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Damar Hamlin’s Recovery: What a U.S. Worker Deserves
Brief #152 – Health and Gender
By Geoffrey Small
On January 2nd, 2023 NFL Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered from cardiac arrest after a tackle to the chest during a Monday-night football game with the Cincinnati Bengals.
As he laid motionless on the field for approximately ten minutes, first responders applied CPR, an AED (automated external defibrillation), oxygen, and an intravenous solution in order to prevent brain damage that can occur after cardiac arrest.
Congress Passes Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 To Deter Future Election Manipulation Schemes
Brief #199 – Civil Rights
By Rodney A. Maggay
On January 6, 2021 rioters supporting then – President Donald J. Trump broke through the barricades and stormed the U.S. Capitol building.
During the breach of the Capitol building Congress had been in session opening official electoral ballots submitted by each state for the 2020 presidential election and certifying the totals.
The True Color of Efforts to Strike Down Affirmative Action
Brief #59 – Education
By Steve Piazza
The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard arguments relating to the use of Affirmative Action, or policies designed to reduce discrimination during the college admission process. The focus was on two cases: Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, No. 20-1199, and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina, No. 21-707.
Netanyahu’s New Coalition Government is Jeopardizing Israeli Democracy
Foreign Policy Brief #163 – Foreign Policy
By Ian Milden
After nearly two months of negotiating with the far-right religious parties, Benjamin Netanyahu reached an agreement with them to become Prime Minister again.
The Latest Spill Finds Politicians Ankle Deep in Tar Sands Oil
Brief #151 – Environment Policy
By Todd J. Broadman
Since the beginning of its operations in 2010, the Keystone pipeline has experienced 22 oil spills totaling 26,000 barrels of tar sands oil leaked into the surrounding land and water. The pipeline traverses approximately 2,700 miles, starting from the tar sands of Alberta, Canada and terminating at refinery locations in the Midwest and Oklahoma. The pipeline’s owner and operator is TC Energy.
Excerpts from Ukrainian President’s Emotional Speech Before US Congress
Brief #162 – Foreign Policy
By Yelena Korshunov
Last week the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, addressed the US Congress in a persuasive, emotional speech highlighting Americans’ support in protecting Ukraine and world democracy. Here are some memorable excerpts from his speech.
January 6th Committee Criminal Referrals
Brief #49 – Elections & Politics
By Maureen Darby-Serson
On Monday, December 19th, 2022, the January 6th Committee announced that it would be sending several criminal referrals, including referrals for former President Donald Trump, to the Department of Justice. Donald Trump was referred for at least four criminal charges: obstructing an official proceeding, defrauding the United States, making false statements, and assisting or aiding an insurrection.
A Primer on US Immigration Policy
Brief #143 – Social Justice
By Inijah Quadri
Immigration policy and border control in the United States have long been contentious and divisive issues in American politics and society. The United States has a long history of immigration, with millions of people from around the world coming to the country seeking a better life, freedom, and opportunity.
Brittney Griner: A Lesson for Activists on Intersectionality
Brief #151 – Health and Gender
By Geoffrey Small
On February 17, 2022, WNBA All Star Brittney Griner was arrested in Russia on smuggling charges for containing less than a gram of hash oil, which was prescribed to her medically in the state of Arizona. The Biden Administration stated that Griner was “wrongfully detained” for political leverage in response to sanctions imposed on Russia for the Ukraine invasion. She was eventually sentenced to nine years in one of Russia’s penal colonies, which are notorious for human rights abuses.
Uber and Lyft Flex Their Lobbying Muscle
Uber and Lyft Flex Their Lobbying Muscle
Technology Policy Brief #66 | By: Mindy Spatt | September 1, 2022
Header photo taken from: Richard Vogel / AP
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Photo taken from: Daniel Kim / The Sacramento Bee
Policy Summary
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Who’s Afraid of a President, or a Presidential Front Runner? Uber and Lyft are lobbying to kill legislation supported by President Biden, and Lyft is pushing a California ballot initiative that likely presidential candidate Governor Gavin Newsom is staunchly opposed to.
Uber and Lyft proved their political muscle in California with their deceptive campaign for Proposition 22 in 2020, enlisting respected nonprofits, spending record millions and tricking voters into overriding legislatively approved worker protections. They took that playbook all across the country, forming and funding PACs to fight for “Independent Work” in states including Washington, New York and Illinois, and Colorado, and now have a national arm as well.
As the national campaign heats up, Lyft is taking on popular Governor Gavin Newsom with another self-serving ballot initiative. Some environmental organizations have already signed on to Proposition 30, Lyft’s plan to tax the wealthy to fund electric vehicles, although the initiative is not a grassroots effort. It comes straight out of Lyft’s corporate offices. Governor Newsom is pinning his opposition on just that problem.
Lyft also is putting significant support into the passage of California Proposition 30. Prop 30 places a 1.75% tax on the income of wealthy Californians (those earning abofe 2 million), and uses the revenue to help people (including Lyft drivers) purchase electric vehicles.
Policy Analysis
Lyft has spent $15 million on Prop 30 so far. The Prop 22 campaign cost the companies $200 million, presumably a small price to pay to overturn legislation that would have classified some gig workers as employees, granting them access to basic benefits such as health care and sick leave.
The pricey campaign was widely criticized as deceptive and confusing, and for buying community support. For example, former NAACP California President Alice Huffman’s public relations firm received $95,000 from the campaign before she published opinion pieces in black community newspapers urging passage of Prop 22.
The ads for Prop 22 often featured earnest people of color who stated mournfully they would not be able to attend college or take care of their children without the “flexibility” gig work offered. The ads appeared to be coming from workers and implied a trade-off that didn’t exist; providing benefits or a minimum wage would in no way impact driver’s flexibility.
Similar tactics will likely be employed in Lyft’s campaign for Prop 30. Lyft is already trying to sell Prop 30 as advantageous for low income people and bringing huge environmental benefits to California. But rideshare companies are basically super-polluters and thus far have been unwilling to put any of their own money into a meaningful EV transition. An article in WIRED a few months ago listed a litany of problems with the companies’ paltry efforts to move toward EVs including a $1. per ride incentive for EV drivers and a plan for drivers to rent ultra-expensive Teslas.
