Lost to the federal siren song

Every now and then, I get an email from someone announcing their new campaign for congress. They’re always quite excited – letting me know how much they’re going to accomplish. Generally, I laugh this off as ignorant, or just grandstanding. But, when I get that same email from someone already elected on a state-level who…

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To the Governor’s Desk: Missouri legislature passes bill to withdraw from Common Core

Both chambers of the Missouri legislature gave final approval today to a bill to end the state’s involvement in the Common Core educational standards. The bill will now go to the Governor's desk for a signature

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Tennessee Governor signs bill to effectively nullify federal hemp ban

NASHVILLE, May 15, 2014 – Yesterday, Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam signed a bill which some supporters consider the strongest pro-hemp legislation in the country. House Bill 2445 (HB2445), introduced by Rep. Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby), would mandate that the state authorize the growing and production of industrial hemp within Tennessee, effectively nullifying the unconstitutional federal ban on…

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CA Senate committee passes bill to ban warrantless drone surveillance

SACRAMENTO., May 15, 2014 – A California bill to strictly limit drone use passed out of an important state senate committee this week, and is now slated to receive a vote from the full senate. The bill had previously passed through the state assembly by a 63-6 vote. AB1327 would ban law enforcement agencies in California from using…

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To the Governor’s Desk: Minnesota Legislature Bans Warrantless Cellphone Tracking

ST. PAUL, Min., – May 14, 2014. A bipartisan bill that bans Minnesota law enforcement from obtaining cellphone location tracking information without a warrant passed final hurdles in the state House and Senate today. The House vote was 130-0 and the Senate vote was 63-1. SF2466 was introduced by Sen. Brandon Petersen (R-Andover) and cosponsored…

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Why is local law enforcement helping the feds terrorize a family?

States with legalized marijuana have a big problem: their own state and local law enforcement agencies. While almost two-dozen states have legalized cannabis for medical use, and Colorado and Washington voters approved legalization of recreational marijuana as well, the federal government still prohibits it. That means people using or growing marijuana legally under state law…

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