Bloglander

ON INLANDER.COM

NEWS: Through two programs, Spokane plans to put panhandlers to work (if they want to) and redirect donations from citizens to city meters that will pass that money through to homeless services the city and outside agencies already provide.

IN OTHER NEWS

Who's in charge?
There's a question as to who should really be in charge of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau today, after the director stepped down last week, appointing his deputy director to captain the ship in the interim, but President Trump also named Mick Mulvaney as interim director (on top of his role as director of the Office of Management and Budget), the New York Times reports. The matter has been taken to court. 

Fuzz buzz
Spokane's police department did not get a federal grant to pay for more officers next year, so the city will have to pay for new officers on its own, the Spokesman-Review reports.

Transgender Day of Remembrance
Today has been declared Transgender Day of Remembrance in Spokane, and a proclamation will be presented tonight at 6 pm at City Hall, KREM reports.

Tax plan quickly burdens poor, CBO analysis finds
According to a Congressional Budget Office analysis released this weekend, the Senate Republicans' tax plan, which could go to a vote this week, would cost low-earning Americans more than they currently pay as soon as 2019, but give tax breaks to high earners through at least 2027, the Washington Post reports.