Photo taken from: Getty Images
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In the nation’s capital, Uber and Lyft have joined with Doordash, Instacart and others to ramp up their lobbying efforts with a recently formed organization, Flex.
The goal of Flex is to make sure the PRO Act, which would classify some gig workers as employees and allow them to form unions, never becomes law.
The Act has already passed the House of Representatives, and President Biden has indicated he would sign it, but it was stopped by Republicans in the Senate. Flex is worried enough to have come out of the gate with a $1 million ad buy. Another coalition, the “App-Based Work Alliance,” has already spent millions on the same goal.
So far Uber and Lyft have been able to crush their political opposition, but both Biden and Newsom have crushed plenty of opposition themselves. And maybe California will be a bit more skeptical this time around. The normally tech friendly San Jose Mercury News blasted Lyft’s initiative in an editorial, saying “Prop. 30 is yet another measure that would disproportionately benefit a special interest. In this case, that’s Lyft.”
Engagement Resources
Click or tap on resource URL to visit links where available
Union of Concerned Scientists: Steering a Growing Industry Toward a Clean Transportation Future, by Don Anair, Jeremy Martin, Maria Cecilia Pinto de Moura, Joshua Goldman, Feb 25, 2020. https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/ride-hailing-climate-risks
The Gig Workers Rising campaign launched in 2018 to support app-based workers who are organizing for better wages, working conditions and respect on the job. https://gigworkersrising.org.
Uber and Lyft Donated to Community Groups Who Then Pushed the Companies’ Agenda, by Dara Kerr and Maddy Varner, June 17, 2021. https://themarkup.org/news/2021/06/17/uber-and-lyft-donated-to-community-groups-who-then-pushed-the-companies-agenda
A Path to Reducing Reducing Wildfires
A Path to Reducing Reducing Wildfires
Environmental Policy Brief #147 | By: Haley Moore | August 30, 2022
Header photo taken from: Center for Disaster Philanthropy
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Photo taken from: Bill Clark / Getty Images
Policy Summary
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A new law ensures a future for forests with the environment in mind.
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was passed into law on August 16, 2022. $375B will go to aid the climate crisis over the course of the next decade.
$4.8B will be allocated directly to forest conservation and restoration. Through years of research and devastating wildfires, scientists have learned how stand density and vegetation management both play a crucial role in wildfires.
Policy Analysis
Early forest scientists were focused on planting and manufacturing a high level of forest products. Over stocked forests increased stand density — a mathematical equation that forest specialists use to describe how many trees are planted per acre — of certain regions, primarily California and the Pacific Northwest.
These scientists did not adequately factor in the risks of developing these products like protecting homes and ecological values.
In addition, early forest planting created problems for the climate in those areas by releasing too much carbon in the air. Cool moist winters and hot dry summers, that are only getting warmer, create a near-perfect ecosystem for wildfires.
Professor Emeritus J. Kieth Gilless, from University of California Berkley, in an interview with U.S. RESIST NEWS, said that IRA funding toward wildfire prevention will primarily go to vegetation management. But, it won’t eliminate wildfires.
“It may create more opportunities for establishing a control point on them before they get larger.” said Gilless, “And perhaps more importantly, they may reduce the intensity of the fire on the ground.”
Gilless says folks in the west have learned to co-evolve with forest fires.
“We all remember waking up to an orange sky in San Francisco,” said Gilless.
Diving deeper into the sticky weave of climate policy, part of the new federal funding will go to climate smart forestry and boosting carbon sequestration.
Climate-Smart Forestry (CSF) is a collection of strategies and management actions that increase the carbon storage benefits from forests and the forest sector, in a way that also supports ecosystem services and cultural values. It 1) reduces carbon emissions, 2) increases forest resilience to climate change, and 3) supports forest economies by increasing forest productivity and incomes.
Chart taken from: Springer Link
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Gilless said the issues for something like climate smart forestry gets tricky because there is a lack of market for low value wood which makes thinning operations very difficult. Thinning reduces stand density and thus, can reduce how fast a wildfire spreads.
“We have to think about how we set in motion a stand after a fire or a harvest to achieve forest products and achieve landscape, but in a fire resilience way,” said Gilless.
Gilless says boosting carbon sequestration is important in forest management because you want to capture as much carbon as possible without catastrophically releasing too much. Thankfully, forest and wildfire researchers are already working to solve these complex issues.
“I think there is an increasing realization there that we need to get a handle not just on the visible impact of the fire on infrastructures and ecosystems — but also on the public health impact of imposing that long lasting air pollution,” said Gilless.
For folks who live in areas where wildfires are prevalent, Gilless said following local wildfire regulations is crucial to reducing hazards. In addition, he advises against wood roofs and recommends investing in a fire-resistance one.
“Change the vents in your attic to make sure embers can’t go in there. A lot of houses burn from wildfires because embers blow through vents and ignite the house from the inside,” said Gilless.
No amount of funding will ever eliminate wildfires, but there are several ways legislation and the public can work together to prevent them.
Engagement Resources
Click or tap on resource URL to visit links where available
https://www.farmprogress.com/farm-policy/inflation-reduction-act-passes-ag-climate-investments
https://www.agri-pulse.com/articles/18090-historic-climate-funding-package-clears-senate
The Field Report: What the Historic Climate Bill Means for Farmers and the Food System
https://www.agriculture.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/ag_reconciliation_one-pager.pdf
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1356?s=1&r=45
https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5376/text
https://www.eiu.edu/energy/center_for_american_rural_energy.php
https://www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/inflation_reduction_act_of_2022.pdf
Executive Order 14067: Considerations for Leveling the Digital Assets Playing Field
Executive Order 14067: Considerations for Leveling the Digital Assets Playing Field
Technology Policy Brief #65 | By: Steve Piazza | August 29, 2022
Header photo taken from: Alston & Bird
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Photo taken from: The Regulatory Review
Policy Summary
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On March 9 of this year, President Biden issued Executive Order 14067 “Ensuring Responsible Development of Digital Assets.” Its impetus is a directive for governmental departments and agencies to examine the government’s role regarding the centralization of digital assets, specifically those pertaining to financial transactions.
