U.S. Senate Confirms Kagan Nomination to Supreme Court
A week ago, the U.S. Senate narrowly confirmed Elena Kagan to a seat on the Supreme Court, 63-37. Kagan’s confirmation can be attributed to the support of five Republican moderates: Senators Susan Collins (Maine), Lindsey Graham (South Carolina), Judd Gregg (New Hampshire), Richard Lugar (Indiana), and Olympia Snowe (Maine). Only one Democrat, Senator Ben Nelson [...]
Congress Approves Overreaching Financial Legislation
On Thursday, July 15, 2010, Congress passed a distended financial reform bill, giving the Obama administration enhanced influence over the U.S. financial industry. The 2,300-page financial reform legislation increases federal oversight of the financial industry, regulates the derivatives market and derivative trading, and establishes a federal oversight commission, headed by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, responsible [...]
Congress to Consider Extension of Bush Tax Cuts
The Senate Finance Committee met recently to begin discussing the extension of the Bush tax cuts. President Obama and Democratic leaders have made it known that they intend to let the Bush tax cuts expire and instead implement a policy that increases taxes for those making over $250,000 per year. Republicans and several Senate Democrats, [...]
DoJ Lawsuit Violates 10th Amendment
Last week, Attorney General Eric Holder pronounced that the Department of Justice would file suit against Arizona over its recently-approved immigration legislation. The Department of Justice contends that the Arizona immigration legislation promotes racial profiling and impedes the federal government’s ability to establish a national legislative agenda.
Since the lawsuit was filed on July 6, 2010, [...]
Conservatives Have Reservations About Kagan Nomination
After a week of questioning, conservatives and even some liberals, including Senators Arlen Specter (D-PA), and Joe Lieberman (I-CT), have reservations about Elena Kagan. Among them are her penchant for international law, which she says should be referenced in Supreme Court decisions; her lack of judicial experience; her unwillingness to discuss pertinent legal issues; and [...]
Congress to Decide on Financial Reform
The contentious financial regulation bill that is expected to be approved by Congress early next week increases the federal government’s control over privately-owned financial institutions, punishes big banks and hedge funds for “shady” business practices, and seriously reduces America’s economic hegemony. The New York Times, in a fascinating article entitled “In Deal, New Authority Over [...]
The Year of the Anti-Establishment Candidate
Last week, ten states held congressional and gubernatorial primaries. Further, in recent months, roughly fifteen states in total have held primary elections. In each of these elections a common theme has been present: anti-incumbency. If this trend continues in the coming months, it appears that establishment candidates, party-endorsed candidates, and incumbents will be in for [...]
Senate Attempts Financial Overhaul
On Thursday, the United States Senate voted 59-39 to broadly expand oversight of Wall Street and the banking industry. Many in the Senate argued that the best way to ensure that economic recession does not recur is to expand Congressional oversight power over the markets. The Obama administration and Senate leaders now have a difficult [...]
