Supreme Court Considers Unconstitutional Chicago Gun Ban

It’s nice to see a momentum toward more liberty.

But many conservative and legal scholars — as well as the Chicago challengers — want the court to employ another part of the 14th amendment, forbidding a state to make or enforce any law “which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.”

They argue this clause was intended as a broad guarantee of the civil rights of the former slaves, but that a Supreme Court decision in 1873 effectively blocked its use.

Breathing new life into the “privileges or immunities” clause might allow for new arguments to shore up other rights, including abortion and property rights, these scholars say.

This approach might enable challenges to arcane state laws that limit economic competition, said Clark M. Neily III of the public interest law firm Institute for Justice. He pointed to a Louisiana law that protects existing florists by requiring a license before someone can arrange or sell flowers. The licensing exam is graded by florists, he noted.

“No reasonable person thinks that law has a legitimate purpose,” Neily said. But he said, “Right now, once you get a law like this on the books, it’s almost impossible to get rid of.”

Willy’s Party

Oh dear.  That’s not good.

Kohl Goes After NBC’s Coverage of the Olympics

Nobody’s senator looking out for you. 

WASHINGTON – A Democratic senator criticized NBC on Friday for its handling of online access to the Vancouver Olympics, calling it unfair and restrictive.

Sen. Herb Kohl of Wisconsin, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s antitrust panel, wrote NBC Universal Chief Executive Jeff Zucker to complain about an NBC policy that he said appears to restrict some online access to people who subscribe to a pay TV service or have a provider that is partnered with NBC. Kohl said the policy unfairly prevents others from seeing Olympic events.

NBC responded that it is broadcasting nearly 12 hours a day of programming that anyone with a TV can see, even if they don’t have cable. The network also is showing highlights and medal-winning performances online for free, although other events such as full-length hockey games can’t be seen free online.

Kohl said he doesn’t understand why NBC doesn’t offer viewers the opportunity to pay directly for online access to all Olympic coverage.

White House Social Secretary Steps Down

Subtle. 

WASHINGTON - White House social secretary Desiree Rogers is stepping down three months after an uninvited couple crashed the Obama administration’s first state dinner and she was heavily criticized for allowing it to happen.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama issued a statement thanking their longtime friend from Chicago for “the terrific job she’s done” organizing hundreds of events during her little more than a year on the job.

They indicated no reason for the departure, effective sometime next month after a transition period.

Suspicious Activities

I spent the week in Minneapolis for work.  It’s a fairly frequent trip for me.  I usually stay at the Cambria by Mall of America.  It’s a great hotel except for the sketchy wifi in the rooms.  I always take a 25 ft. cable with me just in case. 

The hotel is also right across I494 from the airport.  The flight path for one of the runways puts planes flying roughly level with the top of the hotel at no more than 300 yards away.  The hotel has some fantastic soundproofing, so the sound is almost completely blocked out, but it’s kind of fun to watch the planes coming in.  This time I decided to capture it on video via my cell phone.  After recording the second plane coming in for a landing, it occurred to me how suspicious I must look to an observer.  Here I am taping planes coming in for a landing from an ideal spot to blow one of them up.  Fortunately, I don’t think anyone saw me

Obama’s Ridiculous Rhetoric

I call BS.

President Barack Obama said Saturday he is ready to compromise with Republicans on health care if they are serious about it, but that an overhaul must go forward. “Let’s get this done,” he said.

Was President Obama listening at the health care summit?  The Republicans made perfectly clear that they were willing to negotiate and compromise.  They also made clear that they expected the Democrats to do the same, which they have been unwilling to do.  Obama just looks like an child with his fingers in his ears responding to his internal caricature of Republicans instead of the actual Republicans across the table.

School Board Makes Consequences Clear

This is a good move by the school board.

Teachers in the West Bend School District received a letter Friday afternoon from School Board members explaining the effect salary negotiations could have on the upcoming budget.

   The two-page letter, signed by each member of the school board, states that the “current collective bargaining process is going to directly impact the amount that has to be reduced for next year’s budget.”

   According to the letter, costs associated with the current proposal from the West Bend Education Association would result in what equates to the loss of five more teaching positions in the 2010-11 school year, and eight to 10 positions in the 2011-12 school year. Those cuts would be in addition to reductions the district is already anticipating.

   School board vice-president Kathy Van Eerden said the letter was designed to connect directly with staff to talk about the budget as discussed earlier this week at a School Board work session. School board president Joe Carlson was unable to be reached in time for publication.

   “We wanted to share our concerns directly with staff members so it was clear to them the impact the reductions could potentially have,” she said.

   School board members also wanted staff to be fully informed about the potential implication of the association’s proposal on the budget, Van Eerden said.

The real question will be whether or not the board is willing to back up its assertion.  If the union gets an increase, will they actually fire more teachers?  I am hopeful.  I don’t want to see anyone else lose their jobs, but if they take an unreasonable negotiating position then they deserve it.  The teachers need to know the real world consequences of wage increases in a world of scarce resources. 

Also… it seems to me that someone recommended an action just like this a while back…

I would love to see the district come out in public and tell the teachers that if they insist on large compensation increases, then some of them will be fired.  Period.

Kudos to the West Bend School Board.