JOBS POLICIES, ANALYSIS, AND RESOURCES
Latest Jobs Posts
The Independence of DOJ and FBI Under Attack From Presidential Tweets and Insults; Presidential Communications
Re: Policy Brief No. 35 Policy Summary: After the Watergate scandal in the 1970's President Jimmy Carter and his Attorney General Griffin Bell instituted policies that restricted communications between White House personnel and Department of Justice (DOJ) personnel....
Investigating Trump’s Economy
Brief # 14 This past week, the United States Department of Labor reported the unemployment rate fell to 3.9% - a 17-year low. This makes the 3.8% target by the end of 2018 well within reach for the Trump administration and the Federal Reserve. Furthermore, nonfarm...
A Renewed Emphasis on Sexual Harassment and Assault Incidents at DOJ In The Workplace and Beyond; Federal Agency Action
On April 12, 2018, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced an expansion of an ongoing DOJ sexual harassment program. The initial program, announced in October 2017, is an initiative to combat sexual harassment in the housing market and protect women from harassment from landlords, property managers and other employees of rental property owners in the rental of housing units and properties.
Korean Peace Process Stalls
The peace process with North Korea nearly derailed this week as the North Korean government canceled high level talks with South Korean leaders, just hours in advance. The future of the planned summit between President Trump and Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un has also been placed in jeopardy as relations have regained hostility.
President Trump Ends US Participation in the Iran Deal
On May 8th, President Trump announced that sanctions would be reimposed on Iran, violating and thus jeopardizing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an integral part of the legacy of President Obama. The JCPOA, colloquially known as the Iran Deal, was formed as a solution by the US, China, France, Russia, Britain, Germany, and Iran to stem fears that Iran’s nuclear energy program could be used to build nuclear weapons.
Mike Pompeo Confirmed as Secretary of State
After a year as the Director of the CIA, Mike Pompeo was confirmed by the Senate in a 57-42 vote as the new Secretary of State. While he eventually secured more votes than his predecessor Rex Tillerson, his path to the confirmation was originally not so assured.
EPA Set to Rollback Automotive Standards
Earlier this month Pruitt announced another step in Trump’s “regulatory agenda” with the plan to lessen automotive regulations on emissions and fuel economy. The Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards were revised in 2010 to require a minimum fuel efficiency of 54.5 miles to the gallon (double the current typical average) by model year 2025.
Entry 20: Michael Cohen Investigation, Trump-Mueller Interview Prospects & Giuliani’s Legal Negotiations, House Intel Final Report
Important developments abound this week in the Russia investigations; things, as always, seem to be moving at a breakneck pace.
The Trump Administration’s New Tariff’s
Since the beginning of 2018, the Trump administration has been enacting a series of tariffs, on a variety of foreign products, intellectual property rights, and technology services.
Religious Exemption To Be Used To Discriminate In Texas Adoption Cases
Proposed Texas State Law
Proposed on May 10, 2017
Policy Summary
On May 10, 2017, the House of Representatives of the Texas State Legislature approved House Bill 3859, popularly known as “The Freedom To Serve Children Act.” The bill provides a defense for state-funded faith-based private adoption agencies that will insulate them from potential lawsuits for their decision to deny a couple from adopting a child. Every faith-based private adoption agency in Texas are Christian organizations and their mission is to place foster children with adoptive families. With this law, faith-based adoption agencies can prevent children from being placed with deserving couples and base their decision on their own personal religious beliefs. LEARN MORE
Analysis
The proposed law in Texas is a deeply flawed bill. The bill will permit these faith-based agencies to refuse service to otherwise deserving couples for nothing more than a difference in religious views. Reggie Greer, Director of Constituent Engagement at the Victory Institute, has called this proposed law a “license to discriminate” while viewing the law as a way to prioritize one set of religious beliefs (Christian) over all others. The nonprofit Family Equality Council has also called the proposed bill an impermissible effort to circumvent non-discrimination laws. It can be used to deny adoption to minority or community groups that Christian groups do not want to support, such as qualified gay and lesbian couples who wish to adopt a child.
Favoring or disfavoring one qualified group over other qualified groups is still discrimination and this law is instead making it harder for children to be placed in stable and supportive homes. LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Center For American Progress – info sheet examining LGBT Discrimination in child welfare systems.
- Family Equality Council – nonprofit organization advocating LGBT family issues.
- Children’s Defense Fund – nonprofit organization on children’s issues.
This brief was compiled by Rod Maggay. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief, please contact rod@usresistnews.org.
