FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
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Should Members of Congress Own Stocks?
Should Members of Congress Own Stocks?
by Joe Wallace
The debate over whether members of Congress should own stocks has once again entered the national spotlight. Critics argue that owning stocks creates a conflict of interest, while proponents believe that personal investment in the economy fosters a deeper understanding of the issues impacting the average American. While the concern about conflicts of interest is legitimate, an outright ban on stock ownership for lawmakers might be counterproductive. Instead, implementing robust oversight and clear ethical boundaries could achieve the desired accountability without disconnecting lawmakers from the economic realities their constituents face.
The Case for Stock Ownership
Owning stocks can play a critical role in aligning a legislator’s financial interests with the economic health of the country. Stocks are a vital part of the American economy, representing businesses that drive innovation, create jobs, and contribute to the nation’s overall prosperity. When elected officials have a stake in this system, they may be more attuned to policies that promote economic growth and stability.
Moreover, banning stock ownership entirely risks insulating lawmakers from the economic realities most Americans face. Stocks are not merely a tool for the wealthy; they are the cornerstone of many middle-class retirement plans, college savings funds, and personal investments. Lawmakers who personally experience market volatility or economic growth are likely to have a better grasp of the policies needed to ensure a thriving economy.
The Risk of Conflicts of Interest
Of course, the concern about conflicts of interest is valid. Legislators have the power to influence policies and regulations that can directly impact the value of stocks they own. Without proper oversight, this could lead to unethical behavior, such as advancing legislation that benefits their financial interests at the expense of public good. To address these concerns, some have called for measures that ensure transparency and prevent lawmakers from using their positions for personal gain.
A Better Solution: Transparency and Ethical Oversight
Rather than banning stock ownership outright, Congress should adopt stricter regulations to mitigate conflicts of interest. Here are some practical steps:
Mandatory Blind Trusts: Members of Congress who own stocks should be required to place their investments in blind trusts managed by independent third parties. This would prevent them from directly managing or influencing their portfolios while in office.
Enhanced Disclosure Requirements: Lawmakers should disclose all stock transactions promptly, as corporate insiders do under Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations. This would allow the public to monitor potential conflicts of interest and hold legislators accountable.
Voting Restrictions: Legislators should recuse themselves from voting on bills or regulations that could have a direct impact on the industries in which they hold significant financial interests. Similar rules already exist for judges and other public officials and could be adapted for Congress.
Penalties for Violations: Enforcing penalties for ethical breaches would deter misconduct. Whether through fines, censures, or expulsion, lawmakers should face real consequences for unethical behavior.
The Importance of Economic Engagement
Forcing members of Congress to abstain from investing in the stock market could unintentionally create a broader disconnect between policymakers and the economy. Instead of understanding the financial concerns of their constituents, lawmakers might become detached from the economic forces that shape American life. A better approach might even involve requiring elected officials to invest a portion of their income in the market, ensuring they remain engaged in the economic realities they are tasked with managing.
Conclusion
The American public deserves lawmakers who are both engaged in the economy and held to the highest ethical standards. Outright bans on stock ownership risk throwing the baby out with the bathwater, creating a less informed and potentially more out-of-touch Congress. Instead, we should focus on transparency, ethical oversight, and accountability to strike the right balance. By implementing commonsense reforms, we can ensure that our elected officials serve the public interest while remaining connected to the economic challenges and opportunities facing the nation.
BREAKING NEWS: Officer Involved Shooting in Evansville
Evansville Police officers reported shots fired in the 3200 block Tiffany Ct. at about 9:20 PM on Sunday, December 22. EPD, Evansville Fire Department, and AMR were dispatched to the scene.
No officers were injured and one suspect was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for treatment. This is a developing story that will be updated when more details are available.
UPDATE: Police have released the following statement about the incident.
