May 21, 2019

Andrew Yang Policy on LOCAL JOURNALISM FUND

Local newspapers and websites are withering away. In small towns and communities across the country, the local paper is a thing of the past, leading citizens to no longer have a sense of what’s happening in their local government, schools or communities.

For decades local media flourished supported by local advertisements and classified ads. This model is no longer able to support viable enterprises. Yet the function of local journalism is more important than ever to give people a sense of their own communities.

We should recognize that local journalism has a vital public function and support its transition from independent for-profit businesses to non-profits supported by citizens, local institutions, philanthropy, and the government.

I will initiate the Local Journalism Fund, a dedicated $1 billion Fund operated out of the FCC that will make grants to companies, non-profits and local governments and libraries to help local newspapers, periodicals and websites transition to sustainability in a new era.

"Journalism is a vital function in any community. How can you be expected to vote on local leaders and issues if you don’t know what’s going on? This is a market failure, and it’s clear that this is a space that should transition to non-profits, libraries and public-private partnerships instead of for-profit enterprises in many communities. I’m confident that most small towns and cities will be able to support a local website or paper - we just need to support their transition to a new model that supplements advertising and subscription fees with local institutional and citizen support."

https://www.yang2020.com/policies/local-journalism-fund/

May 21, 2019

Hawley Wants To Institute An Internet Do Not Track List For Personal Data

U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley is introducing legislation that would allow internet users to effectively opt out of having certain data shared with websites.

It’s the GOP senator’s latest salvo in his advocacy against large technology companies, a posture that’s brought Hawley national praise and criticism.

Hawley announced Monday he’s introducing what he calls the “Do Not Track” list. The bill would block online companies from collecting data “beyond what is indispensable to the companies’ online services.” It also bars a website from transferring data to other companies when a user activates Do Not Track unless “the first company is an intended intermediary.”

If Hawley’s bill passes, it would require companies to disclose users’ rights. And it would impose penalties for companies that run afoul of any of the measure’s provisions. Users could sign up for the list either on a web browser or through an application.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/hawley-wants-institute-internet-do-not-track-list-personal-data

May 21, 2019

Steak 'n Shake gets $7.7 million tab for St. Louis-area manager overtime in latest blow to chain

ST. LOUIS — The Steak ’n Shake chain of restaurants owes St. Louis-area managers and their lawyers $7.7 million after a federal judge’s order earlier this month, and it is facing a demand of millions of dollars more for managers around the country.

On May 10, U.S. District Judge John Ross ordered the company to pay more than $6 million in back pay to managers and over $1.6 million in attorneys’ fees and costs.

The award came in a 2014 suit filed on behalf of St. Louis-area managers who said they were not being compensated for the overtime hours they worked. Brendan Donelon, one of their lawyers, said the “managers” were paid a salary but did the same type of work that the hourly employees were doing and did not have the type of managerial duties that would make them exempt from overtime rules.

Donelon said Ross’ May 10 judgment doubled a March jury award, as required under state and federal wage and hour laws.

https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/steak-n-shake-gets-million-tab-for-st-louis-area/article_4dd9146a-10c5-54ac-b026-670e8c03193a.html?

May 21, 2019

Steak 'n Shake gets $7.7 million tab for St. Louis-area manager overtime in latest blow to chain

ST. LOUIS — The Steak ’n Shake chain of restaurants owes St. Louis-area managers and their lawyers $7.7 million after a federal judge’s order earlier this month, and it is facing a demand of millions of dollars more for managers around the country.

On May 10, U.S. District Judge John Ross ordered the company to pay more than $6 million in back pay to managers and over $1.6 million in attorneys’ fees and costs.

The award came in a 2014 suit filed on behalf of St. Louis-area managers who said they were not being compensated for the overtime hours they worked. Brendan Donelon, one of their lawyers, said the “managers” were paid a salary but did the same type of work that the hourly employees were doing and did not have the type of managerial duties that would make them exempt from overtime rules.

Donelon said Ross’ May 10 judgment doubled a March jury award, as required under state and federal wage and hour laws.

https://www.stltoday.com/business/local/steak-n-shake-gets-million-tab-for-st-louis-area/article_4dd9146a-10c5-54ac-b026-670e8c03193a.html?

May 21, 2019

Andrew Yang Policy on LIMIT BUREAUCRACY IN THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE

Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon, combined, employ around 750,000 individuals. The federal workforce is made up of 2.3 million individuals.

That’s too many.

Federal workers are smart, dedicated, and hardworking, but they shouldn’t be a protected class of worker. Technology is advancing to the point where we should be able to get more done with fewer people, and studies show that fewer federal employees leave their jobs than their private counterparts and enjoy much higher pension benefits. At the same time, the federal workforce is aging and struggles to recruit and retain younger workers. If the top four tech companies can do as much as they do with fewer than 1 million workers, the federal government can find ways to do more with less.

