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In response to the growing privacy concerns, local law enforcement agencies in Maine are now required to have a warrant to track cell phone activity.  Passed on Tuesday, LD415 reads: "a government entity may not obtain location information without a valid warrant issued by a duly authorized judge or justice." It defines government entity as "a state or local agency," clarifying that federal agencies are not bound by the warantless cellphone tracking state laws. The law goes on to mandate that

President Obama signs healthcare reform in 2010 // Credit: Reid.senate.gov Can a state unilaterally suspend the operation of ObamaCare within its borders? Of course not. That measure would violate the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. We fought a Civil War over that question. What if two states banded together to suspend the operation of ObamaCare within their common territory? Can they do that? The answer remains the same. No. But let's try this. Let's have those two states - and others

Source: Industrial Hemp Tasmania / Facebook A bipartisan amendment to the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (FARM Bill) that would guarantee a state's right to make its own decision regarding the legalization of industrial hemp was approved by the House on Thursday. Introduced by Representatives Jared Polis (D-CO), Thomas Massie (R-KY), and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), the amendment passed with a narrow 225 to 200 vote. In states where industrial hemp is legal, lawmakers an

Credit: rawstory.com The city of San Diego recently passed a resolution placing limits on political donations by political parties. It is likely to withstand any constitutional challenge. In response to ongoing efforts to regulate the influence of money in politics, the city council implemented donation limits of $10,000 per election per district candidate and $20,000 per election per citywide candidate. These limits are scheduled to take effect on July 20, if Mayor Bob Filner provides a signa

Polling place in Los Angeles // credit: atvn.org Unofficial results from the LA City Clerk's office indicate that Proposition C has passed with 76.56 percent of Los Angeles voters supporting the ballot measure. Proposition C is only one of many other preliminary efforts to undo the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v FEC. Florida, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Montana, and Colorado have taken similar steps as well. Also known as the "Resolution to Support Constitutional Amendment R

source: finance.senate.gov As negotiations on how to resolve the ‘fiscal cliff’ broil on, the Senate Finance Committee acts as a crucible to determine policy outcomes. The Finance Committee naturally maintains heavy influence over policy relating to taxes and entitlement programs and Chairman, Max Baucus (D-Montana), has revealed somewhat positive indications regarding fiscal cliff talks. Baucus told local news affiliate KPAX: “I expect good faith, because the election is over and more than t

After an astounding $6 billion was spent this election cycle, Americans are once again confronted with the issue of campaign finance reform and the role of corporations in deciding the future of America. Inherent in any discussion of campaign finance reform is the 2010 Citizens United decision, which prohibits the government from restricting political spending by corporations and unions, essentially ruling that corporations are entitled to unlimited campaign spending. Since the ruling, opponent

Citizens in nearly thirty states have signed online petitions propagating secession from the United States. These states have filed their petitions with the We the People Program, a facet of the Obama Administration which attempts to facilitate citizen participation in government. Though the ability to petition a presidential administration is not a new concept, the online petition program is. Petitions bear little to no legislative power, but the implications of online petitions for secession a

Since Obama won reelection a week ago, the White House website has been flooded with petitions from citizens in various states wanting their states to secede from the union.  It is important to note that these are not official petitions by the state governments but rather petitions started by individual citizens. The threat of secession is nothing new in the United States.  It seems that after any election, people want their states to secede so that they don't have to live under a leader they d

For the great majority of mankind are satisfied with appearances, as though they were reality, and are often more influenced by the things that seem than by those that are.- Nicolo Machiavelli, The 8th Institute I began writing opinion pieces in 1973. It’s now 39-years later and in something approaching 500,000 words, I have expressed many opinions about issues and people. I have neither hidden my political beliefs nor Christian faith, neither my cultural values nor love of baseball. I have so