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.
Coercive Control
Coercive control, and its emotional and financial abuse, constitute a form of "serious bodily harm" as defined under 50 Pa. Stat. § 7304, which allows for involuntary emergency treatment when an individual poses a clear and present danger of harm to themselves or others. The statute recognizes that serious bodily harm includes not just physical injuries but also the significant physical consequences that result from psychological trauma and deprivation of essential resources, such as food, shelter, and healthcare. The detrimental physical effects caused by chronic stress, anxiety, and deprivation, stemming from coercive control, clearly satisfy this statutory requirement for "serious bodily harm."
By Sunshine Firecracker™2 years ago in The Swamp
OKAY ALREADY- So What?
August 2025 edit: The Project 2025 Tracker. Original Content I've thought about this for a while, and when I saw the short written and performed by Jason Kravits below, I knew it was time to write about it. Take a minute or so to watch and listen.
By Judey Kalchik 2 years ago in The Swamp
The Presidential Debate was eye-opening
I wish I hadn't watched the debate last night (September 10th, 2024) because after watching it I am certain that the next four years are not going to be any different than the past eight years regardless who wins. Americans may as well bury their heads in the sand because neither Trump or Harris is going to lead us away from the shameful state that our country is in at this time.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman2 years ago in The Swamp
Local Government Oversight in Ephrata, PA
In Ephrata, Pennsylvania, a small borough tucked away in Lancaster County, the need for local government oversight has never been more pressing. As the town evolves, its growth and challenges reveal a stark divide between the interests of the well-off and the struggles of its most vulnerable residents. Whether it's issues of homelessness, the lack of affordable housing, or a borough council seemingly more aligned with the town’s elites, effective oversight is crucial in ensuring that Ephrata remains a community for everyone—not just the privileged few.
By Sunshine Firecracker™2 years ago in The Swamp
Can Legislation make the roads safer?
I won't get into my opinions about chaos theory or probability factors, because numbers will not help you see the point I want to make in this article. However, if you too are familiar with those schools of thought then you will understand the profundity of the topic I'm going to explore here and now.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman2 years ago in The Swamp
Our Presidential Votes Hold No Sway - So Why Are We Fighting?
'Tis 4.5 Months Until The Inauguration Day Take that in. We have 141 days until the new president of the United States will take the oath that will dictate their life for the next 4 years of their life. And the closer we get to that date - the more evil, cruel, mean, and toxic American citizens will become to each other.
By Hope Martin2 years ago in The Swamp
Deafening silence: Where is the Hindu rights champion, the BJP government, now?
Deafening silence: Where is the Hindu rights champion, the BJP government, now? After tumultuous recent protests in Dhaka, Sheikh Hasina has finally resigned, but a state of anarchy has ensued. An unruly mob is attacking members and allies of the former government, and unexpectedly, some Hindus in Bangladesh have also come in the line of fire as soft targets. In this precarious situation, it is essential to calm the mob and establish a humanitarian corridor for the persecuted individuals to ensure their safe exit and that goal can never be achieved without the aid of neighboring countries. Establishing a humanitarian corridor in such a volatile situation is extremely crucial as many Hindus are trying to flee the violence affected areas in Bangladesh to neighboring India. However, India, the only neighboring country, has offered a cold shoulder by sealing the borders instead of opening it on humanitarian grounds. Even the Indian railways on August 5 suspended all train operations to Bangladesh to further aggravate the situation. The big question is why the BJP-dominated Indian government, which claims to champion Hindu rights, has failed to address the plight of Hindus in Bangladesh. Although ruling party and its members have previously used the rhetoric of protection of Hindu minorities in neighboring countries as a tool of great political mileage but when the occasion arise to walk the talk the BJP government looked baffled and shell-shocked. Another query is why Modi government has made a seismic shift in its policy pertaining to minorities’ protection in neighboring states? The answer seems simple: the Indian government appears to be more interested in courting the new Bangladesh government in its political orbit than protecting minorities. Muhammad Yunus, the new interim government head, expressed displeasure over India’s nonchalant stance, viewing the protests as an internal matter. “If there is a fire in a brother’s house, how can I say it is an internal affair?” With Mr. Yunus’s ascension to power, the BJP government faces a dilemma, as it also provides a safe haven to