The Roberts Court has done it again. Determined to make the terrible implications of the Corporations United and McCutcheon decisions look tame by comparison, the Supreme Court ruled this morning that because it believes corporations to be people, an artificial for-profit entity like Hobby Lobby is entitled to religious liberty, and so it does not have […]
Monthly Archives: June 2014
Posted inElections
Only three statewide initiatives likely to show up on Washington’s November 2014 ballot
As of next Saturday, we will be one month ahead of the August Top Two election and four months ahead of the November general election, which this year fall on the fifth days of each month. Because July 5th is a Saturday, and because July 4th is a holiday, that means the deadline for submitting […]
Posted inBreaking News, Civil Liberties, Litigation, Policy Topics, Technology
In landmark ruling, U.S. Supreme Court bars warrantless searches of mobile phones
Who says there’s no such thing as privacy in the digital age? Not John Roberts’ Supreme Court, which today issued a much-needed decision ruling that American police forces must generally obtain a warrant before they can legally search the mobile phone of someone they have arrested. Roberts’ majority opinion was signed by every other justice, […]
Posted inEconomic Security, Education, Policy Topics
Republicans (predictably) filibuster Elizabeth Warren’s bill to ease student loan debt
A bill sponsored by Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren to ease student loan debt has sadly become the latest worthy piece of legislation to be stalled in the United States Senate by the Republican Party, which might as well officially rename itself the Party of No (because that is its answer to just about every good idea). […]
Posted inBreaking News, Elections, Party Politics, Public Service
Eric Cantor to resign as House Majority Leader within weeks as David Brat celebrates
Following his defeat in last night’s Virginia primary, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has decided to step down as Majority Leader in advance of the end of his term in office, setting off a scramble for his position between multiple Republicans. In the caucus that holds the House majority, the position of Majority Leader is […]
Posted inBreaking News, Elections
WOW: Eric Cantor unexpectedly losing to Tea Party challenger; looks like he’s finished
Big, big, big news tonight out of the Old Dominion: John Boehner’s second in command in the House Republican caucus, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, appears to have unexpectedly lost his seat in Congress. Election results out of Virginia show that Republican voters in today’s low turnout primary are heavily favoring Cantor’s Tea Party challenger David […]
Posted inBreaking News, Civil Liberties, Elections, Policy Topics, Public Planning
Tragedy strikes again: One dead, several hurt in mass shooting at Seattle Pacific University
America’s deadly gun violence epidemic has once again visited Washington State. Today, at Seattle Pacific University, one young person was killed and several others were critically and seriously hurt by an unidentified gunman who walked into Otto Miller Hall and began shooting at students early in the afternoon. The gunman was tackled and subdued by an […]
Posted inEconomic Security, Elections, Policy Topics
Tim Eyman’s latest slew of initiatives includes scheme to end Seattle’s new $15/hour wage
Having apparently decided that it’s been too long since his initiative factory received any media coverage, Tim Eyman yesterday used a tried and tested gambit for drumming up publicity: He filed a slew of initiatives to the Legislature and then fired off a promotional email to what’s left of the state’s political press corps. Two of […]