims to make waves in SEA Games01:44Philippines marks anniversary of massacre with calls for justice01:19Fire erupts in Barangay Tatalon in Quezon City01:07Trump talks impeachment while meeting NCAA athletes02:49World-class track facilities installed at NCC for SEA Games Don’t miss out on the latest news and information. Jordan delivers on promise: 2 Cobra choppers now in PH ‘A complete lie:’ Drilon refutes ‘blabbermouth’ Salo’s claims MOST READ Hotel says PH coach apologized for ‘kikiam for breakfast’ claim Sharapova inspired by Serena to get back to top SEA Games: PH still winless in netball after loss to Thais The situation escalated after Camson caught Almazan with a punch in the face before players and referees stepped in to restore order.READ: PBA: Almazan, Camson ejected after trading punches FEATURED STORIESSPORTSSEA Games: Biñan football stadium stands out in preparedness, completionSPORTSBoxers Pacquiao, Petecio torchbearers for SEA Games openingSPORTSPrivate companies step in to help SEA Games hosting“It wasn’t intended. The replay will show that I wasn’t going for his face and I was just boxing out,” Camson told reporters in Filipino after the game. “I hit him and it was something unavoidable. Then he got back at me and it was just my pride at that point.”Both got ejected after being slapped with a flagrant foul penalty 2.
Eric Camson vs Raymond Almazan. PBA IMAGESKia big man Eric Camson said he was merely getting in position for a rebound it wasn’t his intention to hit Rain or Shine center Raymond Almazan with an elbow that triggered an ugly fight on Saturday.While fighting for positioning in the shaded area, Camson landed an elbow to the face of Almazan, who quickly retaliated with his own.ADVERTISEMENT ‘We cannot afford to fail’ as SEA Games host – Duterte Kia came into the game having lost 16 straight games dating back to last season and Camson said all the losing was a reason for how he handled the situation.“I didn’t like what happened. I guess I just wanted to win so bad because we’re really tired of losing. We don’t want them (Rain or Shine) to make a run because we know that once they do, we’ll lose our morale,” said Camson, who had 10 points, five rebounds and four assists in a 98-94 victory.READ: PBA: Kia halts 16-game skid, upsets Rain or ShineThe two got into a heated verbal exchange along the Cuneta Astrodome hallway on their way to their respective dugouts but after the game, Camson said he has no problems apologizing to Almazan first.“Being the younger player, I’ll be the one to approach him. I don’t see any problems with that because we’re all playing in the same league and we all have the same job,” he said. “I never wanted any of that to happen. I’m a man and I got hit.”ADVERTISEMENT BeautyMNL open its first mall pop-up packed with freebies, discounts, and other exclusives Almazan declined to give interviews to the media after the game.PBA Office-In-Charge Willie Marcial said he will summon both players on Tuesday.Camson plans to use the meeting to apologize to Marcial and Almazan for his actions.“I will respect the league’s decision and I am willing to ask for forgiveness and apologize to sir Willie and Raymond.”Sports Related Videospowered by AdSparcRead Next View comments LATEST STORIES PH military to look into China’s possible security threat to power grid
Besides Prime Minister Modi who will be the chief guest at the inaugural function, Haryana governor Kaptan Singh Solanki, Ambassadors of different countries, Central Ministers, Chief Ministers of States, Ministers and other prominent personalities including celebrities from the field of Arts, culture, sports and film industry will also grace the occasion, the spokesman said. PTI SUN SG SG
Local Area Office: 902-742-0587 Fax: 902-742-6000 -30- YARMOUTH COUNTY: Route 335/Dennis Point Wharf Road Route 335 in West Pubnico, from the intersection of the Rock Road south for about 3.7 kilometres and the Dennis Point Wharf Road will be reduced to one lane for ditching and repaving until Aug. 3. Traffic delays are expected. Cyclists are asked to use caution as pavement is grooved. Local Area Office: 902-742-0587 Fax: 902-742-6000 YARMOUTH COUNTY: Chebogue Road Chebogue Road, from the intersection of the Wyman Road south to the Yarmouth town line for about 8.5 kilometres, will be reduced to one lane for pulverizing and repaving until July 15. Traffic delays are expected. Cyclists are asked to use caution as pavement is grooved.
