Yearly Archives: 2018

NE Medicaid Expansion: Birth of an Entitlement Nation

The purpose of this article is to sketch a short history of Medicaid.  Why? “We study the past to understand the present; we understand the present to guide the future."     -- William Lund Nebraskans are, even now, being asked to sign a petition to put the question of whether to expand the state's Medicaid program […]

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Trump administration abandons crackdown on legal marijuana

"The Trump administration is abandoning a Justice Department threat to crack down on recreational marijuana in states where it is legal, a move that could enable cannabis businesses in California and other states that have legalized pot to operate without fear of federal raids and prosecution."

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India bank run underway after $2B scam at state-run bank prompts bailout bill

"Indians are concerned that a proposed bill, which gives regulators the option to use public deposits to bail out a bank that goes bust, is pushing individuals to hoard cash. The government has repeatedly issued statements to assure the public that their money would be safe. These concerns are heightened by news that emerged in February of a $2 billion fraud at state-run Punjab National Bank, where a jeweler allegedly colluded with a bank employee to siphon off money before leaving the country."

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South Carolina Committee Approves Measure to Legalize Medical Marijuana; Set Foundation to Nullify Federal Prohibion

COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 20, 2018) – Yesterday, a South Carolina House committee passed a bill that would legalize medical marijuana for qualifying patients in the state, setting the foundation to nullify unconstitutional federal cannabis prohibition in practice. A bipartisan coalition introduced House Bill 3521 (H3521) last year and it carried over to the 2018 session. The legislation…

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After More than Two Centuries, the Spirit of the Sedition Act Lives On

In 1798, President John Adams signed a bill into law criminalizing speech critical of the federal government. Today, the feds take a more subtle approach to controlling speech, but the spirit of the Sedition Act lives on. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison wrote the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions in response to the Alien and Sedition Acts.…

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California Committee Passes Bill Taking on Federal Militarization of Local Police

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (April 20, 2018) – On Wednesday, a California Assembly committee passed a bill that would require law enforcement agencies in the state to get local governmental approval before acquiring or using military equipment. Passage of the bill into law would set the stage to limit federal programs that militarize local police. Asm. Todd Gloria…

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