Michigan Committee Passes Bill to Reform Civil Asset Forfeiture; Federal Loophole Remains

LANSING, Mich. (May 3, 2018) – On Tuesday, a Michigan House committee passed a bill that would reform asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction in most cases, but leaves a loophole in place allowing police to circumvent stricter state laws by passing cases off to the feds. Rep.…

Continue ReadingMichigan Committee Passes Bill to Reform Civil Asset Forfeiture; Federal Loophole Remains

Dream Small

In 2016, during a period of about a year when it seemed possible — even likely — that Shelli would win her battle with cancer, she and I plotted out an article for the GiN website that would explain to our readers what had been going on in our lives to cause our extended hiatus […]

Continue ReadingDream Small

Relevancy of the Constitution in Local and State Elections

With election signs everywhere it is well to note that it is unrealistic to expect national candidates to follow the Constitution when we did not insist that they did so in local and state elections.  After all, many simply move up to higher office.  Some may even view the Constitution as irrelevant at these levels.…

Continue ReadingRelevancy of the Constitution in Local and State Elections

TAC Joins Coalition in Support of New Jersey Bills to Take on Asset Forfeiture

TRENTON, N.J. (May 1, 2018) – The Tenth Amendment Center has joined a coalition of seven organizations supporting passage of New Jersey bills that would impose strict reporting requirements for all asset forfeitures in the state. This legislation would take a first step that could lead to substantive reforms.  Senate Bill 1963 (S1963) and its companion,…

Continue ReadingTAC Joins Coalition in Support of New Jersey Bills to Take on Asset Forfeiture

End Unchecked Police Surveillance, Establish Local Control

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (May 3, 2018) – The Tenth Amendment Center has joined a diverse group of organizations supporting a California bill that would increase oversight and transparency of law enforcement surveillance technology. Passage of the bill would take the first step toward limiting the unchecked use of surveillance technologies that violate basic privacy rights and…

Continue ReadingEnd Unchecked Police Surveillance, Establish Local Control

Signed by the Governor: Iowa Law Bans Abortions After a Heartbeat Is Detected, Setting Foundation to Nullify Roe v. Wade

DES MOINES, Iowa (May 4, 2018) – Today, Iowa Gov. Reynolds signed a bill into law that bans most abortions after a fetal heartbeat becomes detectable, setting the foundation to nullify the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade. The Senate Human Resources Committee introduced Senate Bill 359 (SF359) in February. The legislation would require a…

Continue ReadingSigned by the Governor: Iowa Law Bans Abortions After a Heartbeat Is Detected, Setting Foundation to Nullify Roe v. Wade