Digital assets refer to anything representing value that is exchanged as payment, investment, or any other type of digital transaction using distributed ledger technology (DLT), or decentralized database of transactions. This includes cryptocurrencies, securities, and other financial instruments. Non fungible assets (NFTs), like digital recordings and images, will require additional attention at another time.
The directive calls for analyses that involve safeguarding digital assets, establishing a central bank digital currency (CBDC), and assuring that the United States remains a leader in the global financial system.
The comprehensive Executive Order requires coordinated research to be performed and communicated by year’s end. Specified entities are to report on the impact of CBDCs and other digital assets on financial and technological infrastructures, end users, law enforcement, and climate.
Policy Analysis
The need for and value of government involvement regarding digital assets is made clear enough in the language of the Executive Order. For that, it has been generally well received, from the financial world to the crypto community.
Those who are concerned specifically about all end users should also be somewhat encouraged.
Though the Executive Order offers no clarity beyond the terms “consumers, investors, and businesses,” it does make reference to promoting “the ability to exercise human rights; financial inclusion and equity,” and considers that “the rise in use of digital assets, and differences across communities, may also present disparate financial risk to less informed market participants or exacerbate inequities.”
To be fair, the advantages of investing and trading in digital assets are already well known and do apply to all users regardless of socioeconomic status. Anyone with a device such as a smart phone or computer is eligible for an account. And by design, the accounts are already extremely secure for all users because the unique network spreads out encrypted user information from one device or computer to the next forming the blockchain (a DLT utilizing a permanent cryptographic signature known as a hash).
In fact, the developing world has started reaping the benefits of digital assets. These include the speed at which critical financial aid can go right into a digital wallet additionally secured by ID biometrics, as well as the ease of migrant workers sharing money with family back in home countries. Little or no transaction fees allow for more capital access which is beneficial especially in countries where capital flow is limited.
Photo taken from: World Bank Group
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The disadvantages, it must be said, are also common knowledge, and they are significant enough to cause usage barriers. Some exchanges charge fees and even have different rules, and tax implications can be confusing. Sometimes blockchain and cryptocurrency platforms are difficult for some to manage, as some people just have difficulty moving from paper to digital. In remote areas in the U.S., and especially in developing countries, access to broadband might be limited.
Those less optimistic about any lack of end user specificity in the Executive Order will have to rely on the promise of its intent and settle for now on use of words like “inclusion,” “inequity,” and “disparate.” Certainly, any administration, and some more than others, would not want to assume it is their place to tell industry the exact processes they need to employ to deal with their customers. But all administrations cannot ignore the concept of regulation and must find the most appropriate means to do so one way or another. The Biden Administration has chosen theirs.
Time will tell what impact the Executive Order and the resulting reporting might have. Since it’s been released, some reporting has been completed and even several legislative measures have been introduced in the House and Senate.
At most, the Executive Order signals in broad strokes the Biden Administration’s stance on the future of digital assets. It might not state particulars enough for some critics, but it does recognize that since the technology is still rapidly evolving and the platforms can be quite volatile, the government needs to play a role.
An action merely calling for ideas might not seem like action, but it’s a start.
Engagement Resources
Click or tap on resource URL to visit links where available
To read the text of the Executive Order, click here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/03/09/executive-order-on-ensuring-responsible-development-of-digital-assets/
Learn more about The Harvard Business Review’s support for universal access to CBDC networks and governmental support for regulatory standards by clicking here: https://hbr.org/2020/08/could-digital-currencies-make-being-poor-less-costly
Cryptonews recognizes the value of government involvement:
https://cryptonews.com/exclusives/this-is-why-the-government-is-not-going-to-ban-digital-assets.htm
Here is an example of one of the governmental agency reports, this one submitted by Attorney General Merrick Garland on internationally coordinated efforts of law enforcement regarding digital assets: https://www.justice.gov/ag/page/file/1510931/download
This is one of the proposed bipartisan bills to, amongst other things, protect the interests of consumers:
The Art of Brainwashing: Russia’s Mass Media’s Successful Project
The Art of Brainwashing: Russia’s Mass Media’s Successful Project
Foreign Policy Brief #146 | By: Yelena Korshunov | August 30, 2022
Header photo taken from: Radio Free Europe
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Photos taken from: Pikabu.ru
Policy Summary
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“But all are afraid of us!”
Since the day when Russia started a so-called “special operation in Ukraine”, the iconic phrase of the average Russian has become “But all are afraid of us!” When a Siberian grandma tells you that she doesn’t have heating, water, and electricity in her old house in February when the outside temperature falls to -13F and the air in her unheated bedroom is freezy, and her family still uses a wobbly wooden toilet in the backyard, she will proudly add “But all are afraid of us!” This mantra means that the Western World, especially America, is trembling at the thought of Russia’s military power.
“How can the entire nation be so zombified?” you will wonder. The answer is easy peasy. Russia’s mass media succeeded in brainwashing millions of minds who sacredly believe that all Ukrainians are “nazi” that need to die, and that calling the war a war is a mortal sin. And also that they must line up in the shape of a letter “Z” to demonstrate who is the mightiest nation in the world. And that Russia is a great empire that has to expand its borders, and that Putin is a mighty Lord, and whatever he says is set in stone. And that the entire world that does not support Putin is their enemy.
Policy Analysis
“Ukraine is just an intermediate stage”
Russia’s mass media is extremely convincing. They convinced people that the reason for their poverty is the hostile Western forces. “If you think that we will stop in Ukraine,” says Russian media star Vladimir Solovyov,” think 300 times. Let me remind you that Ukraine is just an intermediate stage in ensuring the strategic security of the Russian Federation.”
Photo taken from: rosbalt.ru
“Opposing the West, Russia is fighting against the unipolar world with the US dictatorship and the spread of Nazism. Anti-Russian sanctions failed to affect the daily life of Russians,” echoed by the passionate speakers of the Russian special issue TV series “Za Mir” (For Peace).
“Russian society is uniting around support for the special operation, the President, the mission of Russia and the new opportunities that are opening up today. Citizens of Russia are increasingly united by the belief that their country will cope with any problems and will inevitably occupy one of the central places in the world.”
Photo taken from: The Atlantic Council
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“Strengthen the economy”
And that is what is told about economics to a wide Russian-speaking audience: “Russia creates and strengthens economic ties with the most dynamically developing part of the international economic community. The basis for the future economic development of Russia is the support of entrepreneurial initiative.
