At Liberty Law Blog, Diana Schaub (Loyola Maryland, Political Science) says no: Dysfunction Is No Excuse for Misreading the Constitution. From the core of the argument: There is an inescapable logic to the setting forth of the Constitution’s sections which should guide interpretation. In Article 1, Section 1, we learn that Congress is vested with specified…
A bill intended to “invalidate and nullify all federal laws and regulations restricting ownership or possession of firearms” has been pre-filed in the Bluegrass State.Kentucky State Representative Diane St. Onge has filed House Bill 35 (HB35), which directs the Kentucky General Assembly “to take all appropriate action to safeguard Kentuckians’ rights to possess firearms in accordance…
Rick Santorum wants a do-over when it comes to his education policy, but based on the comments he made during a campaign speech in Iowa last month, it appears his do-over needs a do-over. During a Q&A session, Truth in American Education administrator and columnist Shane Vander Hart asked Santorum about current efforts to reauthorize…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 9, 2015) – On Wednesday, California Governor Jerry Brown vetoed a bill that would have stopped transfers of some battlefield-ready military equipment to state or local law enforcement agencies. His reasoning was a load of crap. Introduced by Asm. Nora Campos (D-San Jose), Assembly Bill 36 (AB36) would have unconditionally banned law enforcement…
BOSTON (Oct. 9, 2015) – A privacy bill that would prohibit collection of electronic data from communication service providers without a warrant in most cases, and that would effectively block an NSA data sharing program, continues to work its way through the Massachusetts legislature. Last spring, a bipartisan coalition of 36 legislators introduced Senate Bill…
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Oct. 8, 2015) – Today, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law not just one, but two bills that represent some of the strongest privacy protections in the country. The new laws work together to protect privacy from some of the worst spying programs on the state level, but also take on a…
TALLAHASSEE, FL. (Oct. 8, 2015) – Last week, a bill was filed in the Florida State House to authorize the farming, production, and sale of industrial hemp in the state, effectively nullifying in practice the unconstitutional federal prohibition on the same. Introduced on Oct. 1 by Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda (D-Tallahassee), House Bill 271 (H271)…
TOPEKA, Kan. (Oct. 8, 2015) – A bill prefiled in the Kansas House represents an important first step toward limiting the influence of the federal government in the Sunflower State and could open the door to stopping a wide range of federal programs. Rep. J. R. Claeys (R – Salina) prefiled House Bill 2437 (HB2437)…
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Oct. 6, 2015) – Last week, a coalition of Ohio legislators introduced a bill that would reform asset forfeiture laws to prohibit the state from taking property without a criminal conviction. The legislation also takes on federal forfeiture programs by banning prosecutors from circumventing state laws by passing cases off to the feds.…
BOSTON, Oct. 4, 2015 – A bill under consideration in the Massachusetts House would reaffirm the right of jury nullification by explicitly allowing defendants to tell jurors about their ability to nullify unjust or immoral laws. Introduced by Reps. Elizabeth Poirier (R-North Attleboro) and Paul Heroux (D-Attleboro), House Bill 1544 (H1544) would “permit the defendant…