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Congress Passes Much-Needed TSCA Reform
For going on a decade or so now, the federal government has been paralyzed by partisan gridlock to a degree that some have described as being “unprecedentedly dysfunctional.” Others have…
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D.C.’s Coming War Against AirBnB and Bed and Breakfasts
The AirBnB business model is legal until localities pass laws against it. The hotel and hotel union lobbies are pushing for most of these “laws”. The District of Columbia recently…
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Maryland Governor Larry Hogan Vetoes Expansion of Renewable Portfolio Standard
Late last week, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan vetoed SB 921/HB 1106. The legislation known as the “Clean Jobs Bill” would, among other things, increase the state’s renewable energy…
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Resolution in Support of Fair Recourse and Effective Deterrence Against Frivolous Claims
PURPOSE: To support policy that allows for fair recourse and effective deterrence againt frivolous claims. WHEREAS, frivolous claims include those that are (1) presented for an improper…
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Maryland State Senate Unanimously Passes Justice Reinvestment Act
On March 24, 2016, the Maryland State Senate passed Senate Bill 1005 (S.B. 1005), titled Justice Reinvestment Act, by a 46-0 vote. S.B. 1005 requires the Maryland Department of…
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ALEC and ACCE Offer Lawmakers Resources to Prevent Future Flint Crises
As Flint officials handle the water crisis sickening town residents, state and local lawmakers should take a closer look at their own water supply and infrastructure viability. Thankfully, ALEC members have focused on this issue for years and can offer solutions that can be applied back home.
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Missouri Legislature Working to Replace Archaic Lawsuit Expert Rules
Today, a civil or criminal case rarely goes by in which each party does not try to offer the jury multiple “experts” upon whose opinion to base its verdict. Unreliable…
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Exorbitant Costs Exposed in Los Angeles Juvenile Justice System
The Los Angeles Times recently reported on the high annual expenditures associated with housing juvenile offenders in Los Angeles. According to a recent county audit, it costs over $230,000…
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California’s Golden Opportunity on Sentencing Reform
California Governor Jerry Brown has proposed a ballot initiative that aims to alleviate the state’s overcrowded prisons. Brown’s proposal will reduce the prison population by hastening prison release programs…
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Should State Legislators Embrace Bernie Sanders’ Policy?
Bernie Sanders supported reasonable lawsuit reform but is proving to be a fair-weather friend. State legislators can offer broader, more effective reforms.
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Encryption is Not Preventing Law Enforcement from Investigating Crime
Law enforcement officials need backdoors to thwart encryption or else they will not be able to keep the public safe from terrorist attacks or crime. At least, that seems to…
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KY Judge Rules Against 10th Amendment and Local Right Work
If local governments have been granted the power to pass local right-to-work by their respective states, the federal government has no say how those powers are delegated.
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Pew Notes a Number of States Are Examining Growing Prison Populations
The United States currently has the “highest incarceration rate in the world” and many states are examining ways in which to reduce their prison population. For example, Maryland,…
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Environmental Priorities Act
Intent The legislature finds that there are a variety of current and potential environmental restoration projects, regulations and programs that would benefit the health of the environment,…
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Parent Trigger Act
Section 1: {Short Title.} This act may be cited as the “Parent Empowerment and Choice Act” or the “Parent Trigger Act.” Section 2. {Definitions.} For purposes of this…
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Congress Passes Meaningful Lawsuit Reform
President Obama’s State of the Union tried to highlight bipartisan issues that Democrats and Republicans can solve together, but he missed an opportunity in omitting lawsuit reform. Eighty-nine percent…
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State of the State: Kansas
Kansas’ economy is primed for strong growth. To sustain its tax cuts and create greater economic opportunity, Kansas must implement stronger spending reforms, as other tax-cutting states like North Carolina have done.
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Supreme Court Set to Review Forced Union Contributions from Teachers
Teachers’ unions, like other unions, spend a great deal of money engaging in explicitly political activity like lobbying legislators and supporting candidates. Teachers’ unions have so far represented the strongest political challenge to transformative education reform, such as charter schools, voucher programs and education savings accounts. Unfortunately, that clout is built, at least in part, on the forced contributions of teachers who do not necessarily agree with the actions of the unions.
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An “Unconscionable Decision”: League of Women Voters et al., v. State of Washington
Late last Thursday, the Washington Supreme Court denied all motions to reconsider its decision in a case last month that sent shockwaves through the state’s charter schools. Just earlier…
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Criminal Justice
The American Legislative Exchange Council is proud to be a leader on criminal justice reform. For over a decade, the ALEC task force on criminal justice has brought state legislators…