Ilhan Omar (D-MN) with family and Nancy Pelosi

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Michigan AG to review pipeline deal at governor's request

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan’s new governor and attorney general moved quickly Wednesday to review the legality of a contentious state deal to run an oil pipeline beneath a crucial section of the Great Lakes.

Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced her request for a legal opinion from Attorney General Dana Nessel, a Democrat who welcomed the opportunity and expressed concern with a law that facilitated the agreement between the state and Canadian pipeline company Enbridge. Such opinions, while not the same as legal rulings, are considered to bind state agencies unless reversed by a court. Both Whitmer and Nessel had questioned the deal before taking office Tuesday.

The Republican-led Legislature and GOP former Gov. Rick Snyder rushed to enact the law after Whitmer was elected in November. The new Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority then swiftly approved the proposal to drill a tunnel through bedrock up to 100 feet (30.4 meters) below the more than 4-mile-wide (6.4 kilometer) channel that links Lakes Huron and Michigan. A new segment of pipeline will extend through the tunnel, replacing twin pipes that have lain along the lake bed since 1953. They are part of Enbridge’s Line 5, which carries crude oil and natural gas liquids used in propane from Superior, Wisconsin, through northern Michigan to refineries in Sarnia, Ontario.

“There are serious and significant concerns regarding (Public Act) 359, which the previous governor and legislature initiated and passed without the care and caution one would expect for an issue that will have a monumental impact on our state,” Nessel said in a statement.



https://apnews.com/7406e7f1471d4c2e85d91c3eef8e8b74

House Dem majority welcomes first black female floor director

A veteran House Democratic staffer is set to break racial barriers once the House Democrats take power this week.

Shuwanza Goff will be the first African-American woman to serve as floor director, a low-profile but hugely important position in incoming House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer’s (D-Md.) office.

“It’s a little daunting, but it’s also exciting,” Goff said.

In her current role as director of legislative operations for the minority whip, Goff communicates across the aisle on what legislation can and can’t pass and what Democrats will and won’t accept in bipartisan legislation, such as a bill to end the partial government shutdown.

When Democrats take the majority this week, however, her role will shift from counting votes to managing the floor. She will provide Hoyer with options on what bills will come to the floor, while incoming House Majority Whip James Clyburn’s (D-S.C.) office will make sure the votes are there for passage.

Praise for Goff’s work extends beyond party lines. Matt Bravo, a former floor director for Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), worked closely alongside Goff for three years, communicating with her almost daily. He considers her a friend.

Floor staff have to “get s--- done,” he said, “and she’s the best.”



https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/02/steny-hoyer-floor-director-1077180

NY-19 freshman Antonio Delgado brings some important guests to DC

East Coast greets West: Ayanna Pressley and Katie Hill embrace a day before taking their oaths.

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I worked long and hard to see Sharice David's name on this wall

San Jose mayor hit by SUV while bicycling

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, an avid bicyclist, was struck by an SUV on New Year’s Day while cycling on Salt Lake Drive near the east foothills, a San Jose spokesman confirmed.

The mayor of the nation’s 10th largest city was not severely injured in the accident, which occurred at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, though he did suffer “minor fractures,” according to a written statement released Tuesday evening by the mayor’s office.

However, his best friend, Carl Guardino, president and CEO of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, said he apparently broke his collar bone and a chest bone, and suffered neck and back injuries as well.

Liccardo will remain at Regional Medical Center in San Jose for at least one night, according to the mayor’s spokesman, David Low.

Low described the mayor as “a bit banged up, but it’s nothing overly serious.”

In the statement issued Tuesday evening, the mayor was feeling well enough to joke: “Fortunately, the doctors state that all defects to the head were pre-existing conditions.”

The accident occurred when the driver of the vehicle was making a right turn, Guardino said. The driver of the vehicle pulled over and stayed at the scene, while Liccardo was taken to the hospital to be checked out, according to the written statement.

The driver of the 2002 SUV was not arrested, according to San Jose police. Drugs and alcohol were not suspected either, a spokeswoman said.



https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/01/01/san-jose-mayor-hit-by-car-while-bicycling/

Some American Ikea employees are getting slapped with pay cuts -- and they worry it'll spark a exodus

Some Ikea US store employees will be ringing in the new year with pay cuts.

Employees have told Business Insider that some managers and team leads have had their salaries slashed, thanks to O4G — or organization for growth.

O4G, which officially rolled out on October 15, 2017 throughout Ikea US, restructured store employee roles and store departments. As a result of altered job descriptions and the elimination of certain shopkeeper-level gigs, some employees will see a pay cut on January 1, 2019. One employee even described the situation of a colleague who was told a promotion would come with a pay cut, thanks to the restructuring.

Affected employees have been aware of said cuts since O4G launched. In its initial announcement regarding the restructuring, Ikea US also extended pay protection until 2019.

O4G has proven controversial with employees, to the extent that Ikea US President Lars Petersson recently apologized to workers for issues with its rollout. Ikea US has also announced its intention of bumping up the pay for employees in certain stores and departments. Still, many employees, whom Ikea calls coworkers, took issue with the method by which Ikea US went about launching O4G — especially in regards to the pay cuts.

"Everyone would have respected Ikea more if they'd done something dramatic like shutting down for a half a day so that they could get a meeting with all the coworkers and just say, 'Listen, we realize that we've been doing some things wrong,'" former customer-service coordinator Gene Bender told Business Insider.


https://www.sfgate.com/technology/businessinsider/article/Some-American-Ikea-employees-are-getting-slapped-13501600.php?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter