• Israeli Arab politician Ayman Odeh, head of the Joint List, a coalition of Arab political parties is open to the possibility of becoming the kingmaker in the Israeli parliamentary election scheduled for Sept. 17. The Joint List coalition is ready to join a center-left majority coalition government in order to oust right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Because of a high degree of mistrust on both sides, the idea of an Arab–Jewish coalition government has been taboo over the 71 years of Israel’s existence.
(“Is Israel Ready for an Arab Party to Join a Coalition Government?” Christian Science Monitor, Sept. 10, 2019; “Arab Israelis or Palestinians,” Economist, Sept. 6, 2019)
• While Republican Sen. Rick Scott was governor of Florida, his administration effectively blocked $70 million in federal funds available to fight the state’s HIV epidemic, according to a new investigation by the Guardian newspaper. Coupled with the fact that Scott refused to expand Medicaid in Florida, this new revelation helps explain why the state’s tragic increase in HIV cases was unique across the U.S. during Scott’s tenure.
(“Rick Scott Had Us on Lockdown: How Florida Said No to $70M for HIV Crisis,” Guardian, Sept. 11, 2019)
• During Republican Chris Christie’s reign as New Jersey governor, the state had some of the most lucrative business tax breaks in the U.S. The law establishing these incentives, the Economic Opportunity Act, expired on July 1. In August, New Jersey’s incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, conditionally vetoed $11 billion in new business incentives, and called on state legislators to act on sweeping reforms of tax incentives he proposed in late 2018.
(“New Jersey Moves to Rein In Wasteful Tax Breaks for Businesses,” American Prospect, Sept. 5, 2019)