Campaign Finance Issue Hiding Behind President Trump’s Executive Order On Religious Liberty and Free Speech
Executive Order
Issued on May 4, 2017
Policy Summary
On May 4, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled “Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty.” Section 2 of the order ensures that the “Department of the Treasury [will] not take any adverse action against any individual, house of worship or other religious organization on the basis that such individual or organization speaks or has spoken about…political issues from a religious perspective.” An adverse action, as defined in the order is an [1] imposition of tax or penalty, or [2] the delay or denial of tax – exempt status. Churches and religious organizations in the United States are tax – exempt under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code with certain restrictions against political activities. LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE
Analysis
The executive order signed by President Trump will have serious repercussions for campaign finance, not religious liberty or free speech. The danger with President’s Trump order to relax IRS actions against those religious organizations who endorse or advocate for a particular candidate is that corporations and unions may now contribute monies to churches in the hopes that the church will endorse the candidate the corporations or unions prefer. Corporations and unions were prohibited from contributing to candidates prior to 2010. After 2010, they needed to create a Super PAC (Political Action Committee), which currently have no limits on the amount of contributions it can accept.
With this order, corporations and unions now have a vehicle to make unlimited campaign contributions (Individuals are restricted to $5,400 a year per candidate). With the threat of losing their tax – exempt status no longer looming, churches can spend hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. elections and become much more influential in selecting candidates and influencing policy initiatives favorable to the church and their corporate donors. This will diminish the voice of the ordinary American citizen because a single person cannot match the amounts that corporations and unions can contribute. Only those with the most money would seem to have a voice in American politics. LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – info page on campaign finance issues.
- National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) – info page on campaign finance at the state and federal level.
- Public Citizen – nonprofit advocating against money influencing elections among other democracy issues.
This brief was compiled by Rod Maggay. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief, please contact rod@usresistnews.org.
Trump’s Sanctuary City Executive Order and Legal Responses
Executive Order
Issued on January 25, 2017
Policy Summary
On January 25th Trump signed an executive order entitled: “Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States”, which called for federal funding to be withheld from states that allow sanctuary cities. Sanctuary cities are cities that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials. The order drew swift condemnation from immigration activists across the country. A federal judge in California however, has struck down the portion of the executive order which allows the federal government to withhold funding from sanctuary cities. Additionally, Attorney Generals from 5 States and the District of Columbia are coordinating to permanently stop the order.
Analysis
The legal challenges to the executive order are rooted in the 10th Amendment, which stipulates that any powers not delegated to the federal government in the Constitution are given to the states. Ironically, the legal basis for this defense is rooted in an Antonin Scalia Supreme Court ruling in which he stated: “the Tenth Amendment prohibited the federal government from “commandeering” the cooperation of state governments in enforcing federal law.” While the legal basis for the order is very shaky, and as such it will likely not hold up in court, it’s important to stay vigilant as immigration arrests are up 38% with Trump as president.
Engagement Resources
- Local Options for Protecting Immigrants – This document hosted by the National Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights notes what steps local governments can take to protect immigrants against federal government actions.
- Resistance Manual – Crisis Resources – If you know someone who is facing immigration troubles, please share this compendium of legal resources and relevant nonprofit organizations with them.Immigration Volunteer Search: Search for immigration volunteer opportunities near you, and do your part to help those under siege from Trump’s policies.
- Immigration Volunteer Search – Search for immigration volunteer opportunities near you, and do your part to help those under siege from Trump’s policies.
This brief was compiled by William Lucier. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact william@usresistnews.org.
Judge in Hawaii Blocks Trump’s Second Travel Ban
Judicial Ruling
Issued on March 15, 2017
Policy Summary
Judge Derrick Watson of the Federal District Court in Honolulu issued a temporary restraining order that halted the travel ban nationwide.The revised travel ban executive order titled: “Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States” was signed on March 6th. In his ruling, Judge Watson concluded that the plaintiff, Ismail Elshikh, had his first amendment rights violated on the basis of religious discrimination. Judge Watson drew extensively on past quotes from President Trump, pushing back against the administration’s insistence that only the text of the order itself was relevant. Judge Watson also rejected the administration’s insistence that the order was drafted in the interest of National Security, ruling that National Security only served as a pretext for the order. LEARN MORE
Analysis
The ruling highlights how Trump’s extreme statements, such as his call for a total shutdown of Muslim immigration, can come back to haunt him, hindering the implementation of his policy agenda. Furthermore, after learning of the ruling, Trump stated that the second travel ban was “just a watered-down version of the first.” These statements serve to undermine the very arguments that his administration is using to defend the ban. Nevertheless, it is important to keep in mind that Judge Watson’s ruling is only temporary, as the administration is currently appealing the ruling. It is very likely that the Supreme Court will have the final say over the legality of the travel ban.
