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Civil Rights

Supreme Court Permits The Use Of State Taxpayer Funds For Religious Instruction

Supreme Court Permits The Use Of State Taxpayer Funds For Religious Instruction

by | Jun 24, 2022 |

Brief #189 – Civil Rights
By Rodney A. Maggay

Petitioners David and Amy Carson and Troy and Angela Nelson are two couples that reside in Maine. Both families wanted to apply for Maine’s tuition assistance program in order to send their children to two separate “sectarian” schools. Both families were denied because Maine had previously determined that using state taxpayer funds to fund tuition for students at sectarian schools was a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

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Should Religious Organizations Continue To Receive Federal Grants For Social Service Programs?

Should Religious Organizations Continue To Receive Federal Grants For Social Service Programs?

by | Jun 7, 2022 |

Brief #188 – Civil Rights
By Rodney A. Maggay

On August 31, 2021 H.R. 5129 was introduced in the House of Representatives. The bill was the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Modernization Act of 2022. This bill reauthorized a continued funding of the Community Services Block Grant Program which makes grants to States, territories, Indian tribes and other non – governmental entities for government programs to help reduce poverty, empower residents of low – income communities and encourage businesses and other organizations to expand opportunities for all individuals. Included in organizations that are eligible for these grants are faith – based organizations (FBO).

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Gov. De Santis’ Right Wing War Continues With Signing of “Voter Fraud Office” Bill

Gov. De Santis’ Right Wing War Continues With Signing of “Voter Fraud Office” Bill

by | Apr 28, 2022 |

Brief #187 – Civil Rights
By Rodney A. Maggay

On April 25, 2022 Governor Ron De Santis of Florida signed Senate Bill 524 which, among a number of things, creates a new Office of Election Crimes and Security as a new unit in Florida’s Department of State. The new office will be charged with overseeing elections but more specifically will review fraud allegations and conduct preliminary investigations into those allegations.

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Congress Addresses Use Of Controversial Forced Arbitration Clauses In Two Bills

Congress Addresses Use Of Controversial Forced Arbitration Clauses In Two Bills

by | Mar 24, 2022 |

Brief #185 – Civil Rights
By Rodney A. Maggay

On March 17, 2022 the United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 963. The bill is known as the Forced Arbitration Injustice Repeal (FAIR) Act. The bill passed by a 222 – 209 vote. Introduced by Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) the bill will ban the enforcement of forced arbitration clauses for consumers, employees and small businesses involved in legal disputes. The bill would apply to all kinds of workplace and consumer disputes that have become routine in consumer and worker contracts.

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Supreme Court Gerrymandering Ruling Opens Door To Potential Redistricting Problem

Supreme Court Gerrymandering Ruling Opens Door To Potential Redistricting Problem

by | Mar 16, 2022 |

Brief #184 – Civil Rights
By Rodney A. Maggay

On November 4, 2021 in North Carolina the state legislature adopted a congressional map which gave the Republican Party in the state a huge advantage – it seemed likely that Republicans would win ten of the fourteen available congressional seats in the state despite total votes cast in state elections being evenly split between Republicans and Democrats.

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West Virginia School District Sued For Forcing Students To Attend Religious Assembly During School Hours

West Virginia School District Sued For Forcing Students To Attend Religious Assembly During School Hours

by | Mar 1, 2022 |

Brief #183 – Civil Rights
By Rod Maggay

On February 2, 2022 two homeroom classrooms at Huntington High School in the Cabell County School District in southwestern West Virginia were brought to a school assembly. The assembly was hosted by Nik Walker of Nik Walker Ministries. Nik Walker is an evangelical preacher and his group had been hosting revival events in the area with the purpose of exposing persons to Jesus Christ and Christianity.

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Democrats and Republicans Stake Out Positions In Upcoming Supreme Court Confirmation Fight;

Democrats and Republicans Stake Out Positions In Upcoming Supreme Court Confirmation Fight;

by | Feb 7, 2022 |

Brief #181 – Civil Rights
By Rodney A. Maggay

In February 2016, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia passed away. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell later issued a statement stating that there would be no hearing or vote on a nominee submitted by President Barack Obama and that the choice should be left to the next President after the upcoming 2016 presidential election.

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The Need for a Federal Statute To Combat Domestic Terrorism

The Need for a Federal Statute To Combat Domestic Terrorism

by | Jan 17, 2022 |

Brief #180 – Civil Rights
By Rodney A. Maggay

On January 11, 2022 Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that he has decided to create a new specialized domestic terrorism unit “to augment our existing approach” and “to ensure that these cases are properly handled and effectively coordinated” across the country. Previously, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the National Security Division (NSD) did not have a group or unit dedicated to only domestic terrorism cases.

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Secret Unit in U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agency Raises Freedom of the Press Issues

Secret Unit in U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agency Raises Freedom of the Press Issues

by | Jan 6, 2022 |

Brief #179 – Civil Rights
By Rodney A. Maggay

On December 11, 2001 investigative journalist Jana Winter published an explosive article on Yahoo News that exposed a secret unit within the Counter Network Division of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agency. At the heart of the disturbing story is that a CBP employee staffed to the secret unit was authorized to investigate a national security journalist named Ali Watkins with regards to her confidential sources for the source of her work.

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The Future of Abortion Rights In The United States

The Future of Abortion Rights In The United States

by | Dec 8, 2021 |

Brief #178 – Civil Rights
By Rodney A. Maggay

In 1973 the United States Supreme Court decided the landmark case Roe v. Wade. That case ruled that a woman’s choice to have an abortion is protected by the U.S. Constitution. The basis of the ruling by the Court was that the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides a “right to privacy” which includes the choice to have an abortion. The case then laid out a balancing test that focused on each of the three trimesters of a woman’s pregnancy.

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