The President once again stressed that the government-supported initiatives of active and conscientious people will be the key to the growth of the domestic economy. The plan of the President of the Russian Federation is to use the maximum opportunities provided by the current situation and the accumulated internal reserves to significantly strengthen the economy, form technological sovereignty and improve the living standards of people.”
That is what the Russian nation digests instead of nutritious meals, and actually that is what has motivated the Russian mentality throughout the centuries of serfdom, despotic rule, famine, and Stalin’s personality cult.
Yes, we are hungry and cold, but the tzar says that everything is fine, so the bright happy future is around the corner. We will fight our enemies, demonstrate our power to the whole world, and prosperity will come to us.
Screenshot taken from: https://iryston.tv/teleproject_release/o-splochyonnosti-rossiyan-na-fone-spetsialnoj-voennoj-operatsii/
“Resisting evil”
This propaganda is literally proclaimed on Russia’s TV channels today, inspiring the zombified audience listening to their eloquent idols: “National cohesion is especially important in resisting evil. Russia demonstrates multinational unity and respect as opposed to world Nazism, a readiness to defend together its history, values and aspirations.
The record number of participants in the Immortal Regiment processions in 2022 – about 12 million people – is clear evidence of the unity of Russian society. The “Donbass Consensus” is an effect of rallying Russian society, uniting citizens of different views, supporters of various political forces in Russia around the figure of the president and his decisions to protect Russia, its people, as well as those who feel themselves involved in Russian culture. Eight years after the “Crimean Consensus” – unification against the backdrop of the return of Crimea – a new impetus for unification arose” – confidently asserts another speaker in a popular political TV show.
Back to Dark Ages
This style of contemporary Russian mass media propaganda exactly copies TV speeches of the darkest years in the USSR, pronounced on the same pitch from the stands of the Communist Party Congress. The torrential word-flow from people who are rich, who are close to Putin’s royal court, favors and generosity, brainwash millions of Russia’s residents and those Russian emigrants who are still glued to Russia’s TV channels. There are no longer the few opposition mass media sources that were allowed to exist previously, before February 24, 2022. They are now declared the enemies of the nation and banned.
The smaller part of Russia’s residents who see through the government lies and propaganda mostly keep silent to save their and their families’ lives. Many oppositionists, along with Alexei Navalny, are thrown in prison. Some objectionable oppositionists like Boris Nemtsov were murdered throughout years, one by one, or were forced into hiding abroad. The Cold War dark ages have now finally come back to Russia, and Orwell’s “1984” is their new reality. The Iron Curtain of lies and isolation is down again.
Abortion: The Legal Challenges Continue Post Roe V. Wade
Abortion: The Legal Challenges Continue Post Roe V. Wade
Health & Gender Policy Brief #142 | By: Geoffrey Small | August 30, 2022
Header photo taken from: Voice of America
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Photo taken from: Yahoo
Policy Summary
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The abortion battle in the U.S. justice system continues months after the Supreme Court overturned Roe V. Wade. Major federal, state, and city lawsuits are unfolding across the country, potentially setting legal precedents that will determine the future of reproductive rights. Missouri, Idaho, and Louisiana are some of the states that have significant lawsuits and appeals taking place. Missouri is suing its own city, as the state’s Attorney General is attempting to block access to federal abortion relief funds in St. Louis. The United States DOJ (Department of Justice) is suing Idaho.
The DOJ stated that Idaho’s abortion law of arresting, indicting, and prosecuting a physician for providing an abortion directly conflicts with a federal law that allows patients to receive lifesaving emergency medical treatment. One of the most major setbacks for pro-choice advocates happened in Louisiana. The Louisiana Supreme Court rejected an appeal, made on behalf of it’s three remaining abortion clinics, for an injunction that would allow procedures to continue as plaintiffs argue against the state-wide bans.
Policy Analysis
Missouri
On July 21st 2022, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed a lawsuit against St. Louis requesting a preliminary injunction after the city passed a law authorizing the use of federal funds from the U.S. American Rescue Plan Act. St. Louis’ Board Bill 61, which was recently signed into law, utilized this federal funding to create a “Reproductive Equity Fund” and provide “logistical support” for marginalized women who are having trouble accessing abortions.
Schmitt stated that that bill directly conflicts with Missouri’s state law, which strictly prohibits anyone from accessing public funds for this purpose.
In response to this issue, Planned Parenthood created the Brand Against Bans campaign encouraging local St. Louis businesses to join the cause by donating, sponsoring a pro-choice event, or providing information on accessible reproductive services.
Chart taken from: Planned Parenthood, Impact Research
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Idaho
The United States DOJ is also filing a suit against Idaho related to the use of federal funding. Idaho recently passed a law that authorizes the prosecution of a physician who performs an abortion that isn’t defined as a life saving procedure for the patient.
However, the DOJ argues that Idaho’s new reproductive ban “provides no defense for an abortion necessary to protect the health of the pregnant patient.” It directly conflicts with the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, which allows physicians to provide abortions in order to stabilize a patient.
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra stated “Women should not have to be near death to get care.” Attorney General Merrick Garland also stated “We will use every tool at our disposal to ensure that pregnant women get the emergency medical treatment to which they are entitled under federal law.”
Photo taken from: Stephen Smith / AP
Louisiana
As lawsuits are ramping up in Missouri and Idaho, the Louisiana Supreme Court recently rejected an appeal requesting an injunction to continue which protected the three remaining abortions clinics operating in the state.
The injunction in question allowed the clinics to continue reproductive procedures as a lawsuit challenging Louisiana’s abortion ban argues that the state’s new laws are void due to the overall vagueness in the language. The plaintiffs, filing on behalf of the clinics, stated that the ban “[fails] to provide constitutionally guaranteed notice of exactly what conduct is prohibited, if any, and when.” There are already reports that indicate the remaining abortion clinics are leaving the state.
Despite this major setback in Louisiana, lawsuits continue to set precedents determining the future of U.S. abortions. Organizations like Planned Parenthood are mobilizing campaigns across the country. Also, the ACLU is legally challenging anti-abortion laws in several states. Donating to these organizations can help continue the fight against states taking away reproductive rights.