New Delhi: The government is likely to extend the ongoing session of Parliament to complete its legislative business, top government sources said Friday. The ongoing session is scheduled to conclude on July 26, but the sources said the government is mulling its extension till August 2 to ensure passage of all the bills listed for business. Union ministers are in touch with opposition parties to bring them on board for the extension. Though, some opposition leaders said they are not in favour of such a proposal but the sources asserted that a decision on this session’s schedule is the prerogative of the ruling dispensation. Also Read – How a psychopath killer hid behind the mask of a devout laity! People have elected parliamentarians to work, they should not shy away from this fact, a top government functionary said in response to the opposition’s scepticism over extension of business. As per the government’s legislative business 13 bills are pending for passage, including the contentious triple talaq bill, which is likely to be taken for consideration in the last week of the session. The ongoing first session of the 17th Lok Sabha, which started on June 17, has so far been the most productive in the last 20 years, with the Lower House registering 128 per cent productivity till Tuesday, according to think tank PRS Legislative Research. Also Read – Encounter under way in Pulwama, militant killed The Lok Sabha has been working for more than its scheduled time and has sat till midnight on two occasions to complete its legislative business. “This session, the Lok Sabha has been working for more than its scheduled time. Till July 16, 2019, the Lok Sabha’s productivity is at 128 per cent which is the highest for any session in the past 20 years,” the PRS Legislative Research said. Similarly, the productivity of the Rajya Sabha, where the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led dispensation lacks majority, unlike the Lok Sabha, is also relatively high. The productivity of the Upper House was 98 per cent till Tuesday, according to the non-profit organisation. Productivity means the number of hours the House actually functioned compared to the the number of hours officially earmarked for it to work.
OTTAWA — A snapshot of the first large group of Syrian refugees arriving in Canada finds those the government-sponsored are less educated, less likely to speak English or French and had more trouble finding a job.Statistics Canada today has a census-based analysis of the first 25,000 Syrian refugees who arrived between January 2015 and May 2016.Slightly more than half of those refugees were sponsored by the federal government directly, with the rest being sponsored by private organizations such as community groups, churches, and individual Canadians.Among the adults between 20 and 59 years old, the analysis says less than one-third of government-sponsored refugees had completed high school, and less than one in five-spoke either English or French.For privately sponsored refugees, two-thirds of adults knew at least one official language, nearly three-quarters had a high school diploma and one-quarter had a university degree.Syrians sponsored privately found work faster, with more than half who arrived in 2015 working by the time the census was taken in the spring of 2016.The Canadian Press
Lucknow: Forty-four candidates on Wednesday filed their nomination papers for the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, taking the total number of nominations filed to 102.Some of the prominent candidates who filed their nomination papers for the third phase of the general elections on Wednesday are: S T Hasan of SP from Moradabad, cine-star Jaya Prada Nahta of BJP from Rampur, Major Jagat Pal Singh of the Congress from Sambhal, Dharmendra Kumar of the BJP from Aonla and Dharmendra Yadav of SP from Badaun. According to Chief Electoal Officer L Venkateswarlu, April 4 is the last date for filing nomination papers, while scrutiny will be done on April 5. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is April 8. Voting will be held on April 23.
