The next battleground in the war between Republicans and Democrats for control of the electoral map is absentee voting. As increasing numbers of voters eligible to vote by mail, the pressures created on officials by this expanded process can lead to increasing numbers of ballots rejected.
The best way to manage the COVID-19 challenge in Michigan’s prison system is to release as many people as possible as soon as possible. It can be done quickly, without compromising public safety, and in the best interest of public health. To save lives, it is imperative that the Governor act immediately to expand who is eligible for parole, expand the use of her commutation powers, expand parole boards, and expedite the review of wrongful conviction cases in front of the conviction integrity unit.
It is urgent that Congress and the White House fully fund the United States Postal Service in the next stimulus bill. Private companies won’t deliver to certain remote areas — and, right now, the Postal Service is delivering lifesaving medications and food, supporting voting by mail-in primary states and helping other services necessary for our nation to continue to operate.
Researchers at Amfar (Foundation for Aids Research) and Emory University led a study that included several other institutions to track disproportionately black counties, i.e., where black people constituted more than 13% of the population, in four southern states. Among their findings is that underlying health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes, are not the primary case of disparities.
Making voting by mail easier during the pandemic makes good sense from a democratic and public health perspective. But more fundamentally, it is constitutionally required. State legislatures MUST allow people to vote by mail during a pandemic or they will be effectively denying people their right to vote.
The New York Times and Salon have reported that many states, as well as the National Council of State Legislatures (NCSL), have expressed concern over the accuracy of census data that results from the use of the new privacy algorithm developed by the Census Bureau to protect individuals privacy.
A2017 tax cut advertised to benefit poor communities has missed the mark in implementation.
The Fair Housing Act (FHA) was ratified in 1968 to ensure marginalized and minority communities have equal opportunity access to safe, stable housing. It has been the strongest protection against unjustified and discriminatory housing practices, both overt and covert. In the fifty years since the FHA was enacted, exclusionary housing policies may be more difficult to distinguish, but sadly are still in effect.
Due to the racial discrimination and oppression that still exist here the latest data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation reports the state at 50%. Geographic location and race and ethnicity are the two most important factors that shape a child’s risk.
National Rifle Association Chief Executive, Wayne LaPierre, met with Donald Trump to discuss ways in which the NRA could support Trump in his fight against impeachment and his bid for 2020 re-election. In the course of this conversation, LaPierre reportedly asked that Trump “stop the games” in exchange for the organization’s full throated backing. Exactly what “games” was LaPierre alluding to?