“At approximately 9:14 p.m. on December 22, officers were dispatched to a domestic violence in progress at a residence in the 3200 block of Tiffany Court. The call received by dispatch indicated that the suspect has been abusive in the past, had just thrown the family’s cat at the victim, and that there were young children present in the home. One of the children also spoke with dispatchers, stating that their father was ‘drunk’ and was possibly in the process of retrieving a firearm.
Officers arrived on scene four minutes after being dispatched and observed the suspect inside the residence, pulling the curtains to the window closed. Shortly after, the front door opened, and a young child exited running out of the home, but then ran back inside. The mother, holding a three-year-old child, was sitting on the ground near the door, while the suspect stood behind her. While approaching the residence, officers issued verbal commands for the suspect to drop the weapon. Instead of complying, the suspect raised the firearm and aimed it at the officers. In response, the officer closest to the offender took cover, while a second officer discharged one round from his duty weapon, striking the offender.
Officers were able to remove the children and the mother safely from the residence before providing aid to the offender. Emergency medical personnel arrived shortly thereafter, and the offender was transported to a local hospital where, at the time of this release, he is currently undergoing surgery.
Fortunately, no officers were injured during the incident. As per department protocol, both officers involved in the response have been placed on administrative leave. This investigation is ongoing and charges, along with the offender’s name, will be released at a later time.”
City and County Meetings This Week
| Central Dispatch Board | December 26, 2024 – 08:30 AM | ||
| Board of Public Works | December 26, 2024 – 01:30 PM | Agenda | |
| Loan Administration Board | December 27, 2024 – 09:30 AM |
US Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of Energy Announce $850M to Reduce Methane Pollution
US Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of Energy Announce $850M to Reduce Methane Pollution from the Oil and Gas Sector
Funding from President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda Builds on More Than 100 Cross-Government Actions That Are Sharply Reducing Methane Pollution in Support of Clean Air, Good Jobs, and Climate Action
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy today announced approximately $850 million for 43 projects selected for negotiation that will help small oil and gas operators, Tribes, and other entities across the country to reduce, monitor, measure, and quantify methane emissions from the oil and gas sector as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The funding builds on unprecedented action across the Biden-Harris Administration to dramatically reduce methane emissions, with agencies taking more than 100 actions since 2023, including the finalization of an EPA rule that is expected to reduce methane emissions from covered oil and gas sources by 80% from 2024 to 2038 compared to projected emissions without the rule.
Today’s investment incentivizes companies’ near-term actions to conserve valuable energy resources for American consumers, improve operational efficiencies in a global market, and reduce methane emissions.
“Today, we’re continuing to build on strong standards and historic progress to cut methane pollution and protect communities across the country,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Together, these investments will support small businesses and drive the deployment of available and advanced technologies to reduce harmful pollution and tackle the climate crisis, while creating good-paying jobs.”
“The public health of our nation depends greatly on our ability to drastically reduce harmful pollution from America’s largest source of industrial methane – the oil and gas sector,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “This historic investment made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act is helping energy communities and deliver long-lasting health and environmental benefits across the country. At the same time, it will support small operators’ ability to replace and upgrade old equipment, reducing emissions from marginal conventional wells, improving their supply chains to meet the growing market expectations for cleaner fuel sources.”
“In order to meet our climate goals, we have to tackle methane pollution in a serious way,” said John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy. “Today’s awards will slash local pollution from Colorado to Kentucky while delivering for our workers, our communities, and our planet.”
The selected projects funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in history, represent a significant step in addressing climate change and improving air quality. By mitigating legacy air pollution and supporting small oil and natural gas operators, the projects will help reduce methane emissions through available and innovative technologies. Additionally, they will create partnerships to enhance emissions measurement and provide transparent data to affected communities. One Tribal consortium, 11 universities, and 20 private companies were selected for projects across the Nation to deploy and test new and existing methane mitigation technologies:
Three projects will help small operators across the country significantly reduce methane emissions from low-producing oil and natural gas operations, using commercially available technology solutions.