his staunchest opponent, the recently deposed PM Sheikh Hasina. Another dilemma for the Indian government is coping with increasing calls at home to safeguard persecuted Hindus in Bangladesh. Following aggressive campaigns like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) 2019 and efforts to pass legislation against Hinduphobia at the United Nations, the BJP government has become a hostage to its own rhetoric. Even political parties in India across the spectrum have put the Modi government to the swords for lack of clarity and inaction regarding the ever evolving situation in Bangladesh. Recently, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has also lambasted the incumbent government over it: “If Prime Minister Modi could stop the war in Ukraine, he should also take similar steps in Bangladesh and save the Hindus.” Recent media reports indicate that the CAA in India has exacerbated the situation for Hindus in Bangladesh. Since the law’s passage, there has been a marked increase in violence and discrimination against the Hindu minority population. Reports suggest a staggering 200% rise in atrocities against Hindus since 2014, fueled by tensions surrounding the CAA. The Indian government’s muted response to the evolving situation in Bangladesh undermines its historically false narrative of intervention in East Pakistan in 1971 on humanitarian grounds. Also PM Narendra Modi’s visits to Bangladesh in recent pasts, he has repeatedly broached upon the role of Indian backed Mukti Bahini forces in 1971 Bangladesh’s war of Independence and how they protected the Hindu’s back then. In contrast, the current apathy to the plights of Hindus in Bangladesh suggests only one thing that India’s 1971 incursion into East Pakistan was solely aimed at weakening their regional rival and further their political ambitions. With no geopolitical incentives involved in aiding persecuted Hindus in Bangladesh, the BJP government has turned a blind eye to their miseries. Even more appalling is the BJP-led government’s inability to raise its voice against the anarchy in Bangladesh, fearing regional isolation. Besides Pakistan and Afghanistan, Delhi has lost goodwill among ruling elites in Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives too due to its condescending approach. Recent developments are disturbing for the New Delhi government, which once vowed to isolate Pakistan but now finds itself in a similar predicament. The moribund status of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the propping up of alternative regional institutions like the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) are glaring examples of Indian government’s attempts at isolating Pakistan but all these moves backfired for them as they ultimately fell prey to their own shrewdness. So through unwarranted backing of Sheikh Hasina’s authoritarian rule, BJP government has jeopardized itself not only at the home front but also at the international level. Thus, the predicaments for the right-wing NDA coalition are worsening daily due to the political mines they have been digging for their foes. The only way out is to acknowledge the gravity of emerging challenges in South Asia and address them pragmatically. The first step requires opening a humanitarian corridor for affected people in Bangladesh, especially Hindus. Additionally, India needs to backtrack from its adversarial approach toward its neighbors, as no region can progress in a hostile atmosphere. It is high time for the self-proclaimed “savior of Hindus,” the Modi government, to act, as the continued inaction towards worsening conditions in Bangladesh could draw India in this quagmire too. As Albert Einstein also once famously said “The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing”
By Khawaja@vocal2 years ago in The Swamp
Female Democrat or Male Republican?
I wasn't going to touch on politics for awhile, but with only two more months until election day it seems like I can't avoid it. I had been inspired briefly by the Republicans and Trump while I considered reestablishing my voting privilege (an option I have) so that I could responsibly take part in the democratic process. The me I was a decade ago would have no doubts about doing that and would think it my honor and my duty to vote. The me today is trying not to laugh at how both candidates are the most ridiculous I've ever seen.
By Shanon Angermeyer Norman2 years ago in The Swamp
The M.O.R.E Act
The M.O.R.E Act In December 2020, the House of Representatives passed two federal bills that support our favorite girl: Mary Jane. The bill we will be talking about in this post is the M.O.R.E Act - which is the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act, and the other bill is the Medical Marijuana Research Act (MMJ Research Act).
By Hope Martin2 years ago in The Swamp
The Orange Jesus and The Apocalyptic Legislative Loonies
Soooo…. The Champion of the entire right wing has spent all the money the National Republican Committee had on hand. I’m too financially challenged to gauge what that means exactly, but if the NRC is paying for Their Champion’s legal bills, they have some collecting to do or Christmas 2024 is not looking cheery. The Champ has 91 felony indictments against him.
By John Worthington2 years ago in The Swamp
