Signed by the Governor: Virginia Law Expands Healthcare Freedom

RICHMOND, Va. (April 27, 2017) – Yesterday, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed legislation into law that will help facilitate healthcare freedom in the state. Del. R. Steven Landes (R-Verona) sponsored House Bill 2053 (HB2053). Sen. William Stanley Jr. (R-Moneta) sponsored the Senate companion bill (SB800). The legislation specifies that direct primary care agreements (sometimes called…

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Signed by the Governor: West Virginia Legalizes Commercial Hemp Farming Despite Federal Prohibition

CHARLESTON, W. Va. (April 27, 2017) – On Tuesday, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice signed a bill into law significantly expanding the state’s hemp licensing program, opening the door for anybody in the state to produce or process industrial hemp for commercial purposes. The new law sets the foundation to end federal prohibition of hemp in…

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Dangerous: Abandoning the Constitution in Michigan?

Any time we post something positive happening in Michigan, we get a small, but very vocal group of commenters who say that, basically, constitution be damned – because … there are muslims in Michigan. I shouldn’t have been surprised to see Don, who lives in New Hampshire, use the same approach in response to a bill…

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The Never-Ending Excuse: Violating the Constitution to “Save Lives”

Whenever someone is confronted with the fact that some federal act they favor is a violation of the Constitution, they’ll simply sidestep constitutional arguments and claim it’s necessary anyway. While some people are used to hearing these kinds of claims from democrats or republicans, we hear them from everyone, libertarians, too.  Take this comment from…

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Michigan Committee Approves State Privacy Measure with National Implications

LANSING, Mich. (Apr. 26, 2017) – Yesterday, a Michigan House committee unanimously passed a resolution that would put before voters a state constitutional amendment to protect electronic communications and data from the prying eyes of state and local law enforcement. The amendment would also effectively block a small but intrusive practical effect of federal spying…

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Minnesota Electronic Data Privacy Act Would Reject the Surveillance State

ST. PAUL, Minn. (April 26, 2017) –  A bill introduced in the Minnesota Senate would limit warrantless electronic data collection in the state. Final passage of the bill would not only protect privacy in Minnesota, but would also hinder at least two aspects of the federal surveillance state. Sen. Dave Dibble (D) Introduced Senate Bill…

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Bill Nye the Constitutional B.S. Guy

Debate continues to rage about whether Bill Nye is really a “science guy,” or if he’s just an entertainer pushing a political agenda, but one thing is certain: Bill Nye is not the “Constitution guy.” In an interview on CNN during the so-called “March for Science,” Nye made the case for federal funding of science…

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Signed by the Governor: West Virginia Ends State-Run Obamacare Exchange

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (April 25, 2017) – Last Friday, Gov. Jim Justice (D-West Virginia) signed a bill to shut down the state-run Obamacare health insurance exchange. Once in effect this summer, the new law takes an important first step toward withdrawing the state from implementing the national healthcare program. Rep. Joe Ellington (R-Princeton) sponsored House Bill 2119 (HB2119),…

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Montana Governor Vetoes Bill to Expand Health Freedom

HELENA, Mont. (April 25, 2017) – Montana Gov. Steve Bullock vetoed a bill that would have helped facilitate healthcare freedom and set the stage to nullify national healthcare in practice in the state. Sen. Cary Smith (R-Billings) sponsored Senate Bill 100 (SB100). The legislation specified that direct primary care agreements (sometimes called medical retainer agreements)…

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Texas House Passes Bill to Prohibit “Sanctuary City” Policies

AUSTIN, Texas (April 25, 2017) – Yesterday, a bill that would effectively prohibit so-called “sanctuary cities” that refuse to help enforce some federal immigration laws passed the Texas House. Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock) filed Senate Bill 4 (SB4) along with 19 cosponsors. The legislation would ban localities from adopting policies that prohibit or restrict local agents…

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