Engagement Resources
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Preview of US Senate Races in Arizona and Wisconsin
Preview of US Senate Races in Arizona and Wisconsin
Elections & Politics Policy Brief #33 | By: Ian Milden | August 27, 2022
Header photo taken from: Cyprusandtaxi
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Photo taken from: Reuters / Joshua Lot
Policy Summary
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Control of the U.S. Senate will be up for grabs in the 2022 mid-term elections. Competitive races in key states will determine the balance of power. In this brief, I will preview the US Senate races in Arizona and Wisconsin.
Policy Analysis
In Arizona, Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) is running for a full term after winning a special election in 2020 to fill the remainder of the late Senator John McCain’s term. Before his election to the Senate, Kelly served in the navy and was an astronaut for NASA. Senator Kelly has been an advocate for reducing gun violence. He founded a political advocacy organization focused on reducing gun violence with his wife, former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.
The Republicans nominated Blake Masters, who won the primary after receiving Trump’s endorsement and substantial financial support from Peter Thiel, a billionaire who made his fortune in the tech industry and holds conservative and libertarian political views. Thiel also provided substantial financial support to the Republican nominee in Ohio’s Senate race, J.D. Vance. Masters has never run for office before and has spent most of his career working for Peter Thiel.
Thiel has argued that democracy and liberty are incompatible. Blake Masters has expressed support for eliminating several norms, processes, and agencies in our system of government. For example, Masters wants to eliminate the civil service system and have government jobs filled by people who share his ideological beliefs.
Masters also supports privatizing Social Security. During the primary, the rhetoric on his website also leaned heavily into “culture war” themes, particularly on issues such as abortion, education, immigration, and guns. Many beliefs that Masters espouses seem designed to appeal to the most ideological and partisan Republican voters. Masters’ website was edited after the primary to scrub some of his more controversial positions.
There are also important questions regarding the development and evolution of Blake Masters’ political views. His positions on some issues, such as immigration, have shifted dramatically from online postings in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Masters also approvingly quoted Hermann Goering, a prominent Nazi official, in those posts. When asked about it on the campaign trail, Masters did not apologize or walk back the statement he made in the posting. Masters has also voiced support for conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.
Photo taken from: CNN
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Fox News recently released a poll showing Mark Kelly ahead by 8 percentage points. The crosstabs of the poll provide clear reasons for Kelly being ahead. Kelly gets about 8% support from self-identified Republicans, while Masters has very negligible support from self-identified Democrats. Additionally, Masters fares relatively poorly among moderate voters and unaffiliated voters.
Kelly also holds a double-digit lead over Masters among seniors, which is important because Arizona has a relatively large population of senior citizens. Masters may have trouble addressing his limited support among seniors due to his policy positions on issues like Social Security.
While the polling data provides some positive signs for Kelly’s reelection campaign, Arizona is still a competitive state and Democrats would be wise to continue to treat it as a competitive state if they want to continue winning elections in Arizona. Even if Senator Kelly wins reelection by a large margin, investing in the race as if it is a competitive race can help Democratic candidates running for other statewide offices.
Photo taken from: J Scott Applewhite / AP
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In Wisconsin, Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) is running for a third term after previously promising to retire. Before his election to the US Senate in 2010, Johnson was in the private sector and had not previously run for public office.
Senator Johnson is currently on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, and he is the top Republican on the Homeland Security subcommittee for investigations. He would likely become the chairman of the Homeland Security investigations subcommittee if Republicans took control of the Senate.
There are reasons to question Johnson’s fitness for his position on the Senate Homeland Security Committee. There are important questions about Ron Johnson’s role on January 6th. Congressional Investigators with the Committee investigating the events on January 6th, 2021 found text messages between members of Johnson’s staff and Mike Pence’s staff trying to get Pence to take a set of electors for Wisconsin that would vote for Donald Trump in the 2020 Electoral College vote. Johnson has also spread conspiracy theories about Covid-19.
Johnson has said that he supports converting funding for programs like Social Security and Medicare, which are funded automatically by law, to discretionary spending, which would require Congress to allocate and approve funding annually. If this proposal is approved, it could lead to cuts to both programs.
Democrats have nominated Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes to run against Senator Johnson. Barnes served as a state representative for four years before he was elected to be the Lieutenant Governor. Barnes also chairs the Governor’s task force on climate change, which works with communities across the state to develop strategies to help people in Wisconsin deal with the effects of climate change.
A poll conducted by Marquette University Law School shortly after the primary found Barnes ahead by seven points. The poll also finds that 41% of respondents don’t know enough about Barnes to form an opinion of him, which suggests that his support among voters could change as voters get to know him.
Of the respondents who have an opinion, a majority of them had a positive opinion of Barnes. More respondents had an opinion on Ron Johnson with 38% having a positive opinion of Johnson and 47% of respondents having a negative opinion of Johnson. It would have been helpful to have this data broken down by party ID, but this data was not provided to the public.
While the Marquette University Law School poll has a very good reputation, I would still expect a close race in November. Wisconsin is a very polarized state and many of the major statewide elections in the past six years have been decided by close margins.
If Barnes can maintain the lead that he has in the Marquette University Law School Poll as voters get to know him and if voter turnout for the general election reflects the demographics of the survey respondents, then Democrats should feel good about their chances of taking this seat.
Engagement Resources
Click or tap on resource URL to visit links where available
Senator Mark Kelly’s campaign website
Mandela Barnes’ campaign website
DSCC – Official Campaign Arm of Senate Democrats
Situation Update #12: The Ukraine Crisis
Situation Update #12: The Ukraine Crisis
Foreign Policy Brief #145 | By: Abran C | August 27, 2022
Header photo taken from: Financial Times
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Photo taken from: AP
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Here are the most recent events related to Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
This week marked an important date for Ukraine, August 24, 2022, which marks six months since the Russian invasion and the 31st anniversary of the countrys independence from the Soviet Union. The same day also saw a missile strike on an eastern Ukrainian train station that killed 22 people. People across the country paid tribute to fallen soldiers and civilians.
