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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

Credit: Wikimedia Commons The United States Supreme Court is expected to rule on the Defense of Marriage Act (Windsor v. United States) and California's Proposition 8 (Hollingsworth v. Perry) in the next few days. There is a good possibility the decision on these two cases will be reserved for last. The Washington Post offers an easy to follow graphic on the potential rulings and what the implications would be for each decision. It also provides status for marriage rights in each state. Check

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

An IVN article revealed the top five states with the highest number of registered independent voters. Surprisingly, a majority of these states still have primary elections that disenfranchise this growing segment of the population. Massachusetts, Alaska, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Connecticut lead the nation with the highest percentages of independent or no party preference voters, hovering between 43 and 52 percent. However, despite the fact that in each of these states independents are mor

mikeledray / Shutterstock.com From police dogs being trained to ignore pot to a push from the medical community to package the drug in child-proof containers, marijuana has been moving steadily toward legitimacy, at least at a state level. But, how much protection do would-be entrepreneurs have on a federal level? None, according to Mason Tvert, communications director at the Marijuana Policy Project. "Despite a majority of Americans agreeing that marijuana should be legal, it still remains e

Credit: voiceofsandiego.org On Monday May 20, 2013, San Diego Mayor Bob Filner attended a pretrial hearing at the federal district courthouse in downtown San Diego to show his support for defendant Ronnie Chang. Chang faces over 60 federal counts for operating a medical marijuana collective. Although Mr. Chang argues that he was in compliance with California state law, marijuana production and distribution for medical or any other purpose is still illegal under federal law. While Mr. Chang’s t

I was ready to ask what became of Kim Jong Il and the North Korean threat when he made the news for one day by firing off a couple of missiles.  I thought his nuclear threat was a serious, imminent danger.  I've already begun my doomsday prepping!  (A suitcase full of water and $60 cash, I'm doomed.) The media has had a lot on its plate in the last few weeks; the Boston marathon attack, the Jodi Arias trial, the women freed from captivity in Cleveland, the IRS scandal, the Benghazi controversy

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

Independent voters now account for approximately 40 percent of all voters in the United States. Following the national trend, California voters are increasingly leaving the two major parties, with almost 3.7 million voters now registered under "No Party Preference" in the state. Overall voter turnout, however, decreased in 2012 election, with one million fewer Californians casting a ballot in the general election than in previous presidential elections. With independent voters now accounting fo

Ever since Amendment 64 was voted through last November, Americans have wondered what the implications of legalized marijuana might be for the state of Colorado. While lawmakers have taken their time in drafting regulations for a recreational system, recently passed bills are starting to paint a picture of marijuana's future in what seems to be an already pot-friendly state. Last week, the state Legislature voted in favor of two bills, House Bill 1317 and House Bill 1318, which now await Gover