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We hear a lot of discussion of the fiscal cliff, taxes, energy policy, and other broad issues that are important to our prosperity. But, we hear less about the people who are crafting the legislation and have to make the critical votes in shaping our future. It is easy to be a journalist or a philosopher, like a Monday morning quarter-back in the land of "what ifs." This week on IVN, we pay special attention to the people in politics who have to make practical decisions in the reality of "what

We hear a lot of discussion of the fiscal cliff, taxes, energy policy, and other broad issues that are important to our prosperity. But, we hear less about the people who are crafting the legislation and have to make the critical votes in shaping our future. It is easy to be a journalist or a philosopher, like a Monday morning quarter-back in the land of "what ifs." This week on IVN, we pay special attention to the people in politics who have to make practical decisions in the reality of "what

Credit: University of Michigan On Thursday, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Michigan ban on affirmative action was unconstitutional. This decision contradicts the 9th Circuit's decision to uphold the California ban, demonstrating a Supreme Court decision on affirmative action is needed more than ever. Michigan passed a ban on affirmative action in 2006 for government hiring and contracting, and for admission to public universities by amending its constitution. The decision was

Credit: Texas Tribune Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus will be challenged for his seat by Rep. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), a conservative trial lawyer from East Texas. Hughes argues he is more conservative, fiscally and socially, than the incumbent speaker and believes the legislative process needs to be decentralized and open. He argues that has been an issue under Straus’ tenure. This isn’t the first time Straus has been forced into a position to defend his seat from factions in his own p

Credit: Texas Tribune Texas Speaker of the House Joe Straus will be challenged for his seat by Rep. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), a conservative trial lawyer from East Texas. Hughes argues he is more conservative, fiscally and socially, than the incumbent speaker and believes the legislative process needs to be decentralized and open. He argues that has been an issue under Straus’ tenure. This isn’t the first time Straus has been forced into a position to defend his seat from factions in his own p

The economy is the focus of media attention at the moment, with its post-election emphasis on the looming fiscal cliff. However, the Keystone XL pipeline has also made a resurgence lately, as the center of an environmental policy controversy. The administration's response to the dispute would be a test of Obama's relationship with the oil and gas industry. On Wednesday, American Petroleum Institue (API) President Jack N. Gerard said, "If [President Obama] denies the application , it will show c

Gabriela Dow of San Diego Startup Circle Startup businesses are a crucial element in San Diego's economy. How do individuals with solid business models and innovative ideas go about starting an original business? Well, that is where entrepreneurship comes into play. San Diego Startup Circle's Robert Reyes and Gabriela Dow led a forum at Mintz Levin Law Firm last night, November 15 regarding key facets to performing as a startup business. Reyes kicked off the forum, but panelists Michael Limbri

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

Now that Barack Obama has secured another four years in the White House, the nation's eyes are turning to the Judicial branch. The president is allowed to appoint justices to the Supreme Court in the event of a vacancy through retirement, or otherwise. The 9-member court interprets and establishes law as a federal body by judging whether or not laws or policies are constitutional. An average term for a Supreme Court Justice is 16 years, although since 1970 average tenure is closer to 25 years.