Ukrainian President Zelensky addressed the nation and declared that Ukraine would achieve victory over the invaders. He also warned that in the wake of independence day Russia might increase its attacks. He later met with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who announced a $66 million aid package for Ukraine. President Biden on the same day reaffirmed the US’ commitment with a new $2.98 billion investment in security assistance for the war-torn country.
Photo taken from: Claire Harbage / NPR
Half a Year of War
Six months on and 13 million Ukrainians have been displaced, with nearly 6.7 million spread across Europe and 6.6 million internally displaced. Most people who have fled are women and children as men aged 18-60 have been barred from leaving the country in order to help in the war effort. Russia now controls about 20% of Ukraine’s territory, a threefold increase since its invasion began in February. Commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed forces, General Zaluzhny said this week that Ukraine has lost nearly 9,000 military personnel.
The UN human rights office has documented 5,600 civilians deaths. Both death tolls are likely to be much higher as fighting continues to prevent accurate counts of the killed and wounded. Russia in March reported that 1,351 of their own soldiers died in the first weeks of the war, but have not released updated numbers since. In a sign of increased struggle in the Russian war effort, President Putin on this week signed a decree to increase the size of Russia’s armed forces from about 1.9 million to 2.04 million.
Likely to replace the high number of losses Russian troops are believed to have lost, as well as provide respite for Russian troops disillusioned with six months of non-stop war.
Photo taken from: Andrey Borodulin, AFP, Getty Images
Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant
Russian forces captured and are currently in control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s biggest nuclear plant. The plant was disconnected from the Ukranian power grid for the first time in its history on August 25, 2022. US State Department officials warned that Russia’s actions at the nuclear power plant have greatly increased risks of possible nuclear radiation release. Additionally, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency said he would soon visit the power plant to check on the situation.
Photo taken from: Tsargrad.tv / Handout / Reuters
Killing of Daria Dugina
On August 21, 2022 a car bombing killed Daria Dugina, a Russian far-right political commentator and daughter of Alexander Dugin. Dugin is a far-right political figure who has and continues to advocate for the invasion of Ukraine. He has previously said that Ukraine doesn’t actually exist as a state, and is actually a creation of the West as a kind of anti-Russian strategy and must be retaken for the Russian empire.
Dugin’s ideology is extreme but not widespread in Russia, though he does have a cult following among Russian ultranationalists. Though he has become a big name in contemporary far-right thinking globally and has resonated with far-right groups in both the US and Europe. It’s suspected that the bombing targeted Dugin instead of his daughter, who was killed in his place. Russia on Monday blamed Ukraine for the attack, claiming it was planned by “special services”. Ukraine has denied any involvement, but it is likely that the death of Dugina will intensify the war even further.
The Colorado River is Teaching a Lesson the Archeologists Know All Too Well
The Colorado River is Teaching a Lesson the Archeologists Know All Too Well
Environment Policy Brief #146 | By: Todd J. Broadman | August 25, 2022
Header photo taken from: Civil Eats
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Photo taken from: NASA Earth Observatory
Policy Summary
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The Colorado River, a water source that irrigates 5 million acres of farm land and supplies 40 million people with drinking water, has long been severely overallocated. For decades, so much water has been diverted to supply farms and cities that the river’s delta in Mexico has dried up. Those that depend on its bounty are now in crisis as the western U.S. has undergone a 23-year megadrought and the nation’s largest reservoirs have subsequently dropped their water levels by three-quarters.
The 1,450-mile river is fed by high mountain snowpack that has been steadily diminishing. This, along with increasingly dry soils which absorb more runoff and added evaporation from atmospheric heat, have significantly reduced the river’s capacity.
On August 9, the Biden administration stated that water shortages along the Colorado River had passed a threshold for the first time and that unprecedented water cuts will be required. The river’s users: seven western states, Native Tribes, and Mexico, must come to agreement as to what sacrifices will be made with the dwindling water supply. A deadline for a voluntary agreement, August 15, has come and gone without a resolution, and the Bureau of Reclamation has done little in response to the stalemate.
Reclamation is the federal water management agency governing water and dams for 17 western states and falls under the U.S. Department of the Interior. Given the looming crisis, they instructed stakeholders to reduce usage by 2 million to 4 million acre-feet – a “Tier 2” shortage; that equates to a third of the river’s annual average flow.
There is not yet federally mandated action and the river continues to be governed by a complex set of policies — collectively known as the Law of the River dating back over a hundred years — that dictate how much water each state or tribe receives, and which entity will lose water first when the government imposes restrictions. The allocation consists of two geographical groups: the upper basin -Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, and the lower basin: Arizona, California and Nevada.
When Mexico and Native Tribe allocations are included, the total annual amount of water is 17.5 million acre-feet. (Each acre foot equates to about 326,000 gallons). But that paper calculation falls short of the actual amount of water available. The average annual flow between 2011 and 2020 was 9.6 million acre-feet. Lake Mead, the largest U.S. reservoir is down 152 vertical feet. Lake Powell is approaching just 32 feet above an electricity-generating threshold known as the “minimum power pool.”
The bureau does though, have in place a Drought Contingency Plan that specifies water cuts if the river continues to decline. It is unclear when and if these mandatory cuts will be implemented. Under the Plan, the lower basin states will have less water: Arizona a 21% cut, Nevada 8%, and Mexico 7%. California would not experience cuts under the Plan – they hold “senior rights.”
The Plan may be forced upon the states as inaction and finger-pointing intensifies. The upper basin states did offer a five-point conservation plan minus any specific reductions and included compensation to farmers that decide to not grow on a portion of their land. “We have always said, really, success is dependent on what happens in the lower basin,” said Becky Mitchell, director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Furthering the impasse, Andy Mueller, general manager of the Colorado River District, stated that “It’s absurd to think we’re going to get our farmers and ranchers and cities to take economic hits if all it means is it continues to fill swimming pools in Phoenix.”
Water scarcity has already made some farmers decide not to plant. This year about 690,000 acres will be left fallow in California, to impact the supply of tomatoes, melons, rice and alfalfa. Up to 100,000 acres in Pinal County, Arizona will go unplanted. Stephen Roe Lewis, who heads the Gila River system in Arizona, places his heels in dry soil and finds others to blame, “we cannot continue to put the interests of all others above our own when no other parties seem committed to the common goal of a cooperative basin-wide agreement.”