An elderly British pilot disappeared while attempting to fly his 1940s light airplane the length of Africa without either radio or satellite navigation equipment, prompting a search and rescue operation.72-year-old Maurice Kirk was eventually found on Wednesday after his plane vanished without trace between Sudan and Ethiopia.The pilot, known as Captain Kirk after the Star Trek character, was taking part in a vintage air rally from Crete to Cape Town. Want the best of The Telegraph direct to your email and WhatsApp? Sign up to our free twice-daily Front Page newsletter and new audio briefings. It could be one of my last great adventures and I’m going to keep going.Maurice Kirk 
Mike Flynn, 65, a fellow amateur pilot and friend of Mr Kirk, said before he was found: “We are all extremely concerned. The hope is that if he was in trouble he got his plane down safely and is holed up somewhere waiting to be picked up. He is in an extremely inhospitable part of the world so we are keeping our fingers crossed. Maurice has always been a maverick, so who knows what may have happened?”Mr Kirk, a former drinking friend of the late actor Oliver Reed, was once described as the “bad boy” of the veterinarian profession following a string of court appearances.These included being prosecuted for hurling abuse at police while he tended to an injured dog on a beach and refusing to give a sample when stopped on suspicion of drink-driving.The self-styled “Flying Vet” was kicked out of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for “disgraceful conduct” in 2002, following his court cases.In 2008 he was arrested and briefly detained at a psychiatric unit after landing a replica First World War biplane close to US president George W Bush’s Texan Ranch.He said at the time that he wanted to thank the president after US coastguards rescued him when his Second World War plane ditched in the shark-infested Caribbean.Vintage Air Rally said that Mr Kirk departed Ad-Damazin, in Sudan, at approximately 14:00 local time (11:00 GMT) on Monday on the three hour flight to Gambella, Ethiopia.The statement added that Mr Kirk had sent no radio communications or satellite tracking at any time during the flight and his location is unknown.Organisers said on Tuesday evening that Mr Kirk had been found and was now with the rest of the competitors at the airport in Gambela.”All Vintage Air Rally crews are currently in Gambela where the Ethiopian authorities have elected to allocate them accommodation at the airport rather than permit them to proceed to their pre-booked hotel,” organisers said in a statement.”The reasons for this are at this time not 100% clear. There is no possibility to communicate with them but all participants, including the hitherto ‘missing’ Maurice Kirk, are safe and accounted for.”The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office is aware and is negotiating on their behalf.”The rally, organised by Sam Rutherford, a former helicopter pilot in the Army Air Corps, is being sponsored by Puma Energy, and will raise money for UNICEF and Bird Life International.It describes itself as “following in the footsteps of the pioneering flights in the 1920s”, connecting “some of the most beautiful and evocative points in Africa”. Mr Kirk, a trained vet from Bristol, went missing on a three-hour leg from southern Sudan into western Ethiopia.Organisers of the Vintage Air Rally said he had been asked to withdraw because of a lack of satellite tracking or a working compass on his 1943 Piper Cub plane.He previously reported suffering two engine failures, but had apparently decided to press ahead with the trans-continental adventure.After his emergency landing on Sunday, Mr Kirk said the experience had left him “badly shaken”.He said: “Normally I would have taken this kind of event in my stride, but as I get older in years, even a minor incident like this one has shaken me up. But it won’t wont stop me. It could be one of my last great adventures and I’m going to keep going.” Maurice Kirk continued to fly despite being asked to withdraw from the event after two engine failures and a lack of navigational equipmentCredit:SWNS
Motion Metrics has established a partnership with Vandrico Solutions Inc to develop smartglass applications for mining. “Technology analysts are predicting 2014 will be the year of the wearable device – primarily watches and glasses, although there are already smart rings and gloves coming into the market too. But most of those devices – and the apps developed for them – are consumer-focused. Vandrico is concentrating strictly on workplace applications.”Motion Metrics solutions are already installed in mines around the world, and wearable solutions can save costs on lost mobile devices. “We have a customer, they lost three in one morning. We are saving the mine millions of dollars” said Shahram Tafazoli, President and CEO of Motion Metrics, who added that he has been considering expanding Motion Metrics’ range of products into smart wearable devices for years. “I was already interested to bring a wearable component to our products,” he said. “I have been following it for a couple of years now. When I learned about Vandrico, and the fact they are focusing on bringing it to the workplace, I really liked the story.”By integrating Motion Metrics solutions with wearable technology, it can change the way a mine can be managed. “Currently, operators receive data on display screens, and supervisors have access to mine site analytics via desktops and iPads. But there are advantages to putting all that information in a heads-up display (HUD) that can be worn at all times by foremen and supervisors.” The possibilities for wearable technology are rapidly expanding as seen in Vancouver-based, Recon Instruments’ Recon Jet HUD system and Google’s Google Glass.
