WASHINGTON (June 25, 2015) – In a totally unsurprising move, the federal government failed to limit the federal government today. The federal employees staffing the Supreme Court held that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act does authorize tax subsidies for people in states with federally run insurance exchanges despite specific wording in the law…
As Madison quoted Montesquieu in Federalist 47, "When the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person or body, there can be no liberty, because apprehensions may arise lest the same monarch or senate should enact tyrannical laws to execute them in a tyrannical manner."
SALEM, Ore. (June 24, 2015) – In the face of federal threats to withhold millions of dollars, Gov. Kate Brown signed a bill Tuesday that allows to opt their children out of standardized Common Core testing more easily. Introduced by Rep. Chris Gorsek (D-Troutdale) along with six Democrat and seven Republican cosponsors, House Bill 2655 (HB2655)…
RALEIGH, N.C. (June 24, 2015) – Yesterday, the North Carolina state Senate gave final approval to a bill that would effectively nullify in practice some Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules that prevent terminally ill patients from accessing experimental treatments. The vote was 14-0. Introduced by State Reps. Hugh Blackwell (R-Burke), Mike Hager (R-Rutherford), Donny…
"Investors whose strategy is to follow the Fed – in the belief that stocks will advance as long as the Fed does not raise interest rates – are free to place all their eggs in Janet’s basket. On the other hand, for investors whose strategy is historically informed by factors that have reliably distinguished market advances from collapses over a century of history, our suggestion is to consider a stronger defense. Our greatest successes have been when our investment outlook was aligned with valuations and market internals, and our greatest disappointments have been when it was not. Both factors are unfavorable at present, and our outlook is aligned accordingly." Continue reading →
Here is a speech I recently gave at the Minnesota Tea Party Alliance’s quarterly event. The topic was “Powers of the President,” where I compared the original constitutional understanding of the executive with the behavior of modern presidents. Spoiler Alert: there is a stark contrast between the two.
LANSING, Mich. (June 23, 2015) – Last week, a bill was filed in the Michigan state House that would end would end mandatory government licensing of marriages in the state, effectively nullifying in practice both major sides of the contentious national debate over government-sanctioned marriage. Introduced by Rep. Todd Courser (R-Lapeer) and Rep. Cindy Gamrat (R-Plainwell),…
On Saturday, June 27th, I’ll be speaking at Liberty on the Rocks – Los Angeles. If you don’t know about the group, it’s a pretty cool concept. I made this short video to introduce people to the event. If you’re in the area, see you there! (RSVP Here)
SALEM, Ore. (June 22, 2015) Last week, the Oregon state Senate gave final approval to a bill that would prohibit law enforcement from obtaining information from electronic devices without a warrant in most cases, sending it to the Governor’s desk. The proposed bill would not only protect privacy in Oregon, but would also address a…
AUGUSTA, Maine (June 21, 2015) A Maine bill that would drastically restrict the use of drones by state and local law enforcement and serve to thwart one aspect of the federal surveillance state was approved by the full legislature last week. It will now go to the Gov. LePage’s desk where he can sign it…