Thirty-one projects will accelerate the deployment of early-commercial technology solutions to reduce methane emissions from new and existing equipment.
Four projects will improve communities’ access to empirical emissions data and participation in monitoring methane emissions.
Five projects will enhance the detection and measurement of methane emissions from oil and gas operations at a regional scale.
In total, EPA and DOE are partnering to provide $1.36 billion in financial and technical assistance as part of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Methane Emissions Reduction Program. DOE’s National Energy Technology Laboratory, under the purview of DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, will manage the selected projects. Learn more about the selected projects.
Today’s selections build on the $350 million in grant funding to states that EPA and DOE announced in December 2023 to support industry efforts to voluntarily reduce emissions at low-producing wells, monitor emissions, and conduct environmental restoration at well pads. Together, these investments are a key step in implementing the Methane Emissions Reduction Program.
The selected projects support the Biden-Harris Administration’s comprehensive, whole-of-government strategy to reduce harmful methane emissions across economic sectors. These efforts are accelerating reductions in methane emissions, supporting clean air and public health, creating good jobs, and advancing President Biden’s ambitious climate goals.
About the Methane Emissions Reduction Program
Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to approximately one-third of the global warming we are experiencing today. Over 100 years, one ton of emitted methane traps 28 times as much heat in the Earth’s atmosphere as one ton of emitted carbon dioxide. The oil and natural gas sector is the largest industrial source of methane emissions in the United States. A rapid reduction in methane emissions is one of the most important and cost-effective actions the United States can take in the short term to slow the rate of rapidly rising global temperatures.
The Methane Emissions Reduction Program, created by the Inflation Reduction Act, directed EPA to take action to tackle wasteful methane emissions from the oil and gas sector. The financial and technical assistance, implemented through a partnership between EPA and DOE, work in concert both with the recently finalized Waste Emissions Charge and with Clean Air Act standards issued in March 2024 to limit methane emissions from new and existing oil and gas operations. The Methane Emissions Reduction Program also advances the Biden-Harris Administration’s Justice40 Initiative, which sets a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal climate, clean energy, and other investments benefit disadvantaged communities that are marginalized by underinvestment and overburdened by pollution.
Combined, these actions will help position the United States as the most efficient producer of oil and natural gas in the world and ensure that the industry remains competitive in overseas markets that require a minimum level of emissions performance. Together, DOE and EPA’s methane actions will advance the adoption of cost-effective technologies, reduce wasteful practices, and yield significant economic, health, and environmental benefits, while driving continued innovation in methane detection, monitoring, and mitigation techniques.
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EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
VUVB adds size with signing of local middle blocker
VINCENNES, Ind. – The four-time defending Region 24 Champion Vincennes University Volleyball team continues to add size with their latest signing of six-foot two middle blocker Taryn Thuis.
“Well, we have another student who first communicated with us of their interest well over a year ago,” VUVB Head Coach Gary Sien said. “Taryn’s got State Championship experience, having played in the State Finals her sophomore year and is coming from a program that has had great success here lately. If you define local as being within an hour from Vincennes, Linton is probably in the top two or three local programs that have had major success since I’ve been here. We’re always looking to get kids from that program just because of the level of success they have had on the court.”
Thuis comes to Vincennes University after an outstanding high school career at Linton-Stockton High School in nearby Linton, Ind. and also played for the Tier 10 volleyball club team.
Thuis helped guide the Miners to a 23-11 record this past season, with a total of 209 kills, 74 blocks, 15 digs and seven set assists.
Thuis led the Miners to four Southwestern Indiana Athletic Conference Championships during her time with the Miners, with her senior class finishing with a record of 28-0 in conference games during their careers and Thuis earning 2024 All-Conference honors.
Thuis won three IHSAA Class 2A Sectional Championships at Linton and was a key contributor to the Miners team that made it to the State Championship game in 2022.
Linton set program records with 52 straight sets won and a 24 match winning streak in 2023 as well.
