In an eagerly awaited decision, the Supreme Court ruled in Janus v AFSCME that government workers who are not members of a union could no longer be forced to pay a union fee. This case is both more limited than you may believe from headlines -- but it’s also incredibly significant for the future of organized labor and the political agenda it pursues. The heart of the Janus … [Read more...]
Courtney Goodson’s Attack on Due Process and the First Amendment
Everybody in Arkansas who pays attention to elections knows that state Supreme Court Justice Courtney Goodson’s public profile is not entirely spotless. Two years ago, Justice Goodson tried to run for Chief Justice of the Court; her previous acceptance of gifts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars (and the ensuing bad publicity it generated) almost certainly caused her to … [Read more...]
Arizona Protecting Nonprofit Donors
There is a move afoot to stifle political speech. Some people want to see mandatory government reporting for nonprofits that talk about public policy issues. This is a movement that is being pushed in states around the nation, including Arkansas. It remains to be seen if the anti-speech activists will be successful in this state. In Arizona, however, there was a victory in the … [Read more...]
Arkansas Ranks Low in Political Giving Freedom
If you want to influence public policy, you can do a lot of things – you can write letters, publish op-eds, talk to your friends, or lobby legislators. You can also give money to political campaigns. This political giving is a key part of how Americans speak on political issues. According to a new ranking, Arkansas does pretty poorly in protecting this aspect of political … [Read more...]
Utah Set to Legalize Free Range Kids
“Free Range” parenting is likely to be legal soon in Utah. It’s time for Arkansas to follow suit. What is “free range” parenting? It’s what used to be called, simply, “parenting.” That is, giving your children freedom to grow and experience the world without a parent hovering over them, watching their every move. Lenore Skenazy started a blog called Free Range Kids and … [Read more...]