LIONS COACH WARREN GATLAND remarked that he was considering asking for the Irish public’s forgiveness after dropping Brian O’Driscoll during the summer.The New Zealander, who is back as Wales’ head coach, made the tounge-in-cheek comment during an interview on the Late Late Show this evening. Gatland oversaw the British & Irish Lions’ Test series triumph in Australia this summer.He spoke about many aspects of the tour and addressed the matter of his controversial decision to drop Brian O’Driscoll from the third Test squad.He said, “[Dropping Brian] was the toughest thing I’ve had to do in my coaching career. Incredibly tough.” Gatland added:I did think about coming here and dropping to my knees, and asking the Irish public for forgiveness.”The Ireland centre revealed on the show, last week, he was devastated when he learned of his axing. He added, however, that he had given the New Zealander a Christmas card when they last met. O’Driscoll had remarked, in August, that Gatland would not be on his Christmas card list.Gatland argued that Welsh centres Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies were best suited, in his opinion, to deliver a win for the Lions in the third Test. He paid tribute to the manner in which O’Driscoll reacted to the news.Gatland’s Wales face Ireland next February in the Six Nations, at Lansdowne Road, and the Kiwi is expecting a boisterous reception from Irish rugby fans.Like rugby? Follow TheScore.ie’s dedicated Twitter account @rugby_ie >Keith Wood’s a Mé Féiner, he let himself down with Lions criticism — Gatland
CHILDREN’S CHARITY THE Jack and Jill Foundation is owed in the region of €300,000 after a company that raised funds for it went into liquidation.In a statement today following a story published in the Sunday World on the issue, the CEO of the Jack and Jill Foundation, Jonathan Irwin, said that Folamh Ireland, the company involved in the charity’s recycling programme, went into liquidation in October 2012.Folamh had been instrumental in supporting Jack and Jill to raise much-needed funds for home nursing care through the recycling of old mobile phones, which accounted for 7 per cent of the €37 million we’ve raised since 1997 and which successfully delivered €2 million worth of classroom equipment nationwide to schools.Owed moneyAccording to Irwin, Folamh Ireland’s closure has left Jack and Jill owed a “substantial amount of money” in unpaid mobile phone donations and a large number of schools and clubs awaiting equipment.Jack and Jill is dealing with the liquidator and said that it estimates that Folamh Ireland owes it in the region of €300,000 in unpaid mobile phone donations.The harsh reality is that we have not had mobile phone payments from Folamh since October 2011. In spite of this, we finished 2012 with a small surplus and that was due to the determination and generosity of our families, fundraisers and corporate partners all over the country for which we are very grateful.ResponseOver the past three months, the charity’s staff have been contacting the 184 schools that Folamh had contracted to supply equipment to in exchange for old mobile phones, which hadn’t been done by Folamh. It has honoured all of the Folamh equipment contracts from its limited funds where there was a clear contractual commitment by Folamh to deliver equipment.We did this even though we were advised that we had no obligation to do so but in recognition of the wonderful support we have received over the years from schools across the country. However, for those schools and clubs who had ‘banked’ phones with Folamh Ireland, unknown to us and without any funds being donated to Jack and Jill, we must refer them to the liquidator – Michael Kennedy of Irish Insolvency Solutions, 32 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2.Irwin said that while this is a blow, “it’s not a killer blow” and he wants to reassure people that the charity’s home nursing care programme for children with severe disabilities continues as normal, and that nursing hours will not be cut because of the situation.The foundation is in the process of appointing new recycling partners, including Arc Telecom (part of DCC group), and will continue to recycle old mobile phones and cartridges. People with unwanted mobile phones can donate them by freepost to Jack and Jill Mobile Phones Appeal, Freepost F4968, M50 Business Park, Ballymount, Dublin 12.Read: Jack and Jill fundraising appeal yields ‘extraordinary’ number of donations>
Free n’exclura plus certains numéros de son offre illimitéeSous la pression de l’Arcep, Free va cesser d’exclure certains numéros, pourtant classiques, de son offre illimitée.Une fois de plus, l’Arcep, le régulateur des télécommunications, est venu tirer les oreilles des fournisseurs d’accès à Internet (FAI). Ces derniers laissaient de côté de manière incompréhensible certains numéros classiques, de 01 à 05. Le régulateur a en effet constaté que les opérateurs de boucle locale, fixes et mobiles, appliquaient des traitements spécifiques aux communications à destination de certains numéros fixes, explique L’Expansion. À lire aussiMontpellier a rejoint Lyon dans la liste des villes compatibles 4GLes numéros de 01 à 05 étaient donc exclus de l’offre illimitée alors que les numéros en 09 ne l’étaient pas. Des pratiques jugées “disproportionnées, arbitraires et discriminatoires et par suite, dommageables pour les utilisateurs appelants, ainsi que pour les utilisateurs appelés, notamment les entreprises”, a jugé l’Arcep, qui a donc ouvert une enquête.Si les appels vers les centres d’appels restent susceptibles d’être surtaxés, l’Arcep demande de “publier ex ante la liste des numéros exclus, ainsi qu’une information sur la tarification indiquée automatiquement, avant la mise en relation, pour tout numéro exclu”, chose faite par Free en juillet. Le FAI a donc également décidé de ne pas attendre les résultats de l’enquête du régulateur et a donc décidé que son “forfait inclura les appels vers l’ensemble des numéros 01 à 05 et 09, dont certains étaient jusque là exclus”. Le 29 avril 2011 à 11:26 • Emmanuel Perrin