The bureau risks lawsuits when and if they do step in and force water cuts. They don’t want to take that risk in the current political atmosphere. There is no assurance the agency would be on “solid legal footing” according to Rhett Larson, a water law professor at Arizona State University. The states are incented to negotiate before Lake Mead ceases to function or before the Contingency Plan expires in 2026. No deal will lead to a “Thunderdome” situation according to Mr. Larson, in which the states “sue each other into oblivion.”
Policy Analysis
As the data shows, even if precipitation picks up in the near future, there needs to be “significantly higher-than-normal precipitation and snowpack” just to achieve average flows due to the dry soils and increased evaporation. And demand keeps increasing. Most states, particularly the lower basin states, used more water than their allotted quotas and have been doing so for decades.
The U.S. primary source of vegetables comes from the Imperial District in California, an area that gets less than 4 inches of rain annually. Its productivity is solely due to the 5 feet of irrigation water per acre that is receives from the Colorado River. Their agreed upon share is the largest of all users at 2.6 million acre feet, an allotment almost equal to all of Arizona. When there are cuts, the Imperial Valley farms will be the last users to be left dry.
There will be some mitigation to lowered vegetable production from California and Arizona, as other regions of the country compensate with increased planting of those crops. Drought though, is impacting the Midwest and other areas that consumers depend upon. Shifting production will not be a sure thing.
When the bureau’s commissioner, Camille Calimlim Touton, recently made the announcement of the first ever Tier 2 water shortage, few understood what “dead pool” status means. When Lake Mead reaches “dead pool” no water can pass through the Hoover Dam. No electricity. No irrigation. No drinking water. At that point, the finger-pointing and academic calculations will amount to a tragedy, as will the lack of cooperation.
Data charts taken from: American Farm Bureau Federation
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In terms of legislation aimed at this crisis, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act in which there is $20 billion for farmland conservation and $4 billion for drought relief in the West. The funding’s intent is to compensate farmers who will lose money from not planting crops due to the shortage of irrigation water.
The money will be paid out by the Bureau of Reclamation over 4 years. In addition, a wildfire and drought response bill authorizes $500 million so that states and other entities, can apply for grants “compensating users who volunteer to cut back their water use, drilling wells, lining canals to prevent water from seeping into the ground and increasing efficiency for hydropower production.”
Given the scale of the water shortage, its environmental causes, and an apparent disregard for ever-increasing water consumption, the prospect of serious remedies for the river itself and all life that depends upon it are quickly evaporating.
Political interests, particularly that of farmers who require irrigation water for their livelihoods are not about to change the system or their occupations. Some of the nation’s fastest growing metro areas are located in the desert and depend on the Colorado River water. The wisdom of that kind of “progress” will spell the end of those population centers or so the archeologists tell us.
Engagement Resources
Click or tap on resource URL to visit links where available
https://www.vox.com/ “explains the news.”
https://www.edf.org/ helps to preserve the natural systems on which all life depends.
https://insideclimatenews.org/ provides essential reporting and analysis on climate change, energy and the environment, for the public and for decision makers.
America’s Minimum Wage Debate: Is It Time for an Increase?
America’s Minimum Wage Debate: Is It Time for an Increase?
Economic Policy Brief #134 | By: Inijah Quadri | August 21, 2022
Header photo taken from: The All-Nite Images / Flickr
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Photo taken from: Hyre
Policy Summary
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The current federal minimum wage in the United States is $7.25 an hour. Despite being below the poverty line for a country like the USA, the minimum wage has not seen any increase since 2009.
There has been some level of advocacy at the federal level, such as we had with President Obama in 2015, but nothing really was done to raise wages, even after his rallying cry. This has led to even more advocacy for an increase in the federal minimum wage, as increases regularly happen at the state level without any issues.
Policy Analysis
Arguments for and Against an Increase
Arguments for a minimum wage increase typically fall into one of two categories: economic and moral. The economic argument is that a minimum wage increase will help to reduce poverty and inequality, while the moral argument is that a minimum wage increase is morally right because it gives workers a fair day’s pay for an honest day’s work.
However, there are also arguments against a minimum wage increase, chief among them being that it will lead to job losses and decreased economic growth. However the strength of this argument diminishes as the length of time without a minimum wage increase lengthens and the cost of living index climbs.
How Much Does the Minimum Wage in the USA Compare to Other Countries?
As we just noted, in the United States, the minimum wage is currently $7.25 an hour. This is far below the necessary cost of living in all American states. While some other developed and developing countries may have a lower or higher minimum wage on paper, the cost of living is very important to consider.
A worker in a European country like Poland, for example, would need to earn Poland’s minimum wage of 18.3 zloty (about $4) to maintain an average standard of living. The same goes for a country like Japan, where despite having a minimum wage of 961 yen (about $7.30) per hour, this minimum wage is enough to live an average life.
The key differences lie in the fact that America’s federal minimum wage isn’t indexed to inflation, which means that it hasn’t kept up with inflationary changes over time.
Photo taken from: Al Schaben, Los Angeles Times, Getty Images
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State Minimum Wages in the USA
When it comes to minimum wage, the United States is an absolute mess. There are currently 30 different states that have a minimum wage above the federal minimum wage, which stands at $7.25 an hour. This arrangement creates an incredibly confusing and chaotic landscape for employers and workers alike—not to mention it’s crazy that one country has so many different minimum wages.
It is important to note that not all states have increased their minimum wages at the same rate; some have done so more slowly than others. Some use the federal minimum wage, and other states have a minimum wage lower than the federal minimum.
For example, California has a statewide minimum wage of $15 an hour, Washington has a rate of $13.50 an hour, and Oregon has a rate of $13.50 an hour. Meanwhile, the federal rate is still well below the amount required to support a family without working full-time.
Photo taken from: economics.org
Should the Federal Minimum Wage Be Increased?
As we just mentioned, the federal minimum wage in the United States is not enough to live on. In fact, a full-time worker earning the federal minimum wage would only earn $15,080 per year. This is not enough to support a family. As such, the minimum wage should be raised to help low-income families.
As you have seen, many states have already increased their minimum wages above the federal level, and more are considering doing so. These types of wage-increase policies have been put in place by these states to help improve the lives of low-income Americans and make sure they have enough money to live on.