"I’ve been an entrepreneur for almost twenty years - I know what small teams can accomplish when they’re scrappy and resourceful. I also know that most organizations over time become bloated and inefficient unless there are requirements otherwise. Most organizations respond to benchmarks and incentives. The federal workforce can and must do more with less. The rest of us are suffering and our government has to become leaner and meaner. It also has to get younger and smarter. "

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED
The American people are paying for an oversized and inefficient federal workforce.
The federal workforce is aging fast and struggles to recruit and retain young workers.

GOALS
Reduce the size of the federal workforce by 15 - 20%
Increase efficiency so as to not lose productivity
Improve the recruitment and retention of younger workers

https://www.yang2020.com/policies/downsizing-federal-workforce/

May 21, 2019

Andrew Yang Policy on LIMIT BUREAUCRACY IN THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE

Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon, combined, employ around 750,000 individuals. The federal workforce is made up of 2.3 million individuals.

That’s too many.

Federal workers are smart, dedicated, and hardworking, but they shouldn’t be a protected class of worker. Technology is advancing to the point where we should be able to get more done with fewer people, and studies show that fewer federal employees leave their jobs than their private counterparts and enjoy much higher pension benefits. At the same time, the federal workforce is aging and struggles to recruit and retain younger workers. If the top four tech companies can do as much as they do with fewer than 1 million workers, the federal government can find ways to do more with less.

"I’ve been an entrepreneur for almost twenty years - I know what small teams can accomplish when they’re scrappy and resourceful. I also know that most organizations over time become bloated and inefficient unless there are requirements otherwise. Most organizations respond to benchmarks and incentives. The federal workforce can and must do more with less. The rest of us are suffering and our government has to become leaner and meaner. It also has to get younger and smarter. "

PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED
The American people are paying for an oversized and inefficient federal workforce.
The federal workforce is aging fast and struggles to recruit and retain young workers.

GOALS
Reduce the size of the federal workforce by 15 - 20%
Increase efficiency so as to not lose productivity
Improve the recruitment and retention of younger workers

https://www.yang2020.com/policies/downsizing-federal-workforce/

May 21, 2019

Why Missouri's The Last Holdout On A Statewide Rx Monitoring Program

Patient advocates, politicians, experts and members of the medical community had hoped this would finally be the year Missouri would create a statewide electronic database designed to help spot the abuse of prescription drugs. After all, Republican Gov. Mike Parson had pushed for it and, more important, its longtime opponent was no longer in office to block it.

But, because of ongoing fears about privacy violations tangled up with gun control, the bill never got a full Senate vote. And finance site WalletHub last week ranked Missouri third worst in the country for its drug use based on a review of arrests, overdose rates, opioid prescriptions and other measures

Katie Reichard, a lobbyist with Missouri Primary Care Association who has been working in and around the Missouri legislature for almost 15 years and previously pushed for the issue, said this proposal has bedeviled the state capital as none other while the opioid crisis continues to rage nationwide.

“I’ve never seen anything take seven years to get anywhere, and especially something that’s going to be put into place to save lives.”

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/why-missouri-s-last-holdout-statewide-rx-monitoring-program

May 20, 2019

Andrew Yang Policy on NUCLEAR LAUNCH DECISIONS

The decision to launch a nuclear attack is too serious for a single person to make. The vice president should need to verify any such decision made by the president.

"A decision to launch nuclear weapons is too important to rest in any individual's hands. We should ensure that any such decision is verified by the vice president or, if he or she is unavailable, the White House Chief of Staff."

https://www.yang2020.com/policies/nuclear-launch/

May 20, 2019

Andrew Yang Policy on NUCLEAR LAUNCH DECISIONS

The decision to launch a nuclear attack is too serious for a single person to make. The vice president should need to verify any such decision made by the president.

"A decision to launch nuclear weapons is too important to rest in any individual's hands. We should ensure that any such decision is verified by the vice president or, if he or she is unavailable, the White House Chief of Staff."

https://www.yang2020.com/policies/nuclear-launch/

May 20, 2019

Lengthy Webster U. Harassment Investigation Spurs Student Outcry, University Audit

The first time Tamsen Reed heard the rumors was over a text message from a soon-to-be roommate. Almost immediately, she began to feel trapped.

The rumors kept piling on. She’d hear them in her university classrooms. Once, a stranger shared them with one of Reed’s housemates, not realizing they lived together. Another time, a date brought them up to Reed.

“Oh my gosh,” her date said. “You’re the one Yates is talking about.”

Joshua Yates, the head of the Webster University’s game design program, was allegedly bragging to students and fellow professors that Reed was flirting with him and trying to seduce him. So Reed filed a Title IX sexual misconduct report with the university. That was more than a year ago.

https://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/lengthy-webster-u-harassment-investigation-spurs-student-outcry-university-audit