On January 8, 1790, George Washington delivered the first regular annual message before a joint session of Congress. He did so in the Senate chamber of Federal Hall in New York City, the provisional U.S. capitol at that time. From Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate: Washington was acutely aware that as the nation’s first president, he…
RICHMOND, Va. (Jan. 8, 2017) – A bill introduced in the Virginia Senate would decriminalize marijuana possession. Passage into law would take a step toward nullifying federal cannabis prohibition in effect in the state. Introduced by Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria), Senate Bill 111 (SB111) would make marijuana possession “subject to a civil penalty of no…
CONCORD, N.H. (Jan. 7, 2018) – A New Hampshire law that bans the use of “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications without a warrant in most situations went into effect this week. The new statute not only protects privacy in New Hampshire, it will also hinder one aspect of…
RICHMOND, Va. (Jan. 7, 2018) – On Jan. 1, a Virginia law that repeals sales taxes from some purchases of gold and silver went into effect. It represents an important first step toward encouraging its regular use as currency and breaking the Federal Reserve’s monopoly on money. A bipartisan coalition of delegates and senators sponsored House…
LOS ANGELES. — The new federal marijuana policy announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions Thursday will do little to maintain the federal government’s unconstitutional cannabis prohibition. In a one-page memo, Sessions rescinded the Obama-era Cole Memo and directed federal prosecutors in states with legal marijuana to decide how aggressively they want to prosecute federal law based on their own…
In the Kentucky Resolutions of 1798, Jefferson wrote that we shouldn’t give anybody in government the benefit of the doubt.
CONCORD, N.H. (Jan. 5, 2018) – A bill introduced in the New Hampshire House would significantly limit the impact of federal programs that militarize local police. Rep. J.R. Hoell (R-Dunbarton) introduced House Bill 1431 (HB1431) on Jan. 3. The legislation would prohibit police from acquiring any military equipped, vehicle or military grade hardware that is…
ALBANY, N.Y. (Jan. 5, 2018) – A bill introduced in the New York Senate would allow customers to opt out of installing “smart meter” technology on their homes and businesses. Passage of this bill would allow New Yorkers to protect their own privacy, and it would take a step toward blocking a federal program in…
JACKSON, Miss. (Jan. 5, 2018) – Two bills introduced in the Mississippi House would outlaw abortion in the state and impose criminal penalties on physicians who illegally perform them, nullifying the Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade. Rep. Dan Eubanks (R-Walls) introduced House Bill 45 (HB45) on Jan. 2. Under the proposed law, “anyone who purposefully,…
SANTA FE, N.M. (Jan. 5, 2018) – A bill pre-filed in the New Mexico Senate would give voters the opportunity to amend the state constitution and legalize marijuana, setting the foundation to nullify the unconstitutional federal prohibition on cannabis in practice. Senate Joint Resolution 4 (SJR4) is scheduled to be introduced on Jan. 16 by…