Economy
Market innovation a path to economic equity in farming, Vilsack tells ag conference
WASHINGTON – U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urged the private sector and government officials to address inequity and promote innovation in what he called a “pivotal moment” in the nation’s history at an industry conference Thursday. In the opening session of the 99th USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum, Vilsack said new income streams and markets will […]
Bipartisan group predicts U.S. debt default as soon as summer, depending on tax receipts
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan think tank expects that the United States will default on its debt in the summer or early fall, if Congress doesn’t take action to address the debt limit before then. The timeline is similar to one the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released last week, saying lawmakers have until sometime between July […]
Food sanitation company fined $1.5 million for illegal child labor
A company responsible for cleaning meatpacking plants across the country has paid $1.5 million in civil penalties for making children as young as 13 work in dangerous conditions. The fine, announced Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor, followed an investigation by the agency into Packers Sanitation Services Inc., at 13 plants in eight states, […]
State ag officials push for on-time farm bill to fund slew of programs
WASHINGTON – State agriculture officials from across the country sought this month to remind a new crop of lawmakers in Congress of their states’ needs for a robust farm bill to address a host of food issues. Members of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture gathered in Washington for their annual winter meeting […]
Bill sponsors delay vote on ‘fair workweek’ bill amid opposition from business groups
Over a hundred people from all sides of the service and food industry filled the Old State Library in the Colorado Capitol Thursday evening to share opposing views of a bill that would protect workers’ right to what sponsors call a “fair workweek.” Following the hours-long hearing, sponsors of the Fair Workweek Employment Standards Act […]
U.S. likely to default on debt between July and September unless Congress acts, CBO says
WASHINGTON — Congress has until at least July to broker a bipartisan debt agreement if lawmakers want to avoid a first-ever default, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The nonpartisan scorekeeper, which typically details how much legislation would cost, released a report Wednesday saying that U.S. lawmakers and the Biden administration have until sometime between […]
Workers deserve to know their work schedules in advance
Labor unions organize to ensure that workers are treated fairly and with respect. That’s why we wholeheartedly support House Bill 23-1118 — the Fair Workweek Employment Standards Act. We recognize it’s a win-win for workers and companies alike when workers are happier, healthier and more productive. And one of the most effective ways of ensuring […]
IRS decides not to tax Colorado’s 2022 TABOR refunds
The Internal Revenue Service decided Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights refunds are not subject to the federal income tax and don’t need to be claimed after multiple Colorado officials decried the possibility. On Feb. 3, the IRS encouraged taxpayers who were uncertain about their state refunds to hold off on filing their taxes until the […]
Colorado officials maintain TABOR refunds are not taxable amid IRS questions
Editor’s note: Newsline reported Friday afternoon, after this story was published, that the IRS decided not to treat Colorado TABOR refunds as taxable income. Colorado officials are at odds with the Internal Revenue Service as it considers taxing Colorado’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights refunds, along with 18 other states’ special tax refunds. While state officials […]
U.S. Senate panel debates safety net spending in upcoming farm bill
WASHINGTON — Members of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee quibbled Thursday over spending on crop insurance and ad-hoc disaster relief, previewing potential fights in the 2023 farm bill. Legislators of both parties emphasized their support at a Thursday hearing for better funding programs that protect underserved producers, and accounting for future natural disasters […]
Proposed federal rule would lower credit card late fees
As Americans continue to struggle with high credit card rates, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has proposed a rule to help lessen some of their financial burden — in the form of lower late fees. The new rule would limit late fees to $8. Currently credit card companies can charge as high as $41 — […]
State medical cannabis programs failing to make enough progress, advocacy group finds
WASHINGTON — A report from a patient advocacy group found the future of medical cannabis in the states is hazy unless costs are decreased, product safety standards are improved, and civil rights are strengthened for patients and prescribers. Americans for Safe Access issued its annual State of the States report on Thursday. The organization, a […]