Engagement Resources
- U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants – USCRI Is committed to helping serve refugees both at home and abroad. To get involved you could donate, volunteer or even mentor a refugee family.
- Sunrise USA – Sunrise USA is a nonprofit that supports Syrians who are both internally and externally displaced. They provide food, support education, establish trauma-care facilities, and facilitate orphan sponsorships.
- Attend a Town Hall – Attend a town hall near you, and voice your opposition to the travel ban directly to your representative.
This brief was compiled by William Lucier. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact william@usresistnews.org.
The Impact of AHCA on Jobs
Proposed Legislation
Proposed in May 2017
Policy Summary
The American Health Care Act (AHCA) passed in the House of Representatives on May 4, 2017. The Republican-sponsored bill aims to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Under the AHCA, Medicaid expansion would be rolled back, and its status as an entitelment program would end. Instead, the House Bill calls for Medicaid providing states with block grants or an allotment for enrollees. The taxes imposed on the wealthy, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and manufacturers of medical devices that were included in the ACA to help subsidize health care costs for low-income people would be removed under this new health care bill. This could result in billions of dollars in tax cuts for the rich, without any additional assistance for the poor.
Other changes include basing tax credits to help pay for insurance on age, instead of income. Additionally, the bill removes the individual mandate and offers fewer protections for the elderly and those with preexisting conditions. The bill will also allow states to apply for waivers to opt out of certain ACA provisions, such as essential health benefits. Under the AHCA, Planned Parenthood will no longer be eligible for federal reimbursements. The Congressional Budget Office did not have time to evaluate the latest version of the bill, but its previous assessment estimated 24 million people would lose their insurance coverage if the AHCA became law. LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE
Analysis
The ACHA will not only fundamentally change our current healthcare system but also have a negative impact on our economy. Undoing the Affordable Care Act will result in less government spending on Medicaid and fewer subsidies for private insurance. In addition, the American Health Care Act will cut taxes for high-income Americans. As a result, Representative Pelosi claimed: “It [Trumpcare] will destroy nearly 2 million jobs across America.” A study by the George Washington University claimed that three distinct factors will lead to job loss due to Trumpcare. This drastic cut in jobs will be caused by a major cut in spending on Medicaid, fewer subsidies for private insurance, and tax cuts for higher-income Americans will lead to fewer jobs in America.
A study by the Center for American Progress claims that less spending on health care due to cuts to Medicaid and fewer health insurance subsidies will directly result in lower employment in the future. The study hypothesizes that around 1.2 million jobs will be lost due to tax cuts, 1.7 million jobs would be lost because of less spending and Medicaid, and around 505,000 jobs would be lost because of the replacement of individual subsidies with tax credits (coupled with the end of the individual mandate). In total, there will be about a loss of 2.9 million jobs by 2022. A study found by the Milken Institute School of Public Health at the George Washington University estimates that the job loss will affect all sectors because of the lack of federal funding is expected to be cut by 1.5 trillion between 2019 and 2023 which means that there will be less money to spend on hiring. In addition, only about a third of the job losses will be in the healthcare sector – the rest will be in all other industries where companies are forced to spend more on their healthcare and have less disposable income to spend on workers salaries’. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- AFL-CIO – The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations is a national trade union center and the largest federation of unions in the United States.
- American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees – The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is the largest trade union of public employees in the United States.
- 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East – This is the largest healthcare union the United States. With a membership of 400,000 including retirees, its stated mission is to achieve quality healthcare, good jobs and social justice for all.
- Stand with Planned Parenthood – check out and get involved with the number of ways to support Planned Parenthood as they fight to keep offering accessible and affordable health services.
- US Senate – Contact your local representatives to take a stance against this proposed legislation.
This brief was compiled by Vaibhav Kumar. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact vaibhav@usresistnews.org.
