Politics
Congressional Bills Introduced, Resolutions and Investigations: Did You Know that May 5 Was the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Native Women and Girls?
Among other issues: Homicide is a leading cause of death among American Indian and Alaska Native women and that little data exist on the number of missing American Indian and Alaska Native women in the United States; The TARGET Act would authorize the State Department’s rewards program to target transnational organized crime rings that engage in severe forms of human trafficking; Iincreasing efforts to prevent girls in the foster care system from becoming victims of sex trafficking; Overview of the Annual Report on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the Military Service Academies. more »
Senate Subcommittee Hearing on Crime and Terrorism: Sally Yates and James Clapper, Testifying
" 'We're not the Department of Prosecutions or even the Department of Public Safety,' " Yates said in May 2015, the week after she was confirmed as deputy attorney general, the second-highest-ranking position in the Justice Department. 'We are the Department of Justice.' In a news release, the White House said Yates had 'betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States.' more »
Shakespeare and Sexting: Reconsidering Penalties for Teen Sexual Activity
More than 20 years ago, when Russell Foster was 19 and his girlfriend Amber was 15, Montana's laws tore them apart, sending Russell to prison for four years for having sex with a minor.Hoping to spare other young couples severe consequences, the Fosters pushed for a bill the Montana Legislature passed last month that would reduce the penalties for teens caught engaging in consensual sexual activity. The measure also would expand the age range covered by the state’s existing Romeo and Juliet law. more »
While Washington Fiddles, California Leaders Forge Ideas For Universal Health Care
As the nation's Republican leaders huddle to reconsider their plans to "repeal and replace" the nation's health law, advocates for universal health coverage press on in California, armed with renewed political will and a new set of proposals. Organized labor and two lawmakers are leading the charge for a single, government-financed program for everyone in the state. And Democratic Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has suggested building on employer-based health care to plug holes in existing coverage. The proposals are fueled both by a fear of losing gains under the Affordable Care Act and a sense that the law doesn't go far enough toward covering everyone and cutting costs. more »