With elections signs all around it might be well to be reminded that it is unrealistic to expect national candidates to follow the Constitution when we did not insist that they did so in state, county and city offices. After all, many simply move up to higher office. Some may even view the Constitution as…
ALBANY, N.Y. (June 16, 2016) – A New York Assembly committee has passed an electronic data protection bill that would end warrantless collection of cell phone data and ban the use “stingrays” to track the location of phones and sweep up electronic communications without a warrant in most situations. Passage of the bill would not…
CONCORD, N.H. (June 16, 2016) – Last week, New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan signed a bill setting the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by terminally ill patients. Rep. Frank Edelbut (R-Wilbut) sponsored House Bill 1138 (HB1138). The new law provides terminally ill…
BATON ROUGE, La. (June 13, 2016) – Last week, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a bill specifically exempting medical marijuana patients and caregivers from prosecution in the state. Along with another measure that was signed into law earlier this year, it gives Louisiana a basis for a functional medical marijuana program, setting the foundation…
CONCORD, N.H. (June 13, 2016) – New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan recently signed two bills into law that roll back what were some exceptionally strong privacy protections in the state. The two new laws expand allowable uses for automatic license plate readers (ALPRS) and begin implementation of what will essentially become a national ID system. Rep.…
BATON ROUGE, La. (June 13, 2016) – Louisiana Gov. John Bell Edwards has signed a bill expanding the state’s current “Right to Try” law. Last year, the Louisiana legislature passed, and the governor signed,“Right to Try” legislation giving terminally ill patients access to medicines not yet given final approval for use by the FDA. Earlier this…
Did you know that before the Constitution was ever ratified, Alexander Hamilton told us states could effectively nullify federal actions by simply refusing to cooperate with them?
COLUMBUS, Ohio (June 10, 2016) – A resolution reasserting the Tenth Amendment’s role in restraining the federal government was approved last month by the Ohio state Senate. Sponsored by Sen. Larry Obhof (R) and Sen. Keith Faber (R), Senate Concurrent Resolution 15 (SCR15) serves as a “notice to the federal government to end federal mandates…
CHARLESTON, W. VA. (June 10, 2016) – A West Virginia law setting the foundation to nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that deny access to experimental treatments by terminally ill patients is now in effect. A bipartisan coalition of four representatives introduced Senate Bill 416 (SB416) back in January. The legislation…
MONTPELIER, Vt. (June 10, 2016) – Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has signed a sweeping bill that establishes robust privacy protections in the state into law. It not only limits warrantless surveillance and helps ensure electronic privacy in Vermont, it will also hinder several federal surveillance programs that rely on cooperation and data from state and local…