Medicaid and Planned Parenthood in Texas
Federal Funding Application
Draft Released on May 12, 2017
Policy Summary
In 2011, Texas stopped receiving federal funding because it refused to comply with the federal law requiring states to fund any willing provider. The main reason for this refusal was Planned Parenthood’s involvement in the Medicaid waiver program. Texas instead opted to forgo about $30 million a year in federal funding and in 2013 created its own healthcare for women known as Healthy Texas Women. Now that Trump is President, Texas is looking to restore federal funding for family planning while continuing to exclude Planned Parenthood and any other providers that support abortions. LEARN MORE
Analysis
If the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) approves Texas’s Medicaid waiver, other conservative states will likely adopt similar strategies to defund pro-abortion providers or undermine Medicaid under Obamacare. For 17 million women, Planned Parenthood is a primary source of essential healthcare as well as reproductive and general health education. If the grant were approved, providers like Planned Parenthood would not be able to see Medicaid patients and those women would have fewer choices for healthcare providers. The Healthy Texas Women program also requires that teenagers have parental approval before accessing any type of family planning services, a provision that could increase unplanned teen pregnancies and STDs. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Planned Parenthood – Learn about Planned Parenthood’s services and donate or get involved to keep women in control of their bodies
- Learn more about Healthy Texas Women and how it has affected women’s reproductive healthcare in Texas.
This brief was compiled by Ann Furbush. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact Ann@usresistnews.org.
Presidential Executive Order on the Review of Designations Under the Antiquities Act
Executive Order
Issued on April 26, 2017
Policy Summary
On April 26th, President Trump issued an Executive Order targeting the Antiquities Act of 1906, which gives the president the power to designate national monuments on federal lands. The EO directs the Secretary of the Interior to review all presidential designations since 1996 which cover more than 100,000 acres or are determined to have been made without adequate public outreach. On May 5th, the Department of the Interior released a list of 27 monuments under initial review and will begin formally accepting public comments on May 12 (submit comments here). Trump cites “egregious abuse of federal power” and impediments to economic prosperity and energy independence as the major drivers of the order (which congressional republicans lobbied him to release). LEARN MORE
Analysis
Trump’s revocation of monuments would be the first of its kind, and sparks controversy over whether or not the president is legally entitled to reverse designations of previous presidents. While proponents of the changes argue that the power is consistent with the purpose of, and is implicit within, the Antiquities Act, many scholars argue that contemporaneous history, precedential court cases, related federal laws, and the purpose of the legislation give the president the power to quickly designate monuments, but reserve the power to revoke them for Congress (this precautionary measure allows the government to protect objects of historic/scientific significance while Congress reviews the monument).
In addition to facing legal controversy, Trump’s EO has received rebuke from organizations which value the important archaeological and cultural resources that national monuments protect. The controversial Bears Ears National Monument, which spurred Republicans to push for this EO, contains “tens of thousands of archaeological sites, including ancient cliff dwellings” and garnered significant support through collaboration between area residents and native tribes. Opponents also note the critical ecological protections woven into national monuments that are essential to maintain wilderness areas and to meet the objectives of the Endangered Species Act. Other organizations, such as the Outdoor Industry Association, offered economic rebuttals, pointing out the significant outdoor recreational economy, which generates over $887 billion in consumer spending and creates 7.6 million jobs annually. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- Formally Submit Public Comments to the Department of the Interior
- National Parks Conservation Association – the only independent, nonpartisan membership organization devoted exclusively to advocacy on behalf of the National Parks System
- World Wildlife Fund – the world’s largest conservation organization, aims to protect and preserve the environment
This brief was compiled by Conor Downey. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief, please contact conor@usresistnews.org.
American Health Care Act
Proposed Legislation
Passed in the House on May 4, 2017
Policy Summary
The American Health Care Act (AHCA) passed in the House of Representatives on May 4, 2017. The Republican-sponsored bill aims to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Under the AHCA, Medicaid expansion would be rolled back, and its status as an entitlement program would end. Instead the House Bill calls for Medicaid providing states with block grants or an allotment for enrollees. The taxes imposed on the wealthy, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and manufacturers of medical devices that were included in the ACA to help subsidize health care costs for low-income people would be removed under this new health care bill. This could result in billions of dollars in tax cuts for the rich, without any additional assistance for the poor.
Other changes include basing tax credits to help pay for insurance on age, instead of income. Additionally, the bill removes the individual mandate and offers fewer protections for the elderly and those with preexisting conditions. The bill will also allow states to apply for waivers to opt out of certain ACA provisions, such as essential health benefits. Under the AHCA, Planned Parenthood will no longer be eligible for federal reimbursements. The Congressional Budget Office did not have time to evaluate the latest version of the bill, but its previous assessment estimated 24 million people would lose their insurance coverage if the AHCA became law. LEARN MORE HERE and HERE
Analysis
Several organizations have spoken out against the healthcare bill. AARP warns that the elderly will be significantly impacted under AHCA by receiving less financial assistance from tax credits and increasing how much they will spend on healthcare. AARP estimates the elderly could be spending up to five times more on health care than young adults. Research done by Avalere Health found that the measures in the AHCA designed to help states cover those with preexisting conditions will not be enough to cover even a third of those on the individual market with preexisting conditions. The American Medical Association criticized the House for passing a bill that will make insurance unaffordable for millions.