Thuis’ accomplishments don’t just end at the volleyball court either, with Taryn being named three times to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-American Team Academic Award and earning Indiana High School Volleyball Coaches Association Academic All-State honors this past season.
“You can’t buy that moment of playing at Ball State University in the State Finals,” Sien added. “Once you do that, you should just about be ready for anything you are going to face after that. Having that level of experience is going to be big. At a certain point the teams on the court are going to be pretty even skill wise and it’s going to come down to the intangibles and the experience on the court.”
“Of course we like the length and height that Taryn brings,” Sien said. “As the saying goes, you can’t teach height. She’s able to play a couple of positions, either middle or right side. If she is able to play that right side, I would really like to get that going because we have openings just about everywhere on the front row at the moment. There are things, obviously, that we need to work on in terms of technique, foot work and speed but she’s got the potential to do that.”
“We’ve found that any team that plays at the highest level possible not only needs a good block in the middle but has to have a strong right side block as well,” Sien added. “If you are able to stop the other teams outside hitter, you are probably going to win. So that might be a position we see her in.”
Taryn is the daughter of Brock and Jerrie Thuis and plans to major in Legal Studies at Vincennes University.
“Taryn is the third player from Linton-Stockton over the last six years to sign with Vincennes University,” Linton High School Coach Scott Vanderkolk said. “We are beyond proud of the player that she has become over the past four seasons. Start o finish, she might be one of the most improved players we’ve had.”
“During her sophomore season, she was a key factor in our Semi-State Championship match,” Vanderkolk added. “Her improvement and growth from that point on was exponential. I believe that she will be a great addition to the VU team and has a bunch of untapped potential that Coach Sien and his staff will be able to bring out of her and continue her growth as a player and as a person.”
“She’s a great kid with a fun personality which we look forward to seeing the fantastic adult she will become beyond her college experiences,” Vanderkolk said.
“The biggest thing that we have, as well as just about every other program at VU has, it the ability to recruit Indiana kids,” Sien said. “We are looking at a number of kids from Indiana for the 2025 recruiting class and to have two signed already who are in the top 70 seniors in Indiana (Prep Dig Indiana) will help gain interest from other Indiana students.”
“We are also looking to continue recruiting students here that fit a certain mold,” Sien added. “We’re not in a hurry to recruit. There are some years that we are done earlier than others, but we’re not in a hurry to sign just anybody. We obviously want to be able to recruit the right type of students here. The students who are going to buy in to the program whole heartedly and are going to be serious about what they want to do with their lives and use the opportunity to come here to get another great opportunity afterwards.”
“One thing about Kenli and Taryn, Kenli is going into the Technology degree for Business and she’s already taken classes that will help her complete that,” Sien said. “Taryn will be the same way as she plans to study Legal Studies. She one day wants to be a prosecuting attorney. I’m just as happy about hearing their academic plans for their lives as I am for their volleyball background experience. Because when you have goals set for the future, that means you are motivated, mature and those are the types of people that we like to recruit.”
“When people objectively look at our school not just for the athletic side but the academics and realize it’s not just a ‘JuCo’ they should have a pretty good idea of how high the academics are here,” Sien added. “Then looking at the athletics side, seeing that we coach the program as a next level program, to be like at Division I program so when they one day transfer to play DI they’ve already faced it here. It shouldn’t be a hard sell if people objectively look at Vincennes University both in terms of our athletics and our academics and these two, Kenli and Taryn, have done that.”
“We look for Taryn to be a huge presence on the net in her blocking and offense, of course,” Sien said. “We see her as well as someone who will help keep things together amid the most critical moments of a match.”
Thuis is joining a Trailblazer squad coming off a 30-13 season, securing VU’s fourth straight NJCAA Division I Region 24 Championship and an 18-3 record against Region 24 opponents.
The Vincennes University Athletic Department is excited to welcome Taryn Thuis to the 2025 Trailblazer recruiting class.