Articles

PLF testifies on WOTUS rule

November 30, 2017 | By REED HOPPER

One of the most contentious federal regulations published in recent decades is the ill-fated and  ill-legitimate “waters of the United States” or “WOTUS” rule that was issued by the Corps and EPA over the objections of Corps experts who argued the EPA misrepresented the science and misapplied the law. … ...

Articles

California Supreme Court upholds compulsory arbitration for agriculture

November 28, 2017 | By DAMIEN SCHIFF

The California Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of California’s “mandatory mediation and conciliation” process for labor disputes between agricultural employers and unions. … ...

Articles

Ninth Circuit affirms prison for man who built ponds without permit

November 28, 2017 | By TONY FRANCOIS

The Ninth Circuit issued a disappointing decision affirming the federal conviction of a Montana man for building some ponds without a Clean Water Act permit. … ...

Articles

Yes, President Trump Can Replace Richard Cordray with an Acting Director

November 27, 2017 | By THOMAS BERRY

On Friday, Richard Cordray resigned as director of the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. Today, two people are claiming to be the lawful acting director of the CFPB. … ...

Articles

Supreme Court denies review in federal reserved water rights case

November 27, 2017 | By DAMIEN SCHIFF

The water district petitioners had asked the High Court to review the Ninth Circuit’s precedent-setting decision holding that the doctrine of federal reserved water rights is not limited to surface water. … ...

Articles

Endangered Species Act Bureaucrats Are Playing Word Games That Cost Billions Of Dollars

November 27, 2017 | By DAMIEN SCHIFF

The government’s environmental scientists must start behaving more like real scientists and less like politicized bureaucrats. We all need to know—we all deserve to know—what they mean by the words they use. … ...

Articles

Seattle’s Income Tax on ‘the Rich’ Has Collateral Damage : The Poor

November 22, 2017 | By BRIAN HODGES

Once again, a “progressive” plan turns out, in practice, to operate more like the Sheriff of Nottingham than Robin Hood. … ...

Articles

PLF files reply brief in Markle

November 22, 2017 | By MARK MILLER

Pacific Legal Foundation filed its reply brief with the Supreme Court of the United States in Markle v. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an important Endangered Species Act case involving another example of federal government unconstitutional overreach. … ...

Articles

Arizona Supreme Court ignores voters’ intent in decision interpreting constitutional limitations on taxation

November 20, 2017 | By JEFF MCCOY

Last Friday, the Arizona Supreme Court issued its decision in Biggs v. Betlach, a case brought by a group of Arizona legislators challenging the imposition of a hospital charge to pay for state Medicaid expansion. … ...