Timelines: January 5, 2017

Public supportive of Ramapo Central School District name change
Results confirm parents, staff members and the general public supporting changing the Ramapo Central School District’s name to Suffern Central as proposed by School Board trustees. The district hopes to differentiate itself from controversy-plagued East Ramapo School District. Under the status quo names were confused partly because Ramapo High School is in the East Ramapo District, while Suffern High School is in the Ramapo District.
Public (292 responses): Yes – 93.5 percent (273), No – 6.5 percent (19)
Parents (1,673 responses): Yes – 91 percent (1,522), No – 9 percent (151)
Staff (397 responses): Yes – 92.4 percent (367), No – 7.6 percent (30)
 
Trump threatens tax on Mexican-made cars
President-elect Donald Trump is strongly against vehicle production south of the border and is threatening to tax companies like General Motors and Ford for any car shipped from Mexico to the US. “General Motors is sending Mexican-made models of Chevy Cruze to U.S. car dealers-tax free across border. Make in U.S.A. or pay big border tax!” Trump tweeted.

All Cruze Sedans sold in the US are made in the Lordstown, Ohio assembly plant but the new Cruze Hatchback is made in the Mexico factory because the Ohio plant isn’t equipped to build it, says president of a United Auto Workers union at General Motor’s Lordstown factory. Plus, only a small number of hatchbacks are sold in the US.

“It makes for news, that’s all,” Johnson said in regards to Trump’s tweet.

Ford planned on opening a new factory in Mexico as well, but the $1.6 billion project plan was recently dropped. Ford now plans to put 700 million dollars into their Flat Rock, Michigan plant to start producing more electric and self-driving cars. Ford plans to introduce seven new electric cars within the next five years, including a Mustang Hybrid.
Trump tweeted “thank you” out to Ford about cancelling the construction of their Mexican factory. Ford CEO Mark Fields insists that the decision did not have to do with the future president.

“We didn’t cut a deal with Trump. We did it for our business,” Fields said in an interview.

House of Republicans change on ethics rules dropped after Trump rebuff via Twitter 
House Republicans dropped a proposal in search of controversial changes to the Office of Congressional Ethics after President-elect Donald Trump criticized the plan on Tuesday. The Republican-controlled Congress had a meeting to elect leaders and debate other matters. Speaker Paul Ryan was elected to a full term in the post.

Trump took to Twitter attempting to sway Republicans into repealing ObamaCare and pursuing tax reform. He tweeted:
“With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it … maybe, their number one act and priority. Focus on tax reform, healthcare and so many other things of far greater importance!”

The ethics change that the House Republicans proposed was part of a rules package that the full House will vote on Tuesday. Under the proposed change, the office will be known as the Office of Congressional Complaint Review and the rule change would require “any matter that may involve a violation of criminal law must be referred to the Committee of Ethics for potential referral to law enforcement agencies after an affirmative vote by the members.”
Controversial sex change book to be distributed in UK schools
A book written by CJ Atkinson titled “Can I tell You About Gender Diversity?” is being used as a resource in some British primary schools. The book is targeting children as young as seven who are unhappy with their gender and it pushes them to challenge their biology. This has caused a large amount of controversy.

“The vast majority of children are comfortable with being boys or girls and these are the traditional and well-understood terms for how they see themselves,” said Alan Smithers, Professor at the University of Buckingham. “There are some who are not, and they should be respected and helped to find their identities. But that is no reason for overturning something that has worked since the beginning of time.”

The government-funded organization Educate and Celebrate is currently set to distribute the book for use in schools. The book’s subject is a 12-year-old transitioning from a female to a male and is using puberty blocking drugs in order to undergo a sex change. Atkinson wants children to know that it is okay and even normal to question and even change your gender.

“The world is changing,” argues Atkinson. “A book like this is needed.”

Federal judge halts transgender “protections” in ObamaCare
US District Judge, Reed O’Connor in Texas halted protections of treatments and abortion-related services for transgender individuals in the Affordable Care Act.

“Plaintiffs claim the Rule’s interpretation of sex discrimination pressures doctors to deliver healthcare in a manner that violates their religious freedom and thwarts their independent medical judgment and will require burdensome changes to their health insurance plans on January 1, 2017,” O’Connor wrote. He thinks the protections violate the Administrative Procedure Act.

White House Spokeswoman Katie Hill spoke out against O’Connor’s ruling. “Today’s decision is a setback, but hopefully a temporary one, since all Americans — regardless of their sex, gender identity or sexual orientation — should have access to quality, affordable health care free from discrimination,” she said.
Megyn Kelly switches from FOX to NBC
Following the tumultuous 2016 presidential campaign that put her at odds with eventual GOP nominee and general election winner Donald J. Trump, some have said Megyn Kelly would eagerly jump ship at her first opportunity to leave FOX News. We now know there were truth to such murmurs, as Kelly will instead be working for competitor NBC.

Fox News reportedly offered the 46-year-old an annual salary of over $20 million to stay with them but she politely turned them down. “While I will greatly miss my colleagues at Fox, I am delighted to be joining the NBC News family and taking on a new challenge,” Kelly wrote on a Facebook post. “I remain deeply grateful to Fox News, to Rupert, Lachlan and James Murdoch, and especially to all of the FNC viewers, who have taught me so much about what really matters.”

Fox News did not take her departure personally. “We thank Megyn Kelly for her 12 years of contributions to Fox News,” Rupert Murdoch said. “We hope she enjoys tremendous success in her career and wish her and her family all the best.”

She said her decision was not a money-oriented one but rather due to NBC’s family-friendly work schedule. Kelly has three young children and with NBC she will host a daytime show on weekdays and a prime time show on Sundays, giving her a lot more flexibility.

Another reason for Kelly’s departure may have been her feud with Trump. Trump and Kelly have had their differences in the past and most recently at one of the debates when Kelly confronted him about telling a guest on celebrity apprentice saying “it would be a pretty picture seeing you on your knees.” Trump responded: “Honestly Megyn, if you don’t like it, I’m sorry. I’ve been very nice to you, although I probably could not be based on the way you have treated me but I wouldn’t do that.”

Thus began months of on-and-off invective directed at Kelly via Trump’s Twitter and his millions of faithful supporters. Kelly’s ratings were not as strong as pro-Trump anchor Sean Hannity.