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.
It's No Longer a Crime to Do Drugs in Oregon
On February 1st, Oregon became the first state in the country to decriminalize so-called “hard drugs”. Thanks to voter-approved ballot measure 110, passed in November 2020, police can no longer arrest individuals with a minor amount of drugs in their possession. Drugs such as methamphetamine (meth), heroin, LSD, cocaine, and oxycodone (oxy) are included in the measure.
Bryan Watch - Jan 2021
While there were several monumental votes this month, most notably the second impeachment of Donald Trump, things were relatively slow this first month of 2021. There were only 18 votes in the house, and about half of them were procedural.
John HeckenlivelyPublished 3 years ago in The SwampNinth Amendment: Non-Enumerated rights of the citizens
The ninth amendment was added to the U.S constitution on 15th December 1791, and was in the Bill of rights. The amendment specifies that the rights that are not mentioned in the U.S constitution belong to the people of the U.S, not to the government of the U.S. That is the enumeration of certain rights in the constitution should not deny or downgrade or disparage other rights of the people.
Ava SanghviaPublished 3 years ago in The Swamp2021 In the Law; or, It Only Gets Better from Here
Happy New Year! Now in follow up to our 2020 retrospective from last month, once again it’s time for a prospective survey covering some of the major cases that could be shaping the legal landscape in 2021 and most relevant to our firm’s various practice areas, such as Intellectual Property Law, Trademark, Copyright, Computer Law and Antitrust.
WILLIAM SCOTT GOLDMANPublished 3 years ago in The SwampKicking Our Addiction to Executive Orders
The first few days of the Biden Presidency have seen the new president reversing many of Trump's policies and actions over the last 4 years. Many of them were things Trump had no legitimate legal authority to enact. And while it is great these things are being addressed, I find myself asking, "why did we have to wait for a new president before anyone did anything about this?"
David PulciferPublished 3 years ago in The SwampCOVID-19 and Paid Sick Leave in 2021
Unfortunately, COVID-19 has accompanied us into 2021. Though the recent vaccination progress offers a light at the end of the tunnel, COVID-19 infections have been rising rapidly across the country, and the pandemic will almost certainly continue well into this new year. With many federal programs and temporary orders expiring, how will Americans cope with the effects of COVID-19 in 2021? One major question is what paid sick leave will look like in 2021, post-FFCRA. Here, I've distilled the findings from my online research into a Q&A.
Natalie RosenPublished 3 years ago in The SwampVAPING IN MARYLAND: NEW CHALLENGES
This year the state city of Maryland has received a bill 410 connected to vaping. The bill says that all vaping products with flavours other than natural tobacco should be eliminated from the market. To put it simpler, they suggested a complete ban. The Senate Finance Committee has heard the bill.
Bryanwatch: Dec Week 2
A fairly light week, with only eight votes in the House, and almost all of the passing on a nonpartisan basis. There was actually only one party line vote, and that was on the Driftnet Modernization and Bycatch Reduction Act (S 906, RC 242, Dec 10). The bill regulates the size of drift nets in hopes of protecting marine wildlife. Republicans voted against protecting our ocean friends 56 to 105, with Steil voting NO.
John HeckenlivelyPublished 3 years ago in The SwampCalifornia Coastal Access Law
California Coastal Access Law History of Coastal Access in California. The current rules in California are such that with the exception of a few military bases and natural geographical barriers, a person should be able to walk up and down the California Coast line, on west sand, completely unmolested. If the tide rose to its high mark the individual would have to wade or swim until the tide subsided. This is because in California, people have the right to access the coastlines for the purpose of recreation.
Gus KriderPublished 3 years ago in The SwampTO BE OR NOT TO BE AT A FEDERAL LEVEL!
Up until... Well 2010, marijuana have been seen in a negative light as a "Gateway Drug." To some today, still agree with it. In recent American his-story, in 1996, California was the first state to be legalized for the use of marijuana. Now from 1996-2008, only 13 states seen the full benefit of recreational use of marijuana. Since 2010, 31 states have decided to get on board the Marijuana train as they seen be a benefit to their state economy arise and a decrease in crime rate. However, of the 44 states that are have chosen to add it in its laws for medical use, 15 states are for recreational and have set forth its laws to Decriminalize Marijuana (DM). What is DM? Decriminalization means that a state repealed or amended its laws to make certain acts criminal, but no longer subject to prosecution. Which in terms means that if your state has decriminalized or is decriminalizing marijuana, you are permitted to carry up to a certain amount of weed without being punished for if stopped and searched by cops. For so long, many have individuals of this land have been prosecutes in some way due to marijuana. 2012-2104 both Colorado and Washington D.C. have seemed to have the most effect on this topic. There are people's lives who have been affected by the criminalization of marijuana. Homes have been broken up, many which of color, for what price? Because integrity is not the answer. To agree or disagree on this topic, but many who choose marijuana for personal use have every reason to do so. Some may overuse but to completely look down and not for each state to have not agree to recreational and decriminalize makes me think that there is some Politicians who do not have the American people best interest at hand. 21 and older, can drink in the comfort of their home or even if out and about, can have 1 alcoholic beverage an hour and still be considered allowed to drive furthermore proves my point that there is a conspiracy going on. Liquor is at every store that is licensed to sell, which is every gas station. According to NACS there are around 126,000 gas stations in the US. But if you count the number of convenience stores (without fuel), the total number stores will rise to little over 150,000 just in the US. To legally say rather I can or cannot smoke marijuana should not be at the price of fine, jail, or employment. "It's not what you do, it's how you do it" should always come at the responsibility of the user. So, with 5 republicans to yes and 6 democrats no, the votes at the senate as they bring it the floor of the senate.
KELVIN WILLIAMSPublished 3 years ago in The SwampElection Year Lies About Healthcare
It's an election year and you will be probably hear it said, "If we elect/re-elect Xyz millions of Americans will lose their health insurance and die!!" This is being said because some politicians, notably Donald Trump want to do away with the "Affordable Care Act" (A.C.A). Why do they want to get rid of the A.C.A? The "Affordable Care Act", is a 2010 federal law signed into law by former President Barack Obama. This law requires insurance companies to cover every and all medical conditions and they cannot deny you based on pre-existing conditions. This law, as a result, is causing health insurance premiums to skyrocket. Even with the subsidies that A.C.A offers you based on income, this insurance is still too high for most. Do you want to pay $117 a month for $8,000 deductible? I didn't. That was the cheapest insurance I could get through A.C.A and it didn't pay a dime for my E.R visit back in 2016.
Stephanie KitchensPublished 3 years ago in The SwampMedicare For All: A Comprehensive Study
Millions of Americans attend the doctors every year; however, hundreds of thousands go bankrupt each year due to medical bills, and the issue is only increasing causing concern. According to a recent AJPH study, the American Journal of Public Health which focuses on health policy and public health, states that there are around 530,000 bankruptcies due to medical bills annually. This leaves many Americans with great financial struggle which can often lead to decreased emotional well-being. In fact, according to a study from the University of Princeton, “High income improves evaluation of life but not emotional well-being” by Daniel Kahneman and Angus Deaton, states that money does not equal increased happiness, but less money is frequently associated with emotional pain. In recent years democratic politicians such as Bernie Sanders have proposed plans to expand healthcare to all, but faces a lot of opposition from both Democrats and Republicans and has been a recent subject of debate in the recent 2020 election cycle. So with many Americans facing issues with paying for medical bills, and thus an overall decrease in emotional wellbeing, how would Bernie Sanders’s policy of Medicare For All affect the United States? And what opposition does it face, and why?
Ryan AdamsPublished 3 years ago in The Swamp