legislation

The bills that Congress reject are as informative as the ones it does. Reviews of all the legislation that meet their fate in government halls.

Only 11 States Have Laws that Require the Safe Storage of Firearms
Last May, when a 17-year-old student of Sante Fe High School in Texas shot and killed 10 people and wounded 13 others in 30-minute shooting spree, he was using legally purchased guns that he had taken from home. During an initial interview, the suspect’s father refused to say how his son had acquired the weapons, but later disclosed that he owned the guns and his son had taken them from his closet.
By Rob T7 years ago in The Swamp
Hate Crime—Is Misandry a Thing?
Photo by Bruno Martins on Unsplash BBC radio two featured a topic on the Jeremy Vine show today about hate crimes, and whether misandry (hate crimes towards men) should also be included in this category. Although I was very aware of other categories being reviewed such as hate to the elderly and alternative cultures such as goths and punks, I found it quite interesting to hear the two sides put to the debate.
By VLD7 years ago in The Swamp
Is Socialism the Way Forward?
Is socialism the way forward? Will a socialist government really make life better for the majority? I see so many posts on Facebook, from intelligent serious and well intentioned people, that claim Mr. Corbyn will be a better leader of the government for the people of Britain than Mrs May. They claim he is more compassionate, more in touch with the needs and feelings of people. They claim he would make life better for the majority of the people. The slogan is for the many not the few.
By Peter Rose7 years ago in The Swamp
California Court Ruling Puts iGaming Legislation Hopes on Ice
California’s court of appeal ruled against a Native American tribe operating online bingo games to Californian residents. The latest rejection brings into question the prospect of California ever having a thriving iGaming industry; something most people find bizarre given that it is the most populous state in the U.S. The court decision is one in a long line of legal challenges against the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel tribe, which also prohibits other North American tribes from attempting to offer online bingo gaming in the months ahead.
By Patricia Sarkar7 years ago in The Swamp
DeVos and Title IX
In recent weeks the discussion of Title IX reform was made public and we had a glimpse of the change to Title IX. Many of the reforms that were put in place by Former Vice-President Joe Biden were put in place to hold schools more accountable for handling Title IX cases reported between students are under fire by the Trump administration. Many schools will report a total of one, potentially two sexual misconduct cases per school year on their public statistics. If a parent ever asks about the safety of the campus every response is that the campus is extremely safe. However, when speaking to students to on campus quite frequently their experiences will differ. The basis for the movie The Hunting Ground is students filing Title IX complaints for unresolved Title IX complaints on campuses.
By Rose Mcgowen7 years ago in The Swamp
Healthcare and Democracy
I’m an independent for one, so I’m playing both sides. But at the same time, I have to say that Republican’s attempt to hijack the Affordable Care Act will not succeed. The Supreme Court ruling upheld the Affordable Care Act in 2012. (Washington Post) We have a shot at deposing many in the 2018 midterm elections though, so all is not lost. According to Real Clear Politics, the battle for the Senate is 44 Democrats to 47 Republicans. The battle for the house is 201 Democrats and 191 Republicans. The battle for governor is 20 Democrats and 22 Republicans. At some point, the two-party system has to go.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in The Swamp
The Mess That Is Health Care
With the ongoing health care fiasco in the United States, we all have to take seriously where we are going with this. Any one politician can’t make everybody happy. New federal rules allow insurers to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions. This is terrifying for those of us with pre-existing conditions because it locks out people from getting coverage. The mess that is health care is becoming a hot mess every passing day. New rules allow insurers to deny coverage to people with pre-existing conditions, which institute annual lifetime caps.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in The Swamp
Legalization of Drugs in Canada
Legalization of marijuana is upon us in Canada. The government has looked into this for years and are trying to safeguard Canadians the best they can of any potential issues like driving impairment and possible medical issues. Nothing is 100%, and I'm sure they're doing the best they can to implement the new laws smoothly.
By Brian Anonymous8 years ago in The Swamp
Was a Summary Judgement by a Federal Court Granted in Favor of a Kansas-Based Employer That Allegedly Violated Civil Rights?
In May of 2018, the 10th Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals affirmed the Kansas Federal District Court’s decision to dismiss a Kansas man's lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII protects against discrimination in the workplace based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. The man who brought this suit is named Jerome Christmon. Christmon is a practicing Hebrew Israelite and filed suit against his former employer, B&B Airparts Inc., an aircraft parts supplier based in Wichita, Kansas.
By Victor Trammell8 years ago in The Swamp
A History of Gambling in the USA. Top Story - August 2018.
Gambling in the United States has enjoyed a rich and varied history and it’s one that continues to evolve. In May 2018, the US Supreme Court overturned the PASPA ruling that deemed sports betting to be illegal and we’ve seen a number of developments to introduce sportsbooks across the country since this change of attitude.
By Patricia Sarkar8 years ago in The Swamp
Gay and Transgender Panic Defense
In the last decade, there has been a defense mechanism used by people who have committed crimes against trans and queer people. It is known as the "Gay and Trans Panic Defense."
By Merlin Mystique8 years ago in The Swamp
Arrested for Stepping on Dry Sand
On July 1, 2018, the Governor of Florida, Rick Scott, signed into law H.B. 631, a bill sponsored by a Ft. Lauderdale born democrat named Edwards-Walpole. This bill gave beach property owners the right to claim the lands of the beach to the mean high tide line, or in other words, beach-goers had to stay on wet sand only. Moreover, this bill forbid any local governments and counties from creating any ordinance that would create a customary use for beach-goers against the homeowners' rights. This means that, even if a county wanted to give local residents and tourists a right to enjoy the sands that they have been enjoying for decades, the county cannot do so. The bill strictly prohibits that. So, where does this leave you if you visit Florida? How does this impact Florida? Take a look...
By Shannon Humphrey8 years ago in The Swamp