Eric E. Sterling, president of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation and director of the Business Council for Prosperity and Safety.For the past two decades, Eric E. Sterling, J.D. has been trying to unravel drug policy legislation he helped write while working on Capitol Hill. Sterling was counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary from 1979 to 1989. As part of the Subcommittee on Crime’s staff, he was a principal aide in developing the Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984, the Anti-Drug Abuse Acts of 1986 and 1988, and other laws. “The work that I was involved in in enacting these mandatory sentences is probably the greatest tragedy of my professional life,” Sterling said.As president of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation and director of the Business Council for Prosperity and Safety, Sterling believes many people think private prison contractor revenues and the payrolls of correctional officers are the sole measure of the criminal justice system’s economic impact. There is another aspect most people ignore that businesses fall victim to everyday.In a recent booklet titled, “Eleven Ways the War on Drugs is Hurting Your Business,” Sterling points out that the profound impacts of drug prohibition policy on business and the economy is rarely evaluated. Sterling believes drug prohibition shrinks the customer base, increases taxes, creates crime, raises costs, and reduces profits of business owners. He presents the following facts:* Businesses have fewer customers because the war on drugs reduces purchasing power. According to Sterling, over the last 20 years more than 7 million Americans have received felony convictions for possessing or selling drugs. Tens of millions of others have criminal records for arrests or misdemeanor drug convictions. “Many of these people are drug-free, but struggle to find a job and a regular paycheck. Ex-felons are rarely hired for responsible jobs. Typically, they are underemployed, if employed at all,” said Sterling.* Potential customers can’t buy your products because the war on drugs has deprived them of credit. “Ex-felons’ applications for credit are often rejected, even if they have regular jobs. In many neighborhoods, a significant number of the men and women walking by your business can’t buy or order your goods or services by Internet or telephone,” Sterling said.* Fewer customers walk by your business due to drug prohibition crime. “The goal of drug prohibition is not to control drugs or [the use of drugs], but to make it scarce and thus drive up the price. Conflicts in the illegal drug business are not resolved in court, but with violence in the streets. Crime and disorder outside drives potential customers away,” said Sterling.* Business overhead is higher because insurance premiums and security costs are increased. “If drugs were legal and controlled, and addicts had better access to treatment, maintenance, and harm reduction services, addicts would not be driven to crime,” Sterling pointed out.* Health insurance premiums are higher because prohibition does not protect public health. One of the major costs to American business is the contribution to the health insurance premiums of its employees. “When drug users present themselves for treatment of legitimate medical conditions, they are rejected. Their untreated medical problems become major, expensive problems we all pay for,” Sterling said.* The housing business is further depressed and real estate taxes are higher because of prohibition crime. “It makes many neighborhoods unattractive, which significantly depresses residential and commercial real estate values. Housing is frequently abandoned and lenders won’t issue mortgages on such properties. The real estate tax base is depressed and your tax expense for municipal services is higher,” Sterling said. He explains his theory even further. “The unanticipated consequences of drug prohibition cost hundreds of billions of dollars in losses annually. The American system of private enterprise balances incentives and regulatory tools such as legal markets, courts, insurance, professional ethics, licensing, regulation, and proper taxation for every aspect of our economy. It is time to use these tools to take the profits of the drug trade,” Sterling said.Controversial, at best, the issue of the impact of drug policy is evolving in many ways. “Currently, the Chamber does not have a position on this issue,” said Harold Wingo, president and CEO of the DC Chamber of Commerce. “However, we do want to engage all of our citizens to the maximum extent possible in the city economic opportunities. That’s why workforce development is so important to me as the new president of the Chamber. Part of the workforce development includes supporting efforts to integrate returning citizens in today’s economy.”The Office of Returning Citizens Affairs (ORCA) represents thousands of ex-offenders faced with problems on both sides of the issue. “ORCA believes that all residents of the District of Columbia, including returning citizens who have paid their debt to society, should have full participation in improving their economic status, and in turn, help to build the District’s economy,” Doxie McCoy, spokeswoman for D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray, said.
