On Tuesday I noted USA Today ’s cover story on the prospects for marijuana law reform. Three recent legislative developments reinforce the impression of growing tolerance (or at least waning repression): On March 2, Hawaii’s Senate overwhelmingly passed a bill that would eliminate criminal penalties for possessing up to an ounce of marijuana, currently a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $1,000.
Go here to see the original:
Marijuana Decriminalization Advances
Non-stop bad news won’t stop Nancy Pelosi! Here’s an overview of the last day or so of developments in her never-ending quest to drum up enough votes to pass a health reform bill in the House. Multiple reports indicate that the Senate parliamentarian confirmed that the Senate cannot vote on a reconciliation “fix” bill until the House actually passes the Senate bill
Original post:
For Nancy Pelosi, There Is No Such Thing As Bad News
President Barack Obama on Thursday assured immigration advocates frustrated by the wait for a promised overhaul of U.S. immigration laws that he remains committed to fixing a system he has said is broken. What remains unclear is whether Congress will send him a bill this year
Originally posted here:
Because He’s Not Done Yet With Health Care, Has Passed Budget-Busting Stimulus, & Still Has a Few Popularity Points Left, Obama Vows Comprehensive…
On March 9, 2010, Reason’s Tim Cavanaugh discussed Greece’s financial problems on Fox Business’ Cavuto . Approximately 5 minutes. Scroll down for downloadable iPod and audio versions.
Read more:
Reason Writers on the Tube: Tim Cavanaugh Talks Greece’s Financial Crisis on Fox Business’ Cavuto
The Sunshine Review, a wiki non-profit that promotes proactive disclosure from state and local governments on their websites, has posted its annual review of 5,000 state, city, county, and school district sites.
View original post here:
Top Government Websites for Transparency
Is available for your listening enjoyment here : Let’s take this opportunity to swing through some labor-related headlines, shall we? Many of them were harvested from the valuable Pension Tsunami website, and all come from the past week: Politicians Come and Go, But Public Employees Rule Obama Draws Fire for Appointing SEIU’s Stern to Deficit Panel Failed Banks May Get Pension-Fund Backing as FDIC Seeks Cash Procuring the Union Agenda: A White House Plan Would Be the Davis-Bacon Act on Steroids Public Pensions Are Adding Risk to Raise Returns Public Pension IOUs Total Nearly $6K per Chicagoan, Study Says SEIU to Focus on California Races AFL-CIO Pledges All-out Backing for Democrats in 2010 Elections Labor On Dems Who Block Health Reform: We’ll ‘Take Them Out’ My favorite part of yesterday’s discussion: The question of why haven’t unions done a better job communicating the good work they do?
Here is the original post:
The Matt Welch/Harold Meyerson Debate About Unions
A front-page story in USA Today highlights the “growing popular acceptance of marijuana,” as reflected in polls, ballot initiatives, and legislation.
See more here:
USA Today Notes ‘Growing Popular Acceptance’ of Pot
Appearing on Real Time With Bill Maher , amateur Latin America scholar Sean Penn details his recent humanitarian trip to Haiti, reveals that he has started an NGO, and praises the United States military’s reconstruction efforts in Port-au-Prince, calling it the “most noble [military] mission since World War II.” (Penn has apparently forgotten the 2004 operation to provide relief to parts of tsunami-ravaged South Asia.) But as is his wont, Penn couldn’t get through the interview without reference to the beneficent Venezuelan and Cuban governments (who supplied “narcotics” in Haiti, despite their own drug shortages) and how Hugo Chavez is unfairly maligned in the United States media. How should one combat this misinformation campaign?
See the original post:
Sean Penn Wants Me Thrown In Jail
Reason Contributing Editor Tim Cavanaugh will appear on Neil Cavuto’s Fox Business News show today to discuss the fiscal crisis in Greece and Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou’s financial life coaching session with President Obama. Starting at 6pm EST on Fox Business Channel
The rest is here:
Reason Around Town: Tim Cavanaugh Goes Greek With the Number One Name In Business…Cavuto! 6pm EST on FBN
Is marijuana responsible for John Patrick Bedell’s suicidal assault on the Pentagon? Yes, says Washington Post blogger Charles Lane, although his theory of the plant’s criminogenic effects is slightly more sophisticated than Harry Anslinger’s
Read more here:
Did Marijuana Kill John Patrick Bedell?