What Are Some Possible Solutions to the Minimum Wage Debate?
A sudden increase in the minimum wage would increase the paychecks of low-income workers, but it could also lead to job losses. As such, a possible solution would be to increase the federal minimum wage over a period of several years. Since the higher of the two minimum wages (State or Federal) is what is paid to staff all across the USA, this is a plan that would work all across the country. By increasing minimum wages slowly until it keeps pace with inflation, workers will benefit greatly.
Additionally, businesses wouldn’t have to make a large change all at once and they could adjust as needed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear that the minimum wage debate is one that will rage on for some time to come. States are continuing to pass their own minimum wage laws, each with its own set of mandates and exceptions. The adequacy of the current $7.25 per hour federal minimum wage in the face of today’s inflationary economic pressures may be a proposition endorsed by a few conservative economists. However, there is no question that something needs to be done to help those struggling to make ends meet.
Engagement Resources
Click or tap on resource URL to visit links where available
Investopedia.com: (https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/080515/minimum-wages-can-raise-unemployment.asp)
National Conference of State Legislatures: (https://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/state-minimum-wage-chart.aspx#:~:text=Landon%20Jacquinot-,Summary,wage%20of%20%247.25%20per%20hour)
Patriot Accounting, LLC.: (https://www.patriotsoftware.com/blog/accounting/average-cost-living-by-state/)
Pew Research Center: (https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/05/20/the-u-s-differs-from-most-other-countries-in-how-it-sets-its-minimum-wage/)
The White House Archives: (https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/raise-the-wage)
Protecting Digital Privacy With the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act
Protecting Digital Privacy With the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act
Civil Rights Policy Brief #193 | By: Rodney A. Maggay | August 22, 2022
Header photo taken from: Project for Privacy and Surveillance Accountability (PPSA)
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Photo taken from: NBC News
Policy Summary
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In early 2020 the Wall Street Journal first broke a story claiming that federal agencies were acquiring cellphone data information to be used for enforcement of immigration policies.
In response to the story, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agencies for the release of documents related to how the government acquires cell phone location information. The ACLU subsequently brought a lawsuit to compel production of the information and eventually added the U.S. Secret Service, the U.S. Coast Guard and other DHS departments to the list of agencies from which the ACLU was requesting information.
The ACLU did receive a significant amount of information from the agencies, which resulted in a surprising discovery. Based on its review of information received the ACLU found that DHS was spending millions of dollars to buy cell phone location tracking information from a number of non – government data broker companies.
A data broker, or information broker, is a company that collects data or information from any public source, and sometimes from private transactions, and then sells the information to a third party. The sale of this information to the government occurs without any legal protections such as a search warrant and does not prohibit the government from using the purchased data as part of a criminal investigation.
In response to the investigation by the Wall Street Journal and the FOIA request by the ACLU, Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon and Rand Paul of Kentucky introduced the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act. This bill proposes to close the gap in the law that permits data brokers to sell personal information of American citizens to the government without any court oversight. LEARN MORE
Policy Analysis
The Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act is an important bill because it will close a legal loophole that has emerged with the rise of private digital information.
The bill was sponsored in both houses of Congress by a significant number of members from both sides of the aisle indicating broad bipartisan support. Fourth Amendment protections against search and seizure issues is one that appeals to both parties because of privacy issues and the desire to keep law enforcement from unneccessarily digging into a person’s intimate information without a proper search warrant.
The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides that people have a right against “unreasonable searches and seizures” and that a search warrant shall only be issued based on probable cause. In 2018, the Supreme Court decided Carpenter v. U.S., which decided that the U.S. Government must have a search warrant in order to acquire cell phone tracking records from a third party.
However, the government has found a way to avoid the warrant requirements required by the Fourth Amendment. What the Wall Street Journal investigation and the ACLU’s FOIA request has shown is that the government was using a work around in order to bypass getting a search warrant to acquire cell phone tracking information.
Instead of having to apply to a court for the cell phone tracking information – which would have taken time to compile evidence for a probable cause determination by a judge – the government decided to just buy the information from two data broker companies, Venntel and Babel Street.
The actions by the government, while not in violation of any specific law, still goes against the abuses that the Fourth Amendment was designed to protect against.
Photo taken from: Electronic Frontier Foundation
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That amendment was designed to protect the privacy of all persons from unreasonable searches and seizures and intrusions into their private lives and affairs without a warrant supported by a showing of probable cause.
By buying cell phone tracking information from data brokers the government can seize large troves of information to go through without having to show the requisite probable cause, without having a neutral judge scrutinize the evidence and make a decision whether a warrant should issue and allows the government to look without limitations through so much digital info that might not even be relevant or connected to a specific investigation.
The government might never need to apply for a search warrant ever again if it would be permitted to go down this road of buying cell phone tracking info and other digital info from third parties.
Photo taken from: security.org
Luckily, a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives have recognized this problem and have introduced a bill to fix this legal loophole that government agencies are exploiting. Under the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act the bill will require a court order to force data brokers to reveal the data they’ve compiled, prohibits the purchase of data of American citizens by the government from third parties and extends privacy laws to companies that own data cables and cell towers.
This is significant because it brings into line with Fourth Amendment law the curious situation that had developed with the purchase of digital data by the government. There is a specific framework that government and intelligence agencies had to follow whenever they sought personal private information of persons in their investigations. It just so happened that data purchases from third parties were not adequately addressed in the law. With the rise of massive digital information that people put online and carry with them on their cell phone and in cloud based services, it became inevitable that the government would need to access information platforms in the course of their investigative duties.
This bill, if passed, will ensure that the government does not get a free pass in acquiring digital data. Now it will only get the information they want through accepted procedures such as applying to a judge for a search warrant. And it ensures that other privacy safeguards will be in place whenever the government deals with cell phone tracking technology and other digital data available from data and information brokers. Due to the broad support in Congress the bill looks likely to pass with a close vote not expected at all. LEARN MORE, LEARN MORE
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 rodwood@email.com.
Engagement Resources
Click or tap on resource URL to visit links where available
Office of Senator Ron Wyden – Oregon – press release on the Fourth Amendment Is Not For Sale Act.
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) – information on the case ACLU v. Department of Homeland Security.