Netflix is about to get pricier for many users: The streamer this week is notifying more U.S. customers that its previously announced fee hikes will take effect starting with May 2019 billing cycles.The company in January announced higher pricing for all plans — representing its biggest price increase to date. The new rates applied to new subscribers immediately, and since then Netflix has been gradually moving existing customers to the higher-priced tiers, based on each member’s billing cycle.Under the new pricing, Netflix’s Standard plan (with two HD streams) increases by $2 per month, from $10.99 to $12.99. The Premium plan, which provides up to four Ultra HD streams, is increasing from $13.99 to $15.99 per month and the Basic plan (one non-HD stream) is going up for the first time, from $7.99 to $8.99 per month. What’s Coming to Netflix in September 2019 ‘Orange Is the New Black’ Creator Jenji Kohan and Star Uzo Aduba Bid Farewell Popular on Variety Will the price hikes hurt Netflix? Wall Street isn’t expecting a mass exodus of subscribers, although there will inevitably be a certain number of customers who will cancel their Netflix accounts. It’s worth noting that when Netflix last raised rates in the fourth quarter of 2017, that resulted in minimal cancellations and no noticeable slowdown in net subscriber additions.Meanwhile, analysts have projected Netflix will rake in around $1 billion in additional top-line revenue in 2019 from the rate hikes in the U.S. alone. As of the end of 2018, Netflix reported 58.5 million U.S. streaming customers (out of 139 million worldwide).For now, Netflix remains one of the most powerful brands in media — a position that reinforces its pricing power. The company was the fastest-growing U.S. brand from 2018-19 in terms of its increase in estimated brand value, according to consulting firm Brand Finance. Netflix was the No. 3 “most loved” brand in America overall, behind Amazon and Google, and was No. 1 among millennials, per a Morning Consult 2019 survey released Wednesday.Even at $12.99 per month, Netflix’s Standard plan — its most popular package — still undercuts HBO Now ($15 per month) although it’s now going to cost more than Hulu’s ad-free VOD plan ($11.99 per month). According to a report last fall by Wall Street analyst firm Piper Jaffray, Netflix has been in a solid position to raise streaming prices on a regular basis, based on its survey of about 1,100 U.S. Netflix users that found 71% said they felt content on the service has improved.Netflix’s price increases come ahead of streaming VOD launches by Disney, Apple, AT&T’s WarnerMedia and Comcast’s NBCUniversal — and by charging higher fees, Netflix, as the market leader, may actually put a damper on uptake for rival SVOD offerings.The boom in subscription streaming services has resulted in a feeling of “subscription fatigue,” according to Deloitte’s 2019 Digital Media Trends survey. Almost half (47%) of U.S. consumers say they’re frustrated by the growing number of subscriptions and services required to watch what they want.
The company has told customers that it’s raising prices to “continue investing in great entertainment and improving the overall Netflix experience.” Related Consider that U.S. consumers are willing to spend a total of around $38 per month for all their streaming services, according to research firm Magid. With Netflix’s $13-per-month Standard plan now around one-third of that, that means there’s even less share of wallet for the rest of the SVOD market.Correction: An earlier version of this story reported that all of Netflix’s customers will see a price increase in May. In fact, according to Netflix, the company has been gradually moving existing subscribers to the higher pricing since January, depending on their billing cycle. ×Actors Reveal Their Favorite Disney PrincessesSeveral actors, like Daisy Ridley, Awkwafina, Jeff Goldblum and Gina Rodriguez, reveal their favorite Disney princesses. Rapunzel, Mulan, Ariel,Tiana, Sleeping Beauty and Jasmine all got some love from the Disney stars.More VideosVolume 0%Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcutsKeyboard Shortcutsplay/pauseincrease volumedecrease volumeseek forwardsseek backwardstoggle captionstoggle fullscreenmute/unmuteseek to %SPACE↑↓→←cfm0-9Next UpJennifer Lopez Shares How She Became a Mogul04:350.5x1x1.25×1.5x2xLive00:0002:1502:15