The UK’s Supreme Court has recently given its ruling in a long-running international child custody dispute that has seen the child in question move back and forth between the USA and UK.
The case involved a child, K, who was born in 2006 in Texas and is a United States citizen. His father is also a US citizen; his mother came to the UK from Ghana as a very young child and she has indefinite leave to remain in the UK. They married in Texas in December 2005 and lived together there.
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), who chair the budget super committee set up as a result of the deal to end the government shutdown, are optimistic a deal can be reached on spending levels through 2015.
While the long sought “grand bargain” appears to once again be out of reach, Murray and Ryan are close on a smaller deal, and even a smaller deal would be a positive step considering the gridlock in Washington these days.
Efforts to pass Senate Bill 58, controversial legislation to alter Ohio’s energy efficiency and renewable portfolio standards out of the Senate Public Utilities Committee, was delayed for a second time this week. Senator Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati), the bill’s sponsor and chair of the committee considering the bill, had scheduled acceptance of a substitute bill and a vote on the measure prior to announcing cancellation of the committee.
The committee has heard lengthy testimony for several months on the measure. Proponents of the bill, including the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, argue the legislation is needed to prevent future hikes in electricity costs for businesses and consumers. Opponents claim the bill will effectively gut the current clean energy law and result in a hand out for utilities—the bill allows utilities to retain a greater percentage of savings resulting from energy efficiency programs than current practice permits.
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), who chair the budget super committee set up as a result of the deal to end the government shutdown, are optimistic a deal can be reached on spending levels through 2015.
While the long sought “grand bargain” appears to once again be out of reach, Murray and Ryan are close on a smaller deal, and even a smaller deal would be a positive step considering the gridlock in Washington these days.
Murray and Ryan are trying to wrap up a budget agreement that would set 2014 discretionary spending levels near $1 trillion, while replacing the sequester with alternative, targeted spending cuts. No cuts will be made to entitlement programs like Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
On November 27, 2013, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule for calendar year 2014 and related CMS commentary (the Final Rule). In addition to updating payment rates under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, the Final Rule revises various Medicare Part B payment policies. The Final Rule is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on December 10, 2013, and is available here. Some of the policy changes are noted below.
The timing seemed perfect. On the busiest online shopping day of the year, Cyber Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a case regarding the constitutionality of New York’s so-called online affiliate nexus laws. In typical fashion, the Court turned down petitions from Amazon and Overstock.com without explanation. Consequently, the decision by New York’s highest court upholding the state’s 2008 affiliate nexus statute remains the law of New York. The decision in New York was covered in a prior Multistate Tax Update. Interestingly, an affiliate nexus law similar to that in New York was overturned by Illinois’ highest court, creating a divergence in the precedent by the highest courts in two states. The laws were substantially similar, yet the highest court of each state reached opposite conclusions.
William Anaya
Arnstein & Lehr Chicago Partner William Anaya contributed to a November 21 Law360 article titled “Federal Fracking Stalemate Keeps Regulatory Focus Local.” The article discusses proposed legislation to block recent federal hydraulic fracturing rules passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on November 20. While the bill is expected to die in the Senate, experts say energy companies should be more concerned with local actions that can shape long-term policy.
To read the article in full, please click here.
William Eveland
Arnstein & Lehr Chicago Partner William Eveland was quoted in a Law360 article on November 20 titled, “Illinois Marriage Equality Bill Signed Into Law.” The article discusses the marriage equality bill that was signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn on November 20, making Illinois the 16th state to embrace marriage equality.
To read the article in full, please click here.
Jason Tremblay
Arnstein & Lehr Chicago Partner Jason Tremblay presented “Common Employment Law Mistakes for Illinois Businesses: What Are They and How to Avoid Them” to the Illinois CPA Society – Chicago South Chapter on November 21. Mr. Tremblay’s presentation reviewed Fair Labor Standards Act minimum wage and overtime standards, the employee dilemma regarding independent contractors, importance of classifying employees correctly and how to protect your trade secrets to maintain a competitive advantage.
Connect with ILN
Firm of the Month
ILN Members Twitter Feed