There is a lot of speculation that the bill will not pass in the Senate. Sen. Lindsey Graham appeared suspicious the bill passed with little scrutiny and several senators asserted that the Senate Republicans would not pass the House bill and would be crafting a Senate bill, instead. With only a 52 Senator majority, the bill would only require 50 votes to pass, assuming Vice President Pence would break the tie.
Engagement Resources
- Contact your Senator – the AHCA bill now moves to the Senate for a vote, call your Senator and tell them to vote no. TIPS
- Stand With Planned Parenthood – check out and get involved with the number of ways to support Planned Parenthood as they fight to keep offering accessible and affordable health services.
This brief was compiled by Elizabeth Kiefer. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief please contact elizabeth@usresistnews.org.
Relaxation of School Lunch Nutrition Regulations
Department of Agriculture Announcement
Announced on May 1, 2017
Policy Summary
As a result of what was said to be years of feedback from students, schools and food service experts, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has announced a greater flexibility in the current nutrition requirements for schools set by the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010; restoring local control of food guidelines for sodium, whole grains and milk. Citing that students are not eating new options, as well as the financial burden of the new regulations, the department proclaimed that they would “make school lunch great again.” States will now be able to grant exemptions regarding whole grain standards and sodium reductions will be postponed for at least three years. Milk requirements will also change to allow for 1 percent flavored milk as opposed to only skim. LEARN MORE
Analysis
Since 1970, the percentage of obese U.S children has more than tripled. These food guidelines, an important piece of former first lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign, were aimed at cutting down on the number of children suffering from obesity, which the CDC says causes long-term physical and emotional distress. The relaxation of these guidelines has nutrition advocates criticizing the Dept. of Agriculture for not thinking about the long-term effects. Explaining that more sugar and sodium will put children at greater risk for heart disease and stroke, the American Heart Association has denounced the decision. “We strongly urge the agency and Congress not to give politics priority over the health of our children,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive of the AHA. LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- The American Heart Association – Support the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke.
- Contact your state legislators – Call your representatives and let them know how much you value the guidelines!
- Alliance for a Healthier Generation – The Alliance works to combat childhood obesity by working with schools, companies, community organizations, healthcare professionals, and families to transform the conditions and systems that lead to healthier kids.
This Brief was compiled by Cindy Stansbury. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this Brief please contact, cindy@usresistnews.org.
Legal Framework For National Security Agency (NSA) Surveillance & Data Collection on American Citizens
NSA Policy
Announced April 26, 2017
Policy Summary
On April 28, 2017, the National Security Agency (NSA) announced that they would “stop certain foreign intelligence collection under Section 702” of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. This law provided the legal basis for the NSA to collect phone or Internet communications that [1] were sent directly to or from a foreign target or [2] were communications that were “about” a foreign person or target. The NSA will now cease its collection efforts of phone and Internet communications that were “about” foreign persons or targets mentioned in communications (e-mails, texts, etc.) between American citizens. However, Executive Order 12333, under Conduct of Intelligence Activities, was signed over thirty years ago by President Ronald Reagan and remains in effect. LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE
Analysis
The announcement by the National Security Agency (NSA) that it would stop “about” collections under Section 702 is a red herring. Even though the NSA announced that Section 702 would no longer be the legal justification to collect communications of American citizens in violation of their privacy it does not change the fact that the NSA could still collect the same communications under the justification of another legal authority.
In 2014, John Napier Tye, a former Section Chief for Internet Freedom in the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor stated that Executive Order (EO) 12333 permits bulk data collection of American citizens communications provided the collection occurs outside the U.S. As an example, Google and Yahoo keep many Internet communications in servers in countries outside of the U.S. Now, the NSA can instead rely on EO 12333 to collect Internet communications from these servers instead of Section 702 as long as the servers are outside the U.S. EO 12333 does not have warrant or court approval requirements as Section 702 did. Surveillance and data collection efforts may have ceased pursuant to Section 702 but the same Internet communications can still be collected, albeit under a different name and without the Section 702 privacy protections for American citizens, only because they were housed on a server overseas. LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE
Engagement Resources
- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – non – profit organization providing info on NSA surveillance.
- Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) – foundation focused on defending your rights in the digital world.
- Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) – research center dedicated to online privacy and civil liberty issues.
This brief was compiled by Rod Maggay. If you have comments or want to add the name of your organization to this brief, please contact Rod@usresistnews.org.