On January 22, 2020, I was fortunate to attend a senate hearing administered by United States Senator and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Roger Wicker. Wicker’s agenda of the hearing pertained to the installation of the Fifth Generation (5G) wireless communication across the U.S. The installation of this new technology … Continue reading
Latest Entries
In Defense of DACA
The precarious state of DACA is currently in the hands of the Supreme Court, as they take up the case Department of Homeland Security V Regents of the University of California. In contemplating whether the Trump Administration’s decision to rescind the program, which was put forth on the premise that Obama’s execution of a “prosecutorial … Continue reading
The Impact of “Public Charge” on Immigrants and Healthcare
This piece was co-authored by Sara Kurtovic. On October 4, 2019 President Trump issued a presidential proclamation that altered the definition of a “public charge” according to United States immigration policies.[1]The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) first announced the rule August 14, 2019, and intended for it to become effective October 15, 2019.[2]However, the rule … Continue reading
The Impact of “Public Charge” on Immigrants and Healthcare
This piece was co-authored by Haley Hamblin. On October 4, 2019 President Trump issued a presidential proclamation that altered the definition of a “public charge” according to United States immigration policies.[1] The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) first announced the rule August 14, 2019, and intended for it to become effective October 15, 2019.[2] However, … Continue reading
Certificate of Need Laws: Are They Just a CON?
Certificate of Need (CON) laws were initially put into effect as part of the “Health Planning Resources Development Act” of 1974. The law incentivised states to create CON programs by offering additional funding or withholding Medicare and Medicaid funds from those states that decided not to participate. The act sought to restrain health care facility … Continue reading
We’re Paying the Cost for Ineffective Pre-Trial Release Policies
Prior to the 2019 Timbs v Indiana Supreme Court decision, state and county courts were legally allowed to forfeit high priced property of the accused and hold them accountable to unnecessarily high fines before their trials.[1] In February of 2019, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution’s 8thAmendment ban on excessive fines applies to … Continue reading
Trump’s Overtime Protection Rule: A Smart Rule for Workers
The Trump Administration’s Overtime Protection Rule In March of 2019, the Department of Labor issued a proposed rule to update and extended eligibility for overtime pay for employees that do not perform managerial, executive, or administrative taks. The proposed rule, Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales and Computer Employees, mandates … Continue reading
As unaffordable housing swells, its causes (and proposed solutions) should be considered
The nation undoubtedly faces an affordable housing problem, one that can be understood through the economic lens of housing supply-and-demand. Since the Great Recession, mortgage rates have remained low but at the expense of overall housing costs, with prices of the average American home soaring to $316,000 in June of 2019. A study by Freddie Mac attributes the rise … Continue reading
What is algorithmic transparency and why do we need it?
On February 11, 2013, Eric Loomis was arrested in Wisconsin for his part in a drive-by shooting. He pleaded guilty to knowingly fleeing an officer. During the sentencing, the judge consulted an algorithm that predicted how likely Loomis was to recidivate. Because of his criminal history and other factors weighed by the algorithm, Loomis was … Continue reading
From the Past to the Present: U.S. Protectionism
Since assuming office, President Trump has shaken the foundation of global trade with his use of tariffs. Tariffs, in simple terms, are taxes levied on imported goods. Trump’s intentions, in line with his America First campaign promise, are to boost the domestic manufacturing industry, reduce the U.S. trade deficit, and to leverage foreign countries into … Continue reading
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