Were the Articles the Articles of Confederation really that bad? Did the Constitution fundamentally change the Union? What are the similarities between the Constitution and the Articles? Did the States secede from the Articles? I get emails asking questions like these about the Articles of Confederation at least once a week. It is not much…
LANSING, Mich. (Feb. 7, 2018) – Yesterday, a Michigan Senate committee held a hearing on a bill that would ban “material support or resources” for warrantless federal surveillance programs. This represents an essential step states need to take at a time when the federal government seems unlikely to ever end unconstitutional spying on its own. Rep.…
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Feb. 7, 2018) – Yesterday, a Florida Senate committee approved a measure that would ban warrantless location tracking and the use of stingray devices to sweep up electronic communications in most situations. The new law will not only protect privacy in Florida, but will also hinder one aspect of the federal surveillance state. Sen. Jeff Brandes (R-St.…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (Feb. 6, 2018) – Last week, a Missouri House committee overwhelmingly passed a bill to decriminalize industrial hemp, setting the foundation to nullify federal prohibition of the plant in practice. Rep. Paul Curtman (R-Washington) introduced House Bill 2034 (HB2034) on Jan. 10. The legislation would decriminalize industrial hemp in the state by…
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Feb. 6, 2018) – A bill introduced in the West Virginia House of Delegates this week would block unconstitutional foreign deployments of the state’s national guard troops, effectively restoring the Founders’ framework for state-federal balance on the Guard. House Bill 2377 (HB2377), the Defend the Guard Act, was introduced by Del. Pat McGeehan…
Massachusetts was the first state to ratify with a recommendation for future amendments. This paved the way for the same steps in states like New York and Virginia.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 6, 2018) – Bills introduced in the Tennessee House and Senate would remove hemp and hemp products from the state’s list of controlled substances. Passage of this legislation would open the door for an expanding commercial hemp market in the state, setting the foundation to nullify federal prohibition in practice. Sen. Steve Southerland (R-Morristown) introduced…
HONOLULU, Hawaii (Feb. 6, 2018) – A bill filed in the Hawaii Senate would help facilitate healthcare freedom outside of government insurance regulatory schemes. Sen. Stanley Chang (D-9) introduced Senate Bill 3021 (SB3021) on January 18. The legislation specifies that direct primary care agreements (sometimes called medical retainer agreements) do not constitute insurance, thereby freeing doctors and patients…
Michael Boldin and Michael Maharrey talk about how the Federal Reserve is behind the recent stock market temper-tantrum. They also talk about the real news the FISA memo revealed and report on some recent progress in state efforts to take on the surveillance state.
OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb 6, 2018) – An bill filed in the Oklahoma Senate would prohibit state cooperation with the enforcement all future federal gun control measures, effectively nullifying them in practice within the state. Sen. Nathan Dahm (R-Broken Arrow) prefiled Senate Bill 1215 (SB1215) for introduction in February. Titled the Oklahoma Second Amendment